A Study of Revelation 18:14

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 thou shalt find them no more at all.”
(Revelation 18:14)

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The true merchants of the earth are weeping because there is practically no salvation to be found in the corporate church. She has fallen into harlotry, therefore the fruits of her once Godly labor are departed from her. “The fruits that thy soul lusted after are departed from thee,” (verse 14). This word “lusted” means to look upon or to set the heart upon, and can be used in both a positive or a negative manner. It is translated “desireth” in the following two verses:

“This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth [translated “lust” elsewhere] a good work.” (I Timothy 3:1)

“Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire [translated “lust” elsewhere] to look into.” (I Peter 1:12)

This is being addressed because there are those who believe that the biblical “lusting” is always in association with sin or the lusting of the things of this world. However, the saints of God comprise a righteous “lust” after holiness and other divine virtues of the Creator Himself, no doubt. This seems to be the condition of which Revelation 18:14 is making reference to, “…the fruits that thy soul lusted [desireth] after are departed from thee…” These *”fruits” are “ripe fruits”; summer or early autumn fruits only, as indicated in the Greek, and is used in one other place – Jude 12 – as **”autumn trees,” but bearing no fruit when fruit should be expected. The book of Jude could well be making reference to the desecration of the corporate church during the days of the great tribulation. Today, spiritual fruit would normally be expected in the corporate church, as in past centuries, from Pentecost and forward.

All things that are dainty and goodly are also departed from her. Verse fourteen ends with the statement: “and thou shalt find them no more at all.” This passage does not speak of this world’s material luxury, nor does it allude to extravagant goods of any kind which may be termed as “dainty.” God is not focusing on this world’s costly merchandise. Verse eleven tells us that the merchants of the earth are weeping and mourning over this woman because her merchandise is no longer being (spiritually) purchased. Verses twelve and thirteen list her former Godly merchandise, (detailed in Chapter 15). She is no longer concerned with the true Christian walk. God is judging her by allowing Satan to spiritually desecrate her corporately, resulting in countless false doctrines and false gospels, and is evident by the lack of any true fruits of the spirit.

Those things which were dainty and goodly are departed from her, verse fourteen. As mentioned in the last chapter, her dainties must be spiritual dainties. The word “dainty” comes from the Greek word ***”liparos” and properly signifies “oily, or anointed with oil.” The Old Testament word for **** “dainty” carries the meaning of delicately or delight, and as seen in the following verses, it is in reference to the delight of salvation; the precious royal dainties of the Gospel of Christ in which believers are to feed upon.

“Out of Asher his bread shall be fat, and he shall yield royal dainties [“mah-ad-awn'”: delight, delicately].” (Genesis 49:20)

“Correct thy son, and he shall give thee rest; yea, he shall give delight [“mah-ad-awn'”: dainties, delicately] unto thy soul.” (Proverbs 29:17)

“They that did feed delicately [“mah-ad-awn'”: dainties, delight] are desolate in the street: they that were brought up in scarlet embrace dunghills.” (Lamentations 4:5)

This Hebrew word is rooted from “aw-dan'” which is to be soft or pleasant:
“And they took strong cities, and a fat land, and possessed houses full of all goods, wells digged, vineyards, and oliveyards, and fruit trees in abundance: so they did eat, and were filled, and became fat, and delighted [“aw-dan'”] themselves in thy great goodness.” (Nehemiah 9:25)

These strong cities; this fat land wherein were houses full of goods, wells digged, vineyards, oliveyards planted, and fruit trees in abundance are all terms for God’s magnificent and glorious plan of salvation. We find this parabolic language representing our spiritual rest and safety. These are the royal dainties that the soul of the true child of God will most certainly delight in. Yet, at the end of this age, as Christ is about to appear to institute Judgment Day, these wonderful attributes of the true Gospel will be seen no more in the corporate church. The analogy of spiritual dainties is but figurative language describing the precious plan of redemption that God the Father has chosen for His elect throughout all nations of the earth. These dainties, to a large degree, will only be found in small and scattered assemblies of believers; those who have fled from the spiritual harlot, for the fear of her judgment.

Verse fourteen of Revelation chapter eighteen also tells us that those things which were ***** goodly are departed from her as well. This word “goodly” symbolizes Christ as “dainty” also signified Him. “Goodly” denotes the radiance and purity of Christ and His Gospel. “Goodly” is also translated as bright, clear, gay, goodly, gorgeous, white.

Let us recall James 2:2-4:
“For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly [“lam-pros'”] apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment;”

“And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay [“lam-pros'”] clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool:”

“Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?”

Many read these verses understanding only its moral and historical content, while disregarding much of the spiritual account. We are to welcome any and all destitute unbelievers from the streets into our congregations just as eagerly as we are to welcome a rich man. This is taught in these few verses of James chapter two. God doesn’t stop at this layer of teaching. In fact, God elevates the meaning into the spiritual level by correlating scripture with scripture. When James speaks of a man entering into our assembly wearing a gold ring, and dressed in goodly apparel, we picture this man as being well-to-do, respectable, and of good status. But over and above this historical meaning rests the spiritual interpretation. This man in goodly apparel represents a saved person, thus the goodly apparel. The word “goodly” comes from the same Greek word as does “goodly” in Revelation 18:14, of which “…all things which were dainty and goodly are departed from thee…”. This man’s spiritual apparel is the righteousness of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Thus too, he is spiritually rich in salvation and in the Gospel of Christ. Not only was this man robed in goodly apparel, he is said to also be wearing the gay clothing (James 2:3), meaning he presents himself as cheerful and happy. The word “gay” also comes from the same Greek word as does “goodly,” meaning radiant, magnificent, and sumptuous in appearance. Not only is God telling us not to be partial and judgmental in our thoughts and deeds concerning the rich and poor of this world, yet He is also showing us how we are to receive the saved (man in “goodly” apparel and “gay” clothing) and the unsaved (the poor man in vile raiment) into our congregations or assemblies.

The following verses may help to substantiate the fact that “goodly” and “gay” (lam-pros’) characterizes Christ Himself and His own Church:

“And Herod with his men of war set him at nought, and mocked him, and arrayed him in a gorgeous [lam-pros’] robe, and sent him again to Pilate.” (Luke 23:11)

“And Cornelius said, Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and, behold, a man stood before me in bright [lam-pros’] clothing.” (Acts 10:30)

(God appeared to Cornelius in the form of a man in “bright” clothing.)

“And the seven angels came out of the temple, having the seven plagues, clothed in pure and white [lam-pros’] linen…,” (Revelation 15:6)

“And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white [lam-pros’]: for the fine linen is the righteousness of the saints.” (Revelation 19:8)

“And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear [lam-pros’] as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.” (Revelation 22:1)

“I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright [lam-pros’] and morning star.” (Revelation 22:16)
(Jesus is the bright and morning star, which meaning is the same as radiant, the magnificent, the clear, the gorgeous, the goodly or gay.)

This word “goodly” (lam-pros’) is rooted from the Greek word “lam-pas'” which carries the meaning of lamp, light, or torch. All of which describes the God of the Bible. Some examples are:

“And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps [lam-pas’] of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.” (Revelation 4:5)

“Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps [lam-pas’], and went forth to meet the bridegroom.” (Matthew 25:1)

The word “goodly” [lam-pros’] being rooted from “lam-pas'” is also associated with the Greek primary verb “lam’-po,” which means to radiate brilliancy; to give light or to shine. Some examples are:

“Let your light [lam’-po] so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16)

“And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light [lam’-po]. (Matthew 17:2)

“For God, who commanded the light [lam’-po] to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give light [lam’-po] of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” (II Corinthians 4:6)

“And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light [lam’-po] shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands.” (Acts 12:7)

We see that the word “goodly” and “dainty” are associated with absolutely nothing of this material world. Jesus states that “He is not of this world,” therefore neither should we attempt to understand and correlate His Word with the things of the world. We are to look for the spiritual meaning, and by finding the correct heavenly meaning, we are guaranteed of finding the Gospel in every sentence. The “goodly” and “dainty” things of Revelation chapter eighteen, which are now departed from the corporate church, are highly likely to be in reference to the way of the cross of Christ. The merchants of the earth weep and mourn because the way of salvation is heard no longer in the corporate church of Christ. No man buyeth (receives) their “Gospel” merchandise any more!
Footnotes:
* “Op-o’-rah” #3703 Strong’s Greek. From base of #3796; prop. even-tide of the (summer) season (dog days), i.e. (by impl.) ripe fruit.
#3796 “Op-seh”; (through the idea of backwardness); (adv.) late in the day; by extens, after the close of the day: – (at) even, in the end.

** Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words.

*** “Lip-ar-os'” #3045 Strong’s Greek. Signifies “oily or, anointed with oil” (from lipos, “grease,” connected with aleipho, “to anoint”; it is said of things which pertain to delicate and sumptuous living; hence, “dainty.”

**** Dainty/dainties in Hebrew: #4574 “Mah-ad-awn'”; (or fem.) from #5727; a delicacy or (abstr.) pleasure (adv. cheerfully): dainty, delicately, delight. Also from #4516 “Man-am'”; a delicacy: – dainty. Rooted from #5276 “Naw–ame'”; to be agreeable (lit. or fig.): – pass in beauty, be delight, be pleasant, be sweet. Also from #4303 “Mat-am-maw'”; a delicacy: – dainty (meat), savory meat.

***** “Lam-pros'” #2986 Strong’s Greek. Radiant; by anal.limpid; fig. magnificent or sumptuous (in appearance).: – bright, clear, gay, goodly, gorgeous, white. From the same as #2985 “Lam-pas'”; a “lamp” or flambeau: – lamp, light, torch. From #2989 “Lam’-po”; to beam, i.e. radiate brilliancy (lit. or fig.): – give light, shine.