Revelations 18.
Here John attempts to show the errors of the religion and the results it sponsored.
[1] And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory.
[2] And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, 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.
[3] 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.
Here John shows the fall of a great religion (Babylon the great is fallen); how the people of every nation have followed the teachings of this great religion, (have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication); how kings have courted the religion by allowing the religion to mislead the people (kings of the earth have committed fornication with her), and how the merchants have profited selling such as religious items (waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies).
[4] And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.
[5] For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.
[6] 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.
[7] How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she said in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow.
Here the voice from heaven asks the people to return to the one true God (to remember the Lord your God) and to turn away from the teachings of the false religion so that they will not be punished with it (that you not partake of her sins, and that you receive none of her plagues). Because the great religion has placed itself as mistress over all, and given herself so much glory, her punishment will be twofold.
[8] 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 judges her.
[9] 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,
[10] 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.
One hour should not be regarded as one literal hour; it could represent a small amount of time or a simple method which concluded in the downfall of the great religion. The kings of the earth (again not literal, it probably appertains to the heads of the religion who govern the religion in different countries).
[11] And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man will buy their merchandise any more:
Here the chapter reveals the fall in sales of religious items.
[12] The merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thyine wood, and all manner vessels of ivory, and all manner vessels of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble,
[13] And cinnamon, and odours, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men.
All manner of merchandise that sponsors the religion will no longer be sold.
[14] And the fruits that thy soul lusted after are departed from thee, and all things which were dainty and goodly are departed from thee, and you will find them no more at all.
The fruits referred to are spiritual fruits, such as the quest for eternal life (that thy soul lusted after), and once it is accepted that this religion can not provide eternal life, then all that was thought good about the religion will be forgotten.
[15] The merchants of these things, which were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing,
[16] 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!
[17] For in one hour so great riches is come to nought. And every shipmaster, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off,
[18] And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like unto this great city!
[19] 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.
The merchant and seamen referred to represent those who made profit from the religion; those who sold its wares and those who sponsored the religion.
[20] Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and you holy apostles and prophets; for God has avenged you on her.
[21] 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.
[22] And the voice of harpers, and musicians, and of pipers, and trumpeters, shall be heard no more at all in thee; and no craftsman, of whatsoever craft he be, shall be found any more in thee; and the sound of a millstone shall be heard no more at all in thee;
[23] And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee: for thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived.
[24] And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth.
Rejoice that you have been freed from the shackle of a religion that held you bound in captivity, because just like a stone being cast on the floor so this 'Babylon' as been cast down. And no longer will the songs they sing in their temples be heard; no longer will craftsman work in their temples; no light will sine there, nor will marriages be conducted there.
The merchants were 'the great men of the earth,' and they deceived all nations by manipulating the actions of the prophets and saints for their own benefit.