Bible Commentary

Revelation 18:21

The Pulpit Commentary on Revelation 18:21

The Pulpit Commentary · Joseph S. Exell and contributors · Public domain

And a mighty angel took up a stone like a groat millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying; add one strong angel (cf. the "mighty voice" in ; also , and elsewhere). The adjective, of course, refers to the mightiness of the deed wrought (cf.

, "Thou shall bind a stone to it, and cast it into the midst of Euphrates; and thou shall say, Thus shall Babylon sink, and shall not rise," etc.). The sea may be typical of the nations of the earth (see ).

Thus with violence shall that groat city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all; Thus with a mighty fall shall Babylon, the great city, be cast down, etc. (Revised Version). Alford translates "with a rush;" ὅρμημα is peculiar to this passage.

The complete nature of this extinction is indicated by the frequency of the words, "no more at all," in .

Recommended reading

More for Revelation 18:21

Continue with other commentaries and DiscipleDeck content connected to this verse, chapter, or topic.

Other commentaries

The Pulpit Commentary on Revelation 18:1-24Revelation 18:1-24 · The Pulpit CommentaryThe overthrow of wickedness. This, in symbolic form, is the real subject of this chapter. Wickedness shall be utterly and forever destroyed. I. A GLORIOUS ANGEL PROCLAIMS THIS. (Cf. Revelation 18:1 as to this angel.) Th…The Pulpit Commentary on Revelation 18:1-24Revelation 18:1-24 · The Pulpit CommentaryEXPOSITIONThe Fall of Babylon. (a. d. 95.)Revelation 18:9-24 · Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole BibleTHE FALL OF BABYLON. (A. D. 95.) Here we have, I. A doleful lamentation made by Babylon's friends for her fall; and here observe, 1. Who are the mourners, namely, those who had been bewitched by her fornication, those w…The Pulpit Commentary on Revelation 18:9-24Revelation 18:9-24 · The Pulpit CommentaryThe fall of the corrupt in human life. "And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her," etc. All along through my remarks on the Apocalyptic visions of this book I have not on…The Pulpit Commentary on Revelation 18:9-24Revelation 18:9-24 · The Pulpit CommentaryLamentations over the fall of Babylon. In our previous study of "Babylon the great," we had occasion to remark that there were three forms under which a great Babylon might be recognized. 1. In that worldwide spirit of…Matthew Henry on Revelation 18:20-24Revelation 18:20-24 · Matthew Henry Concise CommentaryThat which is matter of rejoicing to the servants of God on earth, is matter of rejoicing to the angels in heaven. The apostles, who are honoured and daily worshipped at Rome in an idolatrous manner, will rejoice in her…
commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Revelation 18:1-24The overthrow of wickedness. This, in symbolic form, is the real subject of this chapter. Wickedness shall be utterly and forever destroyed. I. A GLORIOUS ANGEL PROCLAIMS THIS. (Cf. Revelation 18:1 as to this angel.) Th…Joseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Revelation 18:1-24EXPOSITIONJoseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryThe Fall of Babylon. (a. d. 95.)THE FALL OF BABYLON. (A. D. 95.) Here we have, I. A doleful lamentation made by Babylon's friends for her fall; and here observe, 1. Who are the mourners, namely, those who had been bewitched by her fornication, those w…Matthew HenrycommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Revelation 18:9-24Lamentations over the fall of Babylon. In our previous study of "Babylon the great," we had occasion to remark that there were three forms under which a great Babylon might be recognized. 1. In that worldwide spirit of…Joseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Revelation 18:9-24The fall of the corrupt in human life. "And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her," etc. All along through my remarks on the Apocalyptic visions of this book I have not on…Joseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryMatthew Henry on Revelation 18:20-24That which is matter of rejoicing to the servants of God on earth, is matter of rejoicing to the angels in heaven. The apostles, who are honoured and daily worshipped at Rome in an idolatrous manner, will rejoice in her…Matthew HenrycommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Revelation 18:21"No more." Six times over does this word recur, and always concerning the same fact. That fact, therefore, must be notable, and is intended to be noticed by us. Of what, then, is it thus repeatedly said, it is "no more"…Joseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Revelation 18:21Moral evil symbolized. "And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea," etc. In these words we have a symbolization of moral evil. I. A SYMBOLIZATION OF ITS NATURE. Babylon is a sym…Joseph S. Exell and contributors