Revelation 16:19 Meaning and Explanation
“And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The great city splits, the nations' cities fall, and Babylon is made to drink the cup of God's wrath.
What Does Revelation 16:19 Mean?
The earthquake splits the great city into three parts, and the cities of the nations collapse. Then 'great Babylon,' the symbol of proud human power arrayed against God, is remembered before Him and made to drink the cup of His fierce wrath. The judgment long deferred has come fully due.
To 'come in remembrance before God' does not mean He had forgotten, but that the time for reckoning has arrived. The cup, an image of judgment poured out, is now given to the city that intoxicated the nations with her rebellion. The proud structures people trust are revealed as fragile before God. The reader is sobered to see how surely God brings down what exalts itself against Him, and is drawn instead to build a life on the kingdom that endures.
Frequently Asked Questions About Revelation 16:19
What does Revelation 16:19 mean?
The great city splits, the nations' cities fall, and Babylon is made to drink the cup of God's wrath.