Revelation 16:1-16

The Seven Bowls of God's Wrath

1 Then I heard a loud voice from the temple telling 1the seven angels, "Go and 2pour out on the earth 3the seven bowls of the wrath of God."
2 So the first angel went and poured out his bowl on the earth, and harmful and painful 4sores came upon the people who bore 5the mark of the beast and worshiped its image.
3 The second angel poured out his bowl into the sea, and 6it became like the blood of a corpse, and 7every living thing died that was in the sea.
4 The third angel poured out his bowl into 8the rivers and the springs of water, and 9they became blood.
5 And I heard the angel in charge of the waters[a] say, 10"Just are you, 11O Holy One, 12who is and who was, for you brought these judgments.
6 For 13they have shed the blood of 14saints and prophets, and 15you have given them blood to drink. It is what they deserve!"
7 And I heard 16the altar saying, "Yes, Lord God the Almighty, 17true and just are your judgments!"
8 The fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and it was allowed to scorch people 18with fire.
9 They were scorched by the fierce heat, and 19they cursed[b] the name of God who had power over these plagues. 20They did not repent 21and give him glory.
10 The fifth angel poured out his bowl on 22the throne of the beast, and 23its kingdom was plunged into darkness. People gnawed their tongues in anguish
11 and cursed 24the God of heaven for their pain and 25sores. 26They did not repent of their deeds.
12 The sixth angel poured out his bowl on 27the great river Euphrates, and 28its water was dried up, 29to prepare the way for the kings 30from the east.
13 And I saw, coming out of the mouth of 31the dragon and out of the mouth of 32the beast and out of the mouth of 33the false prophet, three 34unclean spirits like 35frogs.
14 For they are 36demonic spirits, 37performing signs, who go abroad to the kings of the whole world, 38to assemble them for battle on 39the great day of God the Almighty.
15 ("Behold, 40I am coming like a thief! 41Blessed is the one who stays awake, keeping his garments on, 42that he may not go about naked and be seen exposed!")
16 And 43they assembled them at the place that in Hebrew is called 44Armageddon.

Revelation 16:1-16 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 44

  • 1. See Revelation 15:1
  • 2. Psalms 79:6; Jeremiah 10:25; Zephaniah 3:8
  • 3. Revelation 15:7
  • 4. ver. 11; Exodus 9:9-11
  • 5. Revelation 13:16
  • 6. Revelation 8:8
  • 7. Revelation 8:9
  • 8. Revelation 8:10
  • 9. Exodus 7:17-20
  • 10. Jeremiah 12:1; John 17:25
  • 11. Revelation 15:4
  • 12. Revelation 11:17; [Revelation 1:4, 8; Revelation 4:8]
  • 13. Revelation 18:24; [Revelation 13:15]
  • 14. Revelation 11:18
  • 15. [Isaiah 49:26; Luke 11:49, 50]
  • 16. Revelation 6:9
  • 17. Revelation 15:3; Revelation 19:2; [Psalms 119:137]
  • 18. Revelation 9:17; [Revelation 14:18]
  • 19. ver. 11, 21
  • 20. [Daniel 5:22]; See Revelation 2:21
  • 21. [Daniel 5:23]; See Revelation 11:13
  • 22. Revelation 13:2
  • 23. Revelation 9:2; Exodus 10:21
  • 24. Revelation 11:13
  • 25. ver. 2
  • 26. See Revelation 2:21
  • 27. Revelation 9:14
  • 28. Isaiah 11:15; Isaiah 44:27; Jeremiah 50:38; Jeremiah 51:32, 36
  • 29. [Isaiah 41:2, 25; Isaiah 46:11]
  • 30. Revelation 7:2
  • 31. Revelation 12:3, 9
  • 32. Revelation 13:1
  • 33. Revelation 19:20; Revelation 20:10; [Revelation 13:11, 14]
  • 34. Revelation 18:2
  • 35. [Exodus 8:6]
  • 36. [1 Timothy 4:1]
  • 37. See Revelation 13:13
  • 38. Revelation 20:8; [Revelation 17:14; Revelation 19:19; 1 Kings 22:20]
  • 39. See Revelation 6:17
  • 40. See Revelation 3:3
  • 41. Revelation 3:2, 3; See Matthew 24:42
  • 42. Revelation 3:18
  • 43. Revelation 19:19
  • 44. Zechariah 12:11; See Judges 5:19

Footnotes 2

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