Revelation 18:21-24

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 18:1-24

The overthrow of wickedness. This, in symbolic form, is the real subject of this chapter. Wickedness shall be utterly and forever destroyed. I. A GLORIOUS ANGEL PROCLAIMS THIS . (Cf. Revelation 18:1 as to this angel.) Then such overthrow must be: 1 . Righteous. 2 . Blessed. 3 . Divine. Had it been possible for men to affect this, it would have been done long since. II. GOD 'S PEOPLE RECEIVE COMMAND . 1 . To separate themselves from sin. From... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 18:9-24

Lamentations over the fall of Babylon. In our previous study of "Babylon the great," we had occasion to remark that there were three forms under which a great Babylon might be recognized. 1 . In that worldwide spirit of alienation from God which has corrupted every form of human life everywhere. 2 . In any Church which, allying itself with the world power, fornicates therewith, and puts itself on the throne instead of God. 3 . Most manifestly of all in the papal Church, where... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 18:9-24

The fall of the corrupt in human life. "And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her," etc. All along through my remarks on the Apocalyptic visions of this book I have not only discarded any attempt at a literal interpretation, but have affirmed that, as a rule, such interpretations of dreams or visions can seldom, if ever, from the nature of the case, be correct; and more especially so with the visions and dreams recorded in this book. The... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 18:21

And a mighty angel took up a stone like a groat millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying; add one strong angel (cf. the "mighty voice" in Revelation 18:2 ; also Revelation 10:1 , and elsewhere). The adjective, of course, refers to the mightiness of the deed wrought (cf. Jeremiah 51:61-64 , "Thou shall bind a stone to it, and cast it into the midst of Euphrates; and thou shall say, Thus shall Babylon sink, and shall not rise," etc.). The sea may be typical of the nations of the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 18:21

"No more." Six times over does this word recur, and always concerning the same fact. That fact, therefore, must be notable, and is intended to be noticed by us. Of what, then, is it thus repeatedly said, it is "no more"? A glance at this chapter shows that "the great city Babylon" is spoken of, and that accursed city meant heathen Rome to the mind of St. John. But full well we know that even when Rome pagan gave way to Rome papal, evil and sin, bloody persecution and cruel wrong, did not... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 18:21

Moral evil symbolized. "And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea," etc. In these words we have a symbolization of moral evil. I. A SYMBOLIZATION OF ITS NATURE . Babylon is a symbol. Not unfrequently is moral evil in the aggregate represented by some one object. Sometimes by the "old man," that is, the unrenewed, depraved man; he is the embodiment of all the elements of sin. Sometimes by the "world," that is, the moral evil embodied... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 18:22

And the voice of harpers, and musicians, and of pipers, and trumpeters, shall be heard no more at all in thee; harpers and minstrels and flute players, etc. (Revised Version). Cf. the description of the desolation of Tyre in Ezekiel 26:13 and Isaiah 24:8 . And no craftsman, of whatsoever craft he be, shall be found any more in thee. "Every craft" is omitted in א , A. (On the last phrase, see on Isaiah 24:21 .) And the sound of a millstone shall be heard no more at all in thee.... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 18:23

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; of a lamp (cf. Jeremiah 25:10 , "I will take from them the voice of mirth, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, the sound of the millstones, and the light of the candle"). For thy merchants were the great men of the earth; were the princes. The cause of this overthrow is thus again... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 18:24

And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth. At first sight it seems difficult to understand that these words are spoken not only of Babylon, but of the faithless portion of the Church, symbolized by the harlot. But we must remember Here is concluded the pronouncement of the judgment of Babylon; which may be said to answer the prayer in Revelation 6:10 ; and which forms the conclusion of the revelation commencing at Revelation... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Revelation 18:21

And a mighty angel - See the notes on Revelation 18:1. This seems, however, to have been a different angel from the one mentioned in Revelation 18:1, though, like that, he is described as having great power.Took up a stone like a great millstone - On the structure of mills among the ancients see the notes on Matthew 24:41.And cast it into the sea - As an emblem of the utter ruin of the city; an indication that the city would be as completely destroyed as that stone was covered by the... read more

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