Revelation 16:14

Spirits of devils (pneumata daimoniwn). "Spirits of demons." Explanation of the simile w batracoi. See 1 Timothy 4:1 about "deceiving spirits and teachings of demons." Working signs (poiounta shmeia). "Doing signs" (present active participle of poiew). The Egyptian magicians wrought "signs" (tricks), as did Simon Magus and later Apollonius of Tyana. Houdini claimed that he could reproduce every trick of the spiritualistic mediums. Which go forth (a ekporeuetai). Singular verb with neuter plural (collective) subject. Unto the kings (epi tou basilei). The three evil spirits (dragon and the two beasts) spur on the kings of the whole world to a real world war. "There have been times when nations have been seized by a passion for war which the historian can but imperfectly explain" (Swete). To gather them together (sunagagein). Second aorist active infinitive of sunagw, to express purpose (that of the unclean spirits). Unto the war of the great day of God, the Almighty (ei ton polemon th hmera th megalh tou qeou tou pantokratoro). Some take this to be war between nations, like Mark 13:8 , but it is more likely war against God ( Psalms 2:2 ) and probably the battle pictured in Revelation 17:14 ; Revelation 19:19 . Cf. 2 Peter 3:12 , "the day of God," his reckoning with the nations. See Joel 2:11 ; Joel 3:4 . Paul uses "that day" for the day of the Lord Jesus (the Parousia) as in 1 Thessalonians 5:2 ; 2 Thessalonians 1:10 ; 2 Thessalonians 2:2 ; 1 Corinthians 1:8 ; 2 Corinthians 1:14 ; Philippians 1:6 ; Philippians 2:16 2 Timothy 1:12 2 Timothy 1:18 ; 2 Timothy 4:8 .