Revelation 18:9

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Revelation 18:9-24

Here we have, I. A doleful lamentation made by Babylon's friends for her fall; and here observe, 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: the kings of the earth, whom she had flattered into idolatry by allowing them to be arbitrary and tyrannical over their subjects, while they were obsequious to her; and... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Revelation 18:9-10

18:9-10 The kings of the earth, who committed fornication with her and who shared in her wantonness, will weep and lament over her, when they will see the smoke of her burning, while they stand afar off because of the fear of her torture, while they say: "Alas! Alas! for the city that seemed so strong, for Babylon the strong city! for in one hour your judgment is come." In the rest of this chapter we have the dirges for Rome; the dirge sung by the kings ( Revelation 18:9-10 ), the dirge... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 18:9

And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication ,.... Idolatry, Revelation 17:2 and lived deliciously with her ; Revelation 18:3 joining with her in her sensual, as well as in her idolatrous practices: shall bewail her, and lament for her : shall mourn inwardly, and by various gestures outwardly express their sorrow at her desolation; see Ezekiel 27:30 these will not be the ten kings who will burn the whore with fire, and then repent of what they have done, and weep... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Revelation 18:9

The kings of the earth - Those who copied her superstitions and adopted her idolatries. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

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

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; and the kings of the earth, who committed fornication and revelled with her, shall weep and wait over her, when they see, etc. It is noteworthy that this sentence is in the future tense; that in Revelation 18:11 in the present; that in Revelation 18:17 , Revelation 18:18 in the past. (On "committed fornication,"... 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

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Revelation 18:9

And the kings of the earth - This verse commences the description of the lamentation over the fall of the mystical Babylon (see the Analysis of the chapter).Who have committed fornication - That is, who have been seduced by her from the true God, and have been led into practical idolatry. See the notes on Revelation 14:8. The kings of the earth seem to be represented as among the chief mourners, because they had derived important aid from the power which was now to be reduced to ruin. As a... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Revelation 18:9-11

Revelation 18:9-11. And the kings of the earth, &c. Even the chief rulers and great powers of the world, who were formerly in league with her, and supported her in her corruptions, practised her idolatries, and lived deliciously with her Shared in the pomp and luxury of her prosperous state; shall bewail her, &c. Shall not be able to afford her any support or defence, or to do any more than fruitlessly condole with her, and lament her sad condition, when they shall behold all... read more

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