Revelation 18 is a rehearsal of the fall of Babylon, symbolizing the complete demise of Satan's kingdom and powers. It reads almost like one is gloating at Babylon's downfall. And make no mistake, its downfall is horrific and cataclysmic. Complete and undeniable. Total and irrefutable. One after another judgment is pronounced in poetic form. It is a scathing judgment against all the powers, forces, conspirators, antagonists, and people who do not repent. They are utterly doomed. It is sad, and a difficult chapter for me to read.
Then come the hymns of praise to God in this chapter. Hallelujah! Again and again rings out the refrain, "Hallelujah!" Five times in these few verses goes up the shout, "Hallelujah!" And to make certain we get it, in verse 5 we have, "Praise our God!" There's just a whole lot of praising going on. Paeans of praise have replaced laments of Judgment. Joy, delight, gladness, thanksgiving, honor, and glory have replaced gloom, despair, judgment, and damnation.
