Chapter Thirty-Six/The Great City Devastated - Babylon Takes a Tumble

 John continues the account, telling us: "After these things I saw another angel descending from heaven, with great authority; and the earth was lightened up from his glory. And he cried out with a strong voice, saying: 'She has fallen Babylon the Great has fallen.' " (Revelation 18:1, 2a) It is the second time that John hears that angelic announcement. (See Revelation 14:8.) This time, however, its significance is emphasized by the magnificence of the heavenly angel, for his glory lights up the whole earth! Who can he be? Centuries earlier the prophet Ezekiel, reporting on a heavenly vision stated that "the earth itself shone because of his [Jehovah's] glory. (Ezekiel 43:2) The only angel to shine with glory comparable t0 Jehovah's would be the Lord Jesus, who is "the reflection of [God's] glory and the exact representation of his very being." (Hebrews 1:3) In 1914 'the Son of man arrived in his glory," and since that time Jesus, installed "on his glorious throne" in the heavens, has been exercising authority over the earth as Jehovah's associate King and Judge. It is fitting then, that he should announce the fall of Babylon the Great. -MATTHEW 25:31, 32. 

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