Isa 21:9, Jer 51:7-8, Rev 18:2-3 | Barnes

Isaiah 21:9

Jeremiah 51:7-8

Revelation of John 18:2-3

Verse 2. And he cried mightily. Literally, "he cried with a strong great voice." See Rev 10:3.

Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen. Rev 14:8. The proclamation here is substantially the same as in that place, and no doubt the same thing is referred to.

And is become the habitation of devils. Of demons--in allusion to the common opinion that the demons inhabited abandoned cities, old ruins, and deserts. Mt 12:43-45. The language here is taken from the description of Babylon in Isa 13:20-22; and for a full illustration of the meaning, Isa 13:20, seq.

And the hold of every foul spirit--φυλακη. A watch-post, station, haunt of such spirits. That is, they, as it were, kept guard there; were stationed there; haunted the place.

And a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. That is, they would resort there, and abide there as in a cage. The word translated "cage" is the same which is rendered "hold"--φυλακη. In Isa 13:21, it is said, "and owls shall dwell there;" and in Isa 14:23, it is said that it would be a "possession for the bittern." The idea is that of utter desolation; and the meaning here is, that spiritual Babylon--Papal Rome (Rev 14:8) will be reduced to a state of utter desolation resembling that of the real Babylon. It is not necessary to suppose this of the city of Rome itself--for that is not the object of the representation. It is the Papacy, represented under the image of the city, and having its seat there. That is to be destroyed as utterly as was Babylon of old; that will become as odious, and loathsome, and detestable as the literal Babylon, the abode of monsters is.

(b) "Babylon the Great" Rev 14:8, Isa 13:19, 21:9, Jer 51:8 (c) "the habitation of devils" Rev 17:2, Isa 34:11,14, Jer 50:39, 51:37 Verse 3. For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. Rev 14:8. This is given as a reason why this utter ruin had come upon her. She had beguiled and corrupted the nations of the earth, leading them into estrangement from God, and into pollution and sin. Rev 9:20-21.

And the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her. Spiritual adultery; that is, she has been the means of seducing them from God and leading them into sinful practices.

And the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies. The word tendered "abundance" here, means commonly power. It might here denote influence, though it may also mean number, vanity, wealth. Compare Rev 3:8, where the same word is used. The word rendered delicacies--στρηνους--occurs nowhere else in the New Testament. It properly means rudeness, insolence, pride; and hence revel, riot, luxury. It may be rendered here properly luxury, or proud voluptuousness; and the reference is to such luxuries as are found commonly in a great, a gay, and a splendid city. These, of course, give rise to much traffic, and furnish employment to many merchants and sailors, who thus procure a livelihood, or become wealthy as the result of such traffic. Babylon--or Papal Rome--is here represented under the image of such a luxurious city; and of course, when she fails, they who have thus been dependent on her, and who have been enriched by her, have occasion for mourning and lamentation. It is not necessary to expect to find a literal fulfilment of this, for it is emblematic and symbolical. The image of a great, rich, splendid, proud, and luxurious city having been employed to denote that Antichristian power, all that is said in this chapter follows, of course, on its fall. The general idea is, that she was doomed to utter desolation, and that all who were connected with her, far and near, would be involved in her ruin.

(d) "drunk of the wine" Isa 47:15 (e) "merchants" Rev 18:11,15 (1) "abundance" "power"