Useful Bible Studies > Revelation Commentary > chapter 18
There are two kinds of evil behaviour in the world.
One kind is when a person chooses on purpose to do evil acts. For example, a person might decide that he hates God. Therefore, he serves the devil, and on purpose he carries out every kind of evil deed. This is the kind of wicked behaviour that antichrist (Christ’s great enemy) will carry out. Like the devil, he will want everyone to behave in this awful manner.
The other kind of evil behaviour is the natural result of our human nature. It appears whenever people follow their own selfish desires. People may not intend to do anything wrong, but their wrong desires cause them to do evil things (James 1:13-15).
For example, people drink too much alcohol and then they act foolishly. Or, people carry out wrong sex acts because of their strong desires. Or, people love money and so they do evil things (1 Timothy 6:10).
In Galatians 5:19-21, Paul gives a list of such behaviour. He explains the reason for it. People are serving themselves and not God. They are following their own desires and not God’s Holy Spirit. Paul warned Christians strongly against such behaviour (1 Corinthians 10:6-10).
It is behaviour of this kind that Revelation 18:3 refers to. It may not sound as terrible as the antichrist’s acts, but it is still the cause of some very wicked acts (18:24). Wrong desires even cause murders.
This kind of wrong behaviour has spread through the whole world. It affects the nations, and it even affects their kings or rulers. Trade is not wrong, but it often encourages people to follow wrong desires. Money and wealth are not wrong, but the love of money causes all kind of evil acts. Political power is not wrong, but the desire for it often causes important people to act in the most evil manner.
Next part: God urges his people to escape from Babylon (Revelation 18:4)
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© 2016, Keith Simons.