Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
Revelations Ch.18 / 22 Ch.s
RE:18
* Another angel from heaven proclaims the fall of mystical
Babylon. (1-3) A voice from heaven admonishes the people of God,
lest they partake of her plagues. (4-8) The lamentations over
her. (9-19) The church called upon to rejoice in her utter ruin.
(20-24)
#1-8 The downfal and destruction of the mystical Babylon are
determined in the counsels of God. Another angel comes from
heaven. This seems to be Christ himself, coming to destroy his
enemies, and to shed abroad the light of his gospel through all
nations. The wickedness of this Babylon was very great; she had
forsaken the true God, and set up idols, and had drawn all sorts
of men into spiritual adultery, and by her wealth and luxury
kept them in her interest. The spiritual merchandise, by which
multitudes have wickedly lived in wealth, by the sins and
follies of mankind, seems principally intended. Fair warning is
given to all that expect mercy from God, that they should not
only come out of this Babylon, but assist in her destruction.
God may have a people even in Babylon. But God's people shall be
called out of Babylon, and called effectually, while those that
partake with wicked men in their sins, must receive of their
plagues.
#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
worldly sorrow; they do not lament for the anger of God, but for
the loss of outward comforts. The magnificence and riches of the
ungodly will avail them nothing, but will render the vengeance
harder to be borne. The spiritual merchandise is here alluded
to, when not only slaves, but the souls of men, are mentioned as
articles of commerce, to the destroying the souls of millions.
Nor has this been peculiar to the Roman antichrist, and only her
guilt. But let prosperous traders learn, with all their gains,
to get the unsearchable riches of Christ; otherwise; even in
this life, they may have to mourn that riches make to themselves
wings and fly away, and that all the fruits their souls lusted
after, are departed from them. Death, at any rate, will soon end
their commerce, and all the riches of the ungodly will be
exchanged, not only for the coffin and the worm, but for the
fire that cannot be quenched.
#20-24 That which is matter of rejoicing to the servants of God
on earth, is matter of rejoicing to the angels in heaven. The
apostles, who are honoured and daily worshipped at Rome in an
idolatrous manner, will rejoice in her fall. The fall of Babylon
was an act of God's justice. And because it was a final ruin,
this enemy should never molest them any more; of this they were
assured by a sign. Let us take warning from the things which
brought others to destruction, and let us set our affections on
things above, when we consider the changeable nature of earthly
things.