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. Omit.
after, &c. See Revelation 1:19 .
saw . App-133 .
another. App-124 . Not the speaker of Revelation 17 , but one invested with great authority and glory.
come = coming.
heaven. See Revelation 3:12 .
power. App-172 .
earth. App-129 .
lightened. Greek. photizo. Compare App-130 .
with. Same as "from", above.
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.
mightily. The texts read "with (Greek. en) a mighty (compare App-172 .) voice (Greek. phone) ".
Babylon . . . fallen. See Revelation 14:8 . Isaiah 21:9 . Jeremiah 51:8 .
the = a.
habitation. Greek. katoiketerion. Only here and Ephesians 2:22 , which see.
devils = demons. See App-101 .
hold = prison, or cage, as below. See Revelation 2:10 ; Revelation 20:7 .
foul = unclean, as below.
spirit. App-101 .
cage. See "hold" above.
unclean. See "foul" above.
3.
For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies.
nations = the nations.
wine . . . wrath = furious wine. Figure of speech. Antimereia (of Noun). App-6 .
have. Omit.
are. Omit.
through = by. Greek. ek. App-104 .
abundance. App-172 .1; Rev 176:1 .
delicacies = luxury. Greek. strenos. Only here in NT.; its verb only in verses: Revelation 7:9 . This identifies the city with that of Revelation 17 . In addition, it is here implied that Babylon will become the head-quarters of Spiritism, the habitation of demons, and the hold of every unclean spirit. Jeremiah 5 0 and Jeremiah 5 1 should be carefully studied in connection with these two chapters, as many of the things predicted there await fulfillment in the coming evil days.
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.
another. App-124 .
Come = Come forth.
My People. See Jeremiah 50:4-9 , and compare Isaiah 10:20 , Isaiah 10:24 .
that = in order that. Greek. hina.
sins. App-128 .
plagues. Greek. plege. See Revelation 13:3 (wound) and App-197 .
5.
For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.
have, hath. Omit.
reached. The texts read "joined" or "built together".
unto = up to.
God. App-98 .
iniquities. App-128 .
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 = Render. Compare Mark 12:17 and Jeremiah 51:24 .
rewarded = rendered. Same word.
you. Omit, and supply "others".
double. This word is put for full compensation. Figure of speech Metonymy. App-6 .
unto her. Omit.
according to. App-104 .
in. App-104 .
hath filled, fill = mixed, mix.
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.
hath. Omit.
glorified. Seep. 1511.
lived deliciously. See Revelation 18:3 above.
torment. Greek. basanismos. Here; verses: Revelation 18:10 , Revelation 18:15 . See Revelation 9:5 .
I sit, &c. See Isaiah 47:8 .
queen. A queen who is not a widow, implies a king-consort. Greek. "no widow" may be Figure of speech Tapeinosis . App-6 .
no. App-105 .
see. App-133 .
no. App-105 .
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 = For this cause. Greek. dia ( App-104 .Revelation 18:2; Revelation 18:2 ) touto.
come. i.e. suddenly. Same word in 2 Peter 3:10 .
with. App-104 .
strong = mighty, as verses: Revelation 18:10 , Revelation 18:21 . See Revelation 18:2 .
LORD. App-98 .
judgeth. The texts read "judged". App-122 . The suddenness and completeness of Babylon's judgment and disappearance from the face of the earth is the prominent feature of this prophecy, proving that that judgment has not yet taken place. Isaiah 13:20 . Jeremiah 50:13 , Jeremiah 50:39 , Jeremiah 50:40 ; Jeremiah 51:29 , Jeremiah 51:37 , Jeremiah 51:43 ; &c., await fulfillment.
9.
And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning,
have. Omit.
for = over. App-104 .
shall. Omit.
see. App-133 .
burning. Greek. purosis. Only here, Revelation 18:18 , and 1 Peter 4:12 .
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.
off. Greek. apo. App-104 .
that = the.
mighty. See Revelation 18:8 .
judgment. App-177 . These "kings of the earth" are those of Revelation 17:2 . The ten kings are never seen by John apart from the beast, and the "kings of the earth" are always seen in connection with Babylon.
11.
And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more:
shall. Omit.
over. App-104 .
no man = no one. Greek. oudeis.
buyeth. Greek. agorazo, rend, "redeemed" in Revelation 5:9 ; Revelation 14:3 , Revelation 14:4 ; elsewhere always "buy". First occurance: Matthew 13:44 .
any = no. App-105 .
more = longer. The texts read here ouketi.
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,
precious. Greek. timios. The noun in Revelation 18:19 .
most precious. Superl. of Greek. timios above.
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.
beasts = cattle.
chariots. Greek. rheda. Only here. Gallic word for a four-wheeled coach or vehicle, a sign of luxury.
slaves. Literally bodies. Greek. soma . By Figure of speech Metonymy ( App-6 ) for "slaves". See Genesis 36:6 (Septuagint)
souls of men = men. A Hebraism for "persons of men", or simply "men". See (Septuagint) Numbers 31:35 . 1 Chronicles 5:21 .Ezekiel 27:13 .
souls. App-110 and App-170
men. App-123 . Figure of speech Polysyndeton in verses: Revelation 18:12 , Revelation 18:13 .
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.
that . . . after. Literally of thy soul's ( App-110 ) desire (Greek. epithumia . See 1 John 2:16 , 1 John 2:17 ).
departed. Most texts read "perished".
thou, &c. Most of the texts read "and they (men) shall never more at all (Greek. ouketi ou me. App-105 .) find them". The list consists entirely of luxuries (see Revelation 18:3 ).
15.
The merchants of these things, which were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing,
16.
And saying, Alas, alas, that great city, that was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls!
And. Omit.
Alas, alas , = Woe! woe! as Revelation 18:10 and Revelation 18:19 .
that = the.
stones = stone.
17.
For in one hour so great riches is come to nought. And every shipmaster, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off,
in one hour. See Revelation 18:19 .
come, &c As "made desolate", Revelation 18:18 .
all . . . ships. The texts read "every one that saileth any whither", indicating travellers of all kinds.
trade . . . sea. Literally work the sea, i.e. for a living.
18.
And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like unto this great city!
when, &c. = as they looked upon (the texts read App-133 .)
unto. Omit.
this = the.
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.
that = the.
wherein = in ( App-104 .) which.
ships = the ships.
by reason of. Greek. ek. App-104 .
one hour. See Revelation 18:10 and compare Isaiah 47:11 ; Isa 18:17 and Jeremiah 50:26 , Jeremiah 18:19 and Jeremiah 51:8 . Ancient Babylon, after its capture by Cyrus, gradually diminished.
is = was.
made desolate. See "come to nought", Revelation 18:17 .
20.
Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye holy apostles and prophets; for God hath avenged you on her.
over. App-104 ., with texts.
holy = saints (see Acts 9:13 ) and.
apostles, prophets. App-189 .
hath avenged. Literally judged your judgment ( App-122 and App-177 ); i.e. hath folly avenged you. Figure of speech polyptoton. App-6 .
on. Greek. ek. App-104 . Now has come the time of the avenging Luke 18:7 , Luke 18:8 .
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.
like = as it were.
into. App-104 .
violence = furious rush. Greek. hormema. Only here. Revised Version reads "mighty fall". Compare Acts 14:5 (assault. Greek. horme) .
that. = the.
no more at all. Six times here. App-105 .
at all. Compare Jeremiah 51:64 .Ezekiel 26:21 .
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;
any more = no more, as above.
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.
light. App-130 .
candle = lamp.
shine. See App-106 .
the, the. Omit.
sorceries = sorcery. See Revelation 9:21 .
nations = the nations.
deceived. App-128 . Compare Isaiah 47:9 .
24.
And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth.
prophets. App-189 .
saints. See Revelation 18:20 (holy).