This is the angel that poured forth the fifth vial upon the seat or throne of the beast, (Rev. 16:10). The school men tell us, there are three degrees of the holy angels. The first hierarchy are seraphims, cherubims, and thrones; the second hath dominions, virtues, and powers; the third hath principalities, arch angels and angels. But certainly there are orders and degrees among the holy angels, for the Holy Scripture mentioneth arch angels and angels, (1 Thess. 4:16 and Jude 9 and Ezek. 10:1–8). Also cherubims and seraphims, (Isa. 6:2–6). Likewise principalities, thrones, and dominions, (Col. 1:16; Eph. 1:21; and 3:10) so that there are degrees of angels. This angel, as he is great in power, so he excels in glory. [The earth was lightned with his glory,] who is here said to preach the everlasting gospel, (chapter 14 6, 7).

By crying [mightily with a loud voice,] we may understand a most clear and open declaration of the utter ruin, and final destruction of Mystical Babylon, Rome papal; [saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen.] This declaration of Rome’s destruction, is borrowed from Isaiah 13:19–22 and 34:13–15, (Jer. 51:37 and Rev. 18:21). Rome material and mystical, shall be utterly ruined, papists and popery shall be destroyed root and branch. [And is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.] As it was with old Babylon, (Isa. 13:19–22) And Babylon the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the Chaldee’s excellency, shall be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrha. It shall never be inhabited, neither shall it be dwelt in from generation to generation: neither shall the Arabian pitch tent there, neither shall the shepherds make their fold there. But wild beasts, of the desert shall lie there, and their houses shall be full of doleful creatures, and owls shall dwell there, and satyrs shall dance there. And the wild beasts of the islands shall try in their desolate houses, and dragons in their pleasant palaces: and her time is near to come, and her days shall not be prolonged. So it shall be with mystery Babylon, Rome papal, burnt and destroyed. Their monasteries, abbies, priories, nunneries, and all their religious places, shall be made utterly desolate, and haunted with devils, (as Mark 5:2–5 and Matthew 8:28).

All nations of the Roman papal dominion, [and all the kings of the earth,] who have given their power, strength, and kingdom, to the beast of the seventh head, the eighth king, the Pope of Rome, the Roman Church and clergy, her merchants that trade in the papal see of Rome, her prelates, and priests, who sell pardons, indulgences, dispensations; also slaves and souls of men, (as verse 11, 12, 13). Omnia sunt Rome venalia.

This other [voice from heaven] is the voice of God, (as Jer. 50:8 and 51:6–9). [Come out of her my people.] They are God’s people either by election or vocation, whom God commands to come out of mystical Babylon, as (2 Cor. 6:17–18).

[That ye be not partakers of her sins;] viz. of her whoredoms, thefts, sorceries and murders, (Rev. 9:21). [And that ye receive not of her plagues,] viz. the vials of the last plagues, (Rev. 15:1 and 14:9–11).

[For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities;] that is, her sins of spiritual fornications, blasphemies, and bloody massacrees and persecutions. See Revelation 16:5–17 and 16:17 see the exposition.

This reward is Gods righteous retaliation, (2 Thess. 1:5–6) and the answer of Sion’s Prayers, (Jer. 51:35–49).

[How much she hath glorified her self, she saith, I sit a Queen.] She is Queen Regent, see Revelation 17:15–18. The Queen Mother, see Revelation 17:5 that great old scarlet whore, the Church of Rome; as old Babylon said, (Isa. 47:1–9) etc.

The remainder of this chapter is literal, and needs no exposition; it is so plain, that any intelligible person may run and read it. (Ezek. 27:29–32) And all that handle the Oar, the mariners, and all the pilots of the sea, shall come down from their ships, they shall stand upon the land. — And in their wailing they shall take up a lamentation for thee, and lament over thee, saying, What city is like Tyrus, like the destroyed in the midst of the sea. (Isa. 34:8–10) For it is the day of the Lords vengeance, and the year of recompences for the controversies of Zion. And the streams thereof shall be turned into pitch, and the dust thereof into brimstone, and the land thereof shall become burning pitch. It shall not be quenched night nor day, the smoke thereof shall go up for ever: from generation to generation it shall lie waste, none shall pass through it for ever and ever. (Ps. 58:11) So that a man shall say, verily there is a reward for the righteous: verily he is a God that judgeth in the earth. (Jer. 51:47–64) Therefore behold, the days come, that I will do judgment upon the graven images of Babylon, and her whole land shall be confounded, and all her slain shall fall in the midst of her. Then the heaven, and the earth, and all that is therein, shall sing for Babylon: for the spoilers shall come unto her from the north, saith the Lord. As Babylon hath caused the slain of Israel to fall: so at Babylon shall fall the slain of all the earth. — And it shall be when thous hast made an end of reading this book, that thou shalt bind a stone to it, and cast it into the midst of Euphrates: And thou shalt say, Thus shall Babylon sink, and shall not rise from the evil that I will bring upon her: and they shall be weary. Thus far are the words of Jeremiah. (Rev. 18:24) And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth. God reveals and revengeth her blood guiltiness, and calls all his saints in heaven and earth to rejoice, (v. 20).