Revelation 18:4-14

4 And I heard another voice of heaven, saying, My people, go ye out of it, and be ye not partners of the trespasses of it, and ye shall not receive of the wounds of it [and ye shall not receive of the plagues of it].

5 For the sins of it came unto heaven, and the Lord had mind of the wickedness [of the wickednesses] of it.

6 Yield ye to it, as [and] she yielded to you; and double ye double things, after her works; in the drink that she mixed to you, mix ye double to her [in the drink that she meddled to you, mingle ye double to her].

7 As much as she glorified herself, and was in delights, so much torment give to her, and wailing; for in her heart she saith, I sit a queen, and I am not a widow, and I shall not see wailing. [How much she glorified herself, and was in delights, so much torment give ye to her, and weeping, or mourning; for in her heart she saith, I sit a queen, and I am not a widow, and I shall not see weeping, or mourning.]

8 And therefore in one day her wounds shall come [And therefore in one day her plagues shall come], death, and mourning, and hunger; and she shall be burnt in fire, for God is strong, that shall deem her.

9 And the kings of the earth shall beweep, and bewail themselves on her, which did fornication with her, and lived in delights, when they shall see the smoke of the burning of it [when they shall see the smoke of burning of her];

10 standing afar, for dread of the torments of it [standing far for dread of torments of her], saying, Woe! woe! that great city Babylon, and that strong city; for in one hour thy doom cometh.

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.

Revelation 18:4-14 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.