Revelation 18:22-23
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, and the light of a lamp will shine in you no more, and the voice of bridegroom and bride will be heard in you no more, for your merchants were the great ones of the earth, and all nations were deceived by your sorcery.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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This isn't just about the absence of celebration; it highlights the complete cessation of all life's essential functions. The silencing of musicians and craftsmen, alongside the sound of the millstone, signifies not just the end of luxury, but the utter extinction of daily survival and work for any person, rich or poor.
This passage describes the utter desolation of a powerful, decadent city, echoing prophecies of judgment against ancient enemies like Babylon and Tyre. The vibrant sounds of music, the skilled hands of craftsmen, and the daily labor of grinding grain—all signs of life and prosperity—will be silenced forever. This total ruin is a stark contrast to the city's former glory and serves as a final act of divine justice.
Imagine a bustling city falling completely silent. What does that silence truly represent?
Revelation 18:22 paints a stark picture of desolation by listing the sounds that will cease: music from harps, flutes, and trumpets, the work of craftsmen, and the grinding of mills. These aren't just random noises; they represent the full spectrum of life.
The Sounds of Celebration
The music – harpers, musicians, pipers, trumpeters – signifies joy, feasting, and celebration. It’s the sound of a city alive with pleasure and entertainment, a place where people gather and rejoice.
The Sounds of Industry
The craftsman and the millstone represent daily life, work, and sustenance. Craftsmen are the backbone of any economy, creating goods and providing services. The millstone is essential for everyday survival, providing the bread that sustains life. Its sound is a sign of a functioning, thriving community.
When all these sounds vanish, it’s not just a temporary quiet. It signifies the complete and utter annihilation of a city's economy, culture, and population. It's the end of all that made Babylon alive and functional.
Why does the text move from mentioning artists to describing the work of ordinary people?
The passage moves from the sophisticated sounds of musicians to the fundamental sounds of daily survival, like the work of a craftsman and the grinding of a millstone. This progression is significant.
The Height of Culture
The musicians and craftsmen represent the peak of human achievement and cultural development. Many commentators note that cities like Rome, often identified with this Babylon, were centers of art, sculpture, painting, and music. These indicate a society that has reached a high level of sophistication and luxury.
The Foundation of Life
However, the mention of the millstone brings the focus down to the absolute basics. The sound of the mill is the sound of preparing daily bread, a fundamental human necessity. Its absence means that even the most basic functions of life have ceased.
Understand the original words
pharmakeia · Greek Noun
Refers to sorcery, witchcraft, or the use of drugs/potions, often associated with idolatry and the seduction of nations away from the worship of the one true God.
This passage echoes Jeremiah's prophecy against ancient Jerusalem, painting a picture of absolute desolation. The imagery of silenced music, vanished crafts, and the still millstone signifies not just destruction, but the complete end of life, commerce, and joy in the depicted 'Babylon'.
c. 722 BC
Fall of Samaria
The northern kingdom of Israel is conquered by the Assyrian Empire, marking a devastating blow to its society and economy.
586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem
Babylon conquers Judah, destroying Jerusalem and its Temple, and exiling many of its citizens. This event is deeply mourned and prophesied by Jeremiah.
c. 585 BC
Jeremiah's Prophecy of Desolation
Jeremiah prophesies the utter desolation of Judah, describing the cessation of joy, crafts, and daily labor as a consequence of disobedience.
c. 410 AD
Sack of Rome by Visigoths
Alaric and the Visigoths breach the walls of Rome, plundering the city and marking a significant blow to the Western Roman Empire's prestige.
This passage directly parallels Revelation 18:22, describing the cessation of joy, music, and the sounds of daily life in a condemned city, highlighting the totality of the destruction.
Isaiah 14:11This prophecy against Babylon speaks of the downfall of its pride and the silencing of its music and revelry, echoing the themes of lost splendor and silenced joy found in Revelation.
Ezekiel 26:13The judgment pronounced against Tyre includes the silencing of music and the cessation of craftsmanship, underscoring how the loss of art, industry, and celebration signifies utter ruin.
Isaiah 24:8This verse describes the end of music and mirth as a consequence of judgment, offering a powerful image of desolation where sounds of joy and daily labor are extinguished.
ellicottRevelation 18:22: "And the voice of harpers, and musicians, and of pipers, and trumpeters, shall be heard no more at all in thee; and no craftsman, of whatsoever craft he be, shall be found any more in thee; and the sound of a millstone shall be heard no more at all in thee;"
(22, 23) And the voice of harpers . . . —Better, the sound , . . The sounds of mirth and triumph, &c., cease: the sound of harpers, and musicians, and flute-players, and trumpeters, shall not be heard in thee ANY MORE: the…
barnesRevelation 18:22: "And the voice of harpers, and musicians, and of pipers, and trumpeters, shall be heard no more at all in thee; and no craftsman, of whatsoever craft he be, shall be found any more in thee; and the sound of a millstone shall be heard no more at all in thee;"
And the voice of harpers - Those who play on the harp. This was usually accompanied with singing. The idea, in this verse and the following, is substantially the same as in the previous parts of the chapter, that the mysti…
This isn't just about the absence of celebration; it highlights the complete cessation of all life's essential functions. The silencing of musicians and craftsmen, alongside the sound of the millstone, signifies not just the end of luxury, but the utter extinction of daily survival and work for any person, rich or poor.
This passage describes the utter desolation of a powerful, decadent city, echoing prophecies of judgment against ancient enemies like Babylon and Tyre. The vibrant sounds of music, the skilled hands of craftsmen, and the daily labor of grinding grain—all signs of life and prosperity—will be silenced forever. This total ruin is a stark contrast to the city's former glory and serves as a final act of divine justice.
This passage describes the utter desolation of a powerful, decadent city, echoing prophecies of judgment against ancient enemies like Babylon and Tyre. The vibrant sounds of music, the skilled hands of craftsmen, and the daily labor of grinding grain—all signs of life and prosperity—will be silenced forever. This total ruin is a stark contrast to the city's former glory and serves as a final act of divine justice.
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This shift emphasizes that Babylon's destruction is total – not just its glittering facade, but its very ability to sustain life is gone. It’s a complete erasure from existence, leaving no trace of its former glory or its capacity for survival.
c. 455 AD
Sack of Rome by Vandals
Genseric and the Vandals sack Rome, further weakening the city and demonstrating its vulnerability.
c. 546 AD
Sack of Rome by Ostrogoths
Totilas and the Ostrogoths capture Rome, leaving it largely deserted and in ruins after the prolonged Gothic Wars.
Late 1st Century AD— this verse
Writing of Revelation
The Book of Revelation is written, likely during a time of intense persecution of Christians, by the apostle John.
"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 y…" — This isn't just about the absence of celebration; it highlights the complete cessation of all life's essential functions. The silencing of musicians and craftsmen, alongside the sound of the millst…
