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英文原文
We have here, I. An angel proclaiming the fall of Babylon, Re 18:1,2. II. Assigning the reasons of her fall, Re 18:3. III. Giving warning to all who belonged to God to come out of her (Re 18:4,5), and to assist in her destruction, Re 18:6-8. IV. The great lamentation made for her by those who had been large sharers in her sinful pleasures and profits, Re 18:9-19. V. The great joy that there would be among others at the sight of her irrecoverable ruin, Re 18:20-24, etc.
1-8
The Fall of Babylon (95 AD)
巴比伦的倾覆（公元95年）
¹ 此后，我看见另有一位有大权柄的天使从天降下，地就因他的荣耀发光。
² 他大声喊着说：巴比伦大城倾倒了，倾倒了，成了鬼魔的住处和各样污秽之灵的巢穴，并各样污秽可憎之雀鸟的巢穴。
³ 因为列国都被她邪淫大怒的酒倾倒了，地上的君王与她行淫，地上的客商因她奢华太过就发了财。
⁴ 我又听见从天上有声音说：我的民哪，你们要从那城出来，免得与她一同有罪，受她所受的灾殃。
⁵ 因她的罪恶滔天，她的不义神已经想起来了。
⁶ 她怎样待人，也要怎样待她，按她所行的加倍的报应她，用她调酒的杯加倍地调给她喝。
⁷ 她怎样荣耀自己，怎样奢华，也当叫她照样痛苦悲哀，因她心里说：我坐了皇后的位，并不是寡妇，决不至于悲哀。
⁸ 所以在一天之内，她的灾殃要一齐来到，就是死亡、悲哀、饥荒，她又要被火烧尽了，因为审判她的主神大有能力。
巴比伦的覆灭与毁灭，是在神的旨意中完全定规的事，对他的利益与荣耀关系如此重大，因此关于它的异象与预言才一再重复。1. 在此另有一位天使从天降下，带着极大的权能与荣光（启18:1）。他不仅自己有光，能辨识自己所传预言的真实，更能将这大事向世界宣告并照亮世界；他不仅有辨识之光，更有成就之事的权能。2. 这位天使宣告巴比伦的倾覆，仿佛已成之事；他以强壮的大声宣告，使众人都能听见这呼喊，并看见这位天使何等乐意作这信息的使者。这里似乎暗指对异教巴比伦倾覆的预言（赛21:9），那里的话也如这里一样重复：「倾倒了，倾倒了」。有人认为这里暗示双重的倾覆，先是背道，然后是毁灭；他们认为紧接其下的话有利于他们的见解：「她成了鬼魔的住处，和各样污秽之灵的巢穴，并各样污秽可憎之雀鸟的巢穴」（启18:2）。但这同样借用自赛21:9，似乎描述的并非她容纳偶像（偶像确可称为「鬼魔」）的罪，而是她的刑罚；因为不洁之灵和凶兆可憎之鸟常出没于倾塌的城邑或房屋，乃是一般的观念。3. 这毁灭的缘由在此宣告（启18:3）；因为神虽不必为他所行的交账，他却乐意如此行，尤其在那些最可畏、最可惊的护理作为上。巴比伦的罪恶极其重大；因为她不仅自己离弃了真神，设立偶像，更用极大的巧计与工夫引诱各种人陷入属灵的淫行，并以她的财富和奢华将他们牢笼在自己的势力之下。4. 凡仰望神蒙怜悯的人都得到清楚的警告，他们不仅当「从那城出来」，更当协助她的毁灭（启18:4-5）。在此请观察：（1）神甚至在巴比伦中也可能有他的子民，就是属于拣选之恩的人。（2）神的子民必被召出巴比伦，并且是有效恩召。（3）决意与恶人同享其罪的人，必与他们同受灾殃。（4）当一国之民的罪上达于天，神的忿怒必下达于地。（5）虽然私自报复是被禁止的，但神要他的子民在受召之时，在他之下推倒他和他们那些根深蒂固、势不两立的仇敌（启18:6）。（6）神必照罪人所行邪恶、骄傲、安逸的程度，按比例刑罚他们（启18:7）。（7）当毁灭忽然临到一民之时，这忽然本身就是他们苦难的一大加剧（启18:8）。
英文原文
The Fall of Babylon (95 AD)
¹ And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory.
² And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.
³ For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies.
⁴ And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.
⁵ For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.
⁶ Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double.
⁷ How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow.
⁸ Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her.
The downfall and destruction of Babylon form an event so fully determined in the counsels of God, and of such consequence to his interests and glory, that the visions and predictions concerning it are repeated. 1. Here is another angel sent from heaven, attended with great power and lustre, Re 18:1. He had not only light in himself, to discern the truth of his own prediction, but to inform and enlighten the world about that great event; and not only light to discern it, but power to accomplish it. 2. This angel publishes the fall of Babylon, as a thing already come to pass; and this he does with a mighty strong voice, that all might hear the cry, and might see how well this angel was pleased to be the messenger of such tidings. Here seems to be an allusion to the prediction of the fall of pagan Babylon (Isa 21:9), where the word is repeated as it is here: has fallen, has fallen. Some have thought a double fall is hereby intended, first her apostasy, and then her ruin; and they think the words immediately following favour their opinion; She has become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and the cage of every unclean and hateful bird, Re 18:2. But this is also borrowed from Isa 21:9, and seems to describe not so much her sin of entertaining idols (which are truly called devils) as her punishment, it being a common notion that unclean spirits, as well as ominous and hateful birds, used to haunt a city or house that lay in its ruins. 3. The reason of this ruin is declared (Re 18:3); for, though God is not obliged to give any account of his matters, yet he is pleased to do so, especially in those dispensations of providence that are most awful and tremendous. The wickedness of Babylon had been very great; for she had not only forsaken the true God herself, and set up idols, but had with great art and industry drawn all sorts of men into the spiritual adultery, and by her wealth and luxury had retained them in her interest. 4. Fair warning is given to all that expect mercy from God, that they should not only come out of her, but be assisting in her destruction, Re 18:4,5. Here observe, (1.) God may have a people even in Babylon, some who belong to the election of grace. (2.) God's people shall be called out of Babylon, and called effectually. (3.) Those that are resolved to partake with wicked men in their sins must receive of their plagues. (4.) When the sins of a people reach up to heaven, the wrath of God will reach down to the earth. (5.) Though private revenge is forbidden, yet God will have his people act under him, when called to it, in pulling down his and their inveterate and implacable enemies, Re 18:6. (6.) God will proportion the punishment of sinners to the measure of their wickedness, pride, and security, Re 18:7. (7.) When destruction comes on a people suddenly, the surprise is a great aggravation of their misery, Re 18:8.
9-24
The Fall of Babylon (95 AD)
巴比伦的倾覆（公元95年）
⁹ 地上的君王，素来与她行淫、一同奢华的，看见烧她的烟，就必为她哭泣哀号。 ¹⁰ 因怕她的痛苦，就远远地站着说：哀哉！哀哉！巴比伦大城，坚固的城啊，一时之间你的刑罚就来到了。 ¹¹ 地上的客商也都为她哭泣悲哀，因为没有人再买他们的货物了。 ¹² 这货物就是金、银、宝石、珍珠、细麻布、紫色料、绸子、朱红色料、各样香木、各样象牙的器皿、各样极宝贵的木头和铜、铁、汉白玉的器皿， ¹³ 并肉桂、荜茇、香料、香膏、乳香、酒、油、细面、麦子、牛、羊、车、马，和奴仆、人口。 ¹⁴ 巴比伦哪，你所贪爱的果子离开了你；你珍馐美味和华美的物件，也从你那里被夺去，你决不能再见了。 ¹⁵ 贩卖这些货物、借着她发财的客商，因怕她的痛苦，就远远地站着哭泣悲哀，说： ¹⁶ 哀哉！哀哉！这大城，素来穿着细麻衣、紫色料、朱红色料，又用金子、宝石、珍珠为装饰的城啊！ ¹⁷ 一时之间，这么大的富厚就归于无有。凡船主和坐船往各处去的，并众水手，连所有靠海为业的，都远远地站着， ¹⁸ 看见烧她的烟，就喊着说：有何城能比这大城呢？ ¹⁹ 他们又把尘土撒在头上，哭泣悲哀，喊着说：哀哉！哀哉！这大城啊！凡有船在海中的，都因她的珍宝成了富足。一时之间，她就成了荒场！ ²⁰ 天哪，众圣徒、众使徒、众先知啊，你们都要因她欢喜，因为神已经在她身上伸了你们的冤。 ²¹ 有一个大力的天使举起一块石头，好像大磨石，扔在海里，说：巴比伦大城也必这样猛力地被扔下去，决不能再见了。 ²² 弹琴、作乐、吹笛、吹号的声音，在你中间决不能再听见；各行手艺人在你中间决不能再遇见；推磨的声音在你中间决不能再听见； ²³ 灯火的光在你中间决不能再照耀；新郎和新妇的声音，在你中间决不能再听见。你的客商原来是地上的尊贵人；万国也被你的邪术迷惑了。 ²⁴ 先知和圣徒，并地上一切被杀之人的血，都在这城里看见了。
这里我们看到：
一、巴比伦的朋友为她的倾覆所作的哀伤的哀号；在此请留意：
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哀哭的是哪些人，就是那些被她的淫乱所蛊惑的人，那些曾与她共享她放纵之乐的人，那些因她的财富与贸易而获利的人——地上的君王和地上的客商：「地上的君王」，她容许他们对臣民任意专横、施行暴政，以此奉承他们陷入偶像崇拜，只要他们对她俯首听命；「客商」，就是那些向她贩卖赎罪券、赦罪、特许和升迁的人；这些人必哀哭，因为「他们借这手艺得了财富」。
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他们哀哭的方式如何。（1）他们远远站着，不敢就近她。连巴比伦的朋友在她倾覆之时也要与她保持距离。他们虽曾与她同享罪中之乐和罪恶的收益，却不愿意分担她的灾祸。（2）他们发出痛苦的哀号：「哀哉！哀哉！巴比伦大城，那坚固的城啊！」（3）他们哭泣，「把尘土撒在头上」（启18:19）。罪中之乐不过是暂时的，必以凄惨的忧愁告终。凡因教会仇敌的成功而欢喜的人，都必与他们同受倾覆；那些最放纵自己于骄傲与宴乐的人，最不能承受灾祸；他们的忧愁必如他们从前放纵宴乐一样过分。
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他们哀哭的缘由是什么，不是因罪，而是因刑罚。他们不是为自己陷入偶像崇拜、奢华与逼迫而哀哭，而是为自己的倾覆——为失去贸易、失去财富与权势而哀哭。敌基督的灵是属世的灵，他们的忧愁不过是属世的忧愁；他们不为如今已临到自己的神的忿怒而哀哭，而是为失去外在的安逸而哀哭。这里详列了这城的财富与货物的清单，这一切都忽然失去了（启18:12,13），且无可挽回地失去了（启18:14）：「你所贪爱的果子离开了你；你珍馐美味和华美的物件，也从你那里被夺去，你决不能再见了。」神的教会也许暂时跌倒，但她必再兴起；而巴比伦的倾覆却是彻底的覆灭，正如所多玛、蛾摩拉一样。敬虔的忧愁在患难中尚能支撑人，但纯粹的属世忧愁只会加增苦难。
二、关于巴比伦无可挽回的倾覆，在天上地上都有喜乐与凯旋的记述：当她的百姓正为她哀哭时，神的仆人却被召「因她欢喜」（启18:20）。在此请留意：1. 这喜乐何等普遍：天上与地上、天使与圣徒，都要一同参与；在这世上使神仆人喜乐的事，也是天上使天使喜乐的事。2. 这是何等公义合理；而这是因为：（1）巴比伦的倾覆是神报应性公义的作为。那时神正在为他百姓的事业伸冤。他们已将事业交托给那位「伸冤属他」的，如今为锡安之争讼的报应之年已经来到；他们虽不以任何人的苦难为乐，却有理由因神荣耀公义的显明而欢喜。（2）因为这是一场无可挽回的毁灭。这仇敌再不能骚扰他们了，而他们借着一个显著的记号确知此事（启18:21）：一位「天使」从天上「举起一块石头，好像大磨石，扔在海里，说：巴比伦也必这样猛力地被扔下去，决不能再见了」；那地方将不再有人居住，那里不再有工作可作，不再享受安逸，不再见亮光，只有全然的黑暗与荒凉，作为她大恶的报应——她先是「以邪术迷惑列国」，其次是杀害她所不能迷惑的人（启18:24）。这样可憎的罪，当受如此大的毁灭。
英文原文
The Fall of Babylon (95 AD)
⁹ And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning,
¹⁰ Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come.
¹¹ And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more:
¹² The merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thyine wood, and all manner vessels of ivory, and all manner vessels of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble,
¹³ And cinnamon, and odours, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men.
¹⁴ And the fruits that thy soul lusted after are departed from thee, and all things which were dainty and goodly are departed from thee, and thou shalt find them no more at all.
¹⁵ The merchants of these things, which were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing,
¹⁶ And saying, Alas, alas, that great city, that was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls!
¹⁷ For in one hour so great riches is come to nought. And every shipmaster, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off,
¹⁸ And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like unto this great city!
¹⁹ And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas, that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness! for in one hour is she made desolate.
²⁰ Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye holy apostles and prophets; for God hath avenged you on her.
²¹ And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all.
²² And the voice of harpers, and musicians, and of pipers, and trumpeters, shall be heard no more at all in thee; and no craftsman, of whatsoever craft he be, shall be found any more in thee; and the sound of a millstone shall be heard no more at all in thee;
²³ And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee: for thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived.
²⁴ And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth.
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 who had been sharers in her sensual pleasures, and those who had been gainers by her wealth and trade—the kings and the merchants of the earth: the kings of the earth, whom she had flattered into idolatry by allowing them to be arbitrary and tyrannical over their subjects, while they were obsequious to her; and the merchants, that is, those who trafficked with her for indulgences, pardons, dispensations, and preferments; these will mourn, because by this craft they got their wealth.
2. What was the manner of their mourning. (1.) They stood afar off, they durst not come nigh her. Even Babylon's friends will stand at a distance from her fall. Though they had been partakers with her in her sins, and in her sinful pleasures and profits, they were not willing to bear a share in her plagues. (2.) They made a grievous outcry: Alas! alas! that great city, Babylon, that mighty city! (3.) They wept, and cast dust upon their heads, Re 18:19. The pleasures of sin are but for a season, and they will end in dismal sorrow. All those who rejoice in the success of the church's enemies will share with them in their downfall; and those who have most indulged themselves in pride and pleasure are the least able to bear calamities; their sorrows will be as excessive as their pleasure and jollity were before.
3. What was the cause of their mourning; not their sin, but their punishment. They did not lament their fall into idolatry, and luxury, and persecution, but their fall into ruin—the loss of their traffic and of their wealth and power. The spirit of antichrist is a worldly spirit, and their sorrow is a mere worldly sorrow; they did not lament for the anger of God, that had now fallen upon them, but for the loss of their outward comfort. We have a large schedule and inventory of the wealth and merchandise of this city, all which was suddenly lost (Re 18:12,13), and lost irrecoverably (Re 18:14): All things which were dainty and goodly have departed from thee, and thou shalt find them no more at all. The church of God may fall for a time, but she shall rise again; but the fall of Babylon will be an utter overthrow, like that of Sodom and Gomorrah. Godly sorrow is some support under affliction, but mere worldly sorrow adds to the calamity.
II. An account of the joy and triumph there was both in heaven and earth at the irrecoverable fall of Babylon: while her own people were bewailing her, the servants of God were called to rejoice over her, Re 18:20. Here observe, 1. How universal this joy would be: heaven and earth, angels and saints, would join in it; that which is matter of rejoicing to the servants of God in this world is matter of rejoicing to the angels in heaven. 2. How just and reasonable; and that, (1.) Because the fall of Babylon was an act of God's vindictive justice. God was then avenging his people's cause. They had committed their cause to him to whom vengeance belongs, and now the year of recompence had come for the controversies of Zion; and, though they did not take pleasure in the miseries of any, yet they had reason to rejoice in the discoveries of the glorious justice of God. (2.) Because it was an irrecoverable ruin. This enemy should never molest them any more, and of this they were assured by a remarkable token (Re 18:21): An angel from heaven took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, "Thus shall Babylon be thrown down with violence, and be found no more at all; the place shall be no longer habitable by man, no work shall be done there, no comfort enjoyed, no light seen there, but utter darkness and desolation, as the reward of her great wickedness, first in deceiving the nations with her sorceries, and secondly in destroying and murdering those whom she could not deceive," Re 18:24. Such abominable sins deserved so great a ruin.
本章我们看见：一、一位天使宣告巴比伦的倾倒，启 18:1,2。二、指明她倾倒的缘由，启 18:3。三、警告一切属神的人从其中出来（启 18:4,5），并协助她的毁灭，启 18:6-8。四、那些曾大量参与她罪中之乐与利益的人为她所作的大哀哭，启 18:9-19。五、其他人看见她无可挽回的毁灭时将有的极大喜乐，启 18:20-24，等等。