Revelation 16:9-19

9 They were scorched by the fierce heat, and 1they cursed[a] the name of God who had power over these plagues. 2They did not repent 3and give him glory.
10 The fifth angel poured out his bowl on 4the throne of the beast, and 5its kingdom was plunged into darkness. People gnawed their tongues in anguish
11 and cursed 6the God of heaven for their pain and 7sores. 8They did not repent of their deeds.
12 The sixth angel poured out his bowl on 9the great river Euphrates, and 10its water was dried up, 11to prepare the way for the kings 12from the east.
13 And I saw, coming out of the mouth of 13the dragon and out of the mouth of 14the beast and out of the mouth of 15the false prophet, three 16unclean spirits like 17frogs.
14 For they are 18demonic spirits, 19performing signs, who go abroad to the kings of the whole world, 20to assemble them for battle on 21the great day of God the Almighty.
15 ("Behold, 22I am coming like a thief! 23Blessed is the one who stays awake, keeping his garments on, 24that he may not go about naked and be seen exposed!")
16 And 25they assembled them at the place that in Hebrew is called 26Armageddon.

The Seventh Bowl

17 The seventh angel poured out his bowl into 27the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple, from the throne, saying, 28"It is done!"
18 And there were 29flashes of lightning, rumblings,[b] peals of thunder, and 30a great earthquake 31such as there had never been since man was on the earth, so great was that earthquake.
19 32The great city 33was split into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell, and God 34remembered 35Babylon the great, 36to make her drain the cup of the wine of the fury of his wrath.

Revelation 16:9-19 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO REVELATION 16

This chapter gives an account of the pouring out of the seven vials by the angels; their orders for it are in Re 16:1. The first angel pours out his vial on the earth, the effect of which is a noisome and grievous sore upon the followers of antichrist, and the worshippers of his image, Re 16:2. The second pours out his upon the sea; the events of it are, the sea became blood, and every living creature in it died, Re 16:3. The third pours out his upon the rivers and fountains of water, which thereby became blood; upon which the angel of the waters applauds the justice of God, declaring the righteousness of his judgments, and giving a reason for it; and which is confirmed by another angel from the altar, Re 16:4-7. The fourth angel pours out his vial on the sun, the effects of which are, scorching men with heat, their blasphemy against God, and impenitence, Re 16:8,9. The fifth pours out his on the seat of the beast, the consequences of which are darkness in his kingdom, men gnawing their tongues because of their pains, their blasphemy of the name of God because of them, and their impenitence, Re 16:10,11. The sixth angel pours out his on the river Euphrates, and what followed upon it are, the drying up of that river to make way for the kings of the east; there unclean spirits are seen, described by their original, coming out of the mouths of the dragon, beast, and false prophet; by their form, like frogs; by their internal nature, spirits of devils; by their works, doing miracles; by the errand they are sent, and go upon, to gather the kings of the earth to the battle of God Almighty, which they succeed in; but before this is done, a declaration is made of the suddenness of Christ's coming, exciting the saints to watchfulness, and to keep their garments, that they might not be naked, and exposed to shame, Re 16:12-16 Then the seventh angel pours out his vial into the air, the consequences of which are, a voice from heaven declaring it is done: other voices, thunderings, lightnings, and an earthquake; a rupture of the great city into three parts; the fall of other cities; the remembrance of Babylon before God; the flight of every island and mountain, and a great hail storm, which causes men to blaspheme God, Re 16:17-21.

Cross References 36

  • 1. ver. 11, 21
  • 2. [Daniel 5:22]; See Revelation 2:21
  • 3. [Daniel 5:23]; See Revelation 11:13
  • 4. Revelation 13:2
  • 5. Revelation 9:2; Exodus 10:21
  • 6. Revelation 11:13
  • 7. ver. 2
  • 8. See Revelation 2:21
  • 9. Revelation 9:14
  • 10. Isaiah 11:15; Isaiah 44:27; Jeremiah 50:38; Jeremiah 51:32, 36
  • 11. [Isaiah 41:2, 25; Isaiah 46:11]
  • 12. Revelation 7:2
  • 13. Revelation 12:3, 9
  • 14. Revelation 13:1
  • 15. Revelation 19:20; Revelation 20:10; [Revelation 13:11, 14]
  • 16. Revelation 18:2
  • 17. [Exodus 8:6]
  • 18. [1 Timothy 4:1]
  • 19. See Revelation 13:13
  • 20. Revelation 20:8; [Revelation 17:14; Revelation 19:19; 1 Kings 22:20]
  • 21. See Revelation 6:17
  • 22. See Revelation 3:3
  • 23. Revelation 3:2, 3; See Matthew 24:42
  • 24. Revelation 3:18
  • 25. Revelation 19:19
  • 26. Zechariah 12:11; See Judges 5:19
  • 27. [Ephesians 2:2]
  • 28. See Revelation 10:6
  • 29. Revelation 4:5; Revelation 8:5; Revelation 11:19
  • 30. Revelation 6:12; Revelation 11:13
  • 31. Daniel 12:1; Joel 2:2; Matthew 24:21
  • 32. Revelation 11:8
  • 33. [Revelation 11:13]
  • 34. Revelation 18:5; [Psalms 74:18]
  • 35. See Revelation 14:8
  • 36. See Revelation 14:10

Footnotes 2

  • [a]. Greek blasphemed; also verses 11, 21
  • [b]. Or voices, or sounds
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.