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Revelation
Chapter Eighteen
Revelation 18
Chapter 18 announces the judgment. The one difficulty
here is verse 4, coming where it is; but, as every difficulty in scripture, it
leads into further light. The destruction of Babylon is simple enough. She falls
by God's judgment just before Christ comes to judge the earth; and, first
perhaps losing her power and influence, is destroyed by the horns and beast.
The comparison of chapter 16:8, and the place it holds, chap. 16:19, 18:8, and
the beginning of 19, make this plain. Chapter 18 is a warning from heaven, not
the angel of judgment of the earth. It is not consequent on events, but
supposes spiritual apprehension of heaven's mind. This is the case when it is
simply a voice from heaven. This call then was a spiritual call, not a manifest
judgment. It may be more urgent and direct just before judgment, and I doubt
not will be: as the call is in Hebrews to come out of the camp because
Jerusalem's day was at hand. Hence I believe this applies whenever we see the system
to be Babylon, and the sense of her iniquities is pressed upon the conscience.
The chapter then goes on to the actual execution of judgment according
to chapter 17:16. The horns, or kingdoms connected with the beast, have
destroyed her. The kings mourn over her; so do those that have sought profit
and ease and commerce in the earth. The royal and commercial system is
shattered to pieces by the upset of the system. What characterises her, that
for which she is judged, is idolatry, corruption, worldliness, and persecution.
She is judged and destroyed, and the prosperity of the worldly is smitten by
her fall, and the hopes of the kings who had commerce with her. The blood of
all saints was found in her, as in Jerusalem in her day. Persecution comes from
religion connected with worldly advantage. But what a picture we have here of
the world, the relations of the kings and of the saints to Babylon!
── John Darby《Synopsis of Revelation》
Revelation 18
Chapter Contents
Another angel from heaven proclaims the fall of mystical
Babylon. (1-3) A voice from heaven admonishes the people of God, lest they
partake of her plagues. (4-8) The lamentations over her. (9-19) The church
called upon to rejoice in her utter ruin. (20-24)
Commentary on Revelation 18:1-8
(Read Revelation 18:1-8)
The downfal and destruction of the mystical Babylon are
determined in the counsels of God. Another angel comes from heaven. This seems
to be Christ himself, coming to destroy his enemies, and to shed abroad the
light of his gospel through all nations. The wickedness of this Babylon was
very great; she had forsaken the true God, and set up idols, and had drawn all
sorts of men into spiritual adultery, and by her wealth and luxury kept them in
her interest. The spiritual merchandise, by which multitudes have wickedly
lived in wealth, by the sins and follies of mankind, seems principally
intended. Fair warning is given to all that expect mercy from God, that they
should not only come out of this Babylon, but assist in her destruction. God
may have a people even in Babylon. But God's people shall be called out of
Babylon, and called effectually, while those that partake with wicked men in
their sins, must receive of their plagues.
Commentary on Revelation 18:9-19
(Read Revelation 18:9-19)
The mourners had shared Babylon's sensual pleasures, and
gained by her wealth and trade. The kings of the earth, whom she flattered into
idolatry, allowing them to be tyrannical over their subjects, while obedient to
her; and the merchants, those who trafficked for her indulgences, pardons, and
honours; these mourn. Babylon's friends partook her sinful pleasures and
profits, but are not willing to share her plagues. The spirit of antichrist is
a worldly spirit, and that sorrow is a mere worldly sorrow; they do not lament
for the anger of God, but for the loss of outward comforts. The magnificence
and riches of the ungodly will avail them nothing, but will render the
vengeance harder to be borne. The spiritual merchandise is here alluded to,
when not only slaves, but the souls of men, are mentioned as articles of
commerce, to the destroying the souls of millions. Nor has this been peculiar
to the Roman antichrist, and only her guilt. But let prosperous traders learn,
with all their gains, to get the unsearchable riches of Christ; otherwise; even
in this life, they may have to mourn that riches make to themselves wings and
fly away, and that all the fruits their souls lusted after, are departed from
them. Death, at any rate, will soon end their commerce, and all the riches of
the ungodly will be exchanged, not only for the coffin and the worm, but for
the fire that cannot be quenched.
Commentary on Revelation 18:20-24
(Read Revelation 18:20-24)
That which is matter of rejoicing to the servants of God
on earth, is matter of rejoicing to the angels in heaven. The apostles, who are
honoured and daily worshipped at Rome in an idolatrous manner, will rejoice in
her fall. The fall of Babylon was an act of God's justice. And because it was a
final ruin, this enemy should never molest them any more; of this they were
assured by a sign. Let us take warning from the things which brought others to
destruction, and let us set our affections on things above, when we consider
the changeable nature of earthly things.
── Matthew Henry《Concise Commentary on Revelation》
Revelation 18
Verse 1
[1] And
after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great
power; and the earth was lightened with his glory.
And I saw another angel coming down out of
heaven — Termed another, with respect to him who
"came down out of heaven," Revelation 10:1.
And the earth was enlightened with his glory — To make his coming more conspicuous. If such be the lustre of the
servant, what images can display the majesty of the Lord, who has
"thousand thousands" of those glorious attendants "ministering
to him, and ten thousand times ten thousand standing before him?"
Verse 2
[2] And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is
fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of
every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.
And he cried, Babylon is fallen — This fall was mentioned before, Revelation 14:8; but is now declared at large.
And is become an habitation — A free abode.
Of devils, and an hold — A prison.
Of every unclean spirit — Perhaps confined there where they had once practised all uncleanness,
till the judgment of the great day. How many horrid inhabitants hath desolate
Babylon! of invisible beings, devils, and unclean spirits; of visible, every
unclean beast, every filthy and hateful bird. Suppose, then, Babylon to mean
heathen Rome; what have the Romanists gained, seeing from the time of that
destruction, which they say is past, these are to be its only inhabitants for
ever.
Verse 4
[4] And
I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye
be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.
And I heard another voice — Of Christ, whose people, secretly scattered even there, are warned of
her approaching destruction.
That ye be not partakers of her sins — That is, of the fruits of them. What a remarkable providence it was that
the Revelation was printed in the midst of Spain, in the great Polyglot Bible,
before the Reformation! Else how much easier had it been for the Papists to
reject the whole book, than it is to evade these striking parts of it.
Verse 5
[5] For
her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.
Even to heaven — An
expression which implies the highest guilt.
Verse 6
[6] Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according
to her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double.
Reward her —
This God speaks to the executioners of his vengeance.
Even as she hath rewarded — Others; in particular, the saints of God.
And give her double —
This, according to the Hebrew idiom, implies only a full retaliation.
Verse 7
[7] How
much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and
sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow,
and shall see no sorrow.
As much as she hath glorified herself — By pride, and pomp, and arrogant boasting.
And lived deliciously — In all kinds of elegance, luxury, and wantonness.
So much torment give her — Proportioning the punishment to the sin.
Because she saith in her heart — As did ancient Babylon, Isaiah 47:8,9.
I sit —
Her usual style. Hence those expressions, "The chair, the see of Rome: he
sat so many years." As a queen - Over many kings, "mistress of all
churches; the supreme; the infallible; the only spouse of Christ; out of which
there is no salvation." And am no widow - But the spouse of Christ.
And shall see no sorrow — From the death of my children, or any other calamity; for God himself
will defend "the church."
Verse 8
[8]
Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine;
and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who
judgeth her.
Therefore — as
both the natural and judicial consequence of this proud security Shall her
plagues come - The death of her children, with an incapacity of bearing more.
Sorrow — of
every kind.
And famine — In
the room of luxurious plenty: the very things from which she imagined herself
to be most safe.
For strong is the Lord God who judgeth her — Against whom therefore all her strength, great as it is, will not avail.
Verse 10
[10]
Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas, that great
city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come.
Thou strong city —
Rome was anciently termed by its inhabitants, Valentia, that is, strong. And
the word Rome itself, in Greek, signifies strength. This name was given it by
the Greek strangers.
Verse 12
[12] The
merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine
linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thyine wood, and all manner
vessels of ivory, and all manner vessels of most precious wood, and of brass,
and iron, and marble,
Merchandise of gold, … — Almost all these are still in use at Rome, both in their idolatrous
service, and in common life.
Fine linen —
The sort of it mentioned in the original is exceeding costly.
Thyine wood — A
sweet-smelling wood not unlike citron, used in adorning magnificent palaces.
Vessels of most precious wood — Ebony, in particular, which is often mentioned with ivory: the one
excelling in whiteness, the other in blackness; and both in uncommon
smoothness.
Verse 13
[13] And
cinnamon, and odours, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and
fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and
slaves, and souls of men.
Amomum — A
shrub whose wood is a fine perfume.
And beasts —
Cows and oxen.
And of chariots — a
purely Latin word is here inserted in the Greek. This St. John undoubtedly used
on purpose, in describing the luxury of Rome.
And of bodies — A
common term for slaves.
And souls of men —
For these also are continually bought and sold at Rome. And this of all others
is the most gainful merchandise to the Roman traffickers.
Verse 14
[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.
And the fruits —
From what was imported they proceed to the domestic delicates of Rome; none of
which is in greater request there, than the particular sort which is here
mentioned. The word properly signifies, pears, peaches, nectarines, and all of
the apple and plum kinds.
And all things that are dainty — To the taste.
And splendid — To
the sight; as clothes, buildings, furniture.
Verse 19
[19] And
they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas,
alas, that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by
reason of her costliness! for in one hour is she made desolate.
And they cast dust on their heads — As mourners. Most of the expressions here used in describing the
downfall of Babylon are taken from Ezekiel's description of the downfall of
Tyre, Ezekiel 26:1.
Verse 20
[20]
Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye holy apostles and prophets; for God hath
avenged you on her.
Rejoice over her, thou heaven — That is, all the inhabitants of it; and more especially, ye saints; and
among the saints still more eminently, ye apostles and prophets.
Verse 21
[21] And
a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the
sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down,
and shall be found no more at all.
And a mighty angel took up a stone, and threw
it into the sea — By a like emblem Jeremiah fore-showed the
fall of the Chaldean Babylon, Jeremiah 51:63,64.
Verse 22
[22] And
the voice of harpers, and musicians, and of pipers, and trumpeters, shall be
heard no more at all in thee; and no craftsman, of whatsoever craft he be,
shall be found any more in thee; and the sound of a millstone shall be heard no
more at all in thee;
And the voice of harpers — Players on stringed instruments.
And musicians —
Skilful singers in particular.
And pipers —
Who played on flutes, chiefly on mournful, whereas trumpeters played on joyful,
occasions.
Shall be heard no more in thee; and no
artificer — Arts of every kind, particularly music,
sculpture, painting, and statuary, were there carried to their greatest height.
No, nor even the sound of a mill-stone shall be heard any more in thee - Not
only the arts that adorn life, but even those employments without which it
cannot subsist, will cease from thee for ever. All these expressions denote
absolute and eternal desolation.
The voice of harpers — Music was the entertainment of the rich and great; trade, the business
of men of middle rank; preparing bread and the necessaries of life, the
employment of the lowest people: marriages, in which lamps and songs were known
ceremonies, are the means of peopling cities, as new births supply the place of
those that die. The desolation of Rome is therefore described in such a manner,
as to show that neither rich nor poor, neither persons of middle rank, nor
those of the lowest condition, should be able to live there any more. Neither
shall it be repeopled by new marriages, but remain desolate and uninhabited for
ever.
Verse 23
[23] And
the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the
bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee: for thy
merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all
nations deceived.
For thy merchants were the great men of the
earth — A circumstance which was in itself
indifferent, and yet led them into pride, luxury, and numberless other sins.
Verse 24
[24] And
in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were
slain upon the earth.
And in her was found the blood of the
prophets and saints — The same angel speaks still, yet he does
not say "in thee," but in her, now so sunk as not to hear these last
words.
And of all that had been slain — Even before she was built. See Matthew 23:35. There is no city under the sun
which has so clear a title to catholic blood-guiltiness as Rome. The guilt of
the blood shed under the heathen emperors has not been removed under the Popes,
but hugely multiplied. Nor is Rome accountable only for that which hath been
shed in the city, but for that shed in all the earth. For at Rome under the
Pope, as well as under the heathen emperors, were the bloody orders and edicts
given: and whereever the blood of holy men was shed, there were the grand
rejoicings for it. And what immense quantities of blood have been shed by her
agents! Charles IX., of France, in his letter to Gregory XIII., boasts, that in
and not long after the massacre of Paris, he had destroyed seventy thousand
Hugonots. Some have computed, that, from the year 1518, to 1548, fifteen
millions of Protestants have perished by the Inquisition. This may be
overcharged; but certainly the number of them in those thirty years, as well as
since, is almost incredible. To these we may add innumerable martyrs, in
ancient, middle, and late ages, in Bohemia, Germany, Holland, France, England,
Ireland, and many other parts of Europe, Afric, and Asia.
── John Wesley《Explanatory Notes on Revelation》
Chapter 18. The Fall of Babylon
In an Hour
Brought to Ruin
I. The Fall of
Babylon
II. The Grief
of Babylon
III. The Ends
of Babylon
── Chih-Hsin
Chang《An Outline of
The New Testament》
Chapter Eighteen General Review
OBJECTIVES IN STUDYING THIS CHAPTER
1) To note the pronouncement and depiction of the fall of Babylon great city 2) To observe the reasons why Babylon judgment 3) To ascertain the identity of Babylon SUMMARY
In this chapter we find the fall of "Babylon the great mourning over her by those in the world. The fall of Babylon is proclaimed by an angel with great authority, who illuminated the
earth with his glory. The reasons for her fall include how the nationsand kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and how themerchants have become rich through her abundance. Meanwhile, a voicefrom heaven calls for the people of God to come out of her lest theyreceive the plagues to come upon her. Her judgment will involve death,mourning, famine, and utter destruction by fire, for it is the Lord Godwho judges her (1-8).