{Another, a second angel} (allos deuteros aggelos). This
second angel "followed" ((886b)olouth(8873)en, first aorist active
indicative of akolouthe(935c)) and interpreted in part the first
one. {Fallen, fallen} (epesen, epesen). Prophetic aorist active
indicative of pipt(935c), repeated as a solemn dirge announcing the
certainty of the fall. The English participle "fallen, fallen" is
more musical and rhythmical than the literal rendering "fell,
fell." The language is an echo of  Isa 21:9 , though B in the LXX
has pept(936b)en, pept(936b)en (perfect). {Babylon the great} (Babul(936e)
h(8820)magal(885c)). The adjective megal(885c) occurs with Babul(936e) each
time in the Apocalypse ( 14:8  16:19  17:5  18:2,10,21 ) as a
reminder of Nebuchadrezzar. There is no doubt that Rome is meant
by Babylon, as is probably seen already in  1Pe 5:13 . As a
prisoner in Patmos John can speak his mind by this symbolism.
{Hath made to drink} (pepotiken). Perfect active indicative of
potiz(935c), old causative verb (from potos drinking,  1Pe 4:3 ),
as in  Mt 25:35 . The remarkable phrase that follows seems based
on  Jer 51:8  ( Jer 25:15 ). It is a combination also of  Re
14:10  (the wine of God's wrath, also in  16:19  19:15 ) and
 17:2 . There is no doubt of the dissoluteness of the old Babylon
of Jeremiah's day as of the Rome of John's time. Rome is pictured
as the great courtesan who intoxicates and beguiles the nations
to fornication ( 17:2,4,6 ), but the cup of God's wrath for her
and her paramours is full ( 14:10  16:19  18:2 ).