REVELATION OF ST. JOHN THE DIVINE - Chapter 18 - Verse 23

Verse 23. And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee. Another image of desolation, as if every light were put out, and where were total darkness;

And the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee. The merry and cheerful voice of the marriage procession in the streets, (See Barnes "Mt 25:1-7, seq.,) or the cheerful, glad voice of the newly-married couple in their own dwelling, (See Barnes "Joh 3:29".

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For thy merchants were the great men of the earth. Those who dealt with thee were the rich, and among them were even nobles and princes; and now that they trade with thee no more, there is occasion for lamentation and sorrow. The contrast is great between the time when distinguished foreigners crowded thy marts, and now, when none of any kind come to traffic with thee. The origin of this representation is probably the description of Tyre in Eze 27:1.

For by thy sorceries were all nations deceived. This is stated as a reason for the ruin that had come upon her. It is a common representation of Papal Rome that she has deceived or deluded the nations Of the earth, (see Barnes "Re 13:14") and no representation ever made accords more with facts as they have occurred. The word sorceries here refers to the various arts—the tricks, impostures, and false pretences, by which this has been done. See Barnes on "Re 9:21".

{c} "bridegroom" Jer 7:34; 16:9; 33:11

{d} "merchants" Isa 23:8 {e} "sorceries" 2 Ki 9:22; Na 3:4