Revelation 18:2

And he cried mightily with a loud voice, saying, “Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and has become a dwelling place of demons, a prison for every foul spirit, and a cage for every unclean and hated bird!

·         This angel publishes the fall of Babylon, as a thing already come to pass (MH)

·         He announces that Babylon is fallen, fallen; the phrase is “repeated like a solemn dirge of the damned.” (Robertson)

Revelation 18:1

After these things I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was illuminated with his glory.

·         This angel has not only light in himself, to discern the truth of his own prediction, but to inform and enlighten the world about that great event (MH)

·         This angel coming down from heaven is so “fresh” from God’s presence that he glows. “So recently has he come from the Presence (of God) that in passing he flings a broad belt of light across the dark earth.” (Swete)

Revelation 17:18

And the woman whom you saw is that great city which reigns over the kings of the earth.”

·         The woman whom you saw is the great city = begins the final explanatory item of the bowl-carrying angel. The identity of the woman is given. She is the great city. (RC)

·         Which reigns (literally, has a kingdom) over the kings of the earth = is the final defining strait for the woman. The way the woman rules over the kings of the earth is through the Antichrist. This makes her a harlot. She prostitutes herself with Antichrist when she rightly belongs to God.  (RC)

Revelation 17:17

For God has put it into their hearts to fulfill His purpose, to be of one mind, and to give their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled.

·         For God has = signals that an explanation follows concerning why the ten kings will act as they do  (RC)

·         Until the words of God will be fulfilled = indicates that the destruction of the harlot is a fulfillment of prophecy.  (RC)

Revelation 17:16

And the ten horns which you saw on the beast, these will hate the harlot, make her desolate and naked, eat her flesh and burn her with fire.

·         Will hate the harlot = is the first. Revelation 17:7 and 9 indicates that the harlot’s relationship to the beast is mutual. She wants to be with the beast and the beast wants her. Therefore, Revelation 17:16 must be taken in an ingressive sense. That is, the ten horns and the beast "will begin to hate the harlot." Something will happen that will change the relationship between the harlot, the beast, and his confederate nations.  (RC)

·         Will make here desolate and naked = signals both depopulation and shame.  (RC)

Revelation 17:15

Then he said to me, “The waters which you saw, where the harlot sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations, and tongues.

·         The waters which you saw where the harlot sits = continues the angelic interpretation of the harlot’s judgment.  (RC)

·         The waters are people, multitudes, nations and tongues. Revelation 17:9 declares that the harlot sits on seven king/kingdoms. Thus, we can say that the harlot is carried by a universal segment of the population of the earth. (RC)

Revelation 17:14

These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful.”

·         These will wage war against the Lamb = indicates the purpose or mind of the ten kings. They are united in their attitudes toward the Lamb. The attack of the ten kings against the Lamb is not specially detailed, but they must gather with the nations to Armageddon.   (RC)

·         The Lamb will overcome them = signals defeat for the ten kings and the beast. The title "Lord of lords and King of kings" is applied to the Lamb here and the rider on the white horse in Revelation 19:16. (RC)