Kings and Merchants Weep at the Fall of Babylon (Revelation 18:9-16)

The Kings Bewail and Lament (Rev 18:9-10)

For more than 100 years, the leaders of modern nations called “the ten kings of the earth” (Rev 17:12) have spiritually fornicated with the great whore of false religion. (Rev 17:2, 12) Through this illicit relationship, the ten kings have become increasingly powerful as they fight against the Lamb (Rev 17:14), even as they demoralize the world in the image of Modern Babylon. When Babylon falls physically and literally burns, the kings are one of three groups of people that will mourn her loss. Revelation 18:9-10 states: “The kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning, Standing afar off for the fear of her torment … for in one hour is thy judgment come.”

The sudden fall and burning of Babylon is “the calamity” spoken of in D&C 1:17, which states: “Wherefore, I the Lord, knowing the calamity which should come upon the inhabitants of the earth, called upon my servant Joseph Smith, Jun., and spake unto him from heaven, and gave him commandments.” Many scriptures talk about and warn of this remarkable calamity that will be unparalleled in the history of the earth. (See e.g., Mal 4:1; JS-H 1:37; D&C 29:9; 64:24; 133:41, 64; 3 Ne 25:1) Joseph Seiss has said: “The fall of Great Babylon is one of the most marvelous events of time. More is said about it in the Scriptures than perhaps any one great secular occurrence. And when it comes to pass the whole universe is thrilled at the sight.” (The Apocalypse: Lectures on the Book of Revelation, 416)

When the kings see the smoke of Babylon’s burning and stand afar off for the fear of her torment, this is not the moral equivalent of them repenting and physically fleeing Babylon for the security of Zion, which the Lord commands in Revelation 18:4. The ten kings share much of the blame for the wicked conditions in Babylon, and they will live only long enough to see Babylon burn.

The Merchants Weep and Mourn (Rev 18:11-16)

The merchants of Modern Babylon are the second group of people who will “stand afar off for fear of her torment, weeping and wailing.” The merchants are the purveyors of the worldly goods of Babylon that John symbolically describes in seven different categories of luxury items that are bought and sold in Babylon. When Babylon falls, the merchants, who are made rich by selling her wares, “weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more.” In other words, the merchants weep and mourn for the loss of their business and profits, not for the destruction of their clientele.

When describing the luxury items of Babylon, John identifies four specific types of merchandise in each of the seven categories except the seventh category. This category has just two types of specific property that include the bodies and souls of men. This symbolizes enslaved people in Modern Babylon. This depicts human trafficking as well as people who voluntarily enslave themselves to Satan through their own carnal lusts and addictions to drugs, alcohol, tobacco, pornography, and other sexual addictions. The merchants and purveyors of these harmful and addictive products will grieve when their merchandise suddenly becomes worthless and is destroyed. They will stand afar off, fearful of their own destruction that will befall them suddenly as citizens in Modern Babylon.

For a deeper dive into the physical fall of Babylon and the weeping kings and merchants, check out my podcasts from August 2 and 4, 2026.

August 2, 2026 — Podcast

August 4, 2026 — Podcast