1. After these things I saw another angel coming down from heaven -

the angel comes from God. He comes down out of heaven rather than John being taken in the spirit. Compare this to 17:3. What will be seen will be seen from man’s vantage point rather than God’s.

having great authority, and the earth was illumined with his glory -

we can tell that the angel is from God.

2. And he cried with a mighty voice, saying, -

most certainly he is from God.

“Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great -

twice it is said for emphasis and assurance. An end is here. Babylon’s end is here.

And she has become a dwelling place of demons and a prison of every unclean spirit, and a prison of every unclean and hateful bird -

Babylon has become a gross and ugly place. Truly judgment has come upon it.

3. “For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the passion of her immorality, and the kings of the earth have committed acts of immorality with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich by the wealth of her sensuality.” -

all the things that make a city great were involved with this great harlot. This shows the real nature of this city and why it is deserving of the punishment that it receives.

4. And I heard another voice from heaven saying, -

God speaking.

“Come out of her, my people -

he speaks to the faithful. Notice again how the faithful are taken care of before the judgment comes.

that you may not participate in her sins and that you may not receive her plagues.-

the righteous are removed so that they don’t have to be tortured by the plagues of judgment.This is to give comfort to the faithful.

5. for her sins have piled up as high as heaven -

she is really wicked and desperately in need of judgment from God. It’s coming.

and God has remembered her iniquities. -

God doesn’t forget, He remembers. He is just, faithful and true. She’ll get what’s coming.

6. Pay her back even as she has paid, and give back to her double according to her deeds; in the cup which she has mixed, mix twice as much for her. -

she is rewarded for her deeds. Her judgment is doubled back like a boomerang. Her sins are in need of judgment, obedience is the occasion for the judgment of the disobedient. The needs of the righteous point out the wickedness of the unrighteous.

7. To the degree that she glorified herself and lived sensously to the same degree give her torment and mourning; for she says in her heart, I sit as a queen and I am not a widow, and will never see mourning. -

what she sows she reaps. She receives judgment that is fit for a queen. God is fair.

8. For this reason in one day her plagues will come, pestilence and mourning and famine, and she will be burned up with fire. -

HER JUDGMENT IS SEVERE.

for the Lord God who judges her is strong -

God is able. He is strong. He can do what it is that needs to be done. GOD IS STRONG.