Revelation 16:19

The great city. That is, mystical Babylon (see on chs. 17:5, 18; 18:10).

Divided into three parts. Mystical Babylon of the last days is composed of the papacy, apostate Protestantism, and modern spiritism (see on vs. 13, 14). At the voice of God (chs. 16:17; 17:17) this threefold union of apostate religious organizations loses its cohesion, unity, and power to act. Compare Hab. 3:3–16.

Cities of the nations. Continuing the figure of an earthquake shattering a literal city, John now refers to the political organizations of earth—represented in vs. 13, 14 as “the kings of the earth”—by a similar figure. For the appropriateness of a “city” to represent the apostate religious organizations of earth, and “cities” their political allies, see on chs. 11:8; 17:18.

Fell. The political forces of earth also lose the state of unity of purpose to which they were gathered under the sixth plague (see on vs. 14, 16; ch. 17:13, 17). There is a terrible awakening among them as God’s voice delivers His waiting people from their foes. Now, the erstwhile components of the universal religio-political combine of ch. 16: 13, 14 begin to fight among themselves, and the “ten kings” of ch. 17:12–16 take revenge upon mystical Babylon (see on ch. 17:17). Filled with fury, the hosts of earth turn upon their leaders and upon one another the weapons with which they had purposed to slay the saints. There is strife and bloodshed everywhere (see on ch. 14:20).

When Christ appears, the clash of arms and the tumult of earthly battle are stilled as the armies of heaven descend. “In the mad strife of their own fierce passions, and by the awful outpouring of God’s unmingled wrath, fall the inhabitants of the earth,—priests, rulers, and people, rich and poor, high and low”. For a more complete account of this battle see on chs. 17:14; 19:11–21. Compare the remarkably similar descriptions in Joshua 10:7–14; Judges 7:19–23; 1 Sam. 14:19, 20; 2 Chron. 20:22–24; Isa. 19:2; 34:8–10; 51:21–23; 63:1–6 Jer. 25:12–15, 29–38; Eze. 38:14–23; Haggai 2:22; Zech. 14:13.

Great Babylon. See on chs. 14:8; 17:1, 5.

Came in remembrance. See on ch. 18:5. This is a common Biblical expression denoting the arrival of the hour when divine judgment is to be meted out (Ps. 109:14; Eze. 21:23, 24; cf. Jer. 31:34).

To give unto her. Compare the words of the prophets concerning the literal city of Babylon (Isa. 51:17, 22; Jer. 25:15, 16).

The cup. A common Biblical expression denoting suffering and judgments meted out (see Ps. 11:6; 75:8; Isa. 51:17, 22, 23; Jer. 25:15–17, 28; 49:12; Matt. 26:39). For the nature of the cup now given mystical Babylon to drink see on Rev. 17:16; 18:5–8; cf. on ch. 14:10.

Wine. See on ch. 14:10; cf. ch. 17:2.

Fierceness. Or, “fury” (see on v. 1).

His wrath. See on chs. 14:10; 16:1.