Albert Barnes Commentary Revelation 18:2

"And he cried with a mighty voice, saying, Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, and is become a habitation of demons, and a hold of every unclean spirit, and a hold of every unclean and hateful bird." — Revelation 18:2 (ASV)

And he cried mightily. Literally, "he cried with a strong great voice." See Revelation 10:3.

Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen. See Barnes on Revelation 14:8.

The proclamation here is substantially the same as in that place, and no doubt the same thing is referred to.

And is become the habitation of devils. Of demons—in allusion to the common opinion that the demons inhabited abandoned cities, old ruins, and deserts. See Barnes on Matthew 12:43-45.

The language here is taken from the description of Babylon in Isaiah 13:20-22; and for a full illustration of the meaning, see Barnes on Isaiah 13:20 and following.

And the hold of every foul spirit—fulakh. A watch-post, station, haunt of such spirits. That is, they, as it were, kept guard there; were stationed there; haunted the place.

And a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. That is, they would resort there and abide there as in a cage. The word translated "cage" is the same which is rendered "hold"—fulakh. In Isaiah 13:21, it is said, and owls shall dwell there; and in Isaiah 14:23, it is said that it would be a possession for the bittern.

The idea is that of utter desolation. The meaning here is that spiritual Babylon—Papal Rome (Revelation 14:8)—will be reduced to a state of utter desolation resembling that of the real Babylon.

It is not necessary to suppose this of the city of Rome itself, for that is not the object of the representation. It is the Papacy, represented under the image of the city and having its seat there. That is to be destroyed as utterly as was Babylon of old; that will become as odious, and loathsome, and detestable as the literal Babylon, the abode of monsters is.

The habitation of devils (Revelation 17:2; Isaiah 34:11, 14; Jeremiah 50:39; Jeremiah 51:37).