“Rejoice over her, O heaven, you saints, apostles, and prophets; for God has judged your judgment on her.” A mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and cast it into the sea, saying, “Thus with violence will Babylon, the great city, be thrown down, and will be found no more at all. The voice of harpists, minstrels, flute players, and trumpeters will be heard no more at all in you. No craftsman, of whatever craft, will be found any more at all in you. The sound of a mill will be heard no more at all in you. The light of a lamp will shine no more at all in you. The voice of the bridegroom and of the bride will be heard no more at all in you; for your merchants were the princes of the earth; for with your sorcery all the nations were deceived. In her was found the blood of prophets and of saints, and of all who have been slain on the earth.”
Parallel Translations
-
“Rejoice over her, O heaven, you saints, apostles, and prophets; for God has judged your judgment on her.”
A mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and cast it into the sea, saying, “Thus with violence will Babylon, the great city, be thrown down, and will be found no more at all.
The voice of harpists, minstrels, flute players, and trumpeters will be heard no more at all in you. No craftsman, of whatever craft, will be found any more at all in you. The sound of a mill will be heard no more at all in you.
The light of a lamp will shine no more at all in you. The voice of the bridegroom and of the bride will be heard no more at all in you; for your merchants were the princes of the earth; for with your sorcery all the nations were deceived.
In her was found the blood of prophets and of saints, and of all who have been slain on the earth.”
-
Reioyce over her thou heven and the holy Apostles and prophetes: for god hath geven youre iudgment on her.
And a myghty angell toke vp a stone lyke a grett mylstone and cast it into the see sayinge: with suche violence shall that gret cite Babilon be cast and shallbe founde no more.
And the voyce of harpers and musicions and of pypers and trompetters shalbe herde no more in the: and no craftes man of whatsoever craft he be shalbe founde eny more in the. and the soude of a myll shalbe herde no more in the
and the voyce of the brydegrome and of the bryde shalbe herde no more in the: for thy marchauntes were the grett men of the erth. And with thyne inchantment were deceaved all nacions:
and in her was founde the bloude of the prophettes and of the saynctes and of all that were slayne apon the erth.
Show all 3 translations
-
O heauen, reioyce of her, and ye holy Apostles and Prophets: for God hath punished her to be reuenged on her for your sakes.
Then a mightie Angell tooke vp a stone like a great milstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, With such violence shall that great citie Babylon be cast, and shalbe found no more.
And the voyce of harpers, and musicians, and of pipers, and trumpetters shalbe heard no more in thee, and no craftesman, of whatsoeuer craft he be, shall be found any more in thee: and the sound of a milstone shalbe heard no more in thee.
And the light of a candle shall shine no more in thee: and the voyce of the bridegrome and of the bride shalbe heard no more in thee: for thy marchants were the great men of the earth: and with thine inchantments were deceiued all nations.
And in her was found the blood of the Prophets, and of the Saints, and of all that were slaine vpon the earth.
Cross-references (83)
- Revelation 18:3 (v23) For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her sexual immorality, the kings of the earth committed sexual immorality with…
- Isaiah 23:8 (v23) Who has planned this against Tyre, the giver of crowns, whose merchants are princes, whose traders are the honorable of the earth?
- Nahum 3:4 (v23) because of the multitude of the prostitution of the alluring prostitute, the mistress of witchcraft, who sells nations through her…
- Jeremiah 7:34 (vv22–23) Then I will cause to cease from the cities of Judah, and from the streets of Jerusalem, the voice of mirth and the voice of gladness, the…
- Revelation 17:6 (v24) I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. When I saw her, I wondered with great…
Show all 80 cross-references
- Jeremiah 51:63-64 (v21) It will be, when you have finished reading this book, that you shall bind a stone to it, and cast it into the middle of the Euphrates. Then…
- Ezekiel 26:13 (v22) I will cause the noise of your songs to cease. The sound of your harps won’t be heard any more.
- Revelation 16:6 (v24) For they poured out the blood of saints and prophets, and you have given them blood to drink. They deserve this.”
- Revelation 22:15 (v23) Outside are the dogs, the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.
- Jeremiah 25:10 (v22) Moreover I will take from them the voice of mirth and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, the…
- Ezekiel 26:21 (v21) I will make you a terror, and you will no more have any being. Though you are sought for, yet you will never be found again,’ says the Lord…
- Jeremiah 16:9 (vv22–23) For Yahweh of Armies, the God of Israel says: “Behold, I will cause to cease out of this place, before your eyes and in your days, the…
- 2 Kings 9:22 (v23) When Joram saw Jehu, he said, “Is it peace, Jehu?” He answered, “What peace, so long as the prostitution of your mother Jezebel and her…
- Job 21:17 (v23) “How often is it that the lamp of the wicked is put out, that their calamity comes on them, that God distributes sorrows in his anger?
- Proverbs 4:18-19 (v23) But the path of the righteous is like the dawning light that shines more and more until the perfect day. The way of the wicked is like…
- Proverbs 24:20 (v23) for there will be no reward to the evil man. The lamp of the wicked will be snuffed out.
- Jeremiah 51:49 (v24) “As Babylon has caused the slain of Israel to fall, so the slain of all the land will fall at Babylon.
- Ezekiel 27:33-34 (v23) When your wares went out of the seas, you filled many peoples. You enriched the kings of the earth with the multitude of your riches and of…
- Revelation 6:10 (v20) They cried with a loud voice, saying, “How long, Master, the holy and true, until you judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the…
- Revelation 13:13-16 (v23) He performs great signs, even making fire come down out of the sky to the earth in the sight of people. He deceives my own people who dwell…
- Revelation 18:9 (v23) The kings of the earth who committed sexual immorality and lived wantonly with her will weep and wail over her, when they look at the smoke…
- Revelation 18:11-19 (v23) The merchants of the earth weep and mourn over her, for no one buys their merchandise any more: merchandise of gold, silver, precious…
- Revelation 18:22 (vv21, 23) The voice of harpists, minstrels, flute players, and trumpeters will be heard no more at all in you. No craftsman, of whatever craft, will…
- Isaiah 47:9 (v23) But these two things will come to you in a moment in one day, the loss of children and widowhood. They will come on you in their full…
- Ezekiel 27:24-25 (v23) These were your traders in choice wares, in wrappings of blue and embroidered work, and in chests of rich clothing, bound with cords and…
- Luke 18:7-8 (v20) Won’t God avenge his chosen ones who are crying out to him day and night, and yet he exercises patience with them? I tell you that he will…
- Acts 7:52 (v24) Which of the prophets didn’t your fathers persecute? They killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One, of whom you have now…
- Acts 8:11 (v23) They listened to him, because for a long time he had amazed them with his sorceries.
- Revelation 12:9 (v23) The great dragon was thrown down, the old serpent, he who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world. He was thrown…
- Revelation 12:12 (v20) Therefore rejoice, heavens, and you who dwell in them. Woe to the earth and to the sea, because the devil has gone down to you, having…
- Revelation 17:2 (v23) with whom the kings of the earth committed sexual immorality. Those who dwell in the earth were made drunken with the wine of her sexual…
- Revelation 17:5 (v23) And on her forehead a name was written, “MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF THE PROSTITUTES AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.”
- Revelation 19:1-3 (v20) After these things I heard something like a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying, “Hallelujah! Salvation, power, and glory…
- Revelation 19:2 (v24) for his judgments are true and righteous. For he has judged the great prostitute, who corrupted the earth with her sexual immorality, and…
- Revelation 21:8 (v23) But for the cowardly, unbelieving, sinners, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their part is in…
- Revelation 22:5 (v23) There will be no night, and they need no lamp light or sun light; for the Lord God will illuminate them. They will reign forever and ever.
- Isaiah 26:21 (v20) For, behold, Yahweh comes out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity. The earth also will disclose her…
- Matthew 23:27 (v24) “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitened tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but inwardly are full of…
- Revelation 5:2 (v21) I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the book, and to break its seals?”
- Job 20:8 (v21) He will fly away as a dream, and will not be found. Yes, he will be chased away like a vision of the night.
- Psalms 58:10 (v20) The righteous shall rejoice when he sees the vengeance. He shall wash his feet in the blood of the wicked,
- Psalms 94:1 (v20) Yahweh, you God to whom vengeance belongs, you God to whom vengeance belongs, shine out.
- Psalms 109:28 (v20) They may curse, but you bless. When they arise, they will be shamed, but your servant shall rejoice.
- Proverbs 11:10 (v20) When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices. When the wicked perish, there is shouting.
- Isaiah 24:8-9 (v22) The mirth of tambourines ceases. The sound of those who rejoice ends. The joy of the harp ceases. They will not drink wine with a song.…
- Isaiah 49:13 (v20) Sing, heavens, and be joyful, earth! Break out into singing, mountains, for Yahweh has comforted his people, and will have compassion on…
- Jeremiah 51:47-48 (v20) Therefore behold, the days come that I will execute judgment on the engraved images of Babylon; and her whole land will be confounded. All…
- Daniel 7:21 (v24) I saw, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them,
- Daniel 11:19 (v21) Then he will turn his face toward the fortresses of his own land; but he will stumble and fall, and won’t be found.
- Matthew 23:35 (v24) that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zachariah son of…
- Luke 11:49-50 (v20) Therefore also the wisdom of God said, ‘I will send to them prophets and apostles; and some of them they will kill and persecute, that the…
- Ephesians 2:20 (v20) being built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the chief cornerstone;
- Ephesians 4:11 (v20) He gave some to be apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, shepherds and teachers;
- 2 Peter 3:2 (v20) that you should remember the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and…
- Jude 1:17 (v20) But you, beloved, remember the words which have been spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ.
- Revelation 11:7 (v24) When they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up out of the abyss will make war with them, and overcome them, and kill them.
- Revelation 12:8 (v21) They didn’t prevail. No place was found for them any more in heaven.
- Revelation 16:20 (v21) Every island fled away, and the mountains were not found.
- Revelation 20:11 (v21) I saw a great white throne, and him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. There was found no place for them.
- Exodus 15:5 (v21) The deeps cover them. They went down into the depths like a stone.
- Deuteronomy 32:42 (v20) I will make my arrows drunk with blood. My sword shall devour flesh with the blood of the slain and the captives, from the head of the…
- Judges 5:31 (v20) “So let all your enemies perish, Yahweh, but let those who love him be as the sun when it rises in its strength.” Then the land had rest…
- Nehemiah 9:11 (v21) You divided the sea before them, so that they went through the middle of the sea on the dry land; and you cast their pursuers into the…
- Psalms 18:47 (v20) even the God who executes vengeance for me, and subdues peoples under me.
- Psalms 37:36 (v21) But he passed away, and behold, he was not. Yes, I sought him, but he could not be found.
- Psalms 48:11 (v20) Let Mount Zion be glad! Let the daughters of Judah rejoice because of your judgments.
- Psalms 96:11-13 (v20) Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice. Let the sea roar, and its fullness! Let the field and all that is in it exult! Then all…
- Psalms 107:42 (v20) The upright will see it, and be glad. All the wicked will shut their mouths.
- Ecclesiastes 12:4 (v22) and the doors shall be shut in the street; when the sound of the grinding is low, and one shall rise up at the voice of a bird, and all the…
- Isaiah 44:23 (v20) Sing, you heavens, for Yahweh has done it! Shout, you lower parts of the earth! Break out into singing, you mountains, O forest, all of…
- Jeremiah 2:34 (v24) Also the blood of the souls of the innocent poor is found in your skirts. You didn’t find them breaking in, but it is because of all these…
- Ezekiel 22:9 (v24) Slanderous men have been in you to shed blood. In you they have eaten on the mountains. They have committed lewdness among you.
- Ezekiel 22:12 (v24) In you have they taken bribes to shed blood. You have taken interest and increase, and you have greedily gained of your neighbors by…
- Ezekiel 22:27 (v24) Her princes within it are like wolves ravening the prey, to shed blood, and to destroy souls, that they may get dishonest gain.
- Luke 11:47-51 (v24) Woe to you! For you build the tombs of the prophets, and your fathers killed them. So you testify and consent to the works of your fathers.…
- Ephesians 3:5 (v20) which in other generations was not made known to the children of men, as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets in the…
- 1 Thessalonians 2:15 (v24) who killed both the Lord Jesus and their own prophets, and drove us out, and don’t please God, and are contrary to all men,
- Revelation 10:1 (v21) I saw a mighty angel coming down out of the sky, clothed with a cloud. A rainbow was on his head. His face was like the sun, and his feet…
- Revelation 18:10 (v21) standing far away for the fear of her torment, saying, ‘Woe, woe, the great city, Babylon, the strong city! For your judgment has come in…
- Jeremiah 33:11 (v22) the voice of joy and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, the voice of those who say, ‘Give…
80 distinct cross-references across this passage (83 total citations).
Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)
Explain this passage (21 sources)
Historical commentary, presented as a primary source — not an endorsement.
Private notes
Saved on this device only — never synced or sent anywhere.
Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain On vv20, 21, 22, 24 The other consequent unto the other ruin of Babylon,…
The other consequent unto the other ruin of Babylon, is the exultation or rejoicing of the godly in heaven and in earth, as was noted, verse 9.
Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.
John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain On vv20–24 20 Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye holy…
20 Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye holy apostles and prophets; for God hath avenged you on her.
Ver. 20. Thou heaven] i.e. The Church on earth.
Read full note →
And ye holy apostles, &c.] i.e. Ye pastors and teachers, who as ye have been most shot at by her, so now you are especially called to triumph over her, Psa 58:11.
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain On vv20, 21, 22, 24 Rejoice over her, thou heaven; that is, over her…
Rejoice over her, thou heaven; that is, over her ruin, which is not a more proper object for the sorrow and mourning of all her adherents and dependants, than of the joy of all spiritual, heavenly persons, which are the true church, who oppose this antichristian synagogue.
And ye holy apostles and prophets; for God hath avenged you on her: you also that were apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ, and such as have been exercised as prophets in revealing to men God’s mind and will, do you rejoice, for God hath revenged you upon her, for your doctrine corrupted by her, your rules of worship violated, and some of your blood that hath been spilt, and for all the indignities you have suffered from her.
Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
William Burkitt 1703 · Public Domain On vv20–21 Note here, 1. That as Babylon’s ruin was matter…
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. Rejoice over her, O heaven; that is, ye angels in heaven, or ye saints, that are of an heavenly disposition. And all ye holy apostles and prophets; that is, all faithful ministers who succeed them, who are endued with the same spirit, and teach the same pure and holy doctrine with them.
Note, 2. The cause of this rejoicing declared: For God hath avenged them upon her. The church does not, the saints of God dare not, rejoice at Babylon’s calamity as such, but as an act of divine vengeance God will be avenged on Babylon for the doctrine of the gospel corrupted by her, and for the rules of worship violated by her, and for all the barbarities and indignities which his church and people have suffered from her: God will revenge the wrongs of his people, when through want of power they cannot, and through his prohibition they may not, avenge themselves.
William Burkitt's Expository Notes on the New Testament (1700–1703) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain On vv20–23 And a mighty angel,.... Not Christ, nor one of…
And a mighty angel,.... Not Christ, nor one of the ministering spirits, but some man or set of men, perhaps the same with him in Rev 18:1
took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea; just as Jeremiah took a stone and bound it to his book after he had read it, and cast it into the river Euphrates, as a sign and token of the destruction of old Babylon, Jer 51:63
Read full note →
saying, thus with violence shall that great city be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all; which is expressive of the utter destruction of Rome, and of the violence, force, and power with which it will be destroyed, and of the suddenness and swiftness of its destruction, and of the irrecoverableness of its state and condition.
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain On vv20–24 Rejoice over her, thou heaven - That is, all…
Rejoice over her, thou heaven - That is, all the inhabitants of it; and more especially, ye saints; and among the saints still more eminently, ye apostles and prophets.
John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain On vv20–24 Verse 20. Rejoice over her, thou heaven] This is…
Verse 20. Rejoice over her, thou heaven] This is grand and sublime; the fall of this bad city was cause of grief to bad men. But as this city was a persecutor of the godly, and an enemy to the works of God, angels, apostles, and prophets are called to rejoice over her fall.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain On v22 Rev 18:22-24. The voice of harpers — Players on…
Rev 18:22-24. The voice of harpers — Players on stringed instruments; and musicians — Skilful singers in particular; and pipers — Who played on flutes, chiefly on mournful, whereas trumpeters played on joyful occasions; shall be heard no more at all in thee; and no craftsman — Greek, τεχνιτης ωασης τεχνης, no artificer, of whatever art. Arts of every kind, particularly music, sculpture, painting, and statuary, were there carried to their greatest height. No, nor even the sound of a mill-stone shall be heard any more in thee — Not only the arts that adorn life, but even those employments without which it cannot subsist, will cease from thee for ever: all which expressions denote absolute and eternal desolation. There shall be no more musicians for the entertainment of the rich and great; no more tradesmen or artificers to employ those of the middle ranks, and to furnish the conveniences of life; no more servants or slaves to grind at the mill, prepare bread, and supply the necessaries of life. Nay, there shall be no more lights, no more bridal songs: that is, no more marriages, in which lamps and songs were known ceremonies; and therefore the city shall never be peopled again, but shall remain depopulated and desolate for ever. The desolation of Rome is therefore described in such a manner as to show that neither rich nor poor, neither persons of middle rank nor those of the lowest condition, should be able to live there any more. For thy merchants were the great men of the earth — A circumstance which was in itself indifferent, and yet led them into pride, luxury and numberless other sins. For by thy sorceries were all nations deceived — That is, poisoned by thy pernicious practices. So that the reasons assigned for her utter desolation are her pride and luxury, her superstition and idolatry, with various other vices; and especially her cruel persecutions of God’s saints and servants: for it is added, In her was found the blood of prophets, &c. — These seem to be the words of St. John: and of all that were slain upon the earth — As if he had said, Her punishment shall be as severe and exemplary as if she had been guilty of all the persecutions that ever were upon account of religion; for by her conduct she hath approved, and imitated, and surpassed them all. Certainly there is no city under the sun which has so clear a title to general blood-guiltiness as Rome. The guilt of the blood shed under the heathen emperors was not removed under the popes, but hugely multiplied. Nor is Rome accountable only for what hath been shed in the city, but for that shed in all the earth. For at Rome, under the popes, as well as under the heathen emperors, were the bloody orders and edicts given: and wherever the blood of holy men was shed, there were the grand rejoicings for it. And what immense quantities of blood have been shed by her agents! Charles IX. of France, in his letter to Gregory XIII., boasts that in, and not long after, the massacre of Paris, he had destroyed seventy thousand Huguenots. Some have computed that, from the year 1518 to 1548, fifteen millions of Protestants perished by war and the inquisition. This may be overcharged; but certainly the number of them in those thirty years, as well as since, is almost incredible. To these we may add innumerable martyrs in ancient, middle, and late ages, — in Bohemia, Germany, Holland, France, England, Ireland, and many other parts of Europe, Africa, and Asia.
Now this tyrannical cruelty exercised against God’s saints, apostles, and prophets being considered, we cannot wonder that the sentence of so terrible a desolation and destruction should be passed on this persecuting city. But the reader must observe, Rome hath never yet been depopulated and desolated in this manner. She hath been taken indeed and plundered by Alaric, king of the Visigoths, in the year 410; by Genseric, king of the Vandals, in the year 455; by Totilas, king of the Ostrogoths, in the year 546; and by others since that time: but yet she is still standing and flourishing, and is honoured by many nations as the metropolis of the Christian world; she still resounds with singers and musicians; she still excels in arts, which serve to pomp and luxury; she still abounds with candles, and lamps, and torches, burning even by day as well as by night: and consequently this prophecy hath not yet been, but remaineth still to be, fulfilled.
Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain On vv20–24 Rejoice over her - Over her ruin. There is…
Rejoice over her - Over her ruin. There is a strong contrast between this language and what precedes. Kings, merchants, and seamen, who had been countenanced and sustained by her in the indulgence of corrupt passions, or who had been enriched by traffic with her, would have occasion to mourn. But not so they who had been persecuted by her. Not so the church of the redeemed. Not so heaven itself. The great oppressor of the church, and the corrupter of the world, was now destroyed; the grand hindrance to the spread of the gospel was now removed, and all the holy in heaven and on earth would have occasion to rejoice. This is not the language of vengeance, but it is the language of exultation and rejoicing in view of the fact, that the cause of truth might now spread, without hindrance, through the earth.
Thou heaven - The inhabitants of heaven. Compare the notes on Isa 1:2. The meaning here is, that the dwellers in heaven - the holy angels and the redeemed - had occasion to rejoice over the downfall of the great enemy of the church.
Read full note →
And ye holy apostles - Prof. Stuart renders this, “Ye saints, and apostles, and prophets.” In the common Greek text, it is, as in our version, “holy apostles and prophets.” In the text of Griesbach, Hahn, and Tittmann, the word καὶ kai (and) is interposed between the word “holy” and “apostle.” This is, doubtless, the true reading. The meaning, then, is that the “saints” in heaven are called on to rejoice over the fall of the mystical Babylon.
Apostles - The twelve who were chosen by the Saviour to be his witnesses on earth. See the notes on 1Co 9:1. The word is commonly limited to the twelve, but, in a larger sense, it is applied to other distinguished teachers and preachers of the gospel. See the notes on Act 14:14. There is no impropriety, however, in supposing that the apostles are referred to here as such, since they would have occasion to rejoice that the great obstacle to the reign of the Redeemer was now taken away, and that that cause in which they had suffered and died was now to he triumphant.
And prophets - Prophets of the Old Testament and distinguished teachers of the New. See the notes on Rom 12:6. All these would have occasion to rejoice in the prospect of the final triumph of the true religion.
For God hath avenged you on her - Has taken vengeance on her for her treatment of you. That is, as she had persecuted the church as such, they all might be regarded as interested in it and affected by it. All the redeemed, therefore, in earth and in heaven, are interested in whatever tends to retard or to promote the cause of truth. All have occasion to mourn when the enemies of the truth triumph; to rejoice when they fall.
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain On v20 Rejoice....heaven, the holy apostles and prophets, and all the…
Rejoice....heaven, the holy apostles and prophets, and all the holy ministers of the gospel: and holy men are invited here to rejoice, because the divine justice is accomplished in the ruin of that guilty city. (Pastorini) --- By the words prophets, &c. are not meant those of the old law, as pagan Rome had not been the cause of their deaths, but here only includes all the prophets, saints, and martyrs, who had been put to death for Christ throughout the whole Roman empire. (Haydock)
====================
George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain On vv20–24 holy apostles--So C reads. But A, B, Vulgate, Syriac,…
holy apostles--So C reads. But A, B, Vulgate, Syriac, Coptic, and ANDREAS read, "Ye saints and ye apostles."
avenged you on her--Greek, "judged your judgment on (literally, exacting it from) her." "There is more joy in heaven at the harlot's downfall than at that of the two beasts. For the most heinous of all sin is the sin of those who know God's word of grace, and keep it not. The worldliness of the Church is the most worldly of all worldliness. Hence, Babylon, in Revelation, has not only Israel's sins, but also the sins of the heathen; and John dwells longer on the abominations and judgments of the harlot than on those of the beast. The term 'harlot' describes the false Church's essential character. She retains her human shape as the woman, does not become a beast: she has the form of godliness, but denies its power. Her rightful lord and husband, Jehovah-Christ, and the joys and goods of His house, are no longer her all in all, but she runs after the visible and vain things of the world, in its manifold forms. The fullest form of her whoredom is, where the Church wishes to be itself a worldly power, uses politics and diplomacy, makes flesh her arm, uses unholy means for holy ends, spreads her dominion by sword or money, fascinates men by sensual ritualism, becomes 'mistress of ceremonies' to the dignitaries of the world, flatters prince or people, and like Israel, seeks the help of one world power against the danger threatening from another" [AUBERLEN]. Judgment, therefore, begins with the harlot, as in privileges the house of God.
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain On vv20–24 20. Rejoice—The divine voice closes its mercantile catalogue with…
20. Rejoice—The divine voice closes its mercantile catalogue with a lofty jubilate. The downfall of Satan’s capital is a just penalty for her sins, and a salvation to the world.
Thou heaven—From which this voice chanted its celestial interlude. The ungraceful thou is not in the Greek, which should be rendered, O heaven. The heaven addressed consists of the classes next named in the verse, whose chorister the voice is.
Read full note →
Holy—Not an adjective, belonging to apostles, but a noun, saints. The three classes, saints, (or the body of Christians,) apostles, and prophets, are those in and constituting the heaven first named. When John wrote, in the time of Domitian, all the apostles but himself had probably deceased.
Prophets—Of whose ancient predictions this voice is a grand reverberation.
Avenged—For this Babylon takes in the whole line of antichristic empires, including those under whom the ancient prophets predicted and suffered. Thus this mournful interlude closes in a climax of triumph.
Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain On vv20–24 The Rejoicing over them in Heaven, Rev_18:20-24
The Rejoicing over them in Heaven, Rev_18:20-24
20. Rejoice over her] Rev_12:12. There may be a reminiscence of Jer_51:48. We cannot tell if the words are those of the angel of Rev_18:1, of the voice of Rev_18:4, or of the seer himself: perhaps the second is most likely.
Read full note →
holy apostles and prophets] Read, the saints and the apostles and the prophets.
avenged you] Lit., judged your judgement, condemned her for her condemnation of you. Notice the mention of “apostles” as well as other “saints,” as proving that apostles suffered in Rome; and so confirming the unanimous tradition as to the martyrdom there of SS. Peter and Paul. Notice also (in reference to the theory mentioned on Rev_2:2) St John’s recognition of the latter as an apostle. Whether he had himself been condemned to death at Rome cannot be determined: the tradition to that effect was ancient, but not demonstrably so ancient, nor so wide-spread or so confirmed by scriptural evidence (see on St John’s Gospel Joh_21:18-19).
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain On vv20–24 (20) Rejoice over her. . . .—Better, Rejoice over…
THE CALL TO THE HOLY TO REJOICE.
(20) Rejoice over her. . . .—Better, Rejoice over her, O heaven, and the saints, and the apostles, and the prophets, because God has judged your judgment on (or, out of) her. The second portion of the chapter closes with this invitation to the saints to rejoice: they are summoned to rejoice because the law of retribution has worked on her. Your judgment (it is said to the saints) is judged on her. This does not mean a judgment which the saints have decreed, but the judgment which Babylon wrought on the holy is now exacted from her (comp. Rev_18:6, and Rev_6:10; Rev_13:10). Heaven, and every class of those whose citizenship has been in heaven, are bidden by the heavenly voice to rejoice The covetous and the worldly mourn; their minds were set upon a material glory, which has slipped away from their grasp. All saintly souls, whose affections have been towards righteousness and the righteous King, can rejoice; for the wealth of holiness is imperishable. and the fall of Babylon is the removal of one vast hindrance to holiness. It has been argued that the verse represents the Apostles to be in heaven, and from this it has been inferred that the twelve must have all died before the Apocalypse was written, and, if so, St. John was not the writer. The verse, however, has no reference whatever to the question: it is not meant to state who have passed into heaven and who have not: it is simply a summons to all who have fought on the side of their Lord to rejoice at the removal of one of the great obstacles to the manifestation of Christ’s kingdom. Thus do all holy men, whether on earth or heaven, joy when any giant evil is swept away.
A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain On vv20–24 Rejoice over her, thou heaven. These words are best…
Rejoice over her, thou heaven. These words are best understood as being uttered by the writer, as in Rev_12:12. (see on Rev_12:10) And ye holy apostles and prophets; and ye saints, and ye apostles, and ye prophets, is read in a, A, B, P, etc., and adopted by the Revisers. The Authorized Version reading is found in C, 1, 17. Not only the heavenly inhabitants are to rejoice, but also those on earth who have been persecuted by her, as mentioned in ver. 24. The time is again described which has been already referred to in former parts of the book, and especially in Rev_11:18. Some authors have held this verse to prove that the writer of the Apocalypse was not the Apostle John; either because
(1) he speaks as if he were not an apostle, or
Read full note →
(2) because they assume that all the apostles are here referred to, and that they are in heaven.
There is no ground for either presumption:
(1) A rhapsodical utterance of this nature cannot be interpreted literally;
(2) the word "apostles" cannot be limited to the twelve;
(3) as Dusterdieck justly observes, one might as well argue that the writer was not a prophet.
By the "prophets "are primarily intended, perhaps, the Christian prophets; (cf. Eph_3:5) but if Babylon is typical of the hostile world power, and the harlot of the faithless, worldly portion of God"s Church, as we have seen them to be, the words are applicable to the Church of God in all ages. For God hath avenged you on her; for God hath judged your judgment on her. The answer to the prayer of the martyrs in Rev_6:10. The words, "your judgment," probably mean "that judgment which isher due for her treatment of you," as in the Authorized Version. Hengstenberg gives "the doom which she pronounced upon you." Wordsworth, laying stress upon ex , "out of," makes the words mean, "He has taken your cause out of her hands into his own."
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Biblical Illustrator 1887 · Public Domain On v21 A mighty angel took up a stone.
Rev_18:21-24
A mighty angel took up a stone.
Read full note →
A great millstone
Observe here--
1. Babylons utter destruction represented by the type and sign of a millstone cast into the sea: like a millstone she had ground and oppressed the Church of God; and now, like a millstone thrown into the sea, she sinks into the pit of destruction. Almighty God, by this symbol, signified to St. John that Babylons ruin should be violent, irrecoverable, and irreparable; she falls never to rise more. The casting of a stone into the sea was anciently the emblem of everlasting forgetfulness.
2. The amplification of Babylons ruin particularised in several instances.
(1) That nothing should ever more be found in her that belonged to pleasure or delight; no voice of harpers, musicians, or trumpeters.
(2) Nothing which belonged to profit or trading, no artificers and craftsmen.
(3) Nothing belonging to food, no noise of a millstone for grinding corn and making provision for bread.
(4) Nothing to relieve against the darkness and terror of the night, as the light of a candle.
(5) No means for the propagation of mankind by marriage--the voice of the bride and the bridegroom shall be heard no more. All which expressions do imply extreme destruction and utter desolation, intimating that Babylon shall be a place utterly abandoned and forsaken.
3. A threefold cause assigned for all this, to wit--
(1) Damnable covetousness: her merchants were the great ones of the earth. Her sinful way of merchandising, by dealing in spiritual commodities, seems here to be pointed at; her making merchandise of the souls of men, as we have it (verse 13).
(2) Her bewitching idolatry, called here sorceries, whereby she enticed people to join with her in her superstitious worship.
(3) Her cruelty and bloodshed; in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth.
But how can the blood shed by others be laid to her charge?
1. Because the doctrines which caused their blood to be shed were with her.
2. Because her jurisdiction gave commission to slay the saints which were slain in other kingdoms.
3. Because by the influence of her example at home much blood had been shed abroad. God will charge upon others, as he did upon Babylon, not only the sin which they have acted, but all the sins which they have been necessary unto. (W. Burkitt, M. A.)
Moral evil symbolised
I. A symbolisation of its nature. If you want to see sin, or moral evil, in all its hideous aspects, in all its infernal operations, in all its damning consequences, study the great city of Babylon. The great city Babylon is in every unrenewed soul.
II. A symbolisation of its overthrow. The moral evil of the world is to be destroyed; it is not to exist for ever.
1. It is to be overthrown by superhuman agency. A mighty angel; a messenger from heaven. Was not Christ a mighty Messenger sent from heaven for this purpose? Yes, He came to destroy the works of the devil. It has been said that good alone can overcome evil. True, but it must be good in a supernatural form, and in this form the gospel brings us the good.
2. It is to be overthrown in such a way as never to appear again. Babylon is thrown like a great millstone into the sea. As Pharaoh sank like lead in the mighty waters, and rose no more to life, so shall moral evil, like a mighty millstone, fall into the fathomless abysses of eternal ruin. (Homilist.)
.
The Biblical Illustrator, edited by Joseph S. Exell (c. 1880s–1900s) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
B. W. Johnson 1891 · Public Domain On vv20–24 20. Rejoice over her, thou heaven. While there are…
20. Rejoice over her, thou heaven. While there are mourners, another company is called upon to rejoice. She had exalted herself against God. All who have been for God, and who have suffered from her, are called to rejoice.
B. W. Johnson's The People's New Testament with Notes (1889–1891) — public domain. Electronic text from the Christian Classics Ethereal Library (CCEL) ThML edition.
C. I. Scofield 1917 · Public Domain On v22 Cf. Isa 24:8 contra, Rev 14:1-3.
voice
Cf. Isa 24:8 contra, Rev 14:1-3.
The Scofield Reference Bible (1917 edition), notes by C. I. Scofield — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Paul E. Kretzmann 1924 · Public Domain On v21 The punishment completed:
The punishment completed:
v. 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.
Read full note →
v. 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;
v. 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 the e; for thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived.
v. 24. And in her was found the blood of prophets and of saints and of all that were slain upon the earth.
Here the seer pictures inevitable doom, total and terrible desolation: And there lifted up one mighty angel a stone like a millstone, and threw it into the sea, saying, Thus with force shall be thrown down Babylon, the great city, and shall no more be found; and the voice of harpists and minstrels and flutists and trumpeters no more shall be heard in thee, and all craftsmen of every craft shall no more be found in thee, and the sound of the millstone shall no more be heard in thee, and the light of a lamp shall no more shine in thee, and the voice of bridegroom and bride shall no more be heard in thee, because thy merchants were the magnates of the earth, because by thy incantations were deceived all nations, and in her was found the blood of prophets and saints and of all those that had been slain on the earth. That is the sentence of doom, given in the form of a rhythmic song, and introduced by a symbolic action resembling that of Jer 51:63-64. The judgment of the great city, of spiritual Babylon, the kingdom of Anti-Christ, is sealed; the blow given her by the Reformation was so strong as to lay her low forever. No matter what efforts the papacy makes to regain her former absolute reign in the world, all such attempts are bound to result in failure. The glory which she formerly held is departed from her forever. The sins of spiritual adultery, of idolatry, and of the magic spells with which Rome managed to seduce the mighty ones of the earth, the blood which she has shed during the thousand years and more which she has been in existence, call down upon her the curse of the Lord, His eternal damnation.
Summary
The fall and destruction of the kingdom of Anti-Christ is here described in full, together with the wailing complaint of rulers and merchants and shipmasters that grew rich in the traffic in her goods and luxuries, while there is rejoicing in heaven over the vindication of the martyrs and prophets and apostles.
Paul E. Kretzmann, Popular Commentary of the Bible (1921–1924) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On vv21, 23 Connecting Statement:
Connecting Statement:
Another angel begins to speak about Babylon. This is a different angel than the ones who have spoken previously.
Read full note →
millstone
a large round stone used to crush grain
Babylon, the great city, will be thrown down with violence and will not be seen anymore
God will completely destroy the city. This can be stated in active form. AT: "God will violently throw down Babylon, the great city, and it will no longer exist" (See: Metaphor and Active or Passive)
will not be seen anymore
"no one will see it anymore." Not being seen here means that it will not exist. AT: "it will not exist anymore" (See: Metonymy)
The sound made by harpists, musicians, flute players, and trumpeters will not be heard anymore in you
This can be stated in active form. AT: "No one in your city will ever again hear the sound that harpists, musicians, flute players, and trumpeters make" (See: Active or Passive)
in you
The angel speaks as if Babylon were there listening to him. AT: "in Babylon" (See: Apostrophe)
will not be heard anymore in you
"no one will hear them anymore in you." Not being heard here means that they will not be there. AT: "they will not be in your city anymore" (See: Metonymy)
No craftsman ... will be found in you
Not being found there means that they will not be there. AT: "No craftsman of any kind will be in your city" (See: Metonymy)
No sound of a mill will be heard anymore in you
The sound of something not being heard means that no one will make that sound. AT: "No one will use a mill in your city" (See: Metonymy)
translationWords
angel
Babylon
harp
flute
trumpet
unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On vv20, 21, 23 18:20 The laments (18:9-19) stimulate a call for heaven…
18:20 The laments (18:9-19) stimulate a call for heaven to rejoice. The people of God are not to grieve, because the judgment was for their sakes; they had suffered persecution from the evil forces represented by the great city.
Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.