Westminster Annotations, Revelation 2 · Chapter 18
CHAP. XVIII.
Vers. 1. AFter these things] The holy Ghost having spoken of the destruction of the seat of the beast under the truth vial, chap. 16. 10. sheweth what that seat is, chap. 17. 18. the citie of Rome: and now he goeth on to the overthrow of it. So that it seemeth we are now under the fourth vial, and the fifth is not yet poured out, because Rome is not yet destroyed.
another angel] Differing from him before, chap. 17. 1. Though God had given sundry warnings of the fall of Rome, before, chap. 14. 8, 9. & 16. 10. yet he sheweth his long-suffering, and willingnesse to have men forsake her, that they may not perish, by sending three angels more, to signifie that her destruction draweth nigh: one here, foretelling her fall once more; another, v. 4. calling men out of her, as out of an house on fire, left they be destroyed with her; as out of an house on fire, lost they be destroyed with her; as Num. 16. 26. a third, v. 21. shewing her utter desolation in expresse words, confirmed by a signe.
from heaven] Or, out of heaven. Sent with a commission from God, to foretell the fall of Rome now at hand. It sheweth, then, that this was no dream of his own, but Gods certain truth: and that this great judgement should not come by accident; but by the will and providence of God. It may signifie some great man suddenly raised by God, and unexpectedly (as Psal. 26. 6. and 57. 3. and 102. 19.) to destroy Rome. Things that come out of the earth, must have time togrow: things from heaven come suddenly.
great power] Furnished with power fit for such a service. So that none could resist him; but Rome must fall by his means. Others foretold the fall of it before; but this cometh to execute it.
the earth was lightened with his glory] That is, with his brightnesse, in the vision. So glory is used, Exod. 40. 34. Numb. 14. 10. 2 Cor. 3. 7. The thing signified may be, that, even earthly men, and papists, shall admire at the pietie of him whom God shall set up to destroy that citie; or at his majesticall power, made known by his victories.
V. 2. mightily with a strong voice] That all men might hear this tydings of the fall of Rome: for she was so setled, that many believed she could not be overthrown. Or, to shew the greatnesse of her fall, and of Gods anger against her.
Babylon the great is fallen] Chap. 14. 8. Isa. 21. 9. jer. 51. 8.
is fallen] It is doubled, to shew the greatnesse, neernesse, or certainty of the fall.
habitation of devils] It was full of men, but now it is full of devils. Either because men esteem solitary places haunted with ghosts, or because the foul spirits do haunt such places for their pleasure, Isa. 34. 11. Jer. 51. 37. Matth. 12. 43. Mark 5. 3. Or, are confined thither by God, as to an hold or prison; or keep there, to terrifie men that passe by such places.
a cage of every unclean and hatefull bird] Isa. 13. 21. Of such birds as were forbidden in the law, and hated by men, because they are not good for food or song, but feed on other birds, and make hidecus and dismall noises. See a patern of such desolation, in the ruines of monasteries: they once held unclean men; now nothing, except perhaps unclean spirits and birds.
V. 3. all rations have drunk] Rome is compared to a famous strumpet, who permitteth ordinary people to drink of her cup, kings and great ones to have to do with her, merchants to gain by her. Before, chap. 14. 8. it was said, She made them drink: now the phrase is altered, They have drunk: to shew, that some might come in of their own accord, as others did by her perswasion or compulsion. Both these ways, men come to taverns and stews.
of the wine, &c.] See chap. 14. 8.
kings] Chap. 17. 2.
merchants of the earth] Either worldly merchants, that sold her delicate things for her lust; or spirituall ones; as friers, monks, pardon-sellers, and such like, 2 Pet. 2. 3.
abundance] Or, power.
delicacies] Money, which they had of her for delicate things to serve her lusts.
V. 4. another voice] A voice, without naming the authour, bringeth some great matter worthy of attention, Isai. 40, 6. When Rome is to be destroyed, God will finde a means to call out his elect from thence, as he did Lot out of Sodom.
Come out of her] Jer. 51. 6, 45. and 50. 8. Isai. 52. 11. God is carefull of his, that they may escape Babylons sins and punishment; which they would not do, unlesse they come out before the burning of the citie: for the people will still sollicite them to idolatry; and the sword or fire cannot distinguish between friends and enemies.
my people] This then was Gods voice, or some angel's representing God.
V. 5. reached unto heaven] Gr. followed. They were as it were one laid upon another, to make a inount to reach up to heaven, and cry for vengeance, Gen. 18. 20, 21. & 19. 13. Ezra 9. 6. Jon. 1. 2. Jer. 51. 9. The least sins reach to heaven. God knoweth them all: but the phrase is commonly used of great sins, that will pull down sudden judgements. God is compared to a patient man, who passeth by many smaller faults in his servants, without taking notice, as not being willing to punish them; which he should do, if he took notice of them: yet when some great fault is committed, then he calleth his servant to account for it, and punisheth him.
remembred her iniquities] He seemed to forget her sins before, while he let her prosper; but now he sheweth that he remembreth them, by punishing her for them, chap. 16. 19.
V. 6. Reward her] Jer. 50. 15, 29. Some take it as spoken to all those that come to destroy Rome. Others, of those which came newly out upon his last summon, v. 4. whose spirits were most likely to be set upon revenge, by the harsh impressions of the sins they lately law there, and wrongs they newly received.
double unto her double] Not the double of her deserts, but of those miseries she hath brought on you before. And that is just, both because God biddeth them do it, and because she did wrongfully torture innocents; but they justly punish the whore.
in the cup] Not of her fornication, but of punishment.
V. 7. how much] Gr. in how many things. This sheweth, that she was very high before, and must be brought very lowe now.
glorified her self] Set up her self above others, and against God, Jer. 48. 26, 42. Lam. 1. 9.
so much torment] Her punishment must be answerable to her pride and luxury. This is spoken of worldly punishments at the fall of Rome; for none can be so high on earth, as they are brought lowe in hell.
she saith in her heart] She thinketh so, Psal. 14. 1. She durst not say so, lost she should be esteemed proud, or be envied by others. Thus her pride foretelleth her fall, Prov. 16. 18.
I sit a queen] Isa. 47. 7, 8. I have a great command.
no widow] I am mighty, and full of people, and live happily. Chap. 12. 11. is the like phrare: Loved not their lives, that is, made no account of them. Cities deprived of their power and people, are accounted widows, Lam. 1. 1.
see no sorrow] Feel none in my self.
V. 8. in one day] In a short time, called one hour, v. 10, 17, 19. Not that one day would end the businesse; but her enemies should not give over the siege, till they had taken it. Or, in one day; that is, suddenly, against her expectation, Isai. 47. 9, 11.
death, and morning, and samine, &c.] In the siege of Rome, many shall be slain, and their friends that live, shall mourn for them; and they in the citie shall suffer famine: and when it is taken, it shall be burnt down to the ground, chap. 17. 16.
for strong is the Lord, &c.] Lost any should think the citie too strong to be destroyed so quickly, he telleth of Gods power, who undertaken the work, Jer. 50. 34.
V. 9. kings of the earth] Lake adulterers that have lost their pleasures; so these kings shall make womanly lamentations for losse of their images and superstitions. This must be understood of such kings as shall stand to the pope, after Rome is down. See notes on chap. 16. 14. & 17. 16.
who have committed ferrication. No good men bewail her. Such onelyonly do it as have been naught with her, chap. 17. 2.
shall bewail her] Izok. 26. 17.
when they shall see the smoke of her lurning] Chap. 14. 11. and 19. 3. Gen. 19. 28. Either it must be taken literally of such kings as came to assist her, and fled away when they saw the citie on fire: or figuratively, when they understood of her destruction.
V. 10. standing afar off] Though they loved her, and could have wished her prosperity to continue; yet they dust not come neer to help her, lost they should be destroyed with her, by them that besieged her, who would take such as came, for friends to the whore, and destroy them, as John did Ahazia's brethren, 2 King. 10. 13, 14. Or, They were afraid of being as they were that cast the three Jews into the furnace, Dan. 3. 22. the flame was so great. Thus the …sra…lites fled, when the earth swallowed Dathan and Abiram, Num. 16. 34.
that great citie] Or, O great citie!
judgement] See chap. 17. 2.
V. 11. The merchants] These weep not for love, as the kings did; but for losse of their gain, which they got by selling her dainty things, to satisfie the lust of her pr…lats. Or, fine things for their idolatrous worship; as, for altars, images, vestments. It may be meant spiritually, of those that made gain of her spirituall merchandise.
mourn …ver her] As a father over a dead childe.
for to man buyeth their merchandise any more] Ezek. 27. 27. For there is no wonted trading there; all traffick, both spirituall and temporall, being there ceased.
V. 12. gold, &c.] Things for fine apparel, and stately houshold stuff.
all thyne-wood] Or, sweet. Some kinde of cedar: or, all kindes of sweet-wood, as all manner of vessels. Or, this might be for use about buildings.
V. 13. and cinnamon, &c.] For pleasing smell.
and wine, &c.] For dainty fare.
horses and charrots, &c.] For princely port.
saves] Gr. bodies. For service. Servants are like bodies, acted by others: free-men, like souls, that guide themselves, and theirs.
souls of men] Persons of men, Ezek. 27. 13. Gen. 12. 5, & 46. 25. Men, though not slaves, yet used for severall employments. Or, souls of men utterally taken, of which they made spirituall merchandase.
V. 14. And the fruits that thy soul, &c.] Gr. the autumn, or autumn fruits of the desire of thy soul. That is, desired fruit: as, In fire of a flame; that is, Flaming fire, 2 Thess. 1. 8. This verse should be in a parenthesis. As if those merchants should like mourners speak to perishing Babylon. Or it may be the speech of the angel, the revealer; as v. 14. or John the publisher, objecting gluttony to Babylon. These autumn fruits are most damty and pleasant to the taste, and goodly to the eyes, like the fruits of paradise, Gen. 3. 6. Of such, Rome hath store.
durty and goodly] Gr. fat and shining.
no more at all] They are not onelyonly lost for the present, but for ever. There is no hope of recovering them.
V. 15. The merchants of these things] Or, the merchants, I say, of these things: Meaning those spoken of, v. 11. He had before set down the causes of their mourning; now he setteth down the manner of it.
stand afar off] See v. 10.
V. 16. that great citie] See v. 10. That uttered much merchandise.
In fine linen, &c.] This is sutable to the persons mourning. The kings that are mighty mourn, because the power of the citie is gone, v. 10. The merchants mourn, because the wealth of it is gone.
deeked with gold] Gr. golded with gold: Chap. 17. 4. Not onelyonly wearing gold; but as it were covered with it from top to toe.
V. 17. in one hour] Like a whirlwinde. See v. 10.
every shipmaster, &c.] Chap. 8. 9. All that traded with her by sea, Ezek. 27. 29, &c. Or, such as were then bringing wares to her by sea, and saw the smoke of the burning of Rome afar off, as Abraham did, when Sodom was destroyed, Gen. 19. 28.
as trade by sea] Psal. 107. 23. Or it may be spiritually understood of inferiour officers, who carried their pardons to sell.
stood afar off] See v. 10.
V. 18. And cried] Jer. 50. 46. Ezek. 37. 32.
the smoke] Vers. 9. Isa. 34. 10. Her destruction will suddenly be known, both by sea and land.
What citie is like unto this great citie?] What citie once so strong and popule us? See the like, chap. 13. 4. Or, who would ever have thought this citie should have been thus laid desolate.
V. 19. And they] Or, Yea, they; as Matth. 26. 50.
cast dust, &c.] It was the manner of mourners. See Josh. 7. 6. 1 Sam. 4. 12. job 2. 12. Ezek. 27. 30. These mourned most, because they were leastable to subsist, and therefore likely to perish soonerby want of trading, then the merchants that employed them. They cryed, in the former verse: here weeping and wailing is added, to shew the greatnesse of their sorrow, v. 9, 15.
that great citie, &c.] See v. 10, 16.
all that had ships] Not merchants alone, but ship-masters: inferiour officers, as well as great ones.
in one hour] Verss. 8, 10, 17.
V. 20. thou heaven] O Church. See chap. 11. 19. & 19. 1, 6. Psal. 58. 11.
apestles and prophets] Ministers, their successours. God accounteth these like those eminent persons. A great comfort to them.
avenged you] Gr. judged your judgement: That is, considered the wrong done to you, and punished her for it, chap. 17. 1. Psal. 9. 4. Mic. 7. 9. He hath avenged the death of your predecessours: or, the wrongs done to you by her, Jer. 51. 35, 36. Or, it may be an apostrophe to those in heaven, shewing what cause of joy they had, if they were here to see the fall of Rome.
V. 21. a mighty angel] An allusion to Jer. 51. 63. Shewing, by a sure token, that the fall of Rome should be greater then the fall of Babylon. There, a weak man; here, a mighty angel: there, taketh an ordinary stone; here, a great milstone: there, casteth it into Euphrates; here, into the sea: there, Babylon shall sink; here, it shall be thrown down with violence: there, it shall not rise; here, it shall be found no more at all, v. 14. Chap. 12. 8. Isa. 13. 20. Jer. 51. 63. A great milstone will fall apace with its own weight; faster, if it be cast down; fastest of all, if by a strong hand: neither can it then rise any more, or be raised out of the bottom of the sea. This sheweth the violent and everlasting destruction of Rome.
V. 22. of harpers] Jer. 7. 34. & 25. 10, 11. All things that served for pleasure, shall cease.
in thee] The angel now turneth his speech to Babylon. Some have told her face to face of her destruction.
no craftsman] All things tending to profit, shall be gone.
sound of a milstone] Gr. voice. In the cities they used hand-mills, which made a great noise. All things necessary shall be taken away. Well may the mills cease, when none shall live there, for whom corn should be grinded. The things abused, shall be all taken away, Joel 1. 5. Jer. 25. 10.
V. 23. light of a candle] The poorest men have candles in the night, that want many other comforts: but Rome shall have none, after this. Or, they shall not use candles in wedding and festival nights any more, Matth. 25. 6, 7.
voice of a bridegroom] There shall be no more marriage there to people the citie any more. Or, no merry meetings. These things argue an utter desolation, Jer. 7. 34. and 16. 9.
thy merchants] Nah. 3. 16. Isa. 23. 8. Thou hast made use of kings for thy profit. Or, thy cardinals were kings fellows.
by thy sorceries] Enchanted cups, chap. 14. 8. or, by Satans help: for some popes have been forcerers.
deceived] Drawn to idolatry.
V. 24. in her was found the blood] Though God defer, yet he will keep court at length, and finde the blood of his servants in Rome, as if it stuck to the hands or clothes of the murderers, Isa. 63. 3. Jer. 2. 34.
of prophets] Faithfull teachers slain, v. 20.
of saints] Of private Christians put to death for religion.
of all that were slain] To wit, for religion, as being slain by her authority, or incitation of the princes to do it. Or, as Matth. 23. 32, 35. because she succeedeth the former persecutours, and finisheth the work, and so is counted guilty of all the blood shed before also.