Revelation16
New American Standard
1Then I heard a loud voice from the temple, saying to the seven angels, “Go and pour out on the earth the seven bowls of the wrath of God.”
2So the first angel went and poured out his bowl on the earth; and a harmful and painful sore afflicted the people who had the mark of the beast and who worshiped his image.
3The second angel poured out his bowl into the sea, and it became blood like that of a dead man; and every living thing in the sea died.
4Then the third angel poured out his bowl into the rivers and the springs of waters; and they became blood.
5And I heard the angel of the waters saying, “Righteous are You, the One who is and who was, O Holy One, because You judged these things;
6for they poured out the blood of saints and prophets, and You have given them blood to drink. They deserve it.”
7And I heard the altar saying, “Yes, Lord God, the Almighty, true and righteous are Your judgments.”
8And the fourth angel poured out his bowl upon the sun, and it was given power to scorch people with fire.
9And the people were scorched with fierce heat; and they blasphemed the name of God who has the power over these plagues, and they did not repent so as to give Him glory.
10And the fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom became darkened; and they gnawed their tongues because of pain,
11and they blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pain and their sores; and they did not repent of their deeds.
12The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river, the Euphrates; and its water was dried up, so that the way would be prepared for the kings from the east.
13And I saw coming out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits like frogs;
14for they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the entire world, to gather them together for the war of the great day of God, the Almighty.
15(“Behold, I am coming like a thief. Blessed is the one who stays awake and keeps his clothes, so that he will not walk about naked and people will not see his shame.”)
16And they gathered them together to the place which in Hebrew is called Har-Magedon.
17Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl upon the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple from the throne, saying, “It is done.”
18And there were flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder; and there was a great earthquake, such as there had not been since mankind came to be upon the earth, so great an earthquake was it, and so mighty.
19The great city was split into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. Babylon the great was remembered in the sight of God, to give her the cup of the wine of His fierce wrath.
20And every island fled, and no mountains were found.
21And huge hailstones, weighing about a talent each, came down from heaven upon people; and people blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail, because the hailstone plague was extremely severe.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Revelation 16.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: The first vial is poured out on the earth, the second on the sea, the third on the rivers and fountains. (1–7). The fourth on the sun, the fifth on the seat of the beast. (8–11). The sixth on the great river Euphrates. (12–16). And the seventh on the air, when shall follow the destruction of all antichristian enemies. (17–21).
vv1-7
We are to pray that the will of God may be done on earth as it is done in heaven. Here is a succession of terrible judgments of Providence; and there seems to be an allusion to several of the plagues of Egypt. The sins were alike, and so were the punishments. The vials refer to the seven trumpets, which represented the rise of antichrist; and the fall of the enemies of the church shall bear some resemblance to their rise. All things throughout their earth, their air, their sea, their rivers, their cities, all are condemned to ruin, all accursed for the wickedness of that people. No wonder that angels, who witness or execute the Divine vengeance on the obstinate haters of God, of Christ, and of holiness, praise his justice and truth; and adore his awful judgments, when he brings upon cruel persecutors the tortures they made his saints and prophets suffer.
vv8-11
The heart of man is so desperately wicked, that the most severe miseries never will bring any to repent, without the special grace of God. Hell itself is filled with blasphemies; and those are ignorant of the history of human nature, of the Bible, and of their own hearts, who do not know that the more men suffer, and the more plainly they see the hand of God in their sufferings, the more furiously they often rage against him. Let sinners now seek repentance from Christ, and the grace of the Holy Spirit, or they will have the anguish and horror of an unhumbled, impenitent, and desperate heart; thus adding to their guilt and misery through all eternity. Darkness is opposed to wisdom and knowledge, and forebodes the confusion and folly of the idolaters and followers of the beast. It is opposed to pleasure and joy, and signifies anguish and vexation of spirit.
vv12-16
This probably shows the destruction of the Turkish power, and of idolatry, and that a way will be made for the return of the Jews. Or, take it for Rome, as mystical Babylon, the name of Babylon being put for Rome, which was meant, but was not then to be directly named. When Rome is destroyed, her river and merchandise must suffer with her. And perhaps a way will be opened for the eastern nations to come into the church of Christ. The great dragon will collect all his forces, to make one desperate struggle before all be lost. God warns of this great trial, to engage his people to prepare for it. These will be times of great temptation; therefore Christ, by his apostle, calls on his professed servants to expect his sudden coming, and to watch that they might not be put to shame, as apostates or hypocrites. However Christians differ, as to their views of the times and seasons of events yet to be brought to pass, on this one point all are agreed, Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, will suddenly come again to judge the world. To those living near to Christ, it is an object of joyful hope and expectation, and delay is not desired by them.
Key Words
καί (kaí): and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
ἀκούω (akoúō): to hear (in various senses)
μέγας (mégas): big (literally or figuratively, in a very wide application)
φωνή (phōnḗ): a tone (articulate, bestial or artificial); by implication, an address (for any purpose), saying or language
ἐκ (ek): literal or figurative; direct or remote)
ναός (naós): a fane, shrine, temple
λέγω (légō): properly, to "lay" forth, i.e. (figuratively) relate (in words (usually of systematic or set discourse; whereas G2036 (ἔπω) and G5346 (φημί) generally refer to an individual expression or speech respectively; while G4483 (ῥέω) is properly to break silence merely, and G2980 (λαλέω) means an extended or random harangue)); by implication, to mean
ἑπτά (heptá): seven
ἄγγελος (ángelos): compare G34 (ἀγέλη)) (to bring tidings); a messenger; especially an "angel"; by implication, a pastor
ὑπάγω (hypágō): to lead (oneself) under, i.e. withdraw or retire (as if sinking out of sight), literally or figuratively
Cross References
Revelation 16The first vial (noisome, grievous sores) typologically echoes the sixth Egyptian plague of boils and blains.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Sores fall specifically on those with the mark of the beast, established in Chapter 13.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
The sea turning to the blood of a dead man mirrors the Nile turning to blood.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Praises God for His true and righteous judgments in avenging the blood of His servants.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
The fifth vial brings darkness on the seat of the beast, echoing the Egyptian plague of darkness.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Angels casting fire/pouring vials from the heavenly altar, initiating judgments on the earth.
Supported by JFB
The divine title 'which art, and wast' is modified here because He has now come.
Supported by JFB
The graphic judgment of giving blood to drink is a clear echo of Isaiah's language.
Supported by JFB
A direct parallel where men suffer severe plagues yet refuse to repent or give God glory.
Supported by JFB
The seat/throne of the beast was given to him by the dragon, now targeted by God.
Supported by JFB
Unclean spirits like frogs acting as lying spirits to gather kings matches Micaiah's vision.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Verbal echo of Christ coming 'as a thief' and the command to watch and keep garments.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Omits 'shalt be' because God is now actively executing His final, consummating judgments.
Supported by JFB
The altar speaks, representing the prayers and blood of the martyrs under the altar.
Supported by JFB
Drying the waters of the Euphrates parallels the drying up of the beast's supportive populations.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The unclean spirits appear as frogs, directly evoking the second plague of Egypt.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The kings gathered by demonic spirits actually meet their end in the battle of Chapter 19.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Armageddon refers to the Waters of Megiddo, historical site of battle and divine victory.
Supported by Matthew Henry
The cup of the wine of the fierceness of God's wrath echoes Jeremiah's cup of fury.
Supported by Matthew Henry
The seven angels with the seven vials emerge directly from the opened heavenly temple.
Supported by Matthew Henry