Matthew Poole and continuators on Revelation 14:8

8 And there followed another angel, saying , Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city , because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication t.

The Apostle is shewn, that other Messengers of God should come forth, during the Reign of Antichrist, that should declare his ruine as certainly as if it were already effected.

These words are taken from Isaiah 21.9. Babylon is fallen, Babylon is fallen, and all the graven Images of her Gods, he hath broken unto the ground. So Ier. 51.8. Babylon is suddenly fallen and destroyed. There is no doubt, but both the Prophets spake of that Babylon into which the Iews were carried captive; but that Babylon was typical of another Babylon, called here the great City, and great Babylon, ch. 16.19. & 17.5. & 18.10, 22. and the Mother of Harlots, ch. 17.5. There neither is, nor ever was any City in the World, to whom these things could agree, but to Rome, rightly enough called the Mother of Harlots, and the Abominations of the Earth, chap. 17.5. both in respect of carnal Filthiness there tolerated to make the Bishop of Rome a Revenue, and spiritual Whoredom, which is Idolatry: called also Sodom and Egypt, ch. 11.8. the former of which was famous for beastly Lusts, the latter for Idolatry, and Oppression of God's Israel. The [illegible: 1 word] of old Babylon is denounced by the Prophet, Isa. 21.9. because of her Idolatry in Image-worship, for which the new Babylon is every whit as famous. The word translated▪ Wrath (tho it oft so signifies) yet should rather be here [illegible: 1 word], Poison, as we translate it, Deut. 32.33. Iob 20.16. The LXX in those Texts use the same word that is here used, [non-Latin text not transcribed]; so the Sense is [with the poisonous Wine of her Idolatry] intimating to us the venemous Condition of Romish Superstitions and Idolatries, to intice ignorant People to be in love with them, as [illegible: 1 letter]arlots use with their Philters, or poisoned Cups, to make Men in love with them. If we better approve of our Translation of the term Wrath, The Wine of the Wrath of her Fornication, signifieth her Fornication which brings Wrath upon them that join with her in it.

Marginal references: Chap. 18.2.