God had promised that fallen Babylon would “be burned up with fire” (Revelation 18:8). John recorded that the “kings of the earth” (rulers and persons of influence) wept and wailed when they saw “the smoke of her burning” (Revelation 18:9), as would also those who earned their living by transporting her allurements (Revelation 18:18). Her “smoke,” then, is the visible symbol of her destruction, and so too the visible symbol of God’s judgments as “true” and “just” (Revelation 19:2). So the smoke is catalyst to praise the Lord (Hallelujah!
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3 Once more they cried out, “Hallelujah! The smoke from her goes up forever and ever.”