Bible Commentary (1871–1879 Edition) (continued)
GviTs People Depart from Babylon. REVELATION XVIII. The Lamentation over her.
sinner license to Indulge his lusts, bewail her—A, B, C, Syriac, Coptic, and Cypkian omit "her."- 10. God's fudgments inspire fear even in the worldly, but it is of short duration, for the kings anil great men soon attach them> selves to the beast in its last and worst shape, as open Antichrist, claiming all that the harlot bad eiaimed In blasphemous pretensions and more, and so making up to them for the loss of the harlot, mighty—ifomc in Greek means strength ; though that derivation is doubtful. H. shall—So B. But A and C read the present, "weep and mourn." mercliandlse—Greeft, "cargo:" wares carried in ships: ship-lading (cf. v. 17). Rome was not a commercial city, and Is not likely from her position to be so. The wiCTcAanrfi'se must therefore be spiritual, even as the harlot is not literal, but spiritual. She did not witness against carnal luxury and pleasure-seeking, the sonrce of the merchants' gains, but conformed to them (». 7). She cared not for the sheep, but for the wool. Professing Christian merchants in her lived as if this world were the reality, not heaven, and were unscrupulous as to the means of getting gain. Cf. Zechariah 5. 4-U (JVorcs), on the same subject, the judgment on mystical Babylorit merchants for nnjnst gain. All the merchandise here mentioned occurs repeatedly in the "Roman Ceremonial." 13. (Note, ch. 17. 4.) stones . . . pearls Greek, "stone . . . pearl." fine linen—A, B, and C read (Greek) bussinou !ov bussoH, i. e., " fine linen manufacture." [AlFOKD.] The manufacture for which Egypt (the type of the apostate Church, ch. 11. 8) was famed. Contrast " the fine linen" (Ezekiel 16. 10) put on Israel, and on the New Testament Church (ch. 1!». X\ the Bride, by God (Psalm 132. 9\ thyine wood—the citrus of the Romans: probably the cypresms thyoyides, or the thuia articulatn. " Citron wocxl," fALFORD.] A sweet-smelling tree of (\vrene in I.ybla, grpat heap, readied Greek, "reached so far as to come Into close contact with, and to c/poi'c unto." G. Addressed to the executioners of God's wratli. reward Greek, " repay." slie rewar<led— Englinh Version reading adds "you" with none of the oldest MSS. But A, B, C, Vulgate, Syriac, and Coptic omit it. She had not rewarded or repaid tlie world-power for some injury whicli the worldpo Wer had inflicted on her; but she had given the worldpower that which was its due, viz., spiritual delusions, because it did not like to retain God in its knowledge ; the unfaithful Church's principle was, I'opuius vult decipi, et decipiatur, " The people like to be deceived, and let them be deceived." double—of sorrow. Contrast with this tlie double of joy which Jerusalem shall receive for her past suffering (Isaiah 61.7; Zechariah 9.12); even as she has received double punishment for her sins (Isaiah 40. 2). unto lier—So Syriac, Coptic, and Audre.^s. A, B, and C omit it. in the cup—(v. 3; ch. 1-1.8; 17.4). mietl—lit., mixed, fill to Uer double—of the Lord's cup of wrath. 7. How niucli i. e., in pi-oportion as. lived deliciously —Uixnriously: iN'oie, v. 3, where tlie Greefc is akin, sorrow — Greek, "mourning," as for a dead husband. I sit—So Vulgate. But A, B, and C, prefix " that." lamnowldow —for the world-power is my liusband and my supporter. I Bliall 8te no sorrow Greek, " mourning." " I am seated
(this long time) ... I am no widow ... I shall see no sorrow," marks her complete unconcerned security as to the past, present, and future. [Benqel.] I shall never have to mourn as one bereft of her husband. As Babylon was queen of the East, so Rome has been queen of the "West, and is called on Imperial coins " tlie eternal city." So Papal Rome i.s called by Ammian Marcei-lin, 15. 7. " Babylon is a former Rome, and Rome a latter Babylon. Rome is a daughter of Babylon, and by her, as by her hiother, God has been pleased to subdue tlie world under one sway." |St. Augustine.] As the Jews' restoration did not take place till Babylon's fall, so R. Ktmciii, on Obadiah, writes, "\Vlien Home (Edom) shall l)e devastated, there shall be redemption to Israel." Romish idolatries have been the greatstuml)ling-blocks to the Jews' acceptance of Cluistiiinity. 8. death—on herself, tliough she thought herself secure even from the deatli of her husband, mourning— instead of licr feasting, famine instead of her luxurious delicacies (v. 7). tire—(aVo/c, ch.
u.sed for incen.se. all manner vessels— Grt-e/c, "every vessel," or "furniture." 13. cinnamon — designed by God for better purposes : being an ingredient in the holy anointing oil, and a plant in the garden of the Belove<l (Song of Solomon 4. 14); but desecrated to vile uses by the adulteress (Proverbs 7. 17). odours—of incense. A, C, Vulgate, and Syriac prefix "and amomiuni" (a precious hair ointment made from an Asiatic shrub). EnglUh Version reading is supported by Cop/)C and Andkeas, but nt oldest MSS. ointnsents— Grcci-, "ointment." frankincense-Contrast the true "incense" whicli God loves (Psalm 141. 2; Malachi 1. 111. line Hour—The similago of the Latins. [AL.KOBD.] beasts—of burden : cattle. slaTC8 — Greek, "bodies." souls of men—(Ezekiel 27.13.) Said of slaves. Appropriate to the spiritual harlot, apostate Christendom, especially Rome, whicli*lias so often enslaved 'both bodies and .soids of men. Though the New Testament does not directlj' forbid slavery, which would.
17. 16). Ijiteral tire may liurii the literal city of Rome, whicli is situated in tlie midst of volcanic agencies. As the ground was cursed for Ad.im's sin, and the earth tinder Noah was sunk beneath tlie flood, and Sodom was burnt with fire, so may Rome be. lint as tlie harlot is mystical (tlie whole faithless Church), tlie burning maybe mainly mystical, symbolizing utter destruction and removal. Benoel is probably right in thinking Rome will once more rise to power. The carnal, faith-
In the then state of the world, have incitt'-d a slave revolt, less, and worldly elements In all churches, Roman, Greek, and Protestant, tend towards oni; common cenit virtually condemns It, as here. Popery has derived Its greatest gains from the sale of masses for tlie .wuls of men alter death, and of indulgences ijureliased from the Papal chancery by rich merchants in various countries, to be retailed at a prollt. [Mo.smoiM, U I., 06.] 1-1. Direct tre, and prepare the way for the last form of the beast, viz.. Antichrist. The Pharisees were in tlie main sound In creed, yet judgment fell on them as on the unsound fiadduce(?8 and half-healhenlsh Samaritans. So faithless und adulterous, carnal, worldly Protestant cliurches, will not escape for their soundness of creed, the Lord—So B, ad<lress to Babylon, the fruits tliat tliy sonl lusted after— GrccA, "thy nutuiiin-ripe fruits of the hist (eager desire) of the soul." An\\\\y— Greek, " fat:" "sumptuous"
C, tSyriac, and Andueas. But A and Vulgate omit. "Strong" is the meaning of God's ITihrew name, Ki. Jndgetli—But A, B, and C read the' past tense {Greek, ki-inas)," \i\w hnlh judged her:" the prophetical past for the future: the charge In v. 4 to God's people In cmne out
In food, goodly— " splendid," "bright," in dress and etjuipage. departeil—soiiported by none of our MSS. But.V, B, C, Vulgate, Syriac, nin\ Coptic read, " perished."' tliou Shalt—A, C, Vulgate, )\rn\ Syriac rtiu\, "They (men) shall no more find them at all." 15. of tliese titinga— of t he things mentioned, v. 12, 13. wlilcli—" icAo." made rich by— " derived ri<'hes /?-o«') her." stand afar «ir for the fear—(Cf. i>. 10.) walling— (^(wA-, "mournof her. Implies tliat tliejudgmeiit was not yet notually executed. 0. Ijlve«l dellclou Bly — (/?-(V'/c, luxuriated. The faithless Church, Instead of reproving, con Mlved at the Belf-lndulgcnt luxury of the great men of this world, and sanctioned It by her own practice. Contrast the world's ing." Ifl. And—So Vulgate and .-Vn due A». But A, B, and (Jomlt. decked— ili/., "glided." stones . . . pearls Greek, "stone . . . pearl." 1! iiiid Andueas rend " pearla rejoicing over the dead bodies of the two witnesses (ch. 11.
I!ul A and C, "pearl." 17. Is come to naught— ^I'mAr, "is desolated." slilp Miaster — (/rcA-, " steersni Hii," or "pilot." all the coinpniiy In ships— .\, C, Vulgate, tiwl
10) who had tormented It by their faltlifuliicss, with Us lamentations over the harlot who had made the way to heaven smooth, and had lieon found a useful tool In keeping subjects In abject tyranny. Men's carnal mind relishes a religion like that of the apostate? Clinivli, which gives an opiate to conscience, whilst having the
Syriiic rend, "Every one who sailetli to a place" (B has "... to the place"): every voyager. Vessels were freighted With pilgrims to various shrines, so that In one utoutk