THEOSISAndrew of Caesarea
John draws attention to the sufferings of this Babylon. By the lament over it he indicates the greatness of the calamities and misfortunes with which the city will be punished, though it formerly boasted in royal dignity.
It is quite possible that, figuratively, the sea means the present life, since it is subject to constant disturbances. The merchants are those who swim, like fish, in the turmoil of life.
But it is also possible that the city which suffered in this way, being near the sensible sea and receiving everything from those sailing upon it, will cause them lamentation by its destruction.
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The merchants of the universal Babylon, that is, of confusion, must also suffer at the end of the visible world. They will weep inconsolably over the pleasures of the present life, when they are forcibly removed from them and reproached by conscience for their deeds.
The fall of Babylon will happen as swiftly as a millstone sinks into the sea. It will be so sudden that no trace will remain after it.
This is indicated by the failure and disappearance of those who play harps, pipes, and the rest.
The reason given for this is that by its sweet singing and poisonous sorcery it will deceive all nations. It was also the cause of the blood of the prophets and other saints.
By all this, perhaps, the impious Persian Babylon is meant. For at different times, even to the present, it has received the blood of many saints and has constantly delighted in sorceries and deceptions.
Therefore let the object of our desire and prayer be this: that for its pride against Christ and His servants, it may receive the recompense already foretold.
Yet this reasoning seems in some way opposed by what the ancient teachers of the Church said. They referred these prophecies to Roman Babylon.
For the fourth beast, the Roman kingdom, was seen to have ten horns. From it one horn grew up, uprooted three, and subjected the rest to itself.
It will come as a Roman king, under the appearance of ordering, renewing, and strengthening their rule. In reality, it will bring about their complete devastation.
Therefore he also will not err from what is fitting who understands Babylon, as was said earlier, as the kingdom ruling from the beginning until now, as though in one common body.
It has truly shed the blood of apostles, prophets, and martyrs. For, as is said, there is one company, one army, and one city, though those composing each of them change.
So too the kingdom is one, even though it is divided and distributed among many cities and places.