Devine Scripture

Revelation 14:8

What does Revelation 14:8 mean?

A plain-English look at Revelation 14:8 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Revelation 14:8 means

A second angel follows with the verdict: Babylon the great has fallen. This symbol names the world’s proud, idolatrous system that intoxicates nations with its immoral alliances and spiritual unfaithfulness. Its seductive influence is pictured as wine that leads to wrath, because its pleasures draw people into rebellion against God. Declaring Babylon’s fall in advance underscores the certainty of God’s judgment. What seems unshakable on earth is already doomed in heaven’s decree. For believers, this brings perspective: do not be charmed by a power God has sentenced; its practices invite wrath. The announcement exposes the source of the world’s corruption and prepares the way for personal warning.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And another, a second angel, followed, saying, Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, that hath made all the nations to drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And another, a second angel, followed, saying, Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, that hath made all the nations to drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And a second angel came after, saying, Destruction has come to Babylon the great, which gave to all the nations the wine of the wrath of her evil ways.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

And another messenger did follow, saying, `Fall, fall, did Babylon, the great city, because of the wine of the wrath of her whoredom she hath given to all nations to drink.'

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And another angel followed, saying: That great Babylon is fallen, is fallen; which made all nations to drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And another, a second, angel followed, saying, Great Babylon has fallen, has fallen, which of the wine of the fury of her fornication has made all nations drink.

Context

Coming after the first angel’s call to worship the Creator (verses 6–7), verse 8 targets the counterfeit: the global, corrupting power called Babylon the great. The declaration of its fall provides a macro-level judgment that will later expand in Revelation. Here it serves to strip Babylon of legitimacy before the third angel delivers a direct ultimatum in verses 9–11 regarding worship of the beast. The flow thus moves from God’s rightful claim, to the fate of the rebellious system, to the fate of individuals who align with that system. After these warnings, the text will pivot to the endurance and blessedness of the saints (verses 12–13).

v.7and he saith with a great voice, Fear God, and give him glory; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made the heaven and the earth and sea and fountains of waters.

v.8This passage

v.9And another angel, a third, followed them, saying with a great voice, If any man worshippeth the beast and his image, and receiveth a mark on his forehead, or upon his hand,

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Revelation 13:15

    And it was given unto him to give breath to it, even to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as should not worship the image of the beast should be killed.

  • Revelation 11:8

    And their dead bodies lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified.

  • Revelation 19:2

    for true and righteous are his judgments; for he hath judged the great harlot, her that corrupted the earth with her fornication, and he hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand.

  • Ezekiel 16:15

    But thou didst trust in thy beauty, and playedst the harlot because of thy renown, and pouredst out thy whoredoms on every one that passed by; his it was.

  • Revelation 17:2

    with whom the kings of the earth committed fornication, and they that dwell in the earth were made drunken with the wine of her fornication.

  • Revelation 18:2

    And he cried with a mighty voice, saying, Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, and is become a habitation of demons, and a hold of every unclean spirit, and a hold of every unclean and hateful bird.

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