Verse-by-Verse Bible Commentary

Adam Clarke Commentary

Her smoke rose up - There was, and shall be, a continual evidence of God's judgments executed on this great whore or idolatrous city; nor shall it ever be restored.

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible

And again they said, Alleluia - See the notes on Revelation 19:1. The event was so glorious and so important; the final destruction of the great enemy of the church was of so much moment in its bearing on the welfare of the world, as to call forth repeated expressions of praise.

And her smoke rose up forever and ever - See the notes on Revelation 14:11. This is an image of final ruin; the image being derived probably from the description in Genesis of the smoke that ascended from the cities of the plain, Genesis 19:28. On the joy expressed here in her destruction, compare the notes on Revelation 18:20.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

And again they said, Alleluia,.... Or a "second time" they said it; they began and ended their solemn worship and service with it; so some psalms begin and end with this word, translated in the Old Testament by the words "Praise ye the LORD", as in Psalm 106:1 &c. and the repeating of the word shows how hearty, arnest, and constant they were in the work of praise on this account:

and her smoke rose up for ever and ever; they repeated their hallelujah, or gave one spiritual "huzza" more at the burning of Rome, and this followed: or the words may be rendered, "for her smoke rose", &c. and so are a reason for the second "hallelujah": it looks as if Rome, like another Sodom and Gomorrah, would sink into a sulphurous burning lake, and continue so: respect is had to the everlasting punishment of antichrist and his followers in hell, and to the everlasting burnings that will follow Rome's temporal destruction, which was an example and symbol of the vengeance of eternal fire; see Revelation 14:11 so the Jews^F15Yalkut Simeoni, par. 2. fol. 48. 2. say of the burning of Rome, that its fire shall not be quenched for ever, and that "its smoke shall rise up for".

Geneva Study Bible

And again they said, ³ Alleluia. And her smoke rose up for ever and ever.

(3) The song of the Antiphony or response, containing an amplification of the praise of God, from the continuous and certain testimony of his divine judgment as was done at Sodom and Gomorrah, (Genesis 19:1-38).

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

again — Greek, “a second time.”

rose up — Greek, “goeth up.”

for ever and ever — Greek, “to the ages of the ages.”

Robertson's Word Pictures in the New Testament

A second time (δευτερον — deuteron). Adverbial accusative, a heavenly encore.

They say (ειρηκαν — eirēkan). Perfect active indicative of ειπον — eipon “They have said,” not an “aoristic” perfect for “they say,” but vivid dramatic perfect as in Revelation 5:7 and the form in αν — ̇an instead of ασιν — ̇asin as in Revelation 18:3; Revelation 21:6.

Goeth up (αναβαινει — anabainei). Linear present active indicative of αναβαινω — anabainō “keeps on going up,” “a last touch to the description already given (Revelation 18:21.) of Babylon‘s utter collapse” (Swete). The smoke of the city‘s ruin (Revelation 14:11; Revelation 18:8., and Revelation 18:18) instead of incense (Revelation 8:4). Cf. Isaiah 34:9.

Vincent's Word Studies

Her smoke, etc.

Compare Isaiah 34:10.

John Trapp Complete Commentary

3 And again they said, Alleluia. And her smoke rose up for ever and ever.

Ver. 3. And again they said, Alleluia] As unsatisfiable in performing so divine a duty. Some think that the Hebrew word is retained to import that after Rome is ruined, the Churches of the Gentiles shall by their incessant praises provoke the Jews to join with them, and concelebrate the mercy; like as the Spouse, by praising her Beloved, stirred up those dull daughters of Jerusalem to seek him with her, Song of Solomon 5:9-10 cf. Revelation 6:1.

And her smoke rose up] Like that of Sodom. Yet wretched Romanists will not be warned, whose judgment therefore is here revealed after that of the sitting of Rome.

Heinrich Meyer's Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament

Revelation 19:3. Further raising of the song of praise on the part of those who have sung in Revelation 19:1 sqq., a sort of antistrophe to the preceding strophe.(4031)

καὶ ὁ κάπνος, κ. τ. λ. The point in the ascription of praise, referring to Revelation 18:8 ( κατακαυθ., cf. Revelation 18:9; Revelation 18:18), may accordingly enter in the form of the connective ( καὶ), because the song, Revelation 19:3, is an amplification of the ascription of praise, Revelation 19:1 sq.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible

As the church proceeded in her praises, so God proceeded in his judgments upon the great whore, until she was ruined past recovery.

Alexander MacLaren's Expositions of Holy Scripture

дым ее восходил По причине пожара (ср. 17:16, 18; 18:8, 9, 18; 14:8-11).

Justin Edwards' Family Bible New Testament

For ever and ever; expressive of the perpetuity of her torment.

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible

And a second time they say, Hallelujah. And her smoke goeth up for ever and ever.

The smoke for ever and ever ... The final nature of the judgment depicted at the end of chapter 18 is indicated by this. "This refers to the final punishment of the wicked following the judgment."[6] "This Scripture also cries out against all forms of universalism which are so prevalent today."[7]

[6] John T. Hines, A Commentary on the Book of Revelation (Nashville: Gospel Advocate Company, 1962), p. 265.

[7] James D. Strauss, The Seer, the Saviour, and the Saved (Joplin, Missouri: College Press, 1972), p. 233.

Foy E. Wallace's Commentary on the Book of Revelation

It was not the general or usual form of worship and praise, but a special hallelujah for true and righteous retribution on the harlot woman--apostate Jerusalem--and her affiliates. The words of verse 3 decreed that this judgment was a pronouncement of final doom on Jerusalem. And her smoke rose up forever and ever. This was the declaration that the old Jerusalem would never be restored. It is the parallel of the Lord's declaration in Luke 21:24 : "And Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled"--which meant that Jerusalem was permanently trodden down; for the times of the Gentiles. and the fulness of the Gentiles were commensurate with the entire gospel dispensation. A comparison of the preposition until with such passages as Luke 16:16; Galatians 3:19; Galatians 4:2; Hebrews 9:10 will exemplify that until signified termination.

For further treatment of the times and fulness of the Gentiles in relation to Jerusalem, reference to GOD'S PROPHETIC WORD (pp. 152-155), is suggested.

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable

A second burst of praise from the same group glorified God for judging Babylon finally so its influences will never rise again. This encore heightens the praise in the first song. The divine judgments of Sodom and Gomorrah and Edom were previews of this judgment (cf. Genesis 19:28; Isaiah 34:10). [Note: Hughes, p197.] The smoke represents the effects of the fire that will destroy Babylon (cf. Revelation 17:16; Revelation 18:8-9; Revelation 18:18). It will stop rising when the fire dies out, but the destruction that it symbolizes will be permanent. The punishment of God"s enemies will be everlasting (cf. Revelation 19:20-21; Revelation 14:11; Daniel 12:2; Matthew 25:46).

Schaff's Popular Commentary on the New Testament

Revelation 19:3. And a second time they said, Hallelujah. The thought of a ‘second’ time has peculiar importance in the eyes of St. John (comp. John 4:54). It confirms with a singular degree of emphasis the idea with which it is connected.—And her smoke goeth up for ever and ever. It went up as the smoke of Sodom (Genesis 19:28). Before, in chap. Revelation 11:8, ‘the city’ that was spiritually ‘Sodom and Egypt’ was that where our Lord was crucified—Jerusalem. Here it is Babylon. The fate of the first city out of which God’s people were called turns out to have been a prophecy of the fate of the last. Thus does God fulfil His word, and ‘bind and blend in one the morning and the evening of His creation’ (Dr. Pusey). But it was more tolerable for Sodom than it will be for Babylon; for (though indeed St. Peter says Sodom ‘suffereth the vengeance of eternal fire,’ yet) its fires were quenched in the waters of the Dead Sea. This fire goes up ‘for ever and ever’ (comp. Isaiah 66:24).

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

said = have said Notice Figure of speech Epanadiplosis. App-6.

rose = goeth.

for, &c. See Revelation 1:6 and App-151. a.

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Unabridged

And again they said, Alleluia. And her smoke rose up for ever and ever.

Again - `a second time.'

Rose up - `goeth up.'

Forever and ever - `to the ages of the ages.'

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

And again they said, Alleluia. And her smoke rose up for ever and ever.

Alleluia

1

And her

14:11; 18:9,18; Genesis 19:28; Isaiah 34:10; Jude 1:7

Reciprocal: Deuteronomy 13:15 - destroying it utterly;  Joshua 8:20 - the smoke;  Judges 5:31 - So let;  Judges 20:40 - a pillar;  Psalm 104:32 - he toucheth;  Psalm 105:45 - Praise ye the Lord;  Jeremiah 20:12 - let me;  Ezekiel 35:6 - I will;  Revelation 18:8 - and she

E.M. Zerr's Commentary on Selected Books of the New Testament

Her smoke arose up for ever and ever. "Where there is smoke there is fire." If the smoke ascends for ever the fire will be of the same continuance. Of course this is first applied figuratively to Babylon, meaning her downfall is to be permanent. It is next applied to the individuals who were leaders and supporters of the corrupt beast, who are destined to go into perdition where the fire is endless.

Hanserd Knollys' Commentary on Revelation

Revelation 19:3

Revelation 19:3 And again they said, Alleluia. And her smoke rose up for ever and ever.

And again { Revelation 19:3} they said Alleluia.

Praise ye the Lord, { Psalm 68:4}

And her smoke rose up forever and ever,

{ Revelation 14:9-11; Revelation 18:8-10}

Ernst Hengstenberg on John, Revelation, Ecclesiastes, Ezekiel & Psalms

Revelation 19:3. And they spake a second time, Hallelujah, and her smoke goes up for ever. That is repeated, which was designed to be made emphatic and strong; comp. Psalms 62:11, "God has spoken one word, and there are two, that I have heard," Job 33:14, "Once God speaks, and twice, though it is not thought upon." Here the repetition points to the greatness of the fact, which is not attended merely with a momentary result; so that it goes hand in hand with the addition, "her smoke goes up for ever and ever." Similar is Exodus 15:21, where, after the overthrow of Pharaoh with his host, the oldest type of the overthrow of Rome, Miriam utters a second time with the chorus of women, what Moses had said the first time with the men, "Sing to the Lord, for the sea;" and thus the fact becomes stamped, as it were, with the seal of completion.

The and joins to that, which in Revelation 19:1-2 follows after the Hallelujah, and which is repeated here in thought, though not in words. We are not to suppose, that the heavenly voices only utter the Hallelujah the second time; and that the words, "and her smoke," etc., are added by the prophet. For he describes only what he hears and sees, and restrains himself from introducing any such intermixture of his own; which would be the more unsuitable here, as the heavenly song of praise is only concluded in Revelation 19:4.

In Isaiah 34:9-10, it is said of Edom, the type of the ungodly heathen world, "Her land shall be burning pitch, day and night it shall not be extinguished, its smoke shall go up for ever and ever." This fundamental passage shews, that here ch. Revelation 18:9; Revelation 18:18 is to be compared, and not ch. Revelation 14:11, where everlasting fire is used as an image of the torments of hell.

Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

3.Again—A new outburst of praise after a pause.

Rose up’ ever—”The original imagery,” says Stuart, “is taken from the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. As they had already become a perpetual desolation, so should spiritual Babylon be.” We may note that the past tense, rose, makes it seem as if the for ever and ever had passed. The real meaning seems to be, that the smoke rose up with a for ever and ever, that is, a fixed perpetuity to it.