Revelation of John 16:17-21
17. angel—so ANDREAS. But A, B, Vulgate, and Syriac omit it.
into—so ANDREAS (Greek, "eis"). But A and B, "upon" (Greek, "epi"). great—so B, Vulgate, Syriac, Coptic, and ANDREAS. But A omits. of heaven—so B and ANDREAS But A, Vulgate, Syriac, and Coptic omit. It is done—"It is come to pass." God's voice as to the final consummation, as Jesus' voice on the cross when the work of expiation was completed, "It is finished."18. voice . . . thunders . . . lightnings—A has the order, "lightnings . . . voices . . . thunders." This is the same close as that of the seven seals and the seven thunders; but with the difference that they do not merely form the conclusion, but introduce the consequence, of the last vial, namely, the utter destruction of Babylon and then of the Antichristian armies.
earthquake—which is often preceded by a lurid state of air, such as would result from the vial poured upon it. men were—so B, Vulgate, Syriac, and ANDREAS. But A and Coptic read, "A man was." so mighty—Greek, "such."19. the great city—the capital and seat of the apostate Church, spiritual Babylon (of which Rome is the representative, if one literal city be meant). The city in Re 11:8 (see on Re 11:8), is probably distinct, namely, Jerusalem under Antichrist (the beast, who is distinct from the harlot or apostate Church). In Re 11:13 only a tenth of Jerusalem falls whereas here the city (Babylon) "became (Greek) into three parts" by the earthquake.
cities of the nations—other great cities in league with spiritual Babylon. great . . . came in remembrance—Greek, "Babylon the great was remembered" (Re 18:5). It is now that the last call to escape from Babylon is given to God's people in her (Re 18:4). fierceness—the boiling over outburst of His wrath (Greek, "thumou orgees"), compare Note, see on Re 14:10.20. Plainly parallel to Re 6:14-17, and by anticipation descriptive of the last judgment.
the mountains—rather as Greek, "there were found no mountains."21. fell—Greek, "descends."
upon men—Greek, "the men." and men blasphemed God—not those struck who died, but the rest. Unlike the result in the case of Jerusalem (Re 11:13), where "the remnant . . . affrighted . . . gave glory to the God of heaven." was—Greek, "is."