These verses describe the last part of John's vision of what will happen at the end of time. Babylon is a global powerbase of politics and commerce which will eventually so constrain the world's leaders, that they will destroy it; albeit as the unwitting agents of God (Revelation 17:16-18) … only to find that there is nothing left (Revelation 18:9-11). It will be God's final judgement on the world. Millstones are a Biblical sign of judgement (Matthew 18:6). In this vision, the millstone is Babylon which will sink under its own weight never to be seen again, as in Jeremiah 51:63-64.

Politics and trade form a platform for an ordered society. Paul urges that we pray even for leaders who do not honour Christ so that, under their rule, wickedness may be restrained, and the gospel may be able to grow (1 Timothy 2:1). But there will come a point when God's patience with unrepentant people will be exhausted. At that time, not only will global corporations and international governments be unable to function, but everything which represents normal humanity will collapse. Music, an example of the arts which bring such joy, will disappear (Ezekiel 26:13). Those synthetic activities which unite logic and emotion, abstract ideas and creative expression, will have no rationale in a world where the Creator of beauty has been rejected.

The usual structures of society will cease to exist. Skilled and unskilled workers will have no work and no pay. The characteristic sounds of food preparation will be silent. The world will be a dark place, even lamps will not emit light (very different to heaven where the Lamb is the light of that city - Revelation 21:23). The joy of loving relationships will disappear; there will be no wedding celebrations (Jeremiah 7:34). Trade, money and possessions had meant everything to a Christless material world, but it did not know the value of being made in God's image and of relating according to His loving wisdom. The hidden work of Satan through materialism will lure minds and hearts; proving to be an empty and destructive spirituality to justify the slaughter of God's people.

Three reasons for the God-authorised destruction of the world's systems are identified: corruption by political and commercial leaders who exploit the poor; unstoppable evil corrupting every part of normal life; the hate-filled violence against God's people. Interestingly: science cannot see the universe continuing indefinitely; the arts produce plays, films, books and music about an apocalypse to come and Armageddon. But it is already plain to read in Revelation. It is a warning to the church to abandon playing with the world, which will only entrap the unwary to their ruin (Revelation 3:2-3). It is an encouragement to the church under persecution to know that God will avenge the dishonour and violence meted out on Christ's very own people (Revelation 6:10-11). There is no message to the world (John 17:9). It is blind and deaf. Rejecting the gospel of Jesus and refusing to repent, it will run its own course to destruction (Philippians 3:19). But there is a message for the church to share that gospel with the world because Jesus is its only hope (John 12:32).