REV 18

Revelation 18:1

WEB

After these things, I saw another angel coming down out of the sky, having great authority. The earth was illuminated with his glory.

BSB

After this I saw another angel descending from heaven with great authority, and the earth was illuminated by his glory.

KJV

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

Matthew Henry

Verses 1–8

Revelation 18:1–8

The downfall and destruction of Babylon form an event so fully determined in the counsels of God, and of such consequence to his interests and glory, that the visions and predictions concerning it are repeated. 1. Here is another angel sent from heaven, attended with great power and lustre, Rev 18:1. He had not only light in himself, to discern the truth of his own prediction, but to inform and enlighten the world about that great event; and not only light to discern it, but power to accomplish it. 2. This angel publishes the fall of Babylon, as a thing already come to pass; and this he does with a mighty strong voice, that all might hear the cry, and might see how well this angel was pleased to be the messenger of such tidings. Here seems to be an allusion to the prediction of the fall of pagan Babylon (Isa 21:9), where the word is repeated as it is here: has fallen, has fallen. Some have thought a double fall is hereby intended, first her apostasy, and then her ruin; and they think the words immediately following favour their opinion; She has become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and the cage of every unclean and hateful bird, Rev 18:2. But this is also borrowed from Isa 21:9, and seems to describe not so much her sin of entertaining idols (which are truly called devils) as her punishment, it being a common notion that unclean spirits, as well as ominous and hateful birds, used to haunt a city or house that lay in its ruins. 3. The reason of this ruin is declared (Rev 18:3); for, though God is not obliged to give any account of his matters, yet he is pleased to do so, especially in those dispensations of providence that are most awful and tremendous. The wickedness of Babylon had been very great; for she had not only forsaken the true God herself, and set up idols, but had with great art and industry drawn all sorts of men into the spiritual adultery, and by her wealth and luxury had retained them in her interest. 4. Fair warning is given to all that expect mercy from God, that they should not only come out of her, but be assisting in her destruction, Rev 18:4, Rev 18:5. Here observe, (1.) God may have a people even in Babylon, some who belong to the election of grace. (2.) God's people shall be called out of Babylon, and called effectually. (3.) Those that are resolved to partake with wicked men in their sins must receive of their plagues. (4.) When the sins of a people reach up to heaven, the wrath of God will reach down to the earth. (5.) Though private revenge is forbidden, yet God will have his people act under him, when called to it, in pulling down his and their inveterate and implacable enemies, Rev 18:6. (6.) God will proportion the punishment of sinners to the measure of their wickedness, pride, and security, Rev 18:7. (7.) When destruction comes on a people suddenly, the surprise is a great aggravation of their misery, Rev 18:8.

Cross-references: Rev 18:1 · Isa 21:9 · Rev 18:2 · Rev 18:3 · Rev 18:4 · Rev 18:5 · Rev 18:6 · Rev 18:7 · Rev 18:8

Greek interlinear

G3326

μετάmetá/met-ah'/

after(-ward), X that he again, against, among, X and, + follow, hence, hereafter, in, of, (up-)on, + our, X and setting, since, (un-)to, + together, when, with (+ -out)

Derivation: a primary preposition (often used adverbially);

properly, denoting accompaniment; "amid" (local or causal); modified variously according to the case (genitive association, or accusative succession) with which it is joined; occupying an intermediate position between G575 or G1537 and G1519 or G4314; less intimate than G1722 and less close than G4862)

KJV: after(-ward), X that he again, against, among, X and, + follow, hence, hereafter, in, of, (up-)on, + our, X and setting, since, (un-)to, + together, when, with (+ -out).

Often used in composition, in substantially the same relations of participation or proximity, and transfer or sequence.

See also: G4314, G575, G1537, G1519, G1722, G4862.

G3778

οὗτοςhoûtos/hoo'-tos/

he (it was that), hereof, it, she, such as, the same, these, they, this (man, same, woman), which, who

, including nominative masculine plural οὗτοι , nominative feminine singular αὕτη , and nominative feminine plural αὕται

Derivation: from the article G3588 and G846;

the he (she or it), i.e. this or that (often with article repeated)

KJV: he (it was that), hereof, it, she, such as, the same, these, they, this (man, same, woman), which, who.

See also: G846, G3588.

G3708

ὁράωhoráō/hor-ah'-o/

behold, perceive, see, take heed

Derivation: properly, to stare at (compare G3700), i.e. (by implication) to discern clearly (physically or mentally);

by extension, to attend to; by Hebraism, to experience; passively, to appear

KJV: behold, perceive, see, take heed.

See also: G3700.

G243

ἄλλοςállos/al'-los/

more, one (another), (an-, some an-)other(-s, -wise)

Derivation: a primary word;

"else," i.e. different (in many applications)

KJV: more, one (another), (an-, some an-)other(-s, -wise).

G32

ἄγγελοςángelos/ang'-el-os/

angel, messenger

Derivation: from ἀγγέλλω (probably derived from G71;

compare G34) (to bring tidings); a messenger; especially an "angel"; by implication, a pastor

KJV: angel, messenger.

See also: G71, G34.

G2597

καταβαίνωkatabaínō/kat-ab-ah'-ee-no/

come (get, go, step) down, fall (down)

Derivation: from G2596 and the base of G939;

to descend (literally or figuratively)

KJV: come (get, go, step) down, fall (down).

See also: G2596, G939.

G1537

ἐκek/ek/

after, among, X are, at, betwixt(-yond), by (the means of), exceedingly, (+ abundantly above), for(- th), from (among, forth, up), + grudgingly, + heartily, X heavenly, X hereby, + very highly, in, …ly, (because, by reason) of, off (from), on, out among (from, of), over, since, X thenceforth, through, X unto, X vehemently, with(-out)

or ἐξ

Derivation: a primary preposition denoting origin (the point whence action or motion proceeds), from, out (of place, time, or cause;

literal or figurative; direct or remote)

KJV: after, among, X are, at, betwixt(-yond), by (the means of), exceedingly, (+ abundantly above), for(- th), from (among, forth, up), + grudgingly, + heartily, X heavenly, X hereby, + very highly, in, …ly, (because, by reason) of, off (from), on, out among (from, of), over, since, X thenceforth, through, X unto, X vehemently, with(-out).

Often used in composition, with the same general import; often of completion.

G3588

ho/ho/

the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc

, including the feminine , and the neuter τό in all their inflections;

Derivation: the definite article;

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)

KJV: the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.

G3772

οὐρανόςouranós/oo-ran-os'/

air, heaven(-ly), sky

Derivation: perhaps from the same as G3735 (through the idea of elevation);

the sky; by extension, heaven (as the abode of God); by implication, happiness, power, eternity; specially, the Gospel (Christianity)

KJV: air, heaven(-ly), sky.

See also: G3735.

G2192

ἔχωéchō/ekh'-o/

be (able, X hold, possessed with), accompany, + begin to amend, can(+ -not), X conceive, count, diseased, do + eat, + enjoy, + fear, following, have, hold, keep, + lack, + go to law, lie, + must needs, + of necessity, + need, next, + recover, + reign, + rest, + return, X sick, take for, + tremble, + uncircumcised, use

, including an alternate form σχέω ; (used in certain tenses only)

Derivation: a primary verb;

to hold (used in very various applications, literally or figuratively, direct or remote; such as possession; ability, contiuity, relation, or condition)

KJV: be (able, X hold, possessed with), accompany, + begin to amend, can(+ -not), X conceive, count, diseased, do + eat, + enjoy, + fear, following, have, hold, keep, + lack, + go to law, lie, + must needs, + of necessity, + need, next, + recover, + reign, + rest, + return, X sick, take for, + tremble, + uncircumcised, use.

G1849

ἐξουσίαexousía/ex-oo-see'-ah/

authority, jurisdiction, liberty, power, right, strength

Derivation: from G1832 (in the sense of ability);

privilege, i.e. (subjectively) force, capacity, competency, freedom, or (objectively) mastery (concretely, magistrate, superhuman, potentate, token of control), delegated influence

KJV: authority, jurisdiction, liberty, power, right, strength.

See also: G1832.

G3173

μέγαςmégas/meg'-as/

(+ fear) exceedingly, great(-est), high, large, loud, mighty, + (be) sore (afraid), strong, X to years

Derivation: (including the prolonged forms, feminine μεγάλη, plural μεγάλοι, etc.; compare also G3176, G3187);

big (literally or figuratively, in a very wide application)

KJV: (+ fear) exceedingly, great(-est), high, large, loud, mighty, + (be) sore (afraid), strong, X to years.

See also: G3176, G3187.

G2532

καίkaí/kahee/

and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet

Derivation: apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force;

and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words

KJV: and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.

G1093

γῆ/ghay/

country, earth(-ly), ground, land, world

Derivation: contracted from a primary word;

soil; by extension a region, or the solid part or the whole of the terrene globe (including the occupants in each application)

KJV: country, earth(-ly), ground, land, world.

G5461

φωτίζωphōtízō/fo-tid'-zo/

enlighten, illuminate, (bring to, give) light, make to see

Derivation: from G5457;

to shed rays, i.e. to shine or (transitively) to brighten up (literally or figuratively)

KJV: enlighten, illuminate, (bring to, give) light, make to see.

See also: G5457.

G1391

δόξαdóxa/dox'-ah/

dignity, glory(-ious), honour, praise, worship

Derivation: from the base of G1380;

glory (as very apparent), in a wide application (literal or figurative, objective or subjective)

KJV: dignity, glory(-ious), honour, praise, worship.

See also: G1380.

G846

αὐτόςautós/ow-tos'/

her, it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which

Derivation: from the particle αὖ (perhaps akin to the base of G109 through the idea of a baffling wind) (backward);

the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative G1438) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons

KJV: her, it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which.

Compare G848.

See also: G109, G1438, G848.

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