Revelation 16:15-21

15 ("Behold, 1I am coming like a thief. 2Blessed is the one who stays awake and keeps his clothes, 3so * that he will not walk about naked and men will not see his shame.")
16 And they 4gathered them together to the place which 5in Hebrew is called 6Har-Magedon.

Seventh Bowl of Wrath

17 Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl upon 7the air, and a 8loud voice came out of the 9temple from the throne, saying, "10It is done."
18 And there were flashes of 11lightning and sounds and peals of thunder; and there was 12a great earthquake, 13such as there had not been since * man came to be upon the earth, so great an earthquake was it, and so mighty.
19 14The great city was split into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. 15Babylon the great was 16remembered before God, to give her 17the cup of the wine of His fierce wrath.
20 And 18every island fled away, and the mountains were not found.
21 And 19huge hailstones, about one hundred pounds each, came down from heaven upon men; and men 20blasphemed God because of the 21plague of the hail, because its plague was extremely severe.

Revelation 16:15-21 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 21

  • 1. Matthew 24:43; Luke 12:39; Revelation 3:3, 11
  • 2. Luke 12:37
  • 3. Revelation 3:18
  • 4. Revelation 19:19
  • 5. Revelation 9:11
  • 6. Judges 5:19; 2 Kings 23:29; 2 Chronicles 35:22; Zechariah 12:11
  • 7. Ephesians 2:2
  • 8. Revelation 11:15
  • 9. Revelation 14:15
  • 10. Revelation 10:6; Revelation 21:6
  • 11. Revelation 4:5
  • 12. Revelation 6:12
  • 13. Daniel 12:1; Matthew 24:21
  • 14. Revelation 11:8; Revelation 17:18; Revelation 18:10, 18f, 21
  • 15. Revelation 14:8
  • 16. Revelation 18:5
  • 17. Revelation 14:10
  • 18. Revelation 6:14; Revelation 20:11
  • 19. Revelation 8:7; Revelation 11:19
  • 20. Revelation 16:9, 11
  • 21. Exodus 9:18-25

Footnotes 7

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