The angel continues, saying that no lamps will ever be lit in Babylon again (for lamp see comments on “lampstand” in 1.12), nor will there be any more weddings, because there will be no one in the city to light a lamp or to get married; the city will be deserted. One may also translate “Never again will people see the light of a lamp shining in you; never again will they hear the voices of a man and woman getting married.”

Thy merchants were the great men of the earth: this and what follows in this verse is an explanation given by the angel to Babylon, telling her why she will be destroyed. Babylon (Rome) was the most powerful financial center in the world, and the businessmen were the richest and most powerful. For merchants see 18.3.

All nations were deceived by thy sorcery: for deceived see comments on “beguiling” in 2.20. For sorcery (or, “magic”) see 9.21. There is no justification for Good News Translation “false (magic).”

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on The Revelation to John. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1993. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .