Revelation 18:7Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

"And I shall not see mourning." For just as it belongs to those who live at ease and in glory, and have forgotten the fear of God, to say, "I shall never be moved" (Ps 29:7), so this city also speaks of itself.

In Isaiah it is said to her: "Come down and sit in the dust, virgin daughter of Babylon. Sit on the ground, daughter of the Chaldeans, for there is no throne. You shall no longer be called tender and luxurious" (Isa 47:1).

And a little later: "Sit silent and go into darkness, for you shall no longer be called mistress of kingdoms" (Isa 47:5).

And again: "You said, I shall be mistress forever, but you did not set this in your mind, nor did you consider what would come afterward. But now hear this, you delicate one, who dwell securely, who say in your heart: I am, and there is none like me.

I shall not sit as a widow, and I shall not know the loss of children. But suddenly, in one day, both these things shall come upon you, loss of children and widowhood" (Isa 47:7-9).

Who does not understand that these things, brought together, form entirely one and the same prophecy, and proclaim one universal event?

It is said: "Render to her double according to her sins." Yet through the all-wise Moses the Lord also commanded us: "Do not take vengeance twice for the same thing" (Nah 1:9). How, then, will He repay twice?

Twice does not signify a double quantity. Rather, because God is compassionate and good, and punishes far less than is deserved, He considers that He has repaid twice even when He repays only a part.

And not only twice, but sevenfold. Knowing this, the prophet said: "Return sevenfold into the bosom of our neighbors the reproach with which they reproached Thee, O Lord" (Ps 78:12). In supplication he begged God for the deserved sevenfold punishment of the enemies.

All these future events are connected with the second coming. Then, after the examination of the last judgment, the society of the impious will be cast out and will receive its just reward. Those who sinned in time will be punished in eternity.

This is what the words mean: "Render to her double and prepare for her double." Everyone who enjoyed passing pleasures will undergo eternal torments.

In the psalm the Lord foretells that He will deliver His own from this usury: "From usury and unrighteousness He will redeem their souls" (Ps 71:14).

Moreover, it is said that they will be burned by eternal fire and tormented by hunger. This will happen when those who now hunger and thirst for righteousness receive incorruptible wealth.

The angel prays that she who enjoyed temporal joys be handed over to eternal torments, since she says in her heart, "I sit as queen; I am no widow," and so forth. Enjoying the luxury of this age, she did not wish to do anything to escape future punishment. Therefore she will soon be punished by both spiritual and bodily sufferings. On the other hand, the citizens of the heavenly homeland set Jerusalem above their own joy. They do not wish to sing the Lord's song in a strange land, that is, to experience in the present age the joy that belongs to the age to come (cf. Ps 136:4, 6).

Having called all true Christians, all His humble and faithful servants, to separate from such people, God commands that the latter be doubly punished for their hardhearted deeds.

These servants had meekly endured many different sorrows and constant oppression from powerful men who were at the same time unbelieving, fleshly, and sensual in that corrupt city.

By double or twofold punishment, St Andrew here understands that great sinners and transgressors are subject to God's punishment both in this life and in the future life.

He also understands that this punishment will concern both soul and body. Not only sinful deeds, but also sinful thoughts will be subject to punishment, as the Savior also said (cf. Mt 12:36).

"I shall not see sorrow." Only people who have completely lost the fear of God can speak this way. They have reached the final degree of corruption and self-deception, in which Babylon, the great harlot, also found herself.