"Standing afar off for fear of her torment," signifies while they are in externals from dread of infernal punishments; "saying, Woe, woe, that great city Babylon," signifies lamentation over that doctrine, and over that religion; "that strong city," signifies which had fortified itself by so many wicked artifices; "for in one hour is thy judgment come," signifies their total destruction by the Last Judgment.