Revelation 18:9

“And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication, etc.] Idolatry, (<661702>Revelation 17:2 18:3) and lived deliciously with her; (<661803>Revelation 18:3,7) joining with her in her sensual, as well as in her idolatrous practices: shall bewail her, and lament for her: shall mourn inwardly, and by various gestures outwardly express their sorrow at her desolation; (see <262730>Ezekiel 27:30-32) these will not be the ten kings who will burn the whore with fire, and then repent of what they have done, and weep over her, as Titus did at the destruction of Jerusalem, as some Popish writers have fancied, for they will hate the whore, and eat her flesh; but earthly and idolatrous kings, who…”

“lived deliciously--Greek, "luxuriated." The faithless Church, instead of reproving, connived at the self-indulgent luxury of the great men of this world, and sanctioned it by her own practice. Contrast the world's rejoicing over the dead bodies of the two witnesses (Rev 11:10) who had tormented it by their faithfulness, with its lamentations over the harlot who had made the way to heaven smooth, and had been found a useful tool in keeping subjects in abject tyranny. Men's carnal mind relishes a religion like that of the apostate Church, which gives an opiate to conscience, while leaving the sinner license to indulge his lusts. bewail her--A, B, C, Syriac, Coptic, and CYPRIAN omit "her."”

“And the kings of the earth - This verse commences the description of the lamentation over the fall of the mystical Babylon (see the Analysis of the chapter). Who have committed fornication - That is, who have been seduced by her from the true God, and have been led into practical idolatry. See the notes on Revelation 14:8. The kings of the earth seem to be represented as among the chief mourners, because they had derived important aid from the power which was now to be reduced to ruin. As a matter of fact, the kings of Europe have owed much of their influence and power to the support which has been derived from the papacy, and when that power shall fall, there will fall much that has…”

“18:9-19 These three laments highlight the grief of those who profited most from the wicked city’s rich lifestyle (cp. Ezek 27). 18:9-10 The kings of the world lament as they mourn the loss of the luxury they had obtained from alliance with the wicked city.”

“the kings: Rev 18:3, Rev 18:7, Rev 17:2, Rev 17:12, Rev 17:13 shall bewail: Rev 18:20; Psa 58:10; Jer 50:46; Eze 26:16, Eze 26:17, Eze 32:9, Eze 32:10; Dan 4:14; Zac 11:2, Zac 11:3 the smoke: Rev 18:18, Rev 14:11, Rev 19:3; Gen 19:28; Deu 29:23; Isa 13:19, Isa 30:33, Isa 34:9, Isa 34:10; Jer 50:40 Revelation 18:10”