Step still to come (one reading among others)
The Fall of Babylon and the Mourning of the Merchants of the Earth (Rev 18)
? Not yet happened, no date
See the full entry: sources, objections, answersIn short
The announcement. In the book of Revelation, near the end of the 1st century, John announces the fall of Babylon the great, ruined "in one hour," and the mourning of the merchants of the earth, because no one buys their merchandise anymore.
What happened. In the book, this fall follows the scene where the woman is burned by the ten kings. The two scenes are very similar, with the same name and the same end by fire, but the text does not say that they are one and the same. Already fulfilled, under way, or still to come? Readings differ: it is for you to judge.
What is still debated. the list of goods is that of Rome's trade in John's time, and some see in it the fall of Rome. Luxury and the selling of human beings exist in every era: they are not enough to identify Babylon.
Main objection (in French for now)
Les marchandises énumérées (Ap 18:12-13) sont celles du commerce de l’Empire romain au Ier siècle : la lecture prétériste y voit la chute de Rome, et le texte ne dit pas qu’il vise un système moderne.
The text (World English Bible)
After these things, I saw another angel coming down out of the sky, having great authority. The earth was illuminated with his glory. He cried with a mighty voice, saying, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, and she has become a habitation of demons, a prison of every unclean spirit, and a prison of every unclean and hated bird! For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her sexual immorality, the kings of the earth committed sexual immorality with her, and the merchants of the earth grew rich from the abundance of her luxury.” I heard another voice from heaven, saying, “Come out of her, my people, that you have no participation in her sins, and that you don’t receive of…
Rev 18:1-4
The kings of the earth who committed sexual immorality and lived wantonly with her will weep and wail over her, when they look at the smoke of her burning, standing far away for the fear of her torment, saying, ‘Woe, woe, the great city, Babylon, the strong city! For your judgment has come in one hour.’ The merchants of the earth weep and mourn over her, for no one buys their merchandise any more: merchandise of gold, silver, precious stones, pearls, fine linen, purple, silk, scarlet, all expensive wood, every vessel of ivory, every vessel made of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble; and cinnamon, incense, perfume, frankincense, wine, olive oil, fine flour, wheat, cattl…
Rev 18:9-19
A mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and cast it into the sea, saying, “Thus with violence will Babylon, the great city, be thrown down, and will be found no more at all. The voice of harpists, minstrels, flute players, and trumpeters will be heard no more at all in you. No craftsman of whatever craft will be found any more at all in you. The sound of a mill will be heard no more at all in you. The light of a lamp will shine no more at all in you. The voice of the bridegroom and of the bride will be heard no more at all in you, for your merchants were the princes of the earth; for with your sorcery all the nations were deceived. In her was found the blood of prophets and …
Rev 18:21-24