REVELATION 18:2

Why are unclean creatures still mentioned in Revelation 18:2 when all animals had been declared clean?

1. Akathartos refers “to the whole realm of uncleanness, ranging from menstruation to moral pollution through wrongdoing.”       New International Dictionary of NT Theology, vol. 3, pp. 102-108

2. Jesus declared all foods clean (not all animals). Mark 7:19; I Corinthians 10

3. Peter received the same message through a vision. Acts 10-11.

4. But the real message of the vision was symbolic as most other visions and had to do with the relationship of Jews with Gentiles. “God has shown me that I should not call anyone profane or unclean.” Acts 10:28

5. The imagery is mainly taken from Isaiah 13:21-22 referring to scavengers such as vultures, jackals and hyenas, which were not only ritually unclean to eat but also considered as rather disgusting creatures. So even if one could eat them, they were still rather foul animals, or foul fowls in the case of vultures.