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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).