Revelation 18:11-21

11 And merchants of the earth shall weep on it [And merchants of earth shall weep upon her], and mourn, for no man shall buy more the merchandise of them;

12 the merchandise of gold, and of silver, and of precious stone, and of pearl, and of fine linen, and of purple, and of silk, and of cotton, and of each tree thyme, and all vessels of ivory, and all vessels of precious stone, and of brass, and of iron, and of marble. [the merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and margarites, or pearl, and bis, and purple, and silk, and cotton, and each tree thyme, and all vessels of ivory, and all vessels of precious stone, and of brass, and iron, and marble.]

13 and of cinnamon, and of sweet smelling things, and ointments, and of incense, and of wine, and of oil, and of flour, and of wheat, and of work beasts, and of sheep, and of horses, and of chariots, and of servants, and of other lives of men. [and cinnamon, that is, a sweet savouring tree, and of odourments, and ointments, and incense, and of wine, and oil, and flour, and wheat, and of work beasts, and sheep, and horses, and carts, and of servants, and of souls of men.]

14 And thine apples of the desire of thy life [And thine apples, the desires of thy life,] went away from thee, and all fatted things, and full clear perished [away] from thee.

15 And merchants of these things shall no more find those things [shall no more find these goods]. They that be made rich of it, shall stand far, for dread of torments of it, weeping, and mourning [+They that be made rich of her, shall stand afar, for dread of torments of her, weeping, and mourning],

16 and saying, Woe! woe! that great city, that was clothed with fine linen [that was clothed with bis], and purple, and red scarlet, and was over-gilded [and was over-gilt] with gold, and precious stone, and margarites,

17 for in one hour so many riches be destitute, either done away. And each governor, and all that sail by ship into place [and all that ship into place], and mariners, and they that work in the sea, stood far,

18 and cried, seeing the place of the burning of it, saying, What is like this great city? [+and cried, seeing the place of burning of her, saying, What city is like to this great city?]

19 And they cast powder on their heads, and cried, weeping, and mourning, and saying [saying], Woe! woe! that great city, in which all that have ships in the sea be made rich of the prices of it; for in one hour it is desolate.

20 Heaven, and holy apostles, and prophets, make ye full out joy on it [Heaven, and holy apostles, and prophets, glad ye on it], for God hath deemed your doom on it.

21 And one strong angel took up a stone, as a great millstone, and cast into the sea, and said, In this force [saying, In this force, or fierceness,] that great city Babylon shall be sent, and now it shall no more be found.

Revelation 18:11-21 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO REVELATION 18

This chapter gives an account of the fall of Babylon, and of the lamentation of many, and of the joy of others, by reason of it; which account is published by several angels: the first that declares her fall is described by his original, descending from heaven; by the great power he had; by his resplendent glory, and by his mighty cry in publishing her destruction; which is illustrated by the desolate condition she will be in upon her fall; the reasons of which are given, became the nations and kings of the earth had committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth were enriched by her luxury, Re 18:1-3. Another voice is heard from heaven, calling upon the people of God, first to come out of her, lest partaking of her sins they should share in her plagues, seeing her iniquities had reached to heaven, and were remembered before God; and next to take full vengeance on her, because she had glorified herself, lived deliciously, and in great security, Re 18:4-7. And then follows a continuation of the account of her destruction, what her plagues would be, death, mourning, famine, and fire; and which would be sudden, in one hour, and certain, from the power and justice of God, Re 18:8. Next follow the lamentations of the kings, merchants, and masters of ships, because of her greatness, riches, and merchandise, which are all come to nothing, Re 18:9-19. And then the church; the saints, apostles, and prophets, are called upon to rejoice at the vengeance taken on her, Re 18:20 upon which a mighty angel appears, who by an action signifies the manner of her destruction, and the irrecoverableness of her state and condition, Re 18:21 and declares her utter ruin, by affirming that nothing that was either delightful or profitable, or necessary or comfortable, should any more be found in her; giving the reasons of it, because of her luxury, idolatry, and bloodshed, Re 18:22-24.