Revelation 18:21-22
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This verse highlights the swift and absolute finality of Babylon's destruction. The phrase "with violence" (or "with a rush") emphasizes that its downfall won't be a gradual decline but a sudden, forceful obliteration, leaving no trace behind. This image, drawn from the Old Testament, powerfully conveys that this ruin is irrecoverable, a complete extinguishing of its existence.
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; and the sound of harpists and musicians, of flute players and trumpeters, will be heard in you no more, and a craftsman of any craft will be found in you no more, and the sound of the mill will be heard in you no more,
English Standard Version (ESV)
In this climactic chapter, an angel dramatically enacts the irreversible destruction of "Babylon the great city," symbolizing the world system that opposes God. This symbolic act of casting a millstone into the sea, echoing a prophecy against ancient Babylon, emphasizes the utter finality and violent nature of its downfall. Following this, the chapter concludes by reiterating that this city, representing a corrupt spiritual and economic power, will be utterly gone and never recover, bringing great rejoicing to heaven.
Ever wonder what absolute destruction looks like? The Bible uses a powerful, unforgettable image here to declare the finality of Babylon's judgment.
This isn't just any old rock; it's a 'great millstone.' Imagine its weight, its purpose to crush. When a mighty angel hurls it into the sea, it's a dramatic, symbolic act.
The Imagery:
Who is really behind Babylon's destruction? This passage points to a divine power at work, demonstrating that no earthly empire is beyond God's reach.
The scene isn't about human armies winning a war; it's about a 'mighty angel' executing divine judgment. This emphasizes that Babylon's downfall is not merely a political shift but a supernatural act of God.
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Divine Authority:
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 image of a mighty angel throwing a millstone into the sea is a powerful echo of Jeremiah's symbolic act, which proclaimed the irreversible destruction of ancient Babylon. In Revelation, this imagery is powerfully re-applied to signify the ultimate and final downfall of any system that opposes God.
c. 605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
Nebuchadnezzar's first siege of Jerusalem results in the deportation of Jewish nobles and skilled workers, including Daniel, to Babylon. This marks the beginning of the Babylonian exile.
586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem
Nebuchadnezzar destroys Jerusalem and its Temple, exiling most of the remaining population to Babylon. This event fulfills prophecies of judgment and brings the nation of Judah under Babylonian dominion.
c. 580 BC— this verse
Prophecy of Babylon's Fall
The prophet Jeremiah, before or during the exile, instructs his scribe Seraiah to tie a stone to a scroll containing prophecies against Babylon and cast it into the Euphrates River. This act symbolizes Babylon's certain and irreversible doom.
539 BC
Fall of Babylon
Cyrus the Great of Persia conquers Babylon, ending the Babylonian Empire. This event fulfills Jeremiah's prophecy and marks a significant shift in regional power.
c. AD 95
Book of Revelation Written
The Apostle John writes the Book of Revelation, likely while in exile on the island of Patmos. The book contains symbolic visions of God's ultimate judgment on evil, using 'Babylon' as a symbol for oppressive, anti-God systems.
This passage directly parallels the imagery of Revelation 18:21, showing how the prophet Jeremiah was instructed to cast a scroll representing Babylon into the Euphrates with a stone, symbolizing its irreversible downfall.
Matthew 18:6Jesus uses a similar, stark image of a millstone to describe the severe judgment awaiting anyone who causes believers to stumble, underscoring the extreme consequences of harming God's people, which is echoed in Babylon's violent end.
Isaiah 13:19-22This prophecy vividly describes the utter destruction and desolation of Babylon, portraying it as a place that will never be inhabited again, which powerfully reinforces the finality of Babylon's judgment in Revelation.
Luke 10:18Jesus speaks of Satan 'falling like lightning from heaven,' a metaphor for a sudden, powerful, and decisive defeat. This resonates with the violent and complete overthrow of Babylon described in Revelation 18.
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 verse highlights the swift and absolute finality of Babylon's destruction. The phrase "with violence" (or "with a rush") emphasizes that its downfall won't be a gradual decline but a sudden, forceful obliteration, leaving no trace behind. This image, drawn from the Old Testament, powerfully conveys that this ruin is irrecoverable, a complete extinguishing of its existence.
In this climactic chapter, an angel dramatically enacts the irreversible destruction of "Babylon the great city," symbolizing the world system that opposes God. This symbolic act of casting a millstone into the sea, echoing a prophecy against ancient Babylon, emphasizes the utter finality and violent nature of its downfall. Following this, the chapter concludes by reiterating that this city, representing a corrupt spiritual and economic power, will be utterly gone and never recover, bringing great rejoicing to heaven.
In this climactic chapter, an angel dramatically enacts the irreversible destruction of "Babylon the great city," symbolizing the world system that opposes God. This symbolic act of casting a millstone into the sea, echoing a prophecy against ancient Babylon, emphasizes the utter finality and violent nature of its downfall. Following this, the chapter concludes by reiterating that this city, representing a corrupt spiritual and economic power, will be utterly gone and never recover, bringing great rejoicing to heaven.
"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; and the sound of harpists and musicians, of…" — This verse highlights the swift and absolute finality of Babylon's destruction. The phrase "with violence" (or "with a rush") emphasizes that its downfall won't be a gradual decline but a sudden, for…
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Last reviewed October 2026