John had mentioned in Revelation 17:4 that the prostitute held in her hand “a golden cup full of abominations and the impurities of her sexual immorality.” Presumably as a result of drinking the content of this cup, she was “drunk with the blood of the saints” (Revelation 17:6). This, then, was “the cup she [had] mixed.” Now the heavenly voice commands his people (mix
is a plural imperative) to prepare an exact equivalent that Babylon must drink (see the comment elsewhere on this verse regarding the meaning of double portion
), but this time she will not drink it with pleasure but as a punishment for her iniquities.
It should be noted that the term “cup” occurs repeatedly in the Old Testament in the context of God's pouring out his wrath (for example, Psalm 75:8). The unspoken implication is that she will drink it this time with revulsion.
6 Pay her back as she herself has paid back others, and repay her double for her deeds; mix a double portion for her in the cup she mixed.