mh_parser/vol_split/66 - Revelation/Chapter 18.xml

<div2 id="Rev.xix" n="xix" next="Rev.xx" prev="Rev.xviii" progress="98.86%" title="Chapter XVIII">
<h2 id="Rev.xix-p0.1">R E V E L A T I O N.</h2>
<h3 id="Rev.xix-p0.2">CHAP. XVIII.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="Rev.xix-p1">We have here, I. An angel proclaiming the fall of
Babylon, <scripRef id="Rev.xix-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:Rev.18.1-Rev.18.2" parsed="|Rev|18|1|18|2" passage="Re 18:1,2">ver. 1, 2</scripRef>. II.
Assigning the reasons of her fall, <scripRef id="Rev.xix-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:Rev.18.3" parsed="|Rev|18|3|0|0" passage="Re 18:3">ver.
3</scripRef>. III. Giving warning to all who belonged to God to
come out of her (<scripRef id="Rev.xix-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:Rev.18.4-Rev.18.5" parsed="|Rev|18|4|18|5" passage="Re 18:4,5">ver. 4,
5</scripRef>), and to assist in her destruction, <scripRef id="Rev.xix-p1.4" osisRef="Bible:Rev.18.6-Rev.18.8" parsed="|Rev|18|6|18|8" passage="Re 18:6-8">ver. 6-8</scripRef>. IV. The great lamentation made for
her by those who had been large sharers in her sinful pleasures and
profits, <scripRef id="Rev.xix-p1.5" osisRef="Bible:Rev.18.9-Rev.18.19" parsed="|Rev|18|9|18|19" passage="Re 18:9-19">ver. 9-19</scripRef>. V.
The great joy that there would be among others at the sight of her
irrecoverable ruin, <scripRef id="Rev.xix-p1.6" osisRef="Bible:Rev.18.20-Rev.18.24" parsed="|Rev|18|20|18|24" passage="Re 18:20-24">ver.
20</scripRef>, &amp;c.</p>
<scripCom id="Rev.xix-p1.7" osisRef="Bible:Rev.18" parsed="|Rev|18|0|0|0" passage="Re 18" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="Rev.xix-p1.8" osisRef="Bible:Rev.18.1-Rev.18.8" parsed="|Rev|18|1|18|8" passage="Re 18:1-8" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Rev.18.1-Rev.18.8">
<h4 id="Rev.xix-p1.9">The Fall of Babylon. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Rev.xix-p1.10">a.
d.</span> 95.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Rev.xix-p2">1 And after these things I saw another angel
come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was
lightened with his glory.   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.   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.   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.   5 For her sins
have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.
  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.   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.   8 Therefore shall her plagues come in one day,
death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned
with fire: for strong <i>is</i> the Lord God who judgeth her.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Rev.xix-p3">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, <scripRef id="Rev.xix-p3.1" osisRef="Bible:Rev.18.1" parsed="|Rev|18|1|0|0" passage="Re 18:1"><i>v.</i> 1</scripRef>. 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 (<scripRef id="Rev.xix-p3.2" osisRef="Bible:Isa.21.9" parsed="|Isa|21|9|0|0" passage="Isa 21:9">Isa. xxi.
9</scripRef>), where the word is repeated as it is here: <i>has
fallen, has fallen.</i> 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; <i>She has become
the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and
the cage of every unclean and hateful bird,</i> <scripRef id="Rev.xix-p3.3" osisRef="Bible:Rev.18.2" parsed="|Rev|18|2|0|0" passage="Re 18:2"><i>v.</i> 2</scripRef>. But this is also borrowed from
<scripRef id="Rev.xix-p3.4" osisRef="Bible:Isa.21.9" parsed="|Isa|21|9|0|0" passage="Isa 21:9">Isa. xxi. 9</scripRef>, and seems to
describe not so much her sin of entertaining idols (which are truly
called <i>devils</i>) 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 (<scripRef id="Rev.xix-p3.5" osisRef="Bible:Rev.18.3" parsed="|Rev|18|3|0|0" passage="Re 18:3"><i>v.</i>
3</scripRef>); 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 <i>come out of her,</i> but be
assisting in her destruction, <scripRef id="Rev.xix-p3.6" osisRef="Bible:Rev.18.4-Rev.18.5" parsed="|Rev|18|4|18|5" passage="Re 18:4,5"><i>v.</i> 4, 5</scripRef>. 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, <scripRef id="Rev.xix-p3.7" osisRef="Bible:Rev.18.6" parsed="|Rev|18|6|0|0" passage="Re 18:6"><i>v.</i> 6</scripRef>. (6.) God will proportion the
punishment of sinners to the measure of their wickedness, pride,
and security, <scripRef id="Rev.xix-p3.8" osisRef="Bible:Rev.18.7" parsed="|Rev|18|7|0|0" passage="Re 18:7"><i>v.</i> 7</scripRef>.
(7.) When destruction comes on a people suddenly, the surprise is a
great aggravation of their misery, <scripRef id="Rev.xix-p3.9" osisRef="Bible:Rev.18.8" parsed="|Rev|18|8|0|0" passage="Re 18:8"><i>v.</i> 8</scripRef>.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Rev.xix-p3.10" osisRef="Bible:Rev.18.9-Rev.18.24" parsed="|Rev|18|9|18|24" passage="Re 18:9-24" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Rev.18.9-Rev.18.24">
<h4 id="Rev.xix-p3.11">The Fall of Babylon. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Rev.xix-p3.12">a.
d.</span> 95.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Rev.xix-p4">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,
  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.   11 And the merchants of the earth
shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise
any more:   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,   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.   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.   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!   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,   18 And cried when they saw the smoke of her
burning, saying, What <i>city is</i> like unto this great city!
  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.   20 Rejoice over her,
<i>thou</i> heaven, and <i>ye</i> holy apostles and prophets; for
God hath avenged you on her.   21 And a mighty angel took up a
stone like a great millstone, and cast <i>it</i> into the sea,
saying, Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown
down, and shall be found no more at all.   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
<i>he be,</i> shall be found any more in thee; and the sound of a
millstone shall be heard no more at all in thee;   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.   24 And in her was found
the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain
upon the earth.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Rev.xix-p5">Here we have,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Rev.xix-p6">I. A doleful lamentation made by Babylon's
friends for her fall; and here observe,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Rev.xix-p7">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: <i>the
kings of the earth,</i> whom she had flattered into idolatry by
allowing them to be arbitrary and tyrannical over their subjects,
while they were obsequious to her; and <i>the merchants,</i> that
is, those who trafficked with her for indulgences, pardons,
dispensations, and preferments; these will mourn, because by
<i>this craft they got their wealth.</i></p>
<p class="indent" id="Rev.xix-p8">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: <i>Alas! alas! that
great city, Babylon, that mighty city!</i> (3.) They wept, and
<i>cast dust upon their heads,</i> <scripRef id="Rev.xix-p8.1" osisRef="Bible:Rev.18.19" parsed="|Rev|18|19|0|0" passage="Re 18:19"><i>v.</i> 19</scripRef>. 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.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Rev.xix-p9">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 (<scripRef id="Rev.xix-p9.1" osisRef="Bible:Rev.18.12-Rev.18.13" parsed="|Rev|18|12|18|13" passage="Re 18:12,13"><i>v.</i> 12, 13</scripRef>), and lost
irrecoverably (<scripRef id="Rev.xix-p9.2" osisRef="Bible:Rev.18.14" parsed="|Rev|18|14|0|0" passage="Re 18:14"><i>v.</i>
14</scripRef>): <i>All things which were dainty and goodly have
departed from thee, and thou shalt find them no more at all.</i>
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.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Rev.xix-p10">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 <i>rejoice over her,</i> <scripRef id="Rev.xix-p10.1" osisRef="Bible:Rev.18.20" parsed="|Rev|18|20|0|0" passage="Re 18:20"><i>v.</i> 20</scripRef>. 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 <i>to whom
vengeance belongs,</i> 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 (<scripRef id="Rev.xix-p10.2" osisRef="Bible:Rev.18.21" parsed="|Rev|18|21|0|0" passage="Re 18:21"><i>v.</i> 21</scripRef>): An <i>angel</i> from
heaven <i>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;</i> 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 <i>deceiving the nations
with her sorceries,</i> and secondly in destroying and murdering
those whom she could not deceive," <scripRef id="Rev.xix-p10.3" osisRef="Bible:Rev.18.24" parsed="|Rev|18|24|0|0" passage="Re 18:24"><i>v.</i> 24</scripRef>. Such abominable sins deserved
so great a ruin.</p>
</div></div2>