10. God's judgments inspire fear even in the worldly, but it is of short duration, for the kings and great men soon attach themselves to the beast in its last and worst shape, as open Antichrist, claiming all that the harlot had claimed in blasphemous pretensions and more, and so making up to them for the loss of the harlot. mighty—Rome in Greek means strength; though that derivation is doubtful. read more
11. shall—So. B. But A and C read the present, "weep and mourn." merchandise—Greek, "cargo": wares carried in ships: ship-lading (compare Revelation 18:17). Rome was not a commercial city, and is not likely from her position to be so. The merchandise must therefore be spiritual, even as the harlot is not literal, but spiritual. She did not witness against carnal luxury and pleasure-seeking, the source of the merchants' gains, but conformed to them (Revelation 18:17- :). She cared not for the... read more
12. (See on :-). stones . . . pearls—Greek, "stone . . . pearl." fine linen—A, B, and C read Greek, "bussinou" for "bussou," that is, "fine linen manufacture" [ALFORD]. The manufacture for which Egypt (the type of the apostate Church, Revelation 11:8) was famed. Contrast "the fine linen" (Revelation 11:8- :) put on Israel, and on the New Testament Church (Revelation 11:8- :), the Bride, by God (Revelation 11:8- :). thyine wood—the citrus of the Romans: probably the cypressus thyoyides, or the... read more
13. cinnamon—designed by God for better purposes: being an ingredient in the holy anointing oil, and a plant in the garden of the Beloved ( :-); but desecrated to vile uses by the adulteress ( :-). odours—of incense. A, C, Vulgate, and Syriac prefix "and amomium" (a precious hair ointment made from an Asiatic shrub). English Version reading is supported by Coptic and ANDREAS, but not oldest manuscripts. ointments—Greek, "ointment." frankincense—Contrast the true "incense" which God loves... read more
14. Direct address to Babylon. the fruits that thy soul lusted after—Greek, "thy autumn-ripe fruits of the lust (eager desire) of the soul." dainty—Greek, "fat": "sumptuous" in food. goodly—"splendid," "bright," in dress and equipage. departed—supported by none of our manuscripts. But A, B, C, Vulgate, Syriac, and Coptic read, "perished." thou shalt—A, C, Vulgate, and Syriac read, "They (men) shall no more find them at all." read more
15. of these things—of the things mentioned, Revelation 18:12; Revelation 18:13. which—"who." made rich by—Greek, "derived riches from her." stand afar off for the fear—(Compare Revelation 18:10). wailing—Greek, "mourning." read more
16. And—so Vulgate and ANDREAS. But A, B, and C omit. decked—literally, "glided." stones . . . pearls—Greek, "stone . . . pearl." B and ANDREAS read "pearls." But A and C, "pearl." read more
17. is come to naught—Greek, "is desolated." shipmaster—Greek, "steersman," or "pilot." all the company in ships—A, C, Vulgate, and Syriac read, "Every one who saileth to a place" (B has ". . . to the place"), every voyager. Vessels were freighted with pilgrims to various shrines, so that in one month (A.D. 1300) two hundred thousand pilgrims were counted in Rome [D'AAUBIGNE, Histoire de la Reformation]: a source of gain, not only to the Papal see, but to shipmasters, merchants, pilots, &c.... read more
18. when they saw—Greek, "horontes." But A, B, C, and ANDREAS read, Greek, "blepontes," "looking at." Greek, "blepo," is to use the eyes, to look: the act of seeing without thought of the object seen. Greek, "horao," refers to the thing seen or presented to the eyes [TITTMANN]. smoke—so B, C. But A reads "place." What city is like—Compare the similar beast as to the beast, :-: so closely do the harlot and beast approximate one another. Contrast the attribution of this praise to God, to whom... read more
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Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Revelation 18:9-20
Revelation 18:9-20. And the kings of the earth, &c.— In the very solemn manner described in the verses before us, by an angel, and by a voice from heaven, is declared the fall of Rome, and her destruction by fire; and then are set forth the consequences of her fall, the lamentations of some, and the rejoicings of others. The kings of her communion, who have committed fornication, and lived deliciously with her, bewail and lament her fall, (Revelation 18:9-10.) But what kings were they, who... read more