Strong’s Greek 3731 (ὁρμήματι) appears once, in Revelation 18:21: “Then a mighty angel picked up a stone like a great millstone and cast it into the sea, saying, ‘With such violence the great city of Babylon will be thrown down, never to be found again’”.

Context in Revelation 18

The term describes the overwhelming force by which end-time Babylon is eliminated. The angel’s dramatic act—hurling a millstone into the sea—visualizes a judgment that is sudden, irresistible, and irreversible. The momentum implied by ὁρμήματι contrasts sharply with Babylon’s prior pride and apparent permanence, underscoring that worldly power crumbles the instant God decrees its fall.

Thematic Connections in Scripture

1. Prophetic Echoes: Jeremiah 51:63-64 instructs Seraiah to bind a stone to a scroll of Babylon’s judgment and throw it into the Euphrates, announcing, “So will Babylon sink and rise no more.” Revelation reenacts this motif, showing perfect continuity between Testaments.
2. Swift Divine Judgment: Psalm 73:18-19 speaks of the wicked being “swept away” in an instant; Exodus 15:5 pictures Pharaoh’s army sinking “like a stone.” In each case, the imagery of unstoppable plunge mirrors the thrust captured by ὁρμήματι.
3. Cosmic Warfare: Revelation 12:9 records Satan being “hurled down” to earth, and Revelation 20:10 shows his final casting into the lake of fire. The same divine impetus that crushes Babylon ultimately disposes of every enemy.

Historical Background

First-century readers would recognize millstones as massive, immovable tools. Dropping one into deep water ensured permanent loss. By applying ὁρμήματι to Babylon, John affirms that no human alliance, wealth, or military might can slow the plunging momentum of God’s sentence. Cities that once oppressed the saints—whether the historical Babylon, Roman power, or any future embodiment—share the same destiny.

Theological Significance

• Certainty of Judgment: The single use of ὁρμήματι intensifies the assurance that God’s verdict does not unfold gradually but arrives with decisive power.
• Vindication of the Saints: Revelation 18 follows the martyrs’ prayers in Revelation 6:10. Their cry, “How long?” is answered by the forceful overthrow of their persecutor.
• Holiness of God: The violent hurling portrays divine wrath as righteous, proportionate, and final, reinforcing that sin’s offense is not trivial but incites the full thrust of God’s holiness.

Ministry Applications

1. Encouragement amid Opposition: Believers facing cultural or governmental hostility can read Revelation 18:21 and rest in God’s promise that every anti-Christian system will meet a sudden end.
2. Call to Separation: Revelation 18:4 urges, “Come out of her, My people.” The impending ὁρμήματι-type downfall motivates the church to resist compromise with worldly allurements.
3. Fuel for Worship: Recognizing the majesty and might embedded in one Spirit-chosen word stirs awe. Corporate praise can incorporate texts like Revelation 19:1-2, celebrating God’s true and just judgments.

Summary

ὁρμήματι encapsulates the unstoppable momentum of God’s final judgment on Babylon, bridging Old and New Testament prophecy, reassuring believers of ultimate victory, and exhorting the church to holiness and hope.