The destruction of spiritual BABYLON hath in this prophecy been several times predicted and already foretold: now here an angel from heaven is employed to declare it shall certainly be performed. This angel is variously here described, 1. By the place from whence he came, namely, from heaven; signi... [ Continue Reading ]
The Spirit of God is placed here to assign the reason and cause of BABYLON'S fatal ruin and final desolation; namely, 1. Because ALL NATIONS HAVE DRUNK OF THE WINE OF THE WRATH OF HER fornications. All nations, THAT IS, VERY MANY; THE GENERALITY OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE HAVE BEEN ALLURED TO, AND INTOXI... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe here, An admonition given, and. double reason assigned for that admonition. 1. The admonition itself; COME OUT OF HER MY PEOPLE, that is, come out of mystical BABYLON, have no communion with that idolatrous church; abstain from all communicating with her in her sins, as ever you would appro... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe here, 1. The reason assigned why Almighty God inflicted such severe punishments upon BABYLON, because HER SINS, that is, the cry and clamour of her sins, HAD REACHED UP TO HEAVEN, the measure of her sins was filled up, AND GOD HAD REMEMBERED HER INIQUITIES, that is, manifested his rememberan... [ Continue Reading ]
The Spirit of God having in the former part of the chapter set forth the certainty and severity of those judgments which should come upon mystical BABYLON, he next declares what wailings and bitter lamentations her downfall would occasion to her votaries and admirers, to her friends and followers; m... [ Continue Reading ]
The second sort of persons who passionately lament and bitterly bewail BABYLON'S downfall and destruction, are the merchants who traded in and with BABYLON. Here we have an allusion to the merchants and merchandise of Tyre spoken of, Ezekiel 17 As Tyre was the mart of the earth for temporal things,... [ Continue Reading ]
The last sort of mourners for BABYLON'S ruin are sailors and seamen; all spiritual seamen that have an oar in St. Peter's boat shall lament greatly, whose life and livelihood did depend upon the merchant trade of that great city; these, though they stuck close to her, and trafficked with her in the... [ Continue Reading ]
Note here, 1. That as BABYLON'S ruin was matter of great grief and sorrow to the fore-mentioned mourners who merchandised and traded with her; so it is matter of great joy and rejoicing to all spiritual and heavenly-minded persons, which are the true church, who are commanded to rejoice at it. REJOI... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe here, 1. BABYLON'S utter desolation represented by the type and sign of. millstone cast into the sea; like. millstone she had ground and oppressed the church of God, and now, like. millstone thrown into the sea, she sinks into the pit of destruction. Almighty God, by this sign or symbol, si... [ Continue Reading ]