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The Scofield Bible Commentary, by Cyrus Ingerson Scofield, [1917], at sacred-texts.com


Revelation Chapter 18

Revelation 18:1

rev 18:1

angel

(See Scofield) - (Heb 1:4).

Revelation 18:2

rev 18:2

Babylon

Babylon, "confusion," is repeatedly used by the prophets in a symbolic sense

(See Scofield) - (Isa 13:2), note 2.

Two "Babylons" are to be distinguished in the Revelation: ecclesiastical babylon, which is apostate Christendom, headed up under the Papacy; and political babylon, which is the Beast's confederated empire, the last form of Gentile world-dominion.

Ecclesiastical Babylon is "the great whore" (Rev 17:1) and is destroyed by political Babylon (Rev 17:15-18) that the beast may be the alone object of worship. (Th2 2:3); (Th2 2:4); (Rev 13:15). The power of political Babylon is destroyed by the return of the Lord in glory.

(See "Armageddon,"); (Rev 16:14); (Rev 19:17).

The notion of a literal Babylon to be rebuilt on the site of ancient Babylon is in conflict with (Isa 13:19-22). But the language of (Rev 18:10); (Rev 18:16); (Rev 18:18) seems beyond question to identify "Babylon," the "city" of luxury and traffic, with "Babylon" the ecclesiastical centre, namely, Rome. The very kings who hate ecclesiastical Babylon deplore the destruction of commercial Babylon.

Revelation 18:4

rev 18:4

sins

Sin

(See Scofield) - (Rom 3:23).

Revelation 18:5

rev 18:5

sins

Sin

(See Scofield) - (Rom 3:23).

Revelation 18:10

rev 18:10

Babylon

(See Scofield) - (Isa 13:1), note 2.

Revelation 18:22

rev 18:22

voice

Compare (Isa 24:8).

Contrast (Rev 14:1-3).


Next: Revelation Chapter 19