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Revelation 18:11-24 King James Version with Strong's Concordance (STRONG)

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11 And G2532 the merchants G1713 of the earth G1093 shall weep G2799 and G2532 mourn G3996 over G1909 her; G846 for G3754 no man G3762 buyeth G59 their G846 merchandise G1117 any more: G3765

12 The merchandise G1117 of gold, G5557 and G2532 silver, G696 and G2532 precious G5093 stones, G3037 and G2532 of pearls, G3135 and G2532 fine linen, G1040 and G2532 purple, G4209 and G2532 silk, G4596 and G2532 scarlet, G2847 and G2532 all G3956 thyine G2367 wood, G3586 and G2532 all manner G3956 vessels G4632 of ivory, G1661 and G2532 all manner G3956 vessels G4632 of G1537 most precious G5093 wood, G3586 and G2532 of brass, G5475 and G2532 iron, G4604 and G2532 marble, G3139

13 And G2532 cinnamon, G2792 and G2532 odours, G2368 and G2532 ointments, G3464 and G2532 frankincense, G3030 and G2532 wine, G3631 and G2532 oil, G1637 and G2532 fine flour, G4585 and G2532 wheat, G4621 and G2532 beasts, G2934 and G2532 sheep, G4263 and G2532 horses, G2462 and G2532 chariots, G4480 and G2532 slaves, G4983 and G2532 souls G5590 of men. G444

14 And G2532 the fruits G3703 that thy G4675 soul G5590 lusted after G1939 are departed G565 from G575 thee, G4675 and G2532 all things G3956 which G3588 were dainty G3045 and G2532 goodly G2986 are departed G565 from G575 thee, G4675 and G2532 thou shalt find G2147 them G846 no more G3765 at all. G3364

15 The merchants G1713 of these things, G5130 which G3588 were made rich G4147 by G575 her, G846 shall stand G2476 afar G3113 off G575 for G1223 the fear G5401 of her G846 torment, G929 weeping G2799 and G2532 wailing, G3996

16 And G2532 saying, G3004 Alas, G3759 alas, G3759 that great G3173 city, G4172 that was clothed in G4016 fine linen, G1039 and G2532 purple, G4210 and G2532 scarlet, G2847 and G2532 decked G5558 with G1722 gold, G5557 and G2532 precious G5093 stones, G3037 and G2532 pearls! G3135

17 For G3754 in one G3391 hour G5610 so great G5118 riches G4149 is come to nought. G2049 And G2532 every G3956 shipmaster, G2942 and G2532 all G3956 the company G3658 in G1909 ships, G4143 and G2532 sailors, G3492 and G2532 as many as G3745 trade G2038 by sea, G2281 stood G2476 afar G3113 off, G575

18 And G2532 cried G2896 when they saw G3708 the smoke G2586 of her G846 burning, G4451 saying, G3004 What G5101 city is like G3664 unto this great G3173 city! G4172

19 And G2532 they cast G906 dust G5522 on G1909 their G846 heads, G2776 and G2532 cried, G2896 weeping G2799 and G2532 wailing, G3996 saying, G3004 Alas, G3759 alas, G3759 that great G3173 city, G4172 wherein G1722 G3739 were made rich G4147 all G3956 that had G2192 ships G4143 in G1722 the sea G2281 by reason of G1537 her G846 costliness! G5094 for G3754 in one G3391 hour G5610 is she made desolate. G2049

20 Rejoice G2165 over G1909 her, G846 thou heaven, G3772 and G2532 ye holy G40 apostles G652 and G2532 prophets; G4396 for G3754 God G2316 hath avenged G2917 G2919 you G5216 on G1537 her. G846

21 And G2532 a G1520 mighty G2478 angel G32 took up G142 a stone G3037 like G5613 a great G3173 millstone, G3458 and G2532 cast G906 it into G1519 the sea, G2281 saying, G3004 Thus G3779 with violence G3731 shall G906 that great G3173 city G4172 Babylon G897 be thrown down, G906 and G2532 shall be found G2147 no more G3364 at all. G2089

22 And G2532 the voice G5456 of harpers, G2790 and G2532 musicians, G3451 and G2532 of pipers, G834 and G2532 trumpeters, G4538 shall be heard G191 no more G3364 at all G2089 in G1722 thee; G4671 and G2532 no G3364 G3956 craftsman, G5079 of whatsoever G3956 craft G5078 he be, shall be found G2147 any more G2089 in G1722 thee; G4671 and G2532 the sound G5456 of a millstone G3458 shall be heard G191 no more G3364 at all G2089 in G1722 thee; G4671

23 And G2532 the light G5457 of a candle G3088 shall shine G5316 no more G3364 at all G2089 in G1722 thee; G4671 and G2532 the voice G5456 of the bridegroom G3566 and G2532 of the bride G3565 shall be heard G191 no more G3364 at all G2089 in G1722 thee: G4671 for G3754 thy G4675 merchants G1713 were G2258 the great men G3175 of the earth; G1093 for G3754 by G1722 thy G4675 sorceries G5331 were G4105 all G3956 nations G1484 deceived. G4105

24 And G2532 in G1722 her G846 was found G2147 the blood G129 of prophets, G4396 and G2532 of saints, G40 and G2532 of all G3956 that were slain G4969 upon G1909 the earth. G1093

Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Revelation 18

Commentary on Revelation 18 Matthew Henry Commentary

John Gill   Robert Jamieson: Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible  

Chapter 18

We have here,

  • I. An angel proclaiming the fall of Babylon (v. 1, 2).
  • II. Assigning the reasons of her fall (v. 3).
  • III. Giving warning to all who belonged to God to come out of her (v. 4, 5), and to assist in her destruction (v. 6-8).
  • IV. The great lamentation made for her by those who had been large sharers in her sinful pleasures and profits (v. 9-19).
  • V. The great joy that there would be among others at the sight of her irrecoverable ruin (v. 20-24).

Rev 18:1-8

The downfall and destruction of Babylon form an event so fully determined in the counsels of God, and of such consequence to his interests and glory, that the visions and predictions concerning it are repeated.

  • 1. Here is another angel sent from heaven, attended with great power and lustre, v. 1. He had not only light in himself, to discern the truth of his own prediction, but to inform and enlighten the world about that great event; and not only light to discern it, but power to accomplish it.
  • 2. This angel publishes the fall of Babylon, as a thing already come to pass; and this he does with a mighty strong voice, that all might hear the cry, and might see how well this angel was pleased to be the messenger of such tidings. Here seems to be an allusion to the prediction of the fall of pagan Babylon (Isa. 21:9), where the word is repeated as it is here: has fallen, has fallen. Some have thought a double fall is hereby intended, first her apostasy, and then her ruin; and they think the words immediately following favour their opinion; She has become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and the cage of every unclean and hateful bird, v. 2. But this is also borrowed from Isa. 21:9, and seems to describe not so much her sin of entertaining idols (which are truly called devils) as her punishment, it being a common notion that unclean spirits, as well as ominous and hateful birds, used to haunt a city or house that lay in its ruins.
  • 3. The reason of this ruin is declared (v. 3); for, though God is not obliged to give any account of his matters, yet he is pleased to do so, especially in those dispensations of providence that are most awful and tremendous. The wickedness of Babylon had been very great; for she had not only forsaken the true God herself, and set up idols, but had with great art and industry drawn all sorts of men into the spiritual adultery, and by her wealth and luxury had retained them in her interest.
  • 4. Fair warning is given to all that expect mercy from God, that they should not only come out of her, but be assisting in her destruction, v. 4, 5. Here observe,
    • (1.) God may have a people even in Babylon, some who belong to the election of grace.
    • (2.) God's people shall be called out of Babylon, and called effectually.
    • (3.) Those that are resolved to partake with wicked men in their sins must receive of their plagues.
    • (4.) When the sins of a people reach up to heaven, the wrath of God will reach down to the earth.
    • (5.) Though private revenge is forbidden, yet God will have his people act under him, when called to it, in pulling down his and their inveterate and implacable enemies, v. 6.
    • (6.) God will proportion the punishment of sinners to the measure of their wickedness, pride, and security, v. 7.
    • (7.) When destruction comes on a people suddenly, the surprise is a great aggravation of their misery, v. 8.

Rev 18:9-24

Here we have,

  • I. A doleful lamentation made by Babylon's friends for her fall; and here observe,
    • 1. Who are the mourners, namely, those who had been bewitched by her fornication, those who had been sharers in her sensual pleasures, and those who had been gainers by her wealth and trade-the kings and the merchants of the earth: the kings of the earth, whom she had flattered into idolatry by allowing them to be arbitrary and tyrannical over their subjects, while they were obsequious to her; and the merchants, that is, those who trafficked with her for indulgences, pardons, dispensations, and preferments; these will mourn, because by this craft they got their wealth.
    • 2. What was the manner of their mourning.
      • (1.) They stood afar off, they durst not come nigh her. Even Babylon's friends will stand at a distance from her fall. Though they had been partakers with her in her sins, and in her sinful pleasures and profits, they were not willing to bear a share in her plagues.
      • (2.) They made a grievous outcry: Alas! alas! that great city, Babylon, that mighty city!
      • (3.) They wept, and cast dust upon their heads, v. 19. The pleasures of sin are but for a season, and they will end in dismal sorrow. All those who rejoice in the success of the church's enemies will share with them in their downfall; and those who have most indulged themselves in pride and pleasure are the least able to bear calamities; their sorrows will be as excessive as their pleasure and jollity were before.
    • 3. What was the cause of their mourning; not their sin, but their punishment. They did not lament their fall into idolatry, and luxury, and persecution, but their fall into ruin-the loss of their traffic and of their wealth and power. The spirit of antichrist is a worldly spirit, and their sorrow is a mere worldly sorrow; they did not lament for the anger of God, that had now fallen upon them, but for the loss of their outward comfort. We have a large schedule and inventory of the wealth and merchandise of this city, all which was suddenly lost (v. 12, 13), and lost irrecoverably (v. 14): All things which were dainty and goodly have departed from thee, and thou shalt find them no more at all. The church of God may fall for a time, but she shall rise again; but the fall of Babylon will be an utter overthrow, like that of Sodom and Gomorrah. Godly sorrow is some support under affliction, but mere worldly sorrow adds to the calamity.
  • II. An account of the joy and triumph there was both in heaven and earth at the irrecoverable fall of Babylon: while her own people were bewailing her, the servants of God were called to rejoice over her, v. 20. Here observe,
    • 1. How universal this joy would be: heaven and earth, angels and saints, would join in it; that which is matter of rejoicing to the servants of God in this world is matter of rejoicing to the angels in heaven.
    • 2. How just and reasonable; and that,
      • (1.) Because the fall of Babylon was an act of God's vindictive justice. God was then avenging his people's cause. They had committed their cause to him to whom vengeance belongs, and now the year of recompence had come for the controversies of Zion; and, though they did not take pleasure in the miseries of any, yet they had reason to rejoice in the discoveries of the glorious justice of God.
      • (2.) Because it was an irrecoverable ruin. This enemy should never molest them any more, and of this they were assured by a remarkable token (v. 21): An angel from heaven took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, "Thus shall Babylon be thrown down with violence, and be found no more at all; the place shall be no longer habitable by man, no work shall be done there, no comfort enjoyed, no light seen there, but utter darkness and desolation, as the reward of her great wickedness, first in deceiving the nations with her sorceries, and secondly in destroying and murdering those whom she could not deceive,' v. 24. Such abominable sins deserved so great a ruin.