Chapter commentary
Revelation Chapter 18
1
Re 18:1-24.
简体中文
English original
Re 18:1-24.
BABYLON'S FALL: GOD'S PEOPLE CALLED OUT OF HER: THE KINGS AND MERCHANTS OF THE EARTH MOURN, WHILE THE SAINTS REJOICE AT HER FALL.
1. And--so Vulgate and ANDREAS. But A, B, Syriac, and Coptic omit "And."
power--Greek, "authority."
lightened--"illumined."
with--Greek, "owing to."
2
Untitled
简体中文
2. 大声——抄本无"大声……有力"之支持。但抄本A、B、武加大译本、叙利亚文译本、科普特译本读作"用（字面作'在'）大声音"。
倾倒了，倾倒了——抄本A、武加大译本、叙利亚文译本和安德烈如此。但抄本B和科普特译本略去第二个"倾倒了"
（Isa 21:9; Jer 51:8）。
此语在此是预言她的倾倒——仍属未来，正如
Re 18:4
所证。
鬼魔——希腊文作"demons"。
住处——堡垒或监狱。
English original
2. mightily . . . strong--not supported by manuscripts. But A, B, Vulgate, Syriac, and Coptic read, "with (literally, 'in') a mighty voice."
is fallen, is fallen--so A, Vulgate, Syriac, and ANDREAS. But B and Coptic omit the second "is fallen"
(Isa 21:9; Jer 51:8).
This phrase is here prophetical of her fall, still future, as
Re 18:4
proves.
devils--Greek, "demons."
the hold--a keep or prison.
3
Untitled
简体中文
3. 喝醉——
Re 14:8，
"那酒"大概从此处被插入。他们已经喝了她淫乱的酒，其结果是怒气归于自己。但抄本A、B、C读作"（因她淫乱的怒气，列国都）倾倒了"。武加大译本与大多译本读作英文译本，虽无最古老抄本支持，却可能是正确的读法。淫妇巴比伦在兽杀两见证人
（Re 11:7）
之前被灭，然后兽自己也灭亡。
那酒——抄本B、叙利亚文译本、科普特译本如此。但抄本A、C和武加大译本略去。
奢华——字面作"权能"。
珍馐——希腊文作"奢华"。见
1Ti 5:11
注释，那里希腊文动词"好宴乐"与此处名词同源。当译作"纵情奢华"。所指并非属地商品，而是属灵货物——赎罪券、偶像崇拜、迷信、世俗妥协——淫妇即背道的教会借此在人身上经商牟利。这尤其适用于罗马；但希腊教会，甚至在较小程度上的更正教会，也并非无罪。然而更正教的原则是纯洁的，而罗马与希腊教会的原则则不然。
English original
3. drunk--
Re 14:8,
from which perhaps "the wine" may have been interpolated. They have drunk of her fornication, the consequence of which will be wrath to themselves. But A, B, and C read, "(owing to the wrath of her fornication all nations) have fallen." Vulgate and most versions read as English Version, which may be the right reading though not supported by the oldest manuscripts. Babylon, the whore, is destroyed before the beast slays the two witnesses
(Re 11:7),
and then the beast himself is destroyed.
the wine--so B, Syriac, and Coptic. But A, C, and Vulgate omit.
abundance--literally, "power."
delicacies--Greek, "luxury." See on
1Ti 5:11,
where the Greek verb "wax wanton" is akin to the noun here. Translate, "wanton luxury." The reference is not to earthly merchandise, but to spiritual wares, indulgences, idolatries, superstitions, worldly compromises, wherewith the harlot, that is, the apostate Church, has made merchandise of men. This applies especially to Rome; but the Greek, and even in a less degree Protestant churches, are not guiltless. However, the principle of evangelical Protestantism is pure, but the principle of Rome and the Greek church is not so.
4
Untitled
简体中文
4. 我的民哪，你们要从那城出来——引自
Jer 50:8; 51:6, 45。
甚至在罗马教会中，神也有他的子民；但他们处于极大危险中；他们唯一的安全在于立刻从中出来。照样在每个背道或随从世俗的教会中，也有一些神那看不见、真实的教会中的人，他们若要安全，必须出来。尤其在神审判背道基督教世界的前夕：正如罗得在所多玛毁灭之前蒙警诫出来，以色列人从大坍、亚比兰的帐棚旁出来。照样第一批基督徒在背道的犹太教会受审之时从耶路撒冷出来。"国家与教会都是神宝贵的恩赐。但国家既被亵渎而用于神所设计之外的目的——即为神而治、如服在神之下而治——就变为兽；教会背道就成为淫妇。真妇人是核心：兽与淫妇是外壳：一旦核心成熟，外壳便被抛弃"［奥伯伦］。"淫妇不仅是罗马（虽然她最为如此），而是每一个没有基督的心思与精神的教会。虚假的基督教世界分为许多宗派，实在是巴比伦——即混乱。然而在一切基督教世界中，那真实的耶稣会众——披戴日头的妇人——仍然活着并被隐藏。腐败、死气沉沉的基督教世界就是淫妇，她的大目标是肉身的快乐，受自然与世界之灵所治理"［哈恩，引自奥伯伦］。妇人的第一次称义，在于她被从淫妇巴比伦中呼召出来——作为后者罪恶达到顶点、审判将临之时；因为背道的基督教世界——巴比伦——不能被归正，只能被毁灭。其次，她要经过兽之逼迫的考验，这使她得洁净，并为基督再来时的得荣耀变化作预备
（Re 20:4; Lu 21:28）。
不要与她同流——希腊文作"不要有分于她的罪"。
免得受她的灾害——如罗得的妻子因逗留在受玷污且注定灭亡的城附近太久而受祸。
English original
4. Come out of her, my people--quoted from
Jer 50:8; 51:6, 45.
Even in the Romish Church God has a people: but they are in great danger; their only safety is in coming out of her at once. So also in every apostate or world-conforming church there are some of God's invisible and true Church, who, if they would be safe, must come out. Especially at the eve of God's judgment on apostate Christendom: as Lot was warned to come out of Sodom just before its destruction, and Israel to come from about the tents of Dathan and Abiram. So the first Christians came out of Jerusalem when the apostate Jewish Church was judged. "State and Church are precious gifts of God. But the State being desecrated to a different end from what God designed it, namely. to govern for, and as under, God, becomes beast-like; the Church apostatizing becomes the harlot. The true woman is the kernel: beast and harlot are the shell: whenever the kernel is mature, the shell is thrown away" [AUBERLEN]. "The harlot is not Rome alone (though she is pre-eminently so), but every Church that has not Christ's mind and spirit. False Christendom, divided into very many sects, is truly Babylon, that is, confusion. However, in all Christendom the true Jesus-congregation, the woman clothed with the sun, lives and is hidden. Corrupt, lifeless Christendom is the harlot, whose great aim is the pleasure of the flesh, and which is governed by the spirit of nature and the world" [HAHN in AUBERLEN]. The first justification of the woman is in her being called out of Babylon the harlot, as the culminating stage of the latter's sin, when judgment is about to fall: for apostate Christendom, Babylon, is not to be converted, but to be destroyed. Secondly, she has to pass through an ordeal of persecution from the beast, which purifies and prepares her for the transfiguration glory at Christ's coming
(Re 20:4; Lu 21:28).
be not partakers--Greek, "have no fellowship with her sins."
that ye receive not of her plagues--as Lot's wife, by lingering too near the polluted and doomed city.
5
Untitled
简体中文
5. 她的罪——如大山堆。
直抵——希腊文作"达到如此高度以致紧密接触、并黏附于"。
English original
5. her sins--as a great heap.
reached--Greek, "reached so far as to come into close contact with, and to cleave unto."
6
Untitled
简体中文
6. 对执行神愤怒之人的吩咐。
报应——希腊文作"偿还"。
她怎样报应——英文译本所读的加上了"你们"，但没有任何最古老的抄本支持。但抄本A、B、C、武加大译本、叙利亚文译本和科普特译本都省略。她并没有因世界权势对她所施加的某样伤害而报应或偿还世界权势；她乃是把世界权势所应得的——即属灵的迷惑——给了它，因为它不愿在它的认识中保留神；不忠之教会的原则是"Populus vult decipi, et decipiatur."——"百姓愿意受骗，就任凭他们受骗吧。"
双倍——忧愁的双倍。与此相对比的是，耶路撒冷为其过去的受苦要接受的喜乐之双倍
（Isa 61:7；Zec 9:12）；
照样她也已为其罪受了双倍的刑罚
（Isa 40:2）。
给她——叙利亚文译本、科普特译本和安德烈亚斯如此读。抄本A、B、C省略。
杯中——
（Re 18:3；Re 14:8；17:4。）
调和——字面作"搀混"。
加倍地倒给她——主愤怒之杯的双倍。
English original
6. Addressed to the executioners of God's wrath.
Reward--Greek, "repay."
she rewarded--English Version reading adds "you" with none of the oldest manuscripts. But A, B, C, Vulgate, Syriac, and Coptic omit it. She had not rewarded or repaid the world power for some injury which the world power had inflicted on her; but she had given the world power that which was its due, namely, spiritual delusions, because it did not like to retain God in its knowledge; the unfaithful Church's principle was, "Populus vult decipi, et decipiatur." "The people like to be deceived, and let them be deceived."
double--of sorrow. Contrast with this the double of joy which Jerusalem shall receive for her past suffering
(Isa 61:7; Zec 9:12);
even as she has received double punishment for her sins
(Isa 40:2).
unto her--So Syriac, Coptic, and ANDREAS. A, B, and C omit it.
in the cup--
(Re 18:3; Re 14:8; 17:4).
filled--literally "mixed."
fill to her double--of the Lord's cup of wrath.
7
Untitled
简体中文
7. 怎样——即按……的程度。
奢华——奢侈地生活：参
Re 18:3，
那里的希腊文与此相近。
悲哀——希腊文作"哀悼"，如为亡夫而哀。
我坐——武加大译本如此读。但抄本A、B、C加"那"。
我……不是寡妇——因为世界权势是我的丈夫和我的支持者。
决不看见悲哀——希腊文作"哀悼"。"我坐着（许久以来）……我是寡妇不是……我决不看见悲哀"，标志着她对过去、现在和未来完全的不以为意的安全感[本格尔]。我永不必如丧夫之人那样哀悼。正如巴比伦曾是东方之女王，照样罗马一直是西方之女王，并在帝国钱币上被称为"永恒之城"。教皇罗马也被阿米安·马凯林[15.7]如此称呼。"巴比伦是先前的罗马，罗马是后来的巴比伦。罗马是巴比伦的女儿，借着她——如同借着她母亲一样——神乐意使世界臣服于一统之下"[奥古斯丁]。正如犹太人的复兴要等到巴比伦倾覆之后才发生，照样金奇论俄巴底亚书写道："当罗马（以东）荒凉之时，以色列必有救赎。"罗马教的偶像崇拜一直是犹太人接受基督教的极大绊脚石。
English original
7. How much--that is in proportion as.
lived deliciously--luxuriously: see on
Re 18:3,
where the Greek is akin.
sorrow--Greek, "mourning," as for a dead husband.
I sit--so Vulgate. But A, B, and C prefix "that."
I . . . am no widow--for the world power is my husband and my supporter.
shall see no sorrow--Greek, "mourning." "I am seated (this long time) . . . I am no widow . . . I shall see no sorrow," marks her complete unconcerned security as to the past, present, and future [BENGEL]. I shall never have to mourn as one bereft of her husband. As Babylon was queen of the East, so Rome has been queen of the West, and is called on Imperial coins "the eternal city." So Papal Rome is called by AMMIAN MARCELLIN [15.7]. "Babylon is a former Rome, and Rome a latter Babylon. Rome is a daughter of Babylon, and by her, as by her mother, God has been pleased to subdue the world under one sway" [AUGUSTINE]. As the Jew's restoration did not take place till Babylon's fall, so R. KIMCHI on Obadiah, writes, "When Rome (Edom) shall be devastated, there shall be redemption to Israel." Romish idolatries have been the great stumbling-blocks to the Jews' acceptance of Christianity.
8
Untitled
简体中文
8. 死——临到她自己，虽然她自以为连丈夫的死也伤不到她。
哀悼——代替她的宴乐。
饥荒——代替她的奢华美味
（Re 18:3, 7）。
火——（参
Re 17:16
的注释）。字面意义的火可以烧毁罗马这座处于火山活动中心的城市。正如地因亚当之罪受咒诅，挪亚时代之地下沉于洪水之下，所多玛被火烧灭，照样罗马也可能如此。但淫妇既是奥秘的（整个不忠的教会），焚烧可能主要是奥秘的，象征彻底的毁灭和除灭。本格尔认为罗马将再次崛起掌权，这大概是正确的。所有教会——罗马教、希腊教、更正教——中属肉体的、不忠的和属世的成分，都趋向一个共同的中心，并为兽的最后形式——即敌基督——预备道路。法利赛人在信仰上大体正统，但审判却同样临到他们，如同临到信仰不纯正的撒都该人和半异教的撒玛利亚人。照样，不忠而淫乱、属肉体、属世的更正教会不会因其信仰之正统而得免。
主——抄本B、C、叙利亚文译本和安德烈亚斯如此读。但抄本A和武加大译本省略。"强壮"是神之希伯来文名"EL"的含义。
审判——但抄本A、B、C读过去时（希腊文作"krinas"），"已审判了她"：这是预言性的过去时表将来：在
Re 18:4
中神叫他的百姓从她中间出来的吩咐暗示审判尚未实际执行。
English original
8. death--on herself, though she thought herself secure even from the death of her husband.
mourning--instead of her feasting.
famine--instead of her luxurious delicacies
(Re 18:3, 7).
fire--(See on
Re 17:16).
Literal fire may burn the literal city of Rome, which is situated in the midst of volcanic agencies. As the ground was cursed for Adam's sin, and the earth under Noah was sunk beneath the flood, and Sodom was burnt with fire, so may Rome be. But as the harlot is mystical (the whole faithless Church), the burning may be mainly mystical, symbolizing utter destruction and removal. BENGEL is probably right in thinking Rome will once more rise to power. The carnal, faithless, and worldly elements in all churches, Roman, Greek, and Protestant, tend towards one common center, and prepare the way for the last form of the beast, namely, Antichrist. The Pharisees were in the main sound in creed, yet judgment fell on them as on the unsound Sadducees and half-heathenish Samaritans. So faithless and adulterous, carnal, worldly Protestant churches, will not escape for their soundness of creed.
the Lord--so B, C, Syriac, and ANDREAS. But A and Vulgate omit. "Strong" is the meaning of God's Hebrew name, "EL."
judgeth--But A, B, and C read the past tense (Greek, "krinas"), "who hath judged her": the prophetical past for the future: the charge in
Re 18:4
to God's people to come out of her implies that the judgment was not yet actually executed.
9
Untitled
简体中文
9. 奢华——希腊文作"奢侈"。不忠的教会非但不责备，反而纵容这世界大人物的纵情奢华，并以自己的行为加以认可。将世界对那以忠信使之受苦的两位见证人之尸首的欢喜
（Re 11:10），
与它对那使通往天国的路变得平坦、并被发现为在维持臣民于卑屈暴政中很有用的工具的淫妇的哀悼，形成对比。人属肉体的心喜欢背道教会那样的宗教——它给良心以麻醉剂，同时容让罪人放纵自己的私欲。
为她哭泣——抄本A、B、C、叙利亚文译本、科普特译本和居普良省略"她"。
English original
9. lived deliciously--Greek, "luxuriated." The faithless Church, instead of reproving, connived at the self-indulgent luxury of the great men of this world, and sanctioned it by her own practice. Contrast the world's rejoicing over the dead bodies of the two witnesses
(Re 11:10)
who had tormented it by their faithfulness, with its lamentations over the harlot who had made the way to heaven smooth, and had been found a useful tool in keeping subjects in abject tyranny. Men's carnal mind relishes a religion like that of the apostate Church, which gives an opiate to conscience, while leaving the sinner license to indulge his lusts.
bewail her--A, B, C, Syriac, Coptic, and CYPRIAN omit "her."
10
Untitled
简体中文
10. 神的审判即使使属世之人恐惧，但这恐惧为时短暂，因为君王和大人们很快便依附那最后也最坏的兽——即公然的敌基督——他声称淫妇所曾僭妄声称的一切甚至更多，以此来补偿他们失去淫妇的损失。
坚固——罗马在希腊文中意为力量；尽管此词源令人存疑。
English original
10. God's judgments inspire fear even in the worldly, but it is of short duration, for the kings and great men soon attach themselves to the beast in its last and worst shape, as open Antichrist, claiming all that the harlot had claimed in blasphemous pretensions and more, and so making up to them for the loss of the harlot.
mighty--Rome in Greek means strength; though that derivation is doubtful.
11
Untitled
简体中文
11. 必——抄本B如此读。但抄本A和C读现在时，"哭泣悲哀"。
货物——希腊文作"船货"：由船只运送的货物：船载之货（比较
Re 18:17）。
罗马不是一座商业城市，按其位置也不太可能是。因此这货物必是属灵的，正如淫妇不是字面的，而是属灵的。她没有为商人利益之源的属肉体的奢华和享乐主义作见证反对之，反而效法之
（Re 18:7）。
她不在乎羊，只在乎羊毛。在她里面的挂名基督徒商人生活得好像这世界而非天堂才是真实的，并且在获取利益的方式上不择手段。比较注释，参
Zec 5:4-11，
关于同一主题——即对奥秘巴比伦之商人因不义之财而受的审判。此处所提的一切货物在罗马教礼仪中反复出现。
English original
11. shall--So. B. But A and C read the present, "weep and mourn."
merchandise--Greek, "cargo": wares carried in ships: ship-lading (compare
Re 18:17).
Rome was not a commercial city, and is not likely from her position to be so. The merchandise must therefore be spiritual, even as the harlot is not literal, but spiritual. She did not witness against carnal luxury and pleasure-seeking, the source of the merchants' gains, but conformed to them
(Re 18:7).
She cared not for the sheep, but for the wool. Professing Christian merchants in her lived as if this world not heaven, were the reality, and were unscrupulous as to the means of getting gain. Compare Notes, see on
Zec 5:4-11,
on the same subject, the judgment on mystical Babylon's merchants for unjust gain. All the merchandise here mentioned occurs repeatedly in the Roman Ceremonial.
12
Untitled
简体中文
12. （参
Re 17:4
的注释。）
宝石……珍珠——希腊文作"宝石……珍珠"。
细麻布——抄本A、B和C读希腊文作"bussinou"代替"bussou"，即"细麻布的制品"[阿福德]。埃及
（背道教会的预表，
Re 11:8）
以之闻名的制品。与"细麻布"
（Eze 16:10）
——神给以色列穿上的，以及给新约教会——新妇——穿上的
（Re 19:8）
（Ps 132:9）
——形成对比。
象牙——即罗马人的citrus：大概是cypressus thyoyides，或thuia articulata。"香橼木"[阿福德]。利比亚古利奈的一种香树，用于制香。
各等器皿——希腊文作"各器皿"，或"器具"。
English original
12. (See on
Re 17:4).
stones . . . pearls--Greek, "stone . . . pearl."
fine linen--A, B, and C read Greek, "bussinou" for "bussou," that is, "fine linen manufacture" [ALFORD]. The manufacture for which Egypt (the type of the apostate Church,
Re 11:8)
was famed. Contrast "the fine linen"
(Eze 16:10)
put on Israel, and on the New Testament Church
(Re 19:8),
the Bride, by God
(Ps 132:9).
thyine wood--the citrus of the Romans: probably the cypressus thyoyides, or the thuia articulata. "Citron wood" [ALFORD]. A sweet-smelling tree of Cyrene in Lybia, used for incense.
all manner vessels--Greek, "every vessel," or "furniture."
13
Untitled
简体中文
13. 桂皮——神定意用于更好的目的：它是圣膏油的成分，也是良人园中的一种植物
（So 4:14）；
却被淫妇滥用于卑贱之用
（Pr 7:17）。
香料——即焚香之香料。抄本A、C、武加大译本和叙利亚文译本加"和荳蔻"（一种由亚洲灌木制成的贵重头发膏油）。英文译本的读法由科普特译本和安德烈亚斯支持，但没有最古老的抄本支持。
膏油——希腊文作"膏油"。
乳香——与神所喜爱的真"香"
（Ps 141:2；Mal 1:11）
形成对比。
细面——即拉丁人的similago[阿福德]。
牲畜——负重的：牛。
奴仆——希腊文作"身体"。
人的灵魂——
（Eze 27:13。）
指奴仆。适用于属灵的淫妇——背道的基督教界，尤其罗马——她常常奴役人的身体和灵魂。虽然新约没有直接禁止奴隶制度——在当时的世界状况下这样行会引发奴隶暴动——但实际上如此处所示予以谴责。罗马教从为死后人的灵魂售卖弥撒，以及从教皇法院售给各国富商以零售牟利的赎罪券中，获得了其最大的收益[莫斯海姆，III，95, 96]。
English original
13. cinnamon--designed by God for better purposes: being an ingredient in the holy anointing oil, and a plant in the garden of the Beloved
(So 4:14);
but desecrated to vile uses by the adulteress
(Pr 7:17).
odours--of incense. A, C, Vulgate, and Syriac prefix "and amomium" (a precious hair ointment made from an Asiatic shrub). English Version reading is supported by Coptic and ANDREAS, but not oldest manuscripts.
ointments--Greek, "ointment."
frankincense--Contrast the true "incense" which God loves
(Ps 141:2; Mal 1:11).
fine flour--the similago of the Latins [ALFORD].
beasts--of burden: cattle.
slaves--Greek, "bodies."
souls of men--
(Eze 27:13).
Said of slaves. Appropriate to the spiritual harlot, apostate Christendom, especially Rome, which has so often enslaved both bodies and souls of men. Though the New Testament does not directly forbid slavery, which would, in the then state of the world, have incited a slave revolt, it virtually condemns it, as here. Popery has derived its greatest gains from the sale of masses for the souls of men after death, and of indulgences purchased from the Papal chancery by rich merchants in various countries, to be retailed at a profit [MOSHEIM, III, 95, 96].
14
Untitled
简体中文
14. 对巴比伦的直接呼语。
你所贪恋的果子——希腊文作"你灵魂贪恋（急切的渴求）的秋熟的果子"。
美物——希腊文作"肥"：在食物上"奢华"。
华美——"辉煌"、"明亮"，指衣着和陈设。
离去——无任何抄本支持。但抄本A、B、C、武加大译本、叙利亚文译本和科普特译本读作"灭亡了"。
你——抄本A、C、武加大译本和叙利亚文译本读作"他们（人）决不再找到它们了"。
English original
14. Direct address to Babylon.
the fruits that thy soul lusted after--Greek, "thy autumn-ripe fruits of the lust (eager desire) of the soul."
dainty--Greek, "fat": "sumptuous" in food.
goodly--"splendid," "bright," in dress and equipage.
departed--supported by none of our manuscripts. But A, B, C, Vulgate, Syriac, and Coptic read, "perished."
thou shalt--A, C, Vulgate, and Syriac read, "They (men) shall no more find them at all."
15
Untitled
简体中文
15. 这些物件——即所提到的物件，
Re 18:12, 13。
就是——"那"。
藉着她发了财的——希腊文作"从她那里得了财富"。
远远地站着，因怕……——（比较
Re 18:10。）
哀哭——希腊文作"哀恸"。
English original
15. of these things--of the things mentioned,
Re 18:12, 13.
which--"who."
made rich by--Greek, "derived riches from her."
stand afar off for the fear--(Compare
Re 18:10).
wailing--Greek, "mourning."
16
Untitled
简体中文
16. 并且——武加大译本和安得烈如此读。但抄本A、B和C省略。
穿戴——字面作"覆上金箔"。
宝石……珍珠——希腊文作"宝石……珍珠"。抄本B和安得烈读作"珍珠"（复数）。但抄本A和C作"珍珠"（单数）。
English original
16. And--so Vulgate and ANDREAS. But A, B, and C omit.
decked--literally, "glided."
stones . . . pearls--Greek, "stone . . . pearl." B and ANDREAS read "pearls." But A and C, "pearl."
17
Untitled
简体中文
17. 归于无有——希腊文作"成了荒场"。
船长——希腊文作"掌舵者"或"领航员"。
一切乘船——抄本A、C、武加大译本和叙利亚文译本读作"凡航行往一地之人"（抄本B作"……往那地"），即每一位旅客。船上常满载前往各圣所朝圣的香客，以至于在一个月内（主后1300年）罗马计有二十万朝圣者[陀比涅，《宗教改革史》]：这是教廷的收入来源，也是船长、商人、领航员等等的财源。然而，后者并不限于字面上的"船长"等等，而主要是在奥秘的意义上指一切在叛教基督教的属灵贸易中有分的人。
English original
17. is come to naught--Greek, "is desolated."
shipmaster--Greek, "steersman," or "pilot."
all the company in ships--A, C, Vulgate, and Syriac read, "Every one who saileth to a place" (B has ". . . to the place"), every voyager. Vessels were freighted with pilgrims to various shrines, so that in one month (A.D. 1300) two hundred thousand pilgrims were counted in Rome [D'AAUBIGNE, Histoire de la Reformation]: a source of gain, not only to the Papal see, but to shipmasters, merchants, pilots, &c. These latter, however, are not restricted to those literally "shipmasters," &c., but mainly refer, in the mystical sense, to all who share in the spiritual traffic of apostate Christendom.
18
Untitled
简体中文
18. 看见——希腊文作"horontes"。但抄本A、B、C和安得烈读作，希腊文作"blepontes"，"看着"。希腊文作"blepo"，是用眼睛、看：见的动作而不涉及所看之物。希腊文作"horao"则指被看或呈现于眼前之物[提特曼]。
烟气——抄本B、C如此读。但抄本A读作"地方"。
有何城能比——比较论到兽时所说的类似的话，
Re 13:4：
淫妇与兽如此相近。当与此赞美归于神——唯有他配得——相对比，那是他的仆人所归的
（Ex 15:11）。
马提阿尔论到罗马说："无物可与她相比"；雅典尼乌说："她是世界的缩影"。
English original
18. when they saw--Greek, "horontes." But A, B, C, and ANDREAS read, Greek, "blepontes," "looking at." Greek, "blepo," is to use the eyes, to look: the act of seeing without thought of the object seen. Greek, "horao," refers to the thing seen or presented to the eyes [TITTMANN].
smoke--so B, C. But A reads "place."
What city is like--Compare the similar beast as to the beast,
Re 13:4:
so closely do the harlot and beast approximate one another. Contrast the attribution of this praise to God, to whom alone it is due, by His servants
(Ex 15:11).
MARTIAL says of Rome, "Nothing is equal to her;" and ATHENÆUS, "She is the epitome of the world."
19
Untitled
简体中文
19. 哀哭——"哀恸"。
有船只——抄本A、B和C读作"有他们的船只"：字面作"那些船只"。
富足——她的宝贵财宝：以抽象代具体。
English original
19. wailing--"mourning."
that had ships--A, B, and C read, "that had their ships": literally, "the ships."
costliness--her costly treasures: abstract for concrete.
20
Untitled
简体中文
20. 圣使徒——抄本C如此读。但抄本A、B、武加大译本、叙利亚文译本、科普特译本和安得烈读作"你们圣徒和你们使徒"。
向她讨……的冤——希腊文作"在她身上审判了你们的审判"（字面作从她追讨）。"天上对淫妇倾覆的喜乐，比对那两只兽更大。因为一切罪中最可憎的，是那些认识神恩典之道却不行之人的罪。教会的世俗化是一切世俗化中最世俗的。因此，巴比伦在启示录中不仅有以色列的罪，也有异教的罪；约翰对淫妇的可憎之事和审判的论述，比兽的更长。'淫妇'一词描述了假教会的本质特征。她保持人的形状如妇人，不成为兽：她有敬虔的外貌，却背了敬虔的实意。她合法的主和丈夫——耶和华基督，以及他家的喜乐和丰盛，不再是他的一切，反而她追随世界可见而虚妄的事物——其形式千变万化。她淫乱最充分的形式，是在教会希望自身成为世俗权势之处——使用政治和外交，以肉身为臂膀，为圣洁的目的使用不圣洁的手段，以刀剑或金钱扩展其统治，以感官性的仪式主义迷人，成为世上显贵的'典礼小姐'，奉承君王或百姓，并如以色列一样，在危险威胁时寻求一个世界权势的帮助以敌挡另一个"[奥伯伦]。因此，审判从淫妇起首，正如在特权上神的家在先。
English original
20. holy apostles--So C reads. But A, B, Vulgate, Syriac, Coptic, and ANDREAS read, "Ye saints and ye apostles."
avenged you on her--Greek, "judged your judgment on (literally, exacting it from) her." "There is more joy in heaven at the harlot's downfall than at that of the two beasts. For the most heinous of all sin is the sin of those who know God's word of grace, and keep it not. The worldliness of the Church is the most worldly of all worldliness. Hence, Babylon, in Revelation, has not only Israel's sins, but also the sins of the heathen; and John dwells longer on the abominations and judgments of the harlot than on those of the beast. The term 'harlot' describes the false Church's essential character. She retains her human shape as the woman, does not become a beast: she has the form of godliness, but denies its power. Her rightful lord and husband, Jehovah-Christ, and the joys and goods of His house, are no longer her all in all, but she runs after the visible and vain things of the world, in its manifold forms. The fullest form of her whoredom is, where the Church wishes to be itself a worldly power, uses politics and diplomacy, makes flesh her arm, uses unholy means for holy ends, spreads her dominion by sword or money, fascinates men by sensual ritualism, becomes 'mistress of ceremonies' to the dignitaries of the world, flatters prince or people, and like Israel, seeks the help of one world power against the danger threatening from another" [AUBERLEN]. Judgment, therefore, begins with the harlot, as in privileges the house of God.
21
Untitled
简体中文
21. 一块——希腊文作"一"。
磨石——比较红海中埃及军兵的审判，
Ex 15:5, 10；Ne 9:11，
以及所预言的巴比伦——世界权势——的厄运，
Jer 51:63, 64。
猛烈——希腊文作"猛烈地"。本节表明这预言被视为仍待应验。
English original
21. a--Greek, "one."
millstone--Compare the judgment on the Egyptian hosts at the Red Sea,
Ex 15:5, 10; Ne 9:11,
and the foretold doom of Babylon, the world power,
Jer 51:63, 64.
with violence--Greek, "with impetus." This verse shows that this prophecy is regarded as still to be fulfilled.
22
Untitled
简体中文
22. 吹笛——吹笛者。"音乐家"、画家和雕塑家已亵渎了他们的艺术，为腐败基督教的感官性敬拜增添魅力。
手艺人——工匠。
English original
22. pipers--flute players. "Musicians," painters and sculptors, have desecrated their art to lend fascination to the sensuous worship of corrupt Christendom.
craftsman--artisan.
23
Untitled
简体中文
23. 何等蒙福的对比见于
Re 22:5，
论到神的城："不再用灯光（正如巴比伦将不再有灯光，但出于截然不同的原因），因为主神要把光赐给他们"。
灯光——当译自希腊文作"灯"。
新郎……新妇……在你那里再也——当与那天上的城——有新郎、新妇和蒙福的婚筵——相对比
（Re 19:7, 9; 21:2, 9；Isa 62:4, 5）。
-
你的客商原来是*——大多数最佳权威抄本如此读。但抄本A省略"客商"前的希腊文冠词，于是译作"……的达官贵人原是你的客商"。
-
邪术*——希腊文作"邪术"。
English original
23. What a blessed contrast is
Re 22:5,
respecting the city of God: "They need no candle (just as Babylon shall no more have the light of a candle, but for a widely different reason), for the Lord God giveth them light."
candle--Translate as Greek, "lamp."
bridegroom . . . bride . . . no more . . . in thee--Contrast the heavenly city, with its Bridegroom, Bride, and blessed marriage supper
(Re 19:7, 9; 21:2, 9; Isa 62:4, 5).
thy merchants were--So most of the best authorities read. But A omits the Greek article before "merchants," and then translates, "The great men of . . . were thy merchants."
sorceries--Greek, "sorcery."
24
Untitled
简体中文
24. 基督
（Mt 23:35）
将其应用于叛教的耶路撒冷，证明所论的不只是字面的罗马城和罗马教会（尽管她是叛教的首要代表），而是指旧约和新约中那不忠教会的全部；正如"妇人"
（Re 12:1）
是指全教会（旧约和新约）。论到字面的城，阿林古斯在本格尔中说，异教罗马是宰杀耶稣之羊的"总屠宰场"。弗雷德·赛勒在本格尔中计算，教廷的罗马在主后1540至1580年间，杀了超过九十万新教徒。关于淫妇倾覆的理由有三：（1）她客商的世俗伟大，这是由于在属灵之事上的不圣洁买卖。（2）她的邪术或障眼法，其中那服事兽在最后形态中的假先知将超过她；比较"行邪术的"
（Re 21:8; 22:15），
特别列在被定为火湖之刑的人中。（3）她对（旧约）"先知"和（新约）"圣徒"的逼迫。
English original
24. Applied by Christ
(Mt 23:35)
to apostate Jerusalem, which proves that not merely the literal city Rome, and the Church of Rome (though the chief representative of the apostasy), but the WHOLE of the faithless Church of both the Old and New Testament is meant by Babylon the harlot; just as the whole Church (Old and New Testament) is meant by "the woman"
(Re 12:1).
As to literal city, ARINGHUS in BENGEL says, Pagan Rome was the "general shambles" for slaying the sheep of Jesus. FRED. SEYLER in BENGEL calculates that papal Rome, between A.D. 1540 and 1580, slew more than nine hundred thousand Protestants. Three reasons for the harlot's downfall are given: (1) The worldly greatness of her merchants, which was due to unholy traffic in spiritual things. (2) Her sorceries, or juggling tricks, in which the false prophet that ministers to the beast in its last form shall exceed her; compare "sorcerers"
(Re 21:8; 22:15),
specially mentioned among those doomed to the lake of fire. (3) Her persecution of (Old Testament) "prophets" and (New Testament) "saints."
Re 18:1-24.
巴比伦的倾覆：神的民从其中被呼召出来：地上的君王与客商哀号，圣徒却因她的倾覆欢喜。
1. 又——武加大译本和安德烈如此。但抄本A、B、叙利亚文译本、科普特译本略去"又"字。
权柄——希腊文作"权柄"。
发光——"照亮"。
因为——希腊文作"因"。