Revelation 18:9-24

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 18:12

The merchandise of gold and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls ,.... Things for treasure and ornament, and with which the great whore is said to be decked, Revelation 17:4 and, literally understood, may denote the vast riches which these spiritual merchants, or factors for Rome, cardinals, archbishops, bishops, priests, monks, and friars, bring into their own coffers and the pope's, by the trade they drive in her wares with the souls of men; and may have also a regard to what their... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 18:13

And cinnamon, and odours, and ointments, and frankincense ,.... Things for delight and pleasure, for the gratifying of the senses; cinnamon, and odours were used for perfuming, Proverbs 7:17 anointing with oil was used at feasts, Psalm 23:5 and "frankincense", or censings, at banquets, and for the regaling of persons after food F11 Misn. Beracot, c. 6. sect. 6. : these customs obtained among the eastern people. Tyre had its merchants for these things, Ezekiel 27:19 and Mr.... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 18:14

And the fruits that thy soul lusted after are departed from thee ,.... Or "the autumn of the desire of thy soul"; the desirable fruits which are then in season; the Vulgate Latin and Ethiopic versions render it "apples", which are ripe in autumn; and may design all such fruit as Italy abounds with, which will now be destroyed; and seems to point at the time of year when Babylon's destruction will be: but, in the mystical sense, these fruits may intend universal dominion over nations and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 18:15

The merchants of these things ,.... Before mentioned, who have traded in them for themselves and for Rome: which were made rich by her , see Revelation 18:3 shall stand afar off for fear of her torment ; as the kings of the earth before, Revelation 18:10 being conscious to themselves of their being partners in her crimes, and so might justly fear they should share in her punishment; and it may be, they will outwardly deny they are now of her religion, and will externally embrace... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 18:16

And saying, alas, alas! that great city ,..... Using the same words the kings of the earth do, Revelation 18:10 only adding, suitable to their characters as merchants, and the things they traded in with her, that was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls ; See Gill on Revelation 18:12 , Revelation 17:4 , see also Ezekiel 27:32 . read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 18:17

For in one hour so great riches is come to nought ,.... That is, in a very short time, expressing the suddenness and speediness of Rome's destruction, the quick dispatch and expedition that will be made in it, by the instruments of it, as in Revelation 18:10 . Rome was always famous for its great wealth and riches; the Jews have a saying F12 T. Bab. Kiddushin, fol. 49. 2. , that if ten kabs of riches descend into the world, the ancient Romans take nine of them, and the other the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 18:18

And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning ,.... See Gill on Revelation 18:9 . saying, what city is like unto this great city ? as before for magnificence and grandeur, so now for sorrow, desolation, and ruin; nor was any city like it for power and authority, for pride and luxury, for idolatry and superstition, blasphemy and impenitence; the like the sailors say of Tyre, Ezekiel 27:30 from whence this and other expressions are borrowed in this lamentation. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 18:19

And they cast dust on their heads ,.... As the seafaring men on account of Tyre, Ezekiel 27:30 this was a gesture used in mourning when persons were in afflicted and distressed circumstances, denoting disorder, confusion, and debasement; see Joshua 7:6 and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, alas, alas! that great city ; as in Revelation 18:10 so it was once, though now in flames: wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea ; not only the merchants of the earth, as in ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 18:20

Rejoice over her, thou heaven ,.... This is said by the voice from heaven, Revelation 18:4 which having called upon the saints to come out of Babylon, and to take vengeance on her, now calls upon all good men to rejoice at her ruin, while others were weeping and wailing; not at that, simply considered, but as the justice of God is displayed therein: heaven may be literally understood, which sometimes is addressed when anything of very considerable note and moment is done or spoken of,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 18:21

And a mighty angel ,.... Not Christ, nor one of the ministering spirits, but some man or set of men, perhaps the same with him in Revelation 18:1 took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea ; just as Jeremiah took a stone and bound it to his book after he had read it, and cast it into the river Euphrates, as a sign and token of the destruction of old Babylon, Jeremiah 51:63 saying, thus with violence shall that great city be thrown down, and shall be found no... read more

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