Revelation 18:21
Then a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, “So will Babylon the great city be thrown down with violence, and will be found no more;
English Standard Version (ESV)
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This isn't just about destruction; the phrase "with violence" also carries the sense of an unstoppable, overwhelming rush. It highlights that Babylon's fall won't be a slow decline but a sudden, forceful plunge from which recovery is utterly impossible.
This scene powerfully illustrates the irreversible destruction of Babylon. Following the lament and call for judgment on the city in the preceding verses, a mighty angel dramatically casts a millstone into the sea, symbolizing a complete and final downfall, echoing a similar prophetic act against ancient Babylon. This act signifies that the great city will not only be destroyed by force but will vanish entirely, never to be found again.
Imagine a massive stone, heavier than anything you can lift, being hurled into the deepest ocean. What does this image tell us about the fate of Babylon?
The act of a mighty angel throwing a great millstone into the sea is a powerful visual metaphor for the complete and irreversible destruction of Babylon.
The verse speaks of Babylon being thrown down 'with violence' and 'found no more.' What does this dual emphasis reveal about its end?
The language used in Revelation 18:21 emphasizes both the manner of Babylon's downfall and its ultimate obliteration.
Understand the original words
angelos · Greek Noun
An angelic being or messenger of God, often serving as an instrument of divine judgment or revelation in biblical apocalyptic literature.
Babylōn · Greek Proper Noun
In this context, a symbolic representation of a world power hostile to God, representing systems of idolatry, economic exploitation, and persecution of the faithful.
The imagery of a millstone sinking into the sea, used to symbolize Babylon's ultimate destruction in Revelation, directly echoes a prophetic act by Jeremiah centuries earlier, underscoring the recurring theme of divine judgment against oppressive powers.
c. 7th century BC
Jeremiah Prophesies Babylon's Fall
The prophet Jeremiah, living during the Babylonian exile, uses a symbolic act of throwing a scroll tied to a stone into the Euphrates to represent Babylon's irreversible doom.
539 BC
Cyrus Conquers Babylon
The Persian king Cyrus the Great captures Babylon, ending the Neo-Babylonian Empire and bringing the city under foreign rule.
c. 4th century BC
Babylon's Decline
After its conquest, Babylon gradually loses its prominence and population, becoming a shadow of its former glory. Its eventual physical disappearance from history inspires the imagery of being 'found no more'.
c. AD 95— this verse
Revelation Written
The Book of Revelation is written by the Apostle John, likely while exiled on the island of Patmos, during a period of intense persecution of Christians by the Roman Empire. 'Babylon' here is often interpreted as a symbolic code for Rome.
This passage directly parallels the imagery of casting a stone into the Euphrates to symbolize Babylon's irreversible sinking, highlighting the continuity of this prophetic symbol for utter destruction.
Matthew 18:6Jesus uses the imagery of a millstone to describe the severe judgment awaiting those who cause 'little ones' to stumble, connecting the judgment on Babylon to a broader divine principle of retribution for harm inflicted.
Isaiah 14:12-15This passage describes the fall of 'Day Star,' often associated with Babylon's king, from heaven, echoing the theme of a proud, powerful entity being brought low and utterly destroyed.
Luke 10:18Jesus declares that He saw Satan fall 'like lightning from heaven,' offering a spiritual parallel to the sudden and dramatic downfall of oppressive powers, similar to Babylon's fate.
ellicottRevelation 18:21: "And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all."
THE IRREMEDIABLE OVERTHROW OF BABYLON SYMBOLICALLY DECLARED. (21) And a mighty angel . . .—The taking up of the stone and casting it into the waters is a symbol drawn from Jeremiah (Jeremiah 51). Jeremiah enjoined Seraiah to bind the prophetic roll to a great stone, and cast them toget…
barnesRevelation 18:21: "And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all."
And a mighty angel - See the notes on Revelation 18:1 . This seems, however, to have been a different angel from the one mentioned in Revelation 18:1 , though, like that, he is described as having great power. Took up a stone like a great millstone - On the structure of mills among the…
This isn't just about destruction; the phrase "with violence" also carries the sense of an unstoppable, overwhelming rush. It highlights that Babylon's fall won't be a slow decline but a sudden, forceful plunge from which recovery is utterly impossible.
This scene powerfully illustrates the irreversible destruction of Babylon. Following the lament and call for judgment on the city in the preceding verses, a mighty angel dramatically casts a millstone into the sea, symbolizing a complete and final downfall, echoing a similar prophetic act against ancient Babylon. This act signifies that the great city will not only be destroyed by force but will vanish entirely, never to be found again.
This scene powerfully illustrates the irreversible destruction of Babylon. Following the lament and call for judgment on the city in the preceding verses, a mighty angel dramatically casts a millstone into the sea, symbolizing a complete and final downfall, echoing a similar prophetic act against ancient Babylon. This act signifies that the great city will not only be destroyed by force but will vanish entirely, never to be found again.
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c. AD 64
Great Fire of Rome
A devastating fire sweeps through Rome, leading Emperor Nero to blame and persecute Christians. This event, and the subsequent persecutions, likely shaped John's perspective on imperial power and its destructive nature.
"Then a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying,
“So will Babylon the great city be thrown down with violence,
and will be found no more;" — This isn't just about destruction; the phrase "with violence" also carries the sense of an unstoppable, overwhelming rush. It highlights that Babylon's fall won't be a slow decline but a sudden, forc…