Revelation 18:2 - Exposition

And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying; and he cried with a strong voice, saying. This "strong voice" is characteristic of the heavenly utterances (cf. Revelation 7:2 ; Revelation 14:7 , etc.). Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen. The event, though future, is described as past, being predetermined in the counsels of God. The words here are a reproduction of Isaiah 21:9 . And is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird; a habitation … a hold of every unclean spirit, and a hold of every unclean and hated bird. "Devils" (Greek, δαιμόνια ) , inferior evil spirits. The three phrases express the same idea, viz. the loathsome and hateful state to which Babylon is reduced. The language is derived from the prophets (cf. Isaiah 13:21 , Isaiah 13:22 ; Isaiah 34:11-15 ; Jeremiah 1:1-19 :39; Jeremiah 51:37 ). A hold (Greek, φυλακή , "a strong place"); the natural and fitting stronghold of the devils, rather than a place to which they are involuntarily confined.