Bible Strands
Revelation 14:8
Then a second angel followed, saying, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, who has made all the nations drink the wine of the passion of her immorality.”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — A second angel follows the first herald in the heavenly vision sequence, addressing the observers just as the first angel declares the hour of judgment and before the third angel issues his warning. The proclamation occurs within a sequential series of divine announcements in Revelation 14.
The words — The text repeats ἔπεσεν (epesen), meaning "fallen," to declare the collapse of "Babylon the great." The verb ἠκολούθησεν (ēkolouthēsen) indicates the angel's sequential movement after the first herald.
The thread — This announcement echoes Isaiah 21:9 and Jeremiah 51:7, which also use "Fallen, fallen is Babylon" to describe divine judgment on a corrupt empire. The declaration resurfaces in Revelation 18:2 as the judgment narrative unfolds.
Why it lands — The text demands recognition that political and religious systems opposing God's authority will be dismantled by divine judgment. It requires the reader to heed the preceding call to worship the Creator and avoid alignment with the coming judgment.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.
Cross-references
- Isaiah 21:9 Look, here come the riders, horsemen in pairs.” And one answered, saying: “Fallen, fallen is Babylon! All the images of her gods lie shattered on the ground!”
- Jeremiah 51:7 Babylon was a gold cup in the hand of the LORD, making the whole earth drunk. The nations drank her wine; therefore the nations have gone mad.
- Revelation 18:2 And he cried out in a mighty voice: “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! She has become a lair for demons and a haunt for every unclean spirit, every unclean bird, and every detestable beast.
- Revelation 16:19 The great city was split into three parts, and the cities of the nations collapsed. And God remembered Babylon the great and gave her the cup of the wine of the fury of His wrath.
- Revelation 11:8 Their bodies will lie in the street of the great city—figuratively called Sodom and Egypt—where their Lord was also crucified.
- Revelation 17:2 The kings of the earth were immoral with her, and those who dwell on the earth were intoxicated with the wine of her immorality.”
- Revelation 17:18 And the woman you saw is the great city that rules over the kings of the earth.”
- Revelation 18:10 In fear of her torment, they will stand at a distance and cry out: “Woe, woe to the great city, the mighty city of Babylon! For in a single hour your judgment has come.”
- Revelation 18:18 and cry out at the sight of the smoke rising from the fire that consumes her. “What city was ever like this great city?” they will exclaim.
- Revelation 19:2 For His judgments are true and just. He has judged the great prostitute who corrupted the earth with her immorality. He has avenged the blood of His servants that was poured out by her hand.”