Revelation 16:7-17

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

Armageddon

13 And I saw coming out of the mouth of the 19dragon and out of the mouth of the 20beast and out of the mouth of the 21false prophet, three 22unclean spirits like 23frogs;
14 for they are 24spirits of demons, 25performing signs, which go out to the kings of the 26whole world, to 27gather them together for the war of the 28great day of God, the Almighty.
15 ("Behold, 29I am coming like a thief. 30Blessed is the one who stays awake and keeps his clothes, 31so * that he will not walk about naked and men will not see his shame.")
16 And they 32gathered them together to the place which 33in Hebrew is called 34Har-Magedon.

Seventh Bowl of Wrath

17 Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl upon 35the air, and a 36loud voice came out of the 37temple from the throne, saying, "38It is done."

Revelation 16:7-17 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 38

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

Footnotes 5

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