Revelation 18:24 Commentary and Bible Study

John has already seen the revolting spectacle of the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints and the martyrs. This includes those who lived in Old Testament times, the prophets. These also will be avenged at the last day, for they have never been adequately avenged till now. Yes, Christ speaks of the vengeance of God on Israel and that fell with the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70, but that was only as token punishment. Those who carried out the murderous acts must also be punished personally. All persecution of believers, and all wars, ultimately, were started by the great whore. Her murders have only given her pleasure and satisfaction. The saints have been unable to resist her violence and have even turned the other cheek when assaulted by her. Their deaths have apparently gone unheeded by God. Time has gone by and the details of their unjust death have been forgotten. Even their names have been forgotten in most cases. Is there no record of what has happened? Is there no basis on which justice can be established? It is utterly beyond human capacity to retrieve the past. Yet there is a way, for within her is found all the blood that she has ever swallowed. These words are obviously figurative, but indicate that not one of the precious army of martyrs is forgotten by God. The woman knows what she has done. Somewhere in the consciousness of those who carried out these terrible acts is the memory of what they have done. Each one who acted in this way is part of a world that opposes God and his people.She is pictured like a great beast that is opened up and in its stomach is found the disgusting remains of those it has devoured. We have heard of crocodiles in which human remains have been found as evidence of their attacks. These remains have even been used to identify those who were eaten by it. So here, the world cannot eliminate the evidence of the terrible acts that it has carried out, no matter what steps it takes to hide things secret. God will take revenge and his revenge will be comprehensive.