Commentaries:
Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown
drunk— Revelation 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 (Revelation 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 I Timothy 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.
Other Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown entries containing Revelation 18:3:
Isaiah 23:15
Nahum 3:4
Revelation 17:2
Revelation 17:5
Revelation 18:6
Revelation 18:7
Revelation 18:8
DISCLAIMER: Church of the Great God (CGG) provides these resources to aid the individual in studying the Bible. However, it is up to the individual to "prove all things, and hold fast to that which is good" (I Thessalonians 5:21). The content of these resources does not necessarily reflect the views of CGG. They are provided for information purposes only.
