Who is weeping in Revelation 18?

Asked by: Arne Cormier  |  Last update: June 10, 2026
Score: 4.5/5 (15 votes)

In Revelation 18, primarily the merchants of the earth, including shipmasters and traders, are weeping and mourning the fall of the great city Babylon because their lucrative trade and wealth derived from her are lost forever, symbolizing the collapse of a corrupt, materialistic world system. They lament the sudden ruin of luxury, gold, spices, and even slaves (human souls), realizing their prosperity was tied to this fallen system, as seen in verses 11-19.

Who is referred to as the weeping prophet?

Jeremiah was the son of Hilkiah, a priest from the land of Benjamin in the village of Anathoth. The difficulties he encountered, as described in the books of Jeremiah and Lamentations, have prompted scholars to refer to him as "the weeping prophet". Jeremiah was called to prophecy c.

Who is Revelation 18 talking about?

In Revelation 18, we see God's holy judgment upon the evil, lustful, materialistic, commercial system of Babylon. Revelation 17 and 18 are a unit; I like to think of them as two sides of the same coin. In Revelation 17, the religious system was judged by God and destroyed.

Why is John weeping in Revelation?

John wept loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll, but one of the elders comforted him because Jesus was worthy to open it. Revelation 5 tells us John saw a scroll in God's right hand. The scroll had writing in it and on its back. Also, the scroll was sealed with seven seals.

Who was weeping in the Bible?

However, if someone were known for his crying, it would be the prophet, Jeremiah. He was characterized as “The Weeping Prophet.” Of course, this label doesn't suggest that he was very unstable emotionally.

Verse by Verse Bible Study | Revelation 18 | Gary Hamrick

26 related questions found

What is the biblical meaning of weeping?

Weeping (בּכַי, κλαίω). The ancient Hebrews Wept and made their troubles to appear openly, in mourning and affliction; they were not of opinion that courage and greatness of soul consisted in seeming to be insensible in adversity, or in restraining their tears.

Why was Elijah called the weeping prophet?

📖 Bible Recap - Week 37: Jeremiah Jeremiah is often called “the weeping prophet.” Why? Because his heart broke for the people of Judah. He saw their rebellion against God, warned them of coming judgment, and yet they refused to listen.

Why did the angel instruct John to stop weeping?

But, one of the elders told John, stop weeping, because the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David had overcome so as to take the book and break its seals. John turned to see the One worthy, but what greeted His eyes was not a Lion, but a Lamb standing as it had been slain.

What city will be destroyed in the book of Revelation?

The city prophesied to be destroyed in the Book of Revelation is called "Babylon the Great," a symbolic name for a corrupt, anti-God system representing oppressive political, commercial, and religious power, often interpreted as Rome by early Christians but also as a future world system.
 

Who is the woman in Revelation 18?

The woman in Revelation 18, known as "Mystery, Babylon the Great, the Mother of Harlots," is a symbolic figure representing a corrupt, wealthy, idolatrous, and oppressive global system, often interpreted as a fusion of decadent worldly power and false religion, especially linked to the city of Rome due to its "seven hills" and control over kings, but also symbolizing <<<Apostate religion>>><<Apostate religion>> and corrupt political/economic systems throughout history and the end times. She embodies materialism, spiritual prostitution, and the persecution of God's people, facing divine judgment for her immorality and wealth.
 

What does it mean to not eat meat with its lifeblood in it?

The phrase "you must not eat meat with its lifeblood in it" (Genesis 9:4) means you shouldn't eat flesh that still contains blood, as blood symbolizes life, and the command reflects respect for life, preventing cruelty (like eating from a living animal), and establishing blood's sacred role in atonement, requiring careful draining or cooking out of meat. It's a foundational command, often linked to the Noahide Laws, emphasizing life's sacredness. 

What city is destroyed in Revelation 18?

In Revelation 18, the city destroyed by God's judgment is the symbolic, corrupt, materialistic, and idolatrous system referred to as "Babylon the Great," depicted as a powerful, luxurious city that has corrupted nations through its commerce and spiritual fornication, rather than the literal ancient city in Iraq. This "Babylon" represents a vast, evil global system (both commercial and religious) that stands in opposition to God and His people, ultimately facing total destruction in a single hour. 

Who is the weeping?

The prophet Jeremiah is known as the “weeping prophet” because in much of his writings we read the words of an extremely grief-stricken man. He pours his heart out to God in such immense anguish that often it can be easy to mistakenly question where his faith is.

Why is Ezekiel called the weeping prophet?

He is often called the "weeping prophet" because of his sorrow over the sins of his people. Ezekiel: Ezekiel was a prophet during the Babylonian captivity. He prophesied about the judgment of God on Israel and the surrounding nations. He also had many visions of God's glory and power.

What defines a prophet's weeping?

Jeremiah is known as the "Weeping Prophet" due to his deep sorrow and lament over the impending destruction of Judah and the consequences of their sin, as well as the persecution he faced for delivering God's message. He expressed intense grief, both for the nation and for the personal pain of his prophetic calling.

How many wives did Joseph the father of Jesus have?

Joseph, the earthly father of Jesus, had one wife, Mary, according to the canonical Bible, though some traditions (especially Orthodox) suggest he was an older widower with children from a prior marriage to explain Jesus' "brothers," a theory arising from apocryphal texts like the Protoevangelium of James to uphold Mary's perpetual virginity.
 

Did Mary Magdalene have a baby with Jesus?

“I don't think that there is any credibility in these claims at all,” Goodacre said. “There is simply no evidence in this text or anywhere else that Jesus was married to Mary Magdalene, much less that they had a couple of children.”

Who was the woman in love with Jesus?

Most prominent among them were Mary Magdalene, Joanna, the wife of Chuza, and Susanna. There were many others, and we can't underestimate what these unnamed women did for Jesus' ministry.

What mental illness did Jesus have?

According to the authors, in the case of Jesus, it could have been: paranoid schizophrenia, bipolar and schizoaffective disorders. They hypothesized that Jesus may have sought death through "suicide-by-proxy" (indirect suicide).

Can you go to heaven if you were not baptized?

Whether baptism is required for heaven is a major point of debate in Christianity, with many believing that faith in Jesus alone secures salvation, citing the thief on the cross, while other interpretations, often Catholic, emphasize that baptism is essential for rebirth and entering God's kingdom, though grace through faith remains paramount. Many denominations view baptism as a crucial outward sign of inward faith and an act of obedience, not the means of salvation itself, but some biblical passages and traditions suggest it's necessary for justification. 

Why did God forbid Jeremiah to marry?

"The prohibition against marriage is to underscore the coming death and destruction that will face parents and children. Even burial will be denied the dead. The theme of lament is repeated in God's refusal to allow Jeremiah to intercede on the people's behalf (7.16; 14.11-12; 15.1).

Why did God choose Elijah to be a prophet?

Why Did God Choose Elijah? It's easy to think that Elijah was morally or spiritually superior to us, but he wasn't. Elijah needed correction, encouragement, and the knowledge that other believers were standing against Baal as well. God uses ordinary people to do extraordinary things.

Why is Jeremiah a weeping prophet?

Jeremiah is called the "weeping prophet" because of his profound grief over Judah's impending destruction and sin, famously wishing for eyes like fountains to weep for his people (Jeremiah 9:1). His ministry was marked by tears, not just for the nation's rebellion but also for the personal suffering, rejection, and loneliness he endured while faithfully delivering God's unpopular message of judgment, making him a physical embodiment of God's sorrow.