1After this, in the vision I saw another angel, who had great authority, coming down from heaven. The earth became bright because he was shining so intensely/brightly.
2He shouted with a very loud voice, “ God is about to completely destroy DOU all the very evil cities (OR, the very evil city) that Babylon represents. As a result, all kinds of evil spirits DOU will live there, and all kinds of foul and detestable DOU birds will live there.
3God will destroy those cities because their rulers have persuaded the people of MTY all nations to act very immorally and idolatrously with the people of MET those cities, just like a prostitute persuades men to drink strong wine and then commit fornication with her. The rulers of the earth have also acted immorally and idolatrously with the people of MTY those cities. The merchants of the earth have become rich because the people of those cities strongly desired and bought from the merchants many ◄luxuries/expensive things►.”
4I heard Jesus speak from heaven. He said, “My people, flee from those cities, in order that you do not sin as the people of those cities do. If you sin as they do, I will punish you as I will punish them.
5It is as though their sins have been piled {have piled} up to heaven, and God remembers them DOU, so now he will punish them MTY.”
6To the angels whom God assigned to punish those cities, Jesus said, “Pay back/Punish the people of those cities to the same extent that they harmed other people. Cause them to suffer twice as much as they caused other people to suffer DOU, MET.
7To the same extent that they have boasted about themselves and done the things that they wanted to do, to that extent torment them and cause them to grieve. Do that because in their minds they think, ‘We rule as queens! We are not widows, and we will never mourn as widows do’!
8So in one day terrible calamities/troubles will come upon them. The people in those cities will die, others will mourn for them, people will be hungry because there will be no food, and their cities will be burned up. The Lord God is able to punish those cities like that, because he is very powerful.”
9“The kings of the earth who have acted immorally with people of those cities and have lived with the people of those cities, doing just what they wanted to do, will weep and mourn DOU for them when they see the smoke of the fire that is burning those cities.
10They will stand far away from those cities, because they will be afraid that they will suffer just like the people of those cities are suffering. They will say, ‘Terrible things will happen to the awesome and mighty cities represented by Babylon! God will punish them suddenly and swiftly MTY!’
11The merchants of the earth will weep and will mourn DOU for those cities, because no one will ever again buy the things that they have to sell to the people in those cities.
12They sell ornaments made of gold, silver, precious stones, and pearls. They sell expensive cloth made of fine linen and silk, expensive cloth that is dyed purple and crimson. They sell all kinds of rare wood, all kinds of items made of ivory, costly wood, bronze, iron, and marble. They sell cinnamon, spice, perfume, frankincense, wine, olive oil, fine flour, and grain. They sell cattle, sheep, horses, and chariots. They even sell human beings SYN, DOU to become slaves.
14The merchants will say, ‘The good things you people longed to have are gone! All your luxurious and splendid DOU possessions have vanished!! They will be gone forever/You will never have them again LIT!’
15The merchants who sold these things and who had become rich by supplying them for those cities will stand far away, because they will be afraid that they will suffer just like the people of those cities are suffering. They will weep and mourn DOU,
16and they will say, ‘Terrible things DOU have happened to the awesome/great MET cities! They were like queens who dressed themselves in clothes made of MTY fine linen cloth and expensive cloth dyed purple and crimson, and who were adorned with gold, precious stones, and pearls.
17But suddenly and swiftly MTY God has destroyed these expensive things.’ Every ship captain, all people who travel by ship, all ◄sailors/those who work on ships►, and all others who earn their living by traveling on the ocean will stand far away from those cities.
18When they see the smoke of the fire that is burning those cities, they will shout, ‘No other cities have ever been so awesome!’ RHQ
19They will throw dust on their heads to show that they are sad, and they will shout, weep, and mourn DOU. They will say, ‘Terrible things have happened to the awesome/great cities, the cities that made all people who own ships that sail on the ocean become rich by carrying their costly ◄things for them to sell/merchandise►! God has suddenly and swiftly destroyed MTY those cities!’”
20Then someone spoke from heaven saying, “All you who live in heaven, rejoice over what has happened to the cities represented by Babylon! You who are God's people, including you apostles, you ◄prophets/who speak messages that come directly from God►, rejoice, because God has justly punished the people of those cities because they acted in an evil way toward you!”
21Then a mighty angel picked up a boulder the size of a large stone for grinding grain, and threw it into the ocean. Then he said, “O you people in APO the awesome/great cities represented by Babylon, your cities will be destroyed so that they will disappear just like that stone disappeared in the ocean! Your cities will be gone forever LIT!
22In your cities there will never again be anyone playing harps, singing, playing flutes, and blowing trumpets. There will no longer be any ◄skilled workers/craftsmen► making things. There will never again be people grinding grain at MTY the mills.
23No lamplight will ever again shine. There will never again be the happy voices of a bridegroom and his bride. God will destroy your cities because your merchants were the most deceitful men in the world. You persuaded them to deceive people of MTY all nations.
24You are also responsible for killing MTY the prophets and others of God's people. Indeed, you are the ones who are guilty for the deaths of all those who have been {whom others have} killed on the earth!”
