Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Revelation 14:8

"And another, a second angel, followed, saying, Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, that hath made all the nations to drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication." — Revelation 14:8 (ASV)

In anticipation of a more extended description in chs. 17–18, the fall of Babylon, the great anti-God system of idolatry, is announced. The actual fall does not occur until the final bowl judgment (16:19). There may be in 11:8 a previous allusion to Babylon as the “great city” (cf. 17:18).