The prediction of the voice from heaven 18:4-20This section contains a call for believers to leave Babylon, laments over Babylon’s destruction by those afflicted by it, and rejoicing in heaven over Babylon’s fall. read more
Laments over this judgment by those affected 18:9-19Three groups of people mourn Babylon’s destruction in these verses: kings (Revelation 18:9-10; cf. Ezekiel 26:15-18), merchants (Revelation 18:11-13; Revelation 18:15-17 a; cf. Ezekiel 27:36), and sea people (Revelation 18:17-19; cf. Ezekiel 27:29-36). read more
Babylon will fall quickly, in "one hour" (Revelation 18:10, cf. Revelation 18:19; Jeremiah 51:8; Ezekiel 27). These kings mourn because they have lost their power suddenly. These rulers must be different from the 10 kings who destroy the city (Revelation 17:16). These woes are an exclamation of sorrow; the earlier ones in the book are announcements of doom (Revelation 8:13; Revelation 12:12). [Note: Lee, 4:770; Robertson, 6:440.] Doubling the woes increases the perception of the strength of the... read more
The merchants also lament over the destruction of this system, further indicating that this is a different system than the religious one symbolized in chapter 17. The collapse of economic Babylon results in merchants being unable to buy and sell goods. They sorrow over the loss of customers and profits that its destruction causes. However the city itself is a treasure that they also regret losing (cf. Ezekiel 27:25-31). [Note: Beasley-Murray, p. 267; Wall, p. 216.] The wailing of the merchants... read more
The variety of the goods John listed suggests how extensive trade will be at this time in history. The market is the world. Most of the items listed were luxuries in John’s day (cf. Isaiah 23; Ezekiel 16:9-13; Ezekiel 27:12-24). There are seven categories into which these 29 items fall. These categories are precious metals and gems, clothing, furnishings, spices, food, animals and implements, and people. People are even buying and selling other human beings."Persons are ’bought and sold’ (and... read more
The fruit (Gr. opora, lit. ripe autumn fruit) these merchants so desire is no longer available (cf. Jeremiah 40:10; Jeremiah 40:12; Judges 1:12). "Luxurious" and "splendid" refer to food and clothing respectively. [Note: Swete, p. 235; Charles, 2:108.] The merchants will also lose their luxurious possessions. People will not be able to find the treasures they once collected. The Greek construction of the last clause indicates that these things will never ever return. [Note: Robertson, 6:442.]... read more
Again the merchants bewail their fate. Selfishness and greed characterize these individuals. They too, like the kings, stand at a distance viewing the destruction of the city (cf. Revelation 18:10; Revelation 18:17). read more
The description of the city here is very similar to that of the harlot in Revelation 17:4. One city is in view in both chapters. This dirge begins and ends the same way as that of the kings in Revelation 18:10 did. However the merchants bewail the city’s lost opulence and splendor whereas the kings grieved over its broken strength (cf. Ezekiel 16:23; Ezekiel 28:13). read more
The first clause of this verse concludes the mourning of the merchants. It expresses the reason for their sorrow.The second part of this verse begins the description of the mourning of sea people. The four groups of sea people represent helmsmen (Gr. kybrnetes), passengers (pas ho epi topon pleon), sailors (nautai), and those who work the sea (ten thalassan ergazontai) such as fishermen and divers for pearls. [Note: Thomas, Revelation 8-22, p. 339.] These too stand at a distance watching the... read more
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Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Revelation 18:19
19. wailing—"mourning." that had ships—A, B, and C read, "that had their ships": literally, "the ships." costliness—her costly treasures: abstract for concrete. read more