This chapter is characterized by high drama, and is presented in a number of speaking parts. St. John appears at the beginning (Revelation 18:1-4), reporting his vision, but then the narration is taken over by one who has a higher knowledge of the future events. In the course of the chapter a number of voices are heard and they are addressed to a number of different persons.

First we get a glimpse of the United States prior to the end of time. When the angel says, "Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen" (Revelation 18:2), he does not mean that it has been conquered, but that it has become corrupt. This is clear from "Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.  For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies" (Revelation 18:2-3). Later, the collapse of the United States is indicated when an angel throws a millstone into the sea, "And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, 'Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all" (Revelation 18:21).

As the end approaches, the message spreads for the faithful to abandon the United States, "Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.  For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities" (Revelation 18:4-5).

Next, the angel prays to God to exercise his justice, "Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double.  How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, 'I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow'" (Revelation 18:6-7). The pride of the United States is clear from this.

The angel then reports to St. John about the end of the United States "Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her" (Revelation 18:4-5), and about the reaction the rest of the world has to this event. First we see the lament of foreign governments "And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning,  Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, 'Alas, alas that great city Babylon, that mighty city! For in one hour is thy judgment come.'" (Revelation 18:9-10). Next, we see the reaction of businessmen, "And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more...The merchants of these things, which were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing, And saying, 'Alas, alas that great city, that was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls! For in one hour so great riches is come to naught.'" (Revelation 18:11, 15-17). Then, the reaction of shippers, "And every shipmaster, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off, And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, 'What city is like unto this great city! And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, 'Alas, alas that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness! For in one hour is she made desolate.'" (Revelation 18:17-19). The long catalogue of merchandise (Revelation 18:12-14) is not meant to be exhaustive, merely indicative of the wealth of the goods and the great variety of them. Similarly, the list of services at Revelation 18:22-23

Next the narrating angel addresses the hosts of heaven, "Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye holy apostles and prophets; for God hath avenged you on her" (Revelation 18:20).

In short, this chapter predicts the fall of the United States through a collapse in trade, perhaps initiated by a crash in the stock market, a sudden plunge like a millstone thrown into the sea, "a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, 'Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down" (Revelation 18:21) but also through violence, "Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her" (Revelation 18:8). Because of this it may be wise to heed the angel's advice, "Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues" (Revelation 18:4). There may be additional reason for haste since the collapse is reported to happen very quickly, "For in one hour is thy judgment come...For in one hour so great riches is come to naught...in one hour is she made desolate" (Revelation 18:10, 17, 19). We already know that "one hour" may refer to a literal hour, or to some short definable period (a day, a month) or episode (a battle, a storm, an earthquake). We do not know the exact day and hour, but can make a prudent guess as to how soon these events will transpire.

The final line, "And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth" (Revelation 18:24), bears a number of meanings. On the literal level, it points to the fact that many of the relics of the great saints have been gathered into the United States at places such as St. Anthony's Chapel in Pittsburgh, PA (see http://home.earthlink.net/~saintsalive/motherhouse.html for more references)--a place once known as 'Hell with the lid taken off' (see, for example, http://www.clpgh.org/clp/Pennsylvania/nasig.html#ec) On a symbolic level, it indicates first that the United States has inherited the sins of the past because, rather than correcting the course of history, the U.S. has simply continued further down the same wicked path. It further indicates that the full extent of the wickedness of the United States will only become apparent after it has collapsed. Its secret files will be opened. Its abominations made visible to all.

Note: (added September 15, 2001): The terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon on September 9, 2001 may be exactly what this chapter is talking about. The attacks occurred roughly in the course of an hour. They hit the sea port city of New York. They disrupted the trade of all manner of goods. If this is the case, it does not mean that the terrorists are in any way 'the good guys,' or that the innocent people who were killed or injured were 'bad' or in any way worse than those of us who were mere witnesses. We may ask how God could let this happen. We are told elsewhere that God punishes children for the sins of their fathers (Exodus 20:5). In this case, it may be that the citizens are paying a price for the sins of their leaders. Let us not sit like the harlot Bablyon who "saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow"(Revelation 18:7). We must follow the path of the citizens of Nineveh who repented and so curbed God's wrath (Jonah3:4-10).

If my interpretation is correct and these events are now unfolding, it is especially important to pay attention to my warnings about any involvement in the battles to come or, if you won't take my word, consider reading those in the Bible (for example, the books of Zephaniah, Daniel, Amos, Isaiah and others).