Chapter
Verse

Revelation 18:22

ESV and the sound of harpists and musicians, of flute players and trumpeters, will be heard in you no more, and a craftsman of any craft will be found in you no more, and the sound of the mill will be heard in you no more,
NIV The music of harpists and musicians, pipers and trumpeters, will never be heard in you again. No worker of any trade will ever be found in you again. The sound of a millstone will never be heard in you again.
NASB And the sound of harpists, musicians, flute players, and trumpeters will never be heard in you again; and no craftsman of any craft will ever be found in you again; and the sound of a mill will never be heard in you again;
CSB The sound of harpists, musicians, flutists, and trumpeters will never be heard in you again; no craftsman of any trade will ever be found in you again; the sound of a mill will never be heard in you again;
NLT The sound of harps, singers, flutes, and trumpets will never be heard in you again. No craftsmen and no trades will ever be found in you again. The sound of the mill will never be heard in you again.
KJV And the voice of harpers, and musicians, and of pipers, and trumpeters, shall be heard no more at all in thee; and no craftsman, of whatsoever craft he be, shall be found any more in thee; and the sound of a millstone shall be heard no more at all in thee;
NKJV The sound of harpists, musicians, flutists, and trumpeters shall not be heard in you anymore. No craftsman of any craft shall be found in you anymore, and the sound of a millstone shall not be heard in you anymore.

What does Revelation 18:22 mean?

These verses continue to poetically describe the fall of "Babylon," used here in reference to the political and economic empire of the "beast" of the end times (Revelation 13:1–10). Revelation mentions many of the common components of a city of culture in explaining the total annihilation of this evil empire. That includes noting that its music, industry, and production will all be dissolved.

Music can be used to honor God or to dishonor Him. Psalm 150 calls upon God's people to praise Him with the trumpet, the lute and harp, the tambourine, strings and pipe, and cymbals. Music that honors God lifts the human spirit and assists worshipers to praise God. However, music can dishonor God. Nebuchadnezzar used music to signal his subjects to fall down and worship the image he had erected on the plain of Dura. The king's edict announced: "You are commanded, O peoples, nations, and languages, that when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, you are to fall down and worship the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up" (Daniel 3:4–5). Perhaps the beast used music to summon his subjects to worship him. Or he may have used it in connection with sensual practices. However, music is never heard again in fallen Babylon.

Artisans will no longer practice their trades in Babylon. Tools and craftsmen will be completely destroyed when God judges the city. Also, the sound of grinding grain will cease. There will no longer be a need for food because the population will cease to exist.
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