Revelation 18:23
Revelation 18, Page 22

Bible, KJV Translation
18:23  And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee: for thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived.

Re-evaluation Translation
18:23  The enlightenment of Yehuveh’s word and instruction and the clarity of whole family leaders will never again be present in the collapsed economic system; for its businessmen were the honored men of the earth; for by their drugs and psychic confusion all nations were deceived.

Significant Words and Comments:
Commentary on Revelation 18:23 (4 July 2008):  “The light of a candle,” is “the enlightenment of Yehuveh’s instruction.” Light is from phos [G5457], meaning “light; anything emitting light, a star; fire because it is light and shed light; a lamp or torch; brightness; the power of understanding, moral and spiritual truth,” and used three times in Revelation [18:23; 21:24; 22:5]. Candle is from luchnos [G3088], meaning “a lamp, candle,” and used three times in Revelation [18:23; 21:23; 22:5]. We know from Torah that: “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” “Thou through Thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me.” “The commandment of Yehuveh is pure, enlightening the eyes.” “For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life.” Psalms 119:105, 98; 19:8; Proverbs 6:23.
       
“Shall be heard no more at all in thee,” ever again! No more at all, see notes on the finality of this phrase at Revelation 18:14. In discussing the collapse of the global socio-economic system, this phrase is repeated three times in Revelation 18:22 and twice here in Revelation 18:23.
       
“The voice of the bridegroom and of the bride,” that is, while this may be speaking of “the clarity of marriage and the roles of both groom and bride,” when you go deeper it speaks of “the clarity of completion/perfection for both family leaders and those who support them.” Voice, is discussed in notes on Revelation 4:1. Bridegroom is from numphios [G3566, from numphe, bride, G3565], meaning “bridegroom,” and used only here in Revelation. Bride is from numphe [G3565], meaning “a betrothed woman, a bride; a recently married woman, young wife; a young woman; a daughter-in-law,” and used four times in Revelation [18:23; 21:2, 9; 22:17]. In Hebrew, the counterpart word is kallah [H3618], meaning “a bride (as if perfect); hence a son’s wife.” Kallah is from the primary root kalal [H3634], “to be complete,” which is used only twice in Scripture: “Thy borders are in the midst of the seas, thy builders have perfected thy beauty.” “The men of Arvad with thine army were upon thy walls round about, and the Gammadims were in thy towers: they hanged their shields upon thy walls round about; they have made thy beauty perfect.” Ezekiel 27:4, 11. It’s companion word, kalal [H3635] is used seven times in Ezra in regard to building and completing the wall around the restored city. Ezra 4:12, 13, 16; 5:3, 9, 11; 6:14.
       
“For thy merchants were the great men of the earth,” is both a definition and an explanation. Those who have produced and distributed the material wealth of the world in co-operation with the World Trade Organization have become rich through their enterprises and exploitations, and with this wealth has come power and influence. Thus they have become the great, the influential, the powerful men of the world. Great men is from megistantes [G3175], meaning “the grandees, magnates, nobles, chief men; the associates or courtiers of a king,” and is used only in Revelation 6:15 and 18:23. Merchants is discussed in notes on Revelation; earth is discussed by Revelation 5:13.
       
“For by thy sorceries were all nations deceived,” that is, “by drug production and distribution, and by involvement with psychic advisors, international marketing has deceived and seduced all nations.” Sorceries are discussed in notes on Revelation 9:21. Until we are fully delivered from this extortion system, we will not fully understand the deception and confusion created by drug uses—both “legal” medicinal drugs and illicit drugs—some of the most corrupting and destructive of all sorceries.


Gael Bataman
Originally Written:               4 July 2008
Latest Update:                     4 July 2008


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