18:15 販賣這些貨物、藉著她發了財的客商，因怕她的痛苦，就遠遠地站著哭泣悲哀，說：
18:16 哀哉！哀哉！這大城啊，素常穿著細麻、紫色、朱紅色的衣服，又用金子、寶石，和珍珠為妝飾。
18:17 一時之間，這麼大的富厚就歸於無有了。凡船主和坐船往各處去的，並眾水手，連所有靠海為業的，都遠遠地站著，
18:18 看見燒她的煙，就喊著說：「有何城能比這大城呢？」
18:19 他們又把塵土撒在頭上，哭泣悲哀，喊著說：哀哉！哀哉！這大城啊。凡有船在海中的，都因她的珍寶成了富足！她在一時之間就成了荒場！
18:20 天哪，眾聖徒、眾使徒、眾先知啊，你們都要因她歡喜，因為上帝已經在她身上伸了你們的冤。
The merchants of these wares, who gained
wealth from her, will stand far off, in fear of her torment, weeping and
mourning aloud,
"Alas, alas, for the great city
that
was clothed in fine linen,
in purple and scarlet,
adorned with gold,
with jewels, and with pearls!
For in a single hour all this wealth has
been laid waste."
And all shipmasters and seafaring men,
sailors and all whose trade is on the sea, stood far off and cried out as they
saw the smoke of her burning,
"What city was like the great city?"
And they threw dust on their heads as they
wept and mourned, crying out,
"Alas, alas, for the great city
where all who had ships at sea
grew rich by her wealth!
For in a single hour she has been laid
waste.
Rejoice over her, O heaven,
and you saints and apostles and prophets,
for God has given judgment for you against
her!"
**********
我們在此看見上帝行事時，是非常有魄力的！讓看見的人說：「一時之間，這麼大的富厚就歸於無有了。」「哀哉！哀哉！這大城啊。凡有船在海中的，都因她的珍寶成了富足！她在一時之間就成了荒場！」
許多時候，我們都看表面的狀況，沒有看見隱藏未顯現的事，尤其是上帝做事，是人看不見的，而且使忽然間發生，讓人措手不及！但是對屬主的人而言不是如此。因為，我們相信上帝的應許，是憑著信心，不是憑著眼見。尤其是上帝的審判，好像渺茫未明，其實無時無刻在進行之中！
讓我們憑著信，不憑著眼見，確信上帝的作為，祂說得必定成全！我們憑著信心來堅忍等候。祂的時間一到，馬上發生！
