And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. (Revelation 18:2)
In order that all might hear. The message of ch. 18 is to be proclaimed during the time of the loud cry of the third angel (GC 603, 604, 614, 615, 653), and thus merits the most careful study.
Literally, “demons” (see on Mark 1:23). “Babylon the great” is now wholly demon possessed (see on Rev. 17:5, 6, 14. cf. on Matt. 12:43-45). Perhaps, in a special sense, reference is here made to modern spiritism (see on Rev. 13:13; Rev. 13:13, 14; cf. EW 273, 274; GC 558, 588, 624).
Metaphor is graphically added to metaphor to intensify the description of Babylon’s utter perversion and apostasy. In literary form ch. 18 reflects the structure of ancient Hebrew poetry (see Vol. III, p. 23).