And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath.
19. the great city ] Probably Jerusalem, as in chap. Rev 11:8. It seems pointless to suppose Babylon to be mentioned twice over: while on the other view there is a climax. Jerusalem is (or is to be) converted she is the City of God again, yet even she is sorely shaken (cf. 1Pe 4:17): other cities are wholly overthrown: while the City of God’s Enemy is to receive something more than overthrow.
was divided into ] There is probably a reminiscence of Zec 14:4-5.
three parts ] It is just possible that there may be a reference to the three parties of John, Eleazar, and Simon, into which Jerusalem was divided at the time of its siege by Titus. We have seen (on Rev 11:13) that Jerusalem is to be converted at the very last: but Rev 11:7-8 prove that this will not happen till the war with Antichrist is at least begun: consequently, this verse may be concerned with the judgement on Jerusalem still infidel.
the cities of the nations ] Distinguished from Jerusalem on the one hand, and from Babylon on the other.
the cup of the wine &c.] See on Rev 14:10.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
And the great city was divided into three parts – The city of Babylon; or the mighty power that was represented by Babylon. See the notes on Rev 14:8. The division mentioned here in three parts was manifestly with reference to its destruction – either that one part was smitten and the others remained for a time, or that one form of destruction came on one part, and another on the others. In Rev 11:13 it is said, speaking of the great city spiritually called Sodom and Egypt – representing Rome, that the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand (see the notes on that place); here it is said that the whole city, in the calamities that came upon it, was divided into three portions, though it is evidently implied that, in these calamities, the whole city was sooner or later destroyed. Prof. Stuart (in loco) supposes that the number three is used here, as it is throughout the book, in a symbolical way, and that the meaning is, that the city was severed and broken in pieces, so that the whole was reduced to a ruinous state. He supposes that it refers to pagan Rome, or to the pagan Roman persecuting power. Others refer it to Jerusalem, and suppose that the allusion is to the divisions of the city, in the time of the siege, into Jewish, Samaritan, and Christian parties; others suppose that it refers to a division of the Roman empire under Honorius, Attalus, and Constantine; others to the fact, that when Jerusalem was besieged by Titus, it was divided into three factions; and others, that the number three is used to denote perfection, or the total ruin of the city. All that, it seems to me, can be said now on the point is:
(a)That it refers to papal Rome, or the papal power;
(b)That it relates to something yet future, and that it may not be possible to determine with precise accuracy what will occur;
(c)That it probably means that, in the time of the final ruin of that power, there will be a threefold judgment – either a different judgment in regard to some threefold manifestation of that power, or a succession of judgments, as if one part were smitten at a time. The certain and entire ruin of the power is predicted by this, but still it is not improbable that it will be by such divisions, or such successions of judgments, that it is proper to represent the city as divided into three portions.
And the cities of the nations fell – In alliance with it, or under the control of the central power. As the capital fell, the dependent cities fell also. Considered as relating to papal Rome, the meaning here is that what may be properly called the cities of the nations that were allied with it would share the same fate. The cities of numerous nations are now, and have been for ages, under the control of the papal power, or the spiritual Babylon; and the calamity that will smite the central power as such – that is, as a spiritual power – will reach and affect them all. Let the central power at Rome be destroyed; the papacy cease; the superstition with which Rome is regarded come to an end; the power of the priesthood in Italy be destroyed, and however widely the Roman dominion is spread now, it cannot be kept up. If it falls in Rome, there is not influence enough out of Rome to continue it in being – and in all its extended ramifications it will die as the body dies when the head is severed; as the power of provinces ceases when ruin comes upon the capital. This the prophecy leads us to suppose will be the final destiny of the papal power.
And great Babylon – See the notes on Rev 14:8.
Came in remembrance before God – That is, for purposes of punishment. It had been, as it were, overlooked. It had been permitted to carry on its purposes, and to practice its abominations, unchecked, as if God did not see it. Now the time had come when all that it had done was to be remembered, and when the long-suspended judgment was to fall upon it.
To give unto her the cup of the wine, … – To punish; to destroy her. See the notes on Rev 14:10.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 19. The great city] Some say Jerusalem, others Rome pagan, others Rome papal.
The cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath.] Alluding to the mode of putting certain criminals to death, by making them drink a cup of poison. See Clarke on Heb 2:9.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
The great city; Rome, afterwards called great Babylon in this verse.
Was divided into three parts; the pagan part, the evangelical part, and the antichristian part, (saith Dr. More), the three parties that made up the armies that fought in Armageddon: or else this is added as the effect of the great earthquake.
And great Babylon came in remembrance, &c.; God now took vengeance on the papacy, and all their adherents, though he had for twelve hundred and sixty years spared them, notwithstanding their idolatries and persecutions, and behaved himself toward them as if he had forgot them.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
19. the great citythe capitaland seat of the apostate Church, spiritual Babylon (of which Rome isthe representative, if one literal city be meant). The city in Re11:8 (see on Re 11:8), isprobably distinct, namely, Jerusalem under Antichrist (the beast,who is distinct from the harlot or apostate Church). In Re11:13 only a tenth of Jerusalem falls whereas here thecity (Babylon) “became (Greek) into three parts” bythe earthquake.
cities of the nationsothergreat cities in league with spiritual Babylon.
great . . . came inremembranceGreek, “Babylon the great wasremembered” (Re 18:5). Itis now that the last call to escape from Babylon is given to God’speople in her (Re 18:4).
fiercenessthe boilingover outburst of His wrath (Greek, “thumouorgees“), compare Note, see on Re14:10.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And the great city was divided into three parts,…. By which is meant not Christendom, distinguished into Protestants, Papists, and neutrals, which has been long the case; nor the city of Jerusalem, as inhabited by Christians, Jews, and Turks; nor the city of Rome itself, the seat of the beast, which will have suffered under the fifth vial; but the whole Romish jurisdiction, which is the great city, that reigns over the kings of the earth, as it will now be; though some think the Turkish empire is meant, which they suppose was only afflicted under the preceding vial, but will now be divided into three parts, and afterwards into six, Eze 39:1 and so come to ruin; and others are of opinion that it is included in this great city at least; and doubtless the remains of it are to be taken into this account, and probably are considered in the following clause; wherefore it is better to understand this of the Romish jurisdiction, so often called the great city in this book,
Re 11:8 and its division into three parts is either in reference to the three heads of it, the dragon, beast, and false prophet, or to the three unclean spirits that come out of them, which will lead on to this ruin; though the allusion seems rather to be to the destruction of Jerusalem, Eze 5:2 and denotes the utter ruin of the Romish antichrist, in all its branches and remains; a tenth part of this city will fall towards the close of the sixth trumpet, Re 11:13 and now all the other nine parts will fall, a threefold division will be made of the city, each division containing three parts: the Jews e have a prophecy, that upon an appearance of a star at Rome, which they suppose will be when the Messiah comes, the three upper walls of that city will fall, and the great temple, or church (St. Peter’s), will fall, and the governor of that city (the pope) will die:
and the cities of the nations fell; of the Pagans and Mahometaus; or as there will be an utter extirpation of the Papacy, so of Paganism and Mahometanism, in the several nations where they have obtained, and where there will be now any remains of them;
and great Babylon came in remembrance before God; not Constantinople, as Brightman thinks, because that Rome, the seat of the beast, is affected under the fifth vial, and the great city under this; but since no other is called Babylon in this book but the Romish antichristian state, it must be meant here; see Re 14:8 for many hundreds of years Babylon seemed to be forgotten by God, no notice being taken of her sins and iniquities in a judicial way; but now God will remember her sins, Re 18:5 and inflict deserved punishment upon her:
to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath; as a just retaliation for the wine of her fornication, with which she has intoxicated the kings and inhabitants of the earth; the wrath of God is sometimes signified in the Old Testament by a cup, a wine cup, a wine cup of fury, see Ps 75:8 and here the exceeding greatness of his wrath is expressed by the phrases used, and intends the pouring out of all his vengeance, to the utter ruin of the Romish antichrist.
e Zohar in Numb. fol. 86. 1.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Was divided into three parts ( ). “Came into three parts” ( again). In 11:3 a tenth part of the city fell. Babylon (Rome) is meant (17:18).
Fell (). Second aorist active indicative of (– form in place of –).
Was remembered (). First aorist (prophetic) passive indicative of . Babylon (Rome) had not been overlooked. God was simply biding his time with Rome.
To give unto her ( ). Second aorist active infinitive of , epexegetic use as in Rev 11:18; Rev 16:9.
The cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath ( ). “The cup of the wine of the wrath of his anger,” using both (boiling rage) and (settled anger). See both in Jer 30:24.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
1) “And the great city was divided into three parts,” (kai egeneto he polis he megale eis tria mere) “and the great city (Jerusalem) was divided into three parts; This cataclysm is to occur at the conclusion of the Battle of Armageddon and the coming of the Lord, in Power and Great glory, to be glorified in the Saints, 2Th 1:10-12; The Mount of Olives shall divide, and the city be cleft three ways, Zec 14:4-5; Zec 13:9.
2) “And the cities of the nations fell,” (kai hai poleiston ethnon epesan) “and the cities of the nations fell, were shaken down, collapsed; while Jerusalem was preserved as the city of Peace, the Zion of Christ’s reign, all cities of the Gentile Beast, one world government of all nations were destroyed, in Universal ruin; This ends the time of the Gentiles. Dan 2:34-35; Luk 21:24; Rev 19:11; Rev 19:21.
3) “And great Babylon came in remembrance before God,” (kai Babulon he megale emnesthe enopion tou theou) “and great Babylon was remembered (for judgment) before (in the presence of) God; This personifies, identifies, the object of God’s judgment wrath as the Gentile World powers in corrupt religious consort much like ancient Babylon and the city of Babylon, Rev 14:8; Rev 17:18; Rev 18:5.
4) “To give unto her the cup,” (dounai aute to poterion) “to dole out (give over) to her the cup,” the container, the measure or the content of the bitter dregs of his judgment, Psa 11:6; Psa 75:8; Isa 51:17-23.
5) “Of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath,” (tou oinou tou thumou tes orges autou) “of the impassioned anger of the wrath or fury of God,” Jer 25:15-17; Rev 6:14; Rev 14:9-10. This describes the ultimate, the final, the complete overthrow of civilization without God.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
19. Divided, by the earthquake, into three parts Laid into three separate heaps. Of course so great an earthquake would leave no structure standing. The three, the divine number, intimates that it was the divine work. Babylon falls not so much by man as by God. And note that it is not said that the destruction was divinely limited to a third part, but that the divine destruction rested on all the parts. The great battle is a trifle to the great earthquake.
Cities of the nations fell All the antichristian capitals, among all nations, fell by the same earthquake. And yet by the run of the commentators it is held that Babylon itself does not fall is only menaced and partially damaged. In view of the awful menaces and dread preparation narrated, all aimed at Babylon, we have the ludicrous result that Babylon is the only city among the nations that does not fall!
Remembrance to give cup wrath Here we catch a gleam of the battle. This can mean nothing less than that Jehovah here and now accomplished the destruction to the utmost. The words Rev 18:1-2; Rev 18:8-23, are a picture of her consequent condition.
Every island fled Neither Megiddo nor Rome has any sea islands in sight. The picture is, that the continents were shaken by the earthquake, the islands were frightened away, and the mountains were leveled to the plain, or became invisible were not found to the eye of the seer amid the smoke and confusion of the earthquake, battle, and downfall.
19 And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath.
Ver. 19. And the great city ] The whole Antichristian state.
Divided into three parts ] By the earthquake disjected and dissipated. Or, divided into three parts, that is, into three factions, 1. Stiff Papists; 2. Converts; 3. Neuters.
And the cities of the nations ] That came to aid Antichrist.
And great Babylon ] Augustine and other ancients do call Rome the Western Babylon; and do so compare them, as that Abraham was born in the flourish of the first Babylon, Christ of the second. The Jesuits here, though they grant Rome to be Babylon, yet they would have it to be Rome heathen under the emperors, and not Rome Christian under the popes. But it must be Rome Christian, as it appears by a double departure: 1. Of Babylon from the Church,Rev 17:3Rev 17:3 . Babylon is called a whore. 2. Of the Church from Babylon, Rev 18:3 . The temple of God is the seat of Antichrist, saith Paul, 2Th 2:3-4 .
The cup of wine ] That wherein God delights, as a man would do to drink a cup of generous wine.
was divided. Literally became.
great Babylon. Compare Dan 4:30.
came, &c. Literally was remembered.
fierceness. Greek. thumos (wrath, in Rev 16:1).
wrath. Greek. orge. Figure of speech Pleonasm. App-6.
Babylon
Summary: The Times of the Gentiles is that long period beginning with the Babylonian captivity of Judah, under Nebuchadnezzar, and to be brought to an end by the destruction of Gentile world-power by the “stone cut out without hands” Dan 2:34; Dan 2:35; Dan 2:44 i.e., the coming of the Lord in glory Rev 19:11; Rev 19:21 until which time Jerusalem is politically subject to Gentile rule. Luk 21:24.
kings “Times of the Gentiles” Rev 16:19; Luk 21:24.
Babylon (See Scofield “Isa 13:1”)
the great: Rev 14:8, Rev 17:18, Rev 18:2, Rev 18:10, Rev 18:16-19, Rev 18:21
great: Rev 17:5, Dan 4:30
in: Rev 14:8-10, Rev 18:5, Isa 49:26, Isa 51:17-23, Jer 25:15, Jer 25:16, Jer 25:26
Reciprocal: Gen 8:1 – God remembered Psa 60:3 – to drink Psa 74:18 – Remember Psa 75:8 – For in Isa 47:3 – I will take Isa 59:18 – fury Isa 63:6 – make Jer 27:7 – until Jer 44:21 – did Jer 48:26 – ye him Jer 51:6 – for this Eze 21:23 – call Eze 23:32 – drink Eze 24:9 – Woe Eze 29:16 – bringeth Hos 8:13 – now Hos 9:7 – days of visitation Zec 12:2 – a cup Zec 13:8 – two Mat 12:25 – Every kingdom Rom 2:8 – indignation Rev 11:8 – the great Rev 11:13 – and the tenth Rev 14:10 – drink Rev 15:1 – is filled Rev 18:6 – the cup
Rev 16:19. The great city means the institution composed of the union of church and state, as it is used here and some other places, not merely church or state singly. It is in that sense that the name Babylon is used in this verse, because the literal city of Babylon had been destroyed centuries before (Isa 13:19-22), and the apostate church of Rome as a religious institution is not to be destroyed until Jesus comes again (2Th 2:8). But Babylon as the union of church and state was dissolved by the Reformation never to be restored. Divided into three parts. This partial destruction has been indicated a number of times and has been explained to mean that God does not completely extinguish every institution He condemns. Came in remembrance before God means he remembered the evils that city had done to His people. Give unto her the cup, etc., is the same figurative sense of wine that has been commented upon in chapter 14:19, 20.
Rev 16:20. Island in symbolic language means inhabited spots and mountains denotes units of government. John saw these flee away in the vision which was symbolical, and the meaning is on the same subject that has been under consideration through many of the passages, namely, the downfall of the political power of Rome.
Rev 16:21. Weight of talents varied according to the different standards and they were at least fifty pounds on an average. To drop a hail stone of that weight as a symbol of God’s wrath would give some impression of the greatness of that wrath. Blasphemed God means they spoke very evil words against Him, because of their disappointment and humiliation over the loss of their political power.
Comments by Foy E. Wallace
Verses 19-21.
The statement of verse nineteen that Jerusalem was divided into three parts, had a further significance than the partitioning of the city by the Romans as described by Zec 14:1-21. The apparent application of the symbol was to the three sources of Jerusalem’s afflictions: pestilence, sword and exile. The prophecy of Ezekiel on the siege and destruction of Jerusalem described these three parts in the following words: “Thou shalt burn with fire (pestilence) a third part in the midst of the city, when the days of the siege are fulfilled: and thou shalt take a third part and smite about it with a knife (sword): and a third part thou shalt scatter in the wind (exile); and I will draw out a sword after them.” There could be no closer relation between the fulfillment of a prophecy and an apocalypse than Eze 5:2 and Rev 16:19. Again the Old Testament and the New Testament furnish accumulative evidence that the symbols of Revelation were fulfilled in the lives and experiences of the people to whom the apocalypse was addressed.
Rev 16:19. And the great city was divided into three parts. In these words we have the third particular of the seven. The sentence of Dan 5:28 may be in the Seers mind, Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians. If this reference be correct, it will confirm the view (1) that Cyrus is the type from which the kings from the sunrising mentioned in Rev 16:12 is taken; and (2) that these kings are messengers of Christ, and deliverers of His Church as Cyrus was. The city is divided into three parts, not so much from any thought of the three unclean spirits as from the idea of St. John that a whole consists of three parts (but comp. also Eze 5:1-5; Eze 5:12). The meaning is that the city was broken up and overthrown. The question of the identification of this great city is more difficult. It is commonly understood to be Babylon, the emblem and centre of the world power. But in chap. Rev 11:8 mention has already been made of Jerusalem as the great city, and it is not easy to see how we can now interpret the name in a different manner. Besides this, Jerusalem was thought of in chap. Rev 11:8 as the city of the Jews rather than as the metropolis of Gods kingdom,the idea of the place where Jesus was crucified being afterwards extended by the mention of Sodom and Egypt (comp. on chaps. Rev 11:8 and Rev 18:24). The great city would therefore seem to be Jerusalem viewed in a less extensive sense than in chap. 11, as the principle and essence of what St. John in his Gospel calls the world.
The cities of the nations fell. This is the fourth particular of the seven. The reference may be to Mic 5:11; Mic 5:14. There, no doubt, it is the cities of Israel in which, rather than in Himself, the people had trusted that God promises in mercy to take away. But what is a merciful chastisement to Israel is a judgment on the nations, and the destroying of their only refuge. Every city they had built for themselves falls, and they are left houseless and defenceless.
And Babylon the great came up, etc. We have now the fifth particular of the seven. Babylon the great is not essentially distinct from the great city of the first clause of the verse, yet it is not exactly the same. We have already seen that the latter is degenerate Jerusalem viewed in a less extensive sense than in chap. 11. Now it is viewed in its widest meaning, as embracing not only the essence and principle of the world once exhibited among the Jews, but that principle as it appears in the Gentile not less than in the Jew. As in chap. Rev 11:8 the great city expanded until it embraced Sodom and Egypt, so here in like manner it expands into Babylon the great. As such it must drink of the cup of Gods anger blazing out in His wrath.
Babylon is shaken into three parts, islands fled, and mountains disappeared. Babylon and all the cities that joined in her wickedness fall. She is given the cup of God’s wrath to drink. Never let it be said that God is not just. He only waits for man’s sins to become ripe and then will punish.
Verse 19
Divided into three parts; that is, perhaps, broken up by the earthquake, and destroyed.
16:19 {26} And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations {27} fell: and great {28} Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath.
(26) The seat or standing place of Antichrist.
(27) Of all who cleave to Antichrist and fight against Christ.
(28) That harlot, of whom in the next chapter following. Now this phrase “to come into remembrance” is from the Hebrew language, borrowed from men, and attributed to God.
A result of this unprecedented earthquake is the splitting of the great city into three parts. The "great city" could refer to Jerusalem (Rev 11:8). Some believe it refers to Rome. [Note: Mounce, p. 304.] Still others identify it with Babylon on the Euphrates (Rev 14:8; Rev 17:18; Rev 18:10; Rev 18:21), to which this verse refers explicitly later. [Note: Ladd, p. 218.] Probably Jerusalem is in view. [Note: Moffatt, 5:449; Smith, A Revelation . . ., p. 237; Ford, p. 264; idem, "The Structure and Meaning of Revelation 16," Expository Times 98:11 (August 1987):327-31.] It contrasts with the cities of the nations, and the phrase "the great" described it before (Rev 11:8). Zechariah’s prophecy of topographical changes taking place around Jerusalem at this time argues for a geophysical rather that an ethnographic change (Zec 14:4). [Note: Lee, 4:727, believed this would be a division into three groups of people.]
Evidently the earthquake will destroy virtually all the cities of the world. Babylon on the Euphrates is the most significant of these cities (Rev 14:8). It is the special object of God’s judgment, which the cup of wine that she receives symbolizes. Chapters 17 and 18 describe the fall of Babylon in more detail.
"The fall of Babylon is the central teaching of the seventh bowl. It is an event already announced in Rev 14:8 and prefigured in the harvest and vintage of Rev 14:14-20. . . . Stages in Babylon’s downfall come in Rev 17:16 and Rev 18:8 . . ., but her ultimate collapse is in Rev 19:18-21" [Note: Thomas, Revelation 8-22, p. 276.]
The government of Iraq under Saddam Hussein was trying to rebuild Babylon. [Note: Charles H. Dyer, The Rise of Babylon, pp. 26-32.] Literal interpreters have differed on the question of whether someone will rebuild the whole city completely or not. Some believe Iraq will rebuild Babylon mainly in view of what the prophets predicted would happen to Babylon in Isaiah 13, 14, and in Jeremiah 50, 51. They say this has not yet taken place. [Note: E.g., Kenneth Allen, "The Rebuilding and Destruction of Babylon," Bibliotheca Sacra 133:529 (January-March 1976):19-27; Charles H. Dyer, "The Identity of Babylon in Revelation 17-18," Bibliotheca Sacra 144:576 (October-December 1987):440-49; Newell, pp. 253, 265, 268; Henry M. Morris, The Revelation Record, pp. 348-49; Thomas, Revelation 8-22, pp. 290, 307; and McGee, 5:1036. Cf. 18:2; Zechariah 5.] Others hold that Scripture does not require the rebuilding of Babylon since they believe God has fulfilled these prophecies. [Note: E.g., C. I. Scofield, ed., The Scofield Reference Bible, 1917 ed., pp. 1346-47; Pentecost, Things to . . ., pp. 368-69; and Homer Heater Jr., "Do the Prophets Teach that Babylonia Will Be Rebuilt in the Eschaton?" Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 41:1 (March 1998):23-43.] It seems to me that a literal city is in view in Revelation but that what the city has stood for throughout human history is also in view.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Fuente: Scofield Reference Bible Notes
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
Fuente: Gary Hampton Commentary on Selected Books
Fuente: Abbott’s Illustrated New Testament
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
Fuente: Expository Notes of Dr. Constable (Old and New Testaments)