Revelation 18:13

Armenian Eastern Bible 1994

կինամոն, ամէն տեսակ խունկ եւ անուշահոտ իւղ, կնդրուկ, գինի, ձէթ, ազնիւ ալիւր եւ ցորեն, եւ ամէն ունեցուածք՝ արջառ ու

What Does This Mean?

This verse lists various goods and people involved in the trade of a great city, which symbolizes wickedness and corruption. It highlights how this city relies on worldly wealth and exploitation to thrive.

Explained for Children

Imagine if there was a big store that sold everything from yummy spices to horses, but it also sold people as slaves. This verse is talking about such a bad place that does not care about right or wrong.

Historical Background

The Book of Revelation was written by John the Apostle around 96 AD. It was addressed to seven churches in Asia Minor and serves as a warning against the corrupting influence of material wealth and power, reflecting issues relevant to the early Christian communities facing Roman persecution.

Living It Out Today

Today, this verse can remind us about not letting our pursuit of wealth and possessions blind us from seeing the value in human life. For example, we should resist the temptation to exploit others for financial gain or ignore social injustices.

Topics

• materialism
• justice
• sin
• warning
• corruption
• exploitation

Related Verses

• Ezekiel 27:15
• Proverbs 31:10
• Revelation 18:9-10
• Leviticus 25:44-46
• Matthew 25:40

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are slaves mentioned alongside goods like spices?

This highlights how human beings were treated as mere commodities in the trade system, emphasizing the corruption of prioritizing wealth over humanity.

What does Revelation 18:13 teach about materialism?

It warns against allowing an excessive focus on material possessions to overshadow moral and ethical considerations in our lives.

How can we apply this verse in today's society?

We should strive for justice and fairness, ensuring that economic activities do not exploit or harm others, especially the vulnerable.

What historical context influenced Revelation 18:13?

The early Christian communities faced Roman oppression and commercial exploitation, which served as a backdrop for John's message against materialistic societies.