19 And they shall cast dust on their heads, and cry, weeping, and wailing, and say, Alas, alas that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships on the sea by her coastlines: for in one hour she is made desolate.

20 [a]O heaven, rejoice of her, and ye holy Apostles and Prophets: for God hath punished her, to be revenged on her for your sakes.

21 [b]Then a mighty Angel took up a stone, like a great millstone, (A)and cast it into the sea, saying, With such violence shall that great city Babylon be cast and shall be found no more.

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Footnotes

  1. Revelation 18:20 The other consequent unto the other ruin of Babylon, is the exultation or rejoicing of the godly in heaven and in earth, as was noted, verse 9.
  2. Revelation 18:21 The third prediction, as I said verse 1, standing of a sign, and the interpretation thereof: the interpretation thereof is in 2 sorts, first by a simple propounding of the thing itself, in this verse, and then by declaration of the events in the verses following.

19 They will throw dust on their heads,(A) and with weeping and mourning(B) cry out:

“‘Woe! Woe to you, great city,(C)
    where all who had ships on the sea
    became rich through her wealth!
In one hour she has been brought to ruin!’(D)

20 “Rejoice over her, you heavens!(E)
    Rejoice, you people of God!
    Rejoice, apostles and prophets!
For God has judged her
    with the judgment she imposed on you.”(F)

The Finality of Babylon’s Doom

21 Then a mighty angel(G) picked up a boulder the size of a large millstone and threw it into the sea,(H) and said:

“With such violence
    the great city(I) of Babylon will be thrown down,
    never to be found again.

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