Revelation 18:16 KJV,ASV

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Revelation 18:15-17

(15-17) The merchants of these things . . .—The description is resumed. The merchants stand like the kings (see Revelation 18:10) afar off, because of the fear of her torment, saying, “Woe! woe! (or, alas! alas!) the great city, because in one hour so great wealth was desolated.” The words of this lamentation are parallel to the lament of the kings, the only difference is characteristic—they bewail the sudden decay of the wealth. On the fine linen and purple, comp. Revelation 18:12, and Luke... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - Revelation 18:1-24

Revelation 18:2 Here we are at Treves. I need not tell you all I have felt here and at Fleissen. At first the feeling that one is standing over the skeleton of the giant iniquity old Rome is overpowering. And as I stood last night in that amphitheatre, amid the wild beasts' dens, and thought of the Christian martyrdoms and the Frank prisoners, and all the hellish scenes of agony and cruelty that place had witnessed, I seemed to hear the very voice of the Archangel whom St. John heard in Patmos,... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - Revelation 18:1-24

CHAPTER XIV.THE FALL OF BABYLON.Revelation 18:1-24.BABYLON has fallen. We have now the Divine proclamation of her fate, and the lamentation of the world over the doom to which she has been consigned: -"After these things I saw another angel coming down out of heaven, having great authority; and the earth was lightened with his glory. And he cried with a mighty voice, saying, Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, and is become a habitation of devils, and a hold of every unclean spirit, and a hold... read more

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - Revelation 18:1-24

CHAPTER 18 Revelation 18:1-3 . Babylon is now seen under another aspect. In the former chapter we have the religious center of Rome and her wicked idolatries, in the present chapter it includes also the whole system of apostate Christendom in its social and commercial aspect, the so-called “Christian civilization” in its final apostate condition and doom. Papal Rome in her short revival becomes the head of apostate Christendom and controls everything till her appointed doom comes upon her.... read more

L.M. Grant

L. M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible - Revelation 18:1-24

God's Judgment of Great Babylon In Revelation 17:1-18 we have seen that the destruction of Great Babylon is by the hand of the Beast and his ten horns. Now, in Revelation 18:1-24, the judgment is seen to be from the Lord God (vv. 5, 8, 20)-as Lord being in absolute authority, as God being supreme in majestic glory. An angel from heaven having great authority announces Babylon's fall (v. 1). The earth was lightened by his glory. Such light is God's exposure of the sordid works of the great... read more

James Gray

James Gray's Concise Bible Commentary - Revelation 18:1-24

THE SEVEN DOOMS The seven dooms are those of Babylon, the beast, the false prophet, the kings, the dragon, gog, and the dead. This lesson will be limited to chapters 17-18, both of which speak of Babylon but in different ways, and to understand which, it is necessary to keep in mind that every city may be conceived of from two points of view, material and moral. The streets and parks, the buildings, the docks and market places, these are Chicago; but her politics and government, her commerce... read more

Robert Hawker

Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary - Revelation 18:9-19

(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... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Bible - Revelation 18:9-19

9-19 The mourners had shared Babylon's sensual pleasures, and gained by her wealth and trade. The kings of the earth, whom she flattered into idolatry, allowing them to be tyrannical over their subjects, while obedient to her; and the merchants, those who trafficked for her indulgences, pardons, and honours; these mourn. Babylon's friends partook her sinful pleasures and profits, but are not willing to share her plagues. The spirit of antichrist is a worldly spirit, and that sorrow is a mere... read more

Frank Binford Hole

F. B. Hole's Old and New Testament Commentary - Revelation 18:1-99

Revelation 18 ANOTHER ANGEL OF special power and glory now appears, coming down from heaven and announcing Babylon’s fall. In Rev_14:8 , John saw an angel who made this announcement, but here it is given with greater impressiveness and with more detail. The evil system which is thus represented had long been fallen morally, now it is fallen under Divine judgment. Yet it is acknowledged as “great” even by this angel, who himself had “great power.” Men are naturally inclined to worship what is... read more

Paul E. Kretzmann

The Popular Commentary by Paul E. Kretzmann - Revelation 18:15-20

These features are so prominent that they are treated in another paragraph: v. 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, v. 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! v. 17. For in one hour so great riches is come to naught. And every shipmaster and all the company in ships and sailors, and... read more