Revelation 16:19Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

We think that this city, great not by the size and number of its buildings but most ancient and great in piety, is Jerusalem. It was magnified above the cities of the Gentiles and distinguished from them by the sufferings of Christ.

Its division into three parts indicates the Christians, Jews, and Samaritans living there. Or it signifies the division of the inhabitants into steadfast believers, those who have defiled their baptism, and Jews who wholly disobeyed the preaching.

It also signifies the unrestrained and insolent fulfillment of the lustful desires of the latter, and their overthrow from their place.

Even now, out of fear of pious kings, Jews and Samaritans pretend to belong to us. They do not dare openly turn to their heresy, and they conceal their convictions.

This great city, taken as a whole, is understood by all men as being under heaven and abiding in three parts, since the Church has been divided. The Gentiles form one part, all heretics and supposed Catholics another, and the Catholic Church the third.

“The great city” is said of Jerusalem. Clearly, by this John distinguishes it from the cities of the Gentiles. For it is customary in divine Scripture to call the other peoples, in contrast to Israel, Gentiles.

He calls it great as a city known to all. All the other cities fell. For when the earth is changed and becomes new, how can cities stand upon it that have been defiled by the dwelling of sinners in them?

“And great Babylon was remembered before God, to give her the cup of the wine of the fury of His wrath.” Above it was said: “And another angel followed, saying: Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great city” (Rev 14:8).

In this place he leads us to think of another Babylon, not that one, and to place another meaning in the name.

The city, great in the number of its population and boastful in the arrogance born of immoderate pretensions, was divided into three parts.

One part went to the Gentiles, another to heretics and Jews, and the third, belonging to false brethren, was rejected.

These are those who say that they know God, but deny Him by their works, being abominable, disobedient, and unfit for any good work (Tit 1:16).

Then follows: “and the cities of the Gentiles fell,” that is, all the strength and self-confidence of the Gentiles.

“And great Babylon was remembered before God.” This means that the whole multitude of the condemned was thrown into confusion.

“To give her the cup of the wine of the fury of His wrath.” By this is described the recompense of deserved punishment to the sinner.

Men instructed in so manifest a way come not to repentance, but to blasphemy. This shows the hardness of sinners' hearts, whose end is described in the following chapter.