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)
That is, the punishment about to be meted out to her in compliance with the “judgment,” or “sentence,” of ch. 17:1 (see on chs. 16:19; 17:1, 17). The nature of these “plagues” is set forth briefly in chs. 16:19; 17:16; 18:8, 21. Most of ch. 18 consists of a graphic but highly figurative and indirect description of these “plagues.” Whereas the first five of the seven last plagues are poured out primarily upon those who collaborate with Babylon—the rulers and the inhabitants of earth (ch. 17:1, 2, 8, 12)—the punishment of Babylon, the united apostate religious organizations of earth, takes place under the seventh plague (see on chs. 16:19; 17:1, 5, 16). The sixth plague prepares the way for that punishment.
Her sins.
In a general sense, all the sins she leads men to commit, but more specifically, the sins delineated in ch. 17:2-6 (see on v. 6). In ch. 18 Babylon is arraigned before the bar of divine justice on five counts:
This is the first of two reasons given for hastening out of mystical Babylon. Those who partake of the sins of Babylon obviously have a share of responsibility for them (cf. Jer. 51:6).
Come out of her.
Almost till the very close of time, apparently, some—perhaps many—of God’s people have not heard the call to come out of mystical Babylon. Compare God’s call to His people in ancient times to flee from literal Babylon (see Isa. 48:20; Jer. 50:8; 51:6, 45). As God’s people formerly came out of literal Babylon in order that they might return to Jerusalem, so His people today are called out of mystical Babylon in order that they may be accounted worthy to enter the New Jerusalem.
Presumably, all who are truly His people will hear His voice and heed His call (see on Matt. 7:21-27; cf. John 10:4, 5). This “voice” repeats the call of the second angel of Rev. 14:8 (see GC 390, 603; EW 277). The immediate reasons for this imperative call are stated in the last part of the verse.
Another voice.
That is, as the Greek implies, another angelic voice.