Revelation 18 4

Revelation 18:4 kjv

And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.

Revelation 18:4 nkjv

And I heard another voice from heaven saying, "Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues.

Revelation 18:4 niv

Then I heard another voice from heaven say: "?'Come out of her, my people,' so that you will not share in her sins, so that you will not receive any of her plagues;

Revelation 18:4 esv

Then I heard another voice from heaven saying, "Come out of her, my people, lest you take part in her sins, lest you share in her plagues;

Revelation 18:4 nlt

Then I heard another voice calling from heaven, "Come away from her, my people.
Do not take part in her sins,
or you will be punished with her.

Revelation 18 verses

Revelation 18 4 Meaning

Revelation 18:4 reveals a divine, urgent warning to God's people to physically and spiritually separate themselves from "Babylon the Great." This command serves two crucial purposes: to prevent them from participating in Babylon's grave sins, which include idolatry, immorality, and opposition to God, and consequently, to protect them from suffering the devastating divine judgments (plagues) destined for this corrupt system. It underscores God's deep concern for the spiritual purity and physical safety of His covenant people amidst global apostasy and impending wrath.

Revelation 18 4 Context

Revelation 18 follows chapter 17, which identifies "Babylon the Great, the mother of prostitutes and of the abominations of the earth" as a symbolic harlot riding the scarlet beast. Chapter 18 then details the sudden and complete fall of this great city/system, describing its devastation as irreversible. This fall elicits mourning from earthly kings, merchants, and sailors who profited from its corruption and shared in its immoral splendor. Verse 4 serves as a dramatic interruption—a direct divine intervention preceding the lamentations—where God calls His covenant people out from Babylon before its destruction. Historically, for the original audience, "Babylon" could represent the Roman Empire with its imperial cult, economic power, and persecution of Christians, urging them to resist its seductive influence and oppressive demands. Spiritually, it signifies any earthly system or culture that is hostile to God, exalts itself above Him, and engages in wickedness. The immediate context of chapter 18 is a declaration of final judgment against this worldly anti-God system, making the call to "come out" a literal (if possible), spiritual, and ethical separation.

Revelation 18 4 Word analysis

• "Then I heard": John's auditory perception, signifying a divine communication. This is a common phrase in Revelation introducing a new vision or message.
• "another voice": (Greek: allēn phōnēn, ἄλλην φωνὴν). Implies distinct from the first angelic voice that declared Babylon's fall (Rev 18:2). This is a direct, urgent divine instruction.
• "from heaven": (Greek: ek tou ouranou, ἐκ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ). Signifies divine origin, supreme authority, and incontrovertible truth of the command.
• "say": Indicates a clear, audible message directed to believers.
• "Come out of her": (Greek: Exelthe ex autēs, Ἔξελθε ἐξ αὐτῆς). An imperative, forceful command for immediate action. The verb exerchomai means "to come out, go forth, depart." It demands disassociation, a drawing away from a location or influence.
• "my people": (Greek: ho laos mou, ὁ λαός μου). Emphasizes God's personal ownership and covenant relationship with believers. They are distinct from those identified with Babylon, underscoring their unique standing and God's protective love.
• "so that you will not share": (Greek: hina mē synkoinōnēsēte, ἵνα μὴ συνκοινωνήσητε). A purpose clause, explaining the why of the command. Synkoinoneo means "to have fellowship with, participate in, become a partner with." It highlights avoiding complicity.
• "her sins": (Greek: tōn hamartiōn autēs, τῶν ἁμαρτιῶν αὐτῆς). Refers to the manifold wicked deeds, idolatry, luxury, spiritual prostitution, persecution of saints, and corruption attributed to Babylon. Sharing means moral contamination.
• "so that you will not receive": (Greek: hina mē labēte, ἵνα μὴ λάβητε). Another purpose clause, detailing the second reason for separation—avoiding consequences. Lambanō here means to "experience, undergo, be allotted."
• "any of her plagues": (Greek: tōn plēgōn autēs, τῶν πληγῶν αὐτῆς). Refers to the specific divine judgments, the "strokes" or "scourges" that God inflicts upon Babylon, detailed elsewhere in Revelation as seals, trumpets, and bowls of wrath.

Word Groups Analysis:

• "Come out of her, my people": This phrase directly echoes Old Testament calls to flee from impending judgment, particularly Jeremiah's call to escape literal Babylon (Jer 50:8; 51:6, 45; Isa 52:11). It highlights divine rescue and a clear distinction between God's chosen and the wicked world system.
• "so that you will not share in her sins, so that you will not receive any of her plagues": This forms a cause-and-effect relationship, clearly outlining the dual dangers of spiritual contamination and physical/spiritual judgment. Participation in Babylon's deeds inevitably leads to sharing in her punishment. The verse presents God's mercy as extended through this protective warning.

Revelation 18 4 Bonus section

The call to "Come out of her, my people" highlights a fundamental principle woven throughout Scripture: God consistently distinguishes His people from the world and provides a way of escape from judgment. This is not merely an option but a divine command, essential for spiritual purity and survival. While "Babylon" in Revelation can be interpreted in various ways—from ancient Rome to any future global anti-Christ system—its symbolic weight transcends a single historical entity. It represents the alluring, pervasive spirit of rebellion against God, manifest in systems that corrupt humanity and persecute true worshippers. The urgency of the voice from heaven suggests that the time for this separation is immediate and non-negotiable, emphasizing God's mercy in providing an exit before the full force of judgment is unleashed. This command remains eternally relevant, continually challenging believers to evaluate their loyalties and ensure their primary allegiance is to the Kingdom of God, not the kingdom of this world.

Revelation 18 4 Commentary

Revelation 18:4 serves as a climactic divine imperative, a clarion call of separation amidst impending cosmic judgment. It underscores God's paternal care for His covenant people, urging them to sever ties with "Babylon the Great," which symbolizes any and all earthly systems characterized by corruption, idolatry, materialism, and persecution of the righteous. This "coming out" is multifaceted: it may involve physical disassociation from literal places of corruption when possible, but more profoundly, it necessitates a spiritual and moral disengagement. Believers are called to relinquish allegiance to Babylon's values, to reject its pervasive consumerism and immorality, and to denounce its oppression. The underlying logic is direct and stark: shared complicity in sin guarantees shared experience of judgment. God's unwavering justice demands this separation to protect His elect from both the stain of Babylon's wickedness and the accompanying weight of His righteous wrath. This verse stands as an eternal warning against compromise and a powerful reminder of the holiness required of God's people in a fallen world.

• Example 1: A Christian withdrawing from participation in a company whose practices are known to be exploitative or environmentally destructive, choosing ethical conduct over profit.
• Example 2: A believer prioritizing worship and fellowship with other saints over popular cultural trends that promote values contrary to biblical teachings.
• Example 3: Renouncing allegiance to political ideologies or leaders whose policies are rooted in injustice or open rebellion against God, even if it brings social or economic disadvantage.