Scofield Reference Bible Notes
Revelation 18

Rev 18:1 And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory.

angel

Scofield Hebrews 1:4, note.

power

authority.

Rev 18:2 And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.

Babylon

Babylon, "confusion," is repeatedly used by the prophets in a symbolic sense (see Scofield Isa 13:1, note). Two "Babylons" are to be distinguished in the Revelation: ecclesiastical babylon, which is apostate Christendom, headed up under the Papacy; and political babylon, which is the Beast's confederated empire, the last form of Gentile world-dominion. Ecclesiastical Babylon is "the great whore" (Rev 17:1), and is destroyed by political Babylon (Rev 17:15-18), that the beast may be the alone object of worship (2Th 2:3-4; Rev 13:15). The power of political Babylon is destroyed by the return of the Lord in glory. (See "Armageddon," Scofield Rev 16:14; 19:17.) The notion of a literal Babylon to be rebuilt on the site of ancient Babylon is in conflict with Isa 13:19-22. But the language of Rev 18. (e.g.Rev 18:10, 16, 18) seems beyond question to identify "Babylon," the "city" of luxury and traffic, with "Babylon" the ecclesiastical centre, viz. Rome. The very kings who hate ecclesiastical Babylon deplore the destruction of commercial Babylon.

devils

demons.

Rev 18:3 For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies.

drunk of the wine of the wrath

Rev 17:4.

the merchants of the earth

Rev 18:11-12.

abundance of her delicacies

power of her luxury.

Rev 18:4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.

another voice from heaven

Cf. Rev 16:7.

Come out of her

Separation. 2Co 6:14-17. (Gen 12:1; 2 Cor 6:14-17.)

sins [See also Rev 18:5.]

Sin. Scofield Romans 3:23, note.

Rev 18:6 Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double.

Reward

Render to.

rewarded you

hath rendered.

Rev 18:7 How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow.

deliciously [See also Rev 18:9.]

luxuriously.

I sit a queen

Cf. Isa 47:7-8.

Rev 18:8 Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her.

strong is the Lord God

Cf. Jer 50:34; cf. Heb 10:31.

Rev 18:9 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,

shall bewail her

Cf. Jer 50:46.

Rev 18:10 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.

Alas, alas [See also Rev 18:16, 19.]

Woe, woe.

Babylon

See Scofield Isa 13:1, note.

Rev 18:11 And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more:

the merchants of the earth

Rev 18:3, 15.

Rev 18:12 The merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thyine wood, and all manner vessels of ivory, and all manner vessels of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble,

all manner vessels

every article.

Rev 18:13 And cinnamon, and odours, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men.

beasts

cattle.

slaves

bodies.

Rev 18:14 And the fruits that thy soul lusted after are departed from thee, and all things which were dainty and goodly are departed from thee, and thou shalt find them no more at all.

are departed from thee

Rev 17:16.

thou shalt

they shall.

Rev 18:15 The merchants of these things, which were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing,

shall stand afar off

Rev 18:10, 17.

Rev 18:16 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!

that

the. Rev 17:18.

Rev 18:17 For in one hour so great riches is come to nought. And every shipmaster, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off,

For in one hour

Rev 18:10, 19.

all the company

every voyager.

Rev 18:19 And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas, that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness! for in one hour is she made desolate.

they cast dust on their heads

Cf. 1Sa 4:12.

Rev 18:20 Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye holy apostles and prophets; for God hath avenged you on her.

Rejoice over her, thou heaven

Cf. Jer 51:48; cf. Isa 44:23; Rev 12:12.

holy apostles and prophets

saints and apostles.

avenged you on her

judged your judgment upon her.

Rev 18:21 And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all.

mighty angel

Rev 10:1.

a great millstone

Cf. Jer 51:63-64.

Rev 18:22 And the voice of harpers, and musicians, and of pipers, and trumpeters, shall be heard no more at all in thee; and no craftsman, of whatsoever craft he be, shall be found any more in thee; and the sound of a millstone shall be heard no more at all in thee;

the voice of harpers

Cf. Isa 24:8; contra, Rev 14:1-3.

craftsman

Cf. Luk 17:28.

the sound of a millstone

Cf. Jer 25:10

Rev 18:23 And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee: for thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived.

candle

lamp.

the voice of the bridegroom

Cf. Jer 16:9.

thy sorceries were all nations deceived

Cf. Nah 3:4.

Rev 18:24 And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth.

the blood of prophets

Rev 17:6.