181 After these things I saw another angel coming down from heaven , having great authority , and the earth was illumined with his glory . 2 And he cried out with a mighty voice , saying , " Fallen , fallen is Babylon the great ! She has become a dwelling place of demons and a prison of every unclean spirit , and a prison of every unclean and hateful bird . 3 "For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the passion of her immorality , and the kings of the earth have committed acts of immorality with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich by the wealth of her sensuality ." 4 I heard another voice from heaven , saying , " Come out of her, my people , so that you will not participate in her sins and receive of her plagues ; 5 for her sins have piled up as high as heaven , and God has remembered her iniquities . 6 " Pay her back even as she has paid , and give back to her double e according to her deeds ; in the cup which she has mixed , mix twice as much for her. 7 " To the degree that she glorified herself and lived sensuously , to the same degree give her torment and mourning ; for she says in her heart , ' I SIT as A QUEEN AND I AM NOT A WIDOW , and will never see mourning .' 8 "For this reason in one day her plagues will come , pestilence and mourning and famine , and she will be burned up with fire ; for the Lord God who judges her is strong .
9 "And the kings of the earth , who committed acts of immorality and lived sensuously with her, will weep and lament over her when they see the smoke of her burning , 10 standing at a distance because of the fear of her torment , saying , ' Woe , woe , the great city , Babylon , the strong city ! For in one hour your judgment has come .' 11 "And the merchants of the earth weep and mourn over her, because no one buys their cargoes any more - 12 cargoes of gold and silver and precious stones and pearls and fine linen and purple and silk and scarlet , and every kind of citron wood and every article of ivory and every article made from very costly wood and bronze and iron and marble , 13 and cinnamon and spice and incense and perfume and frankincense and wine and olive oil and fine flour and wheat and cattle and sheep , and cargoes of horses and chariots and slaves and human lives . 14 "The fruit you long for has gone from you, and all things that were luxurious and splendid have passed away from you and men will no longer find them. 15 "The merchants of these things , who became rich from her, will stand at a distance because of the fear of her torment , weeping and mourning , 16 saying , ' Woe , woe , the great city , she who was clothed in fine linen and purple and scarlet , and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls ; 17 for in one hour such great wealth has been laid waste !' And every shipmaster and every passenger e e and sailor , and as many as make their living by the sea , stood at a distance , 18 and were crying out as they saw the smoke of her burning , saying , ' What city is like the great city ?' 19 "And they threw dust on their heads and were crying out, weeping and mourning , saying , ' Woe , woe , the great city , in which all who had ships at sea became rich by her wealth , for in one hour she has been laid waste !' 20 " Rejoice over her, O heaven , and you saints and apostles and prophets , because God has pronounced judgment for you against her."
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Revelation 18:1-20
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.