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... [ Continue Reading ]
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 jud... [ Continue Reading ]
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 grea... [ Continue Reading ]
Even to heaven — An expression which implies the highest guilt.... [ Continue Reading ]
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.... [ Continue Reading ]
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. I sit... [ Continue Reading ]
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 saf... [ Continue Reading ]
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.... [ Continue Reading ]
Merchandise of gold, &c. — 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. Vessel... [ Continue Reading ]
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... [ Continue Reading ]
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 d... [ Continue Reading ]
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.... [ Continue Reading ]
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.... [ Continue Reading ]
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.... [ Continue Reading ]
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... [ Continue Reading ]
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.... [ Continue Reading ]
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... [ Continue Reading ]