Revelation 16:6-16

6 for they poured out 1the blood of saints and prophets, and You have given them 2blood to drink. They deserve it."
7 And I heard 3the altar saying, "Yes, O 4Lord God, the Almighty, 5true and righteous are Your judgments."
8 The fourth angel poured out his bowl upon 6the sun, 7and it was given to it to scorch men with fire.
9 Men were scorched with fierce heat; and they 8blasphemed the name of God who has the power over these plagues, and they 9did not repent so as to 10give Him glory.
10 Then the fifth angel poured out his bowl on the 11throne of the beast, and his kingdom became 12darkened; and they gnawed their tongues because of pain,
11 and they 13blasphemed the 14God of heaven because of their pains and their 15sores; and they 16did not repent of their deeds.
12 The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the 17great river, the Euphrates; and 18its water was dried up, so that 19the way would be prepared for the kings 20from the east *.

Armageddon

13 And I saw coming out of the mouth of the 21dragon and out of the mouth of the 22beast and out of the mouth of the 23false prophet, three 24unclean spirits like 25frogs;
14 for they are 26spirits of demons, 27performing signs, which go out to the kings of the 28whole world, to 29gather them together for the war of the 30great day of God, the Almighty.
15 ("Behold, 31I am coming like a thief. 32Blessed is the one who stays awake and keeps his clothes, 33so * that he will not walk about naked and men will not see his shame.")
16 And they 34gathered them together to the place which 35in Hebrew is called 36Har-Magedon.

Revelation 16:6-16 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. Revelation 17:6; Revelation 18:24
  • 2. Isaiah 49:26; Luke 11:49-51
  • 3. Revelation 6:9; Revelation 14:18
  • 4. Revelation 1:8
  • 5. Revelation 15:3; Revelation 19:2
  • 6. Revelation 6:12
  • 7. Revelation 14:18
  • 8. Revelation 16:11, 21
  • 9. Revelation 2:21
  • 10. Revelation 11:13
  • 11. Revelation 13:2
  • 12. Exodus 10:21; Isaiah 8:22; Revelation 8:12; Revelation 9:2
  • 13. Revelation 16:9, 21
  • 14. Revelation 11:13
  • 15. Revelation 16:2
  • 16. Revelation 2:21
  • 17. Revelation 9:14
  • 18. Isaiah 11:15; Isaiah 44:27; Jeremiah 51:36
  • 19. Isaiah 41:2, 25; Isaiah 46:11
  • 20. Revelation 7:2
  • 21. Revelation 12:3
  • 22. Revelation 13:1
  • 23. Revelation 13:11, 14; Revelation 19:20; Revelation 20:10
  • 24. Revelation 18:2
  • 25. Exodus 8:6
  • 26. 1 Timothy 4:1
  • 27. Revelation 13:13
  • 28. Revelation 3:10
  • 29. 1 Kings 22:21-23; Revelation 17:14; Revelation 19:19; Revelation 20:8
  • 30. Revelation 6:17
  • 31. Matthew 24:43; Luke 12:39; Revelation 3:3, 11
  • 32. Luke 12:37
  • 33. Revelation 3:18
  • 34. Revelation 19:19
  • 35. Revelation 9:11
  • 36. Judges 5:19; 2 Kings 23:29; 2 Chronicles 35:22; Zechariah 12:11

Footnotes 5

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