a. The concept of Babylon. And men were scorched with great heat, and they blasphemed the name of God who has power over these plagues; and they did not repent and give Him glory. of a dead man--putrefying. You are righteous… For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and You have given them blood to drink: It is completely fitting that those who delighted in shedding the blood of the saints should now be forced to drink blood. Men responded in utter, unrepentant depravity (men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail). . They became blood: When these judgments come, the time must be very short until the return of Jesus. 6. must be God Himself, who personally initiates the horrific judgment of the bowls. i. The ancient Jewish people regarded frogs as unclean and repulsive, but the Egyptians revered a frog-goddess. Poured out his bowl into the air: The fact that the bowl is poured into the air may show judgment against the prince of the power of the air (Ephesians 2:2) and his allies. Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame: In the midst of the description of the coming battle, there is a warning to be prepared in light of Jesus’ assured victory. Caird called the last three plagues a “triad of political disaster” – internal anarchy, invasion, and irreparable collapse. g. Behold, I am coming as a thief. poured out--So the angel cast fire into the earth previous to the series of trumpets ( Revelation 8:5 ). iv. As the Antichristian ten kings accompany the beast, so the saints accompany as kings the King of kings to the last decisive conflict. : If the Euphrates were dried up and made a road, massive armies from the east (nations such as China, India, and Japan) could move westward with ease. (5-7) The righteousness of God’s judgments. The name Israel ( Genesis 32:28 ) implies a prince with God. : The winner of this battle is apparent. Translate then, "I heard the altar [personified] saying." The Lord is now no longer He that shall come, for He is come in vengeance and therefore the third of the three clauses found in Revelation 1:4 Revelation 1:8 , 4:8 is here and in Revelation 11:17 omitted. Upon the sea ( v. 3 ). The same is promised in Hebrews 12:26: Now He has promised, saying, “Yet once more I shake not only the earth, but also heaven.” Yet, what cannot be shaken will remain. Revelation 16 commentary 1. Upon the earth ( v. 2 ). The presence of the "unclean spirit" in the land (Palestine) is foretold, Zechariah 13:2 , in connection with idolatrous prophets. Despite all their suffering, many still will not repent. The dragon, the beast, and the false prophet, "the mystery of iniquity," form a blasphemous Antitrinity, the counterfeit of "the mystery of godliness" God manifests in Christ, witnessed to by the Spirit. b. Armageddon--Hebrew, "Har," a mountain, and "Megiddo" in Manasseh in Galilee, the scene of the overthrow of the Canaanite kings by God's miraculous interposition under Deborah and Barak; the same as the great plain of Esdraelon. DE BURGH and others take it of the Jews, who also were designed to be a kingdom of priests to God on earth. Please be aware that this might heavily reduce the functionality and appearance of our site. They blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and did not repent of their deeds. of Revelation 16, Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments, One of over 110 Bible commentaries freely available, this commentary represents 40 years of Sutcliffe's exegetical comments and Hebrew and Greek analysis. Just as the river Nile, which ordinarily is the source of Egypt's fertility, became blood and a curse through Egypt's sin. And thus they have gone on, and will go on, confounding and being confounded.” (Clarke). great--so B, Vulgate, Syriac, Coptic, and ANDREAS. Description - Garland's work is one of the best commentaries available on the book of the Revelation.Garland approaches the text from a literal perspective and also assesses the weaknesses of various non-literal interpretations. Proud member Three unclean spirits, like frogs, came out of the mouth of the dragon, the beast, and the false prophet. i. Hail is frequently a tool of judgment against God’s enemies, as seen against Egypt (Exodus 9:24), the Canaanites (Joshua 10:11), apostate Israel (Isaiah 28:2), and Gog and Magog (Ezekiel 38:22). Not only is God’s justice, : This voice is either an angel speaking from the. (Read Revelation 16:1-7) We are to pray that the will of God may be done on earth as it is done in heaven. If English Version be retained, "He" will refer to God who gives them over to the delusion of the three unclean spirits; or else the sixth angel ( Revelation 16:12 ). 8. angel--so Coptic and ANDREAS. This is the altar where God in His love offered a way of escape from these judgments. 10. angel--omitted by A, B, C, Vulgate, and Syriac. a. The drying up of the waters of Babylon expresses the same thing as the ten kings stripping, eating, and burning the whore. In that day it was 1,800 miles (2,900 kilometers) long and anywhere from 300-1200 yards (275-1,100 meters) wide. But A, B, Vulgate, and Syriac omit it. 11. sores--This shows that each fresh plague was accompanied with the continuance of the preceding plagues: there was an accumulation, not a mere succession, of plagues. Click to enable/disable _gat_* - Google Analytics Cookie. Behold, I am coming as a thief. This speaking altar may be God’s altar – the cross, where His greatest sacrifice was made, and which here testifies of His righteous judgment, both in the past and soon to come. By proceeding, you consent to our cookie usage. the dragon--Satan, who gives his power and throne ( Revelation 13:2 ) to the beast. . But A, C, and Vulgate omit it. a. III. He that was filthy here is filthy there. The city in Revelation 11:8 under Antichrist (the beast, who is distinct from the harlot or apostate Church). As to the drying up again of the waters opposing His people's assuming the kingdom, compare Isaiah 10:26 , Isaiah 11:11 Isaiah 11:15 , Zechariah 10:9-11 . At one time it was Austerlitz, at another Moscow, at another Leipsic, and now Waterloo! Its water was dried up, so that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared. Does not every murderer repent of his crime when he stands under the fatal tree?” (Spurgeon), ii. blood--answering to another Egyptian plague. 3. angel--So B and ANDREAS. Those under the judgment of this fifth bowl stand, as it were, on the shores of the lake of fire. They gnawed their tongues because of the pain: The darkness of the fifth bowl is a preview of hell itself, which is described by Jesus as the outer darkness (Matthew 25:30). Megiddo is in a region frequently associated with decisive battles: Deborah over Sisera (Judges 5:19); Gideon over the Midianites (Judges 7); Pharaoh over Josiah (2 Kings 23:29; 2 Chronicles 35:22). 12. angel--so Coptic and ANDREAS. And great hail from heaven fell upon men, each hailstone about the weight of a talent. In this chapter we have an account of the pouring forth of these vials that were filled with the wrath of God. Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, California - Do Not Sell My Personal Information. “The wishful thinking of some that men would repent if they only knew the power and righteous judgment of God is shattered by frequent mention in this chapter of the hardness of the human heart in the face of the most stringent and evident divine discipline.” (Walvoord). Article Images Copyright © 2021 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. a. out of the temple--B and Syriac omit. 4. But A and B, "upon" (Greek, "epi"). Choose a verse from 'Revelation 16' to begin your 'Verse-by-Verse' study of God's Word using the more than 100 commentaries available on StudyLight.org We are given the righteousness of Jesus as a garment (Galatians 3:27), but we are also called to “put on” the nature of Jesus in terms of practical holiness (Ephesians 4:20-24). 3. 1. 5. angel of the waters--that is, presiding over the waters. We might say that Revelation 16 is a “great” chapter. c. There was a great earthquake, such a mighty and great earthquake as had not occurred since men were on the earth: In these final judgments, God shakes the earth with a tremendous earthquake. men were--so B, Vulgate, Syriac, and ANDREAS. personified, representing the corporate testimony of the martyrs (Revelation 6:9) and the prayers of the saints (Revelation 8:3-5). i. (1) Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl upon the air, and (2) a loud voice came out of the temple from the throne, saying, "It is done." The same sin rules in him, but it is called by another name, and wears another dress. b. kings of the east--Greek, "the kings who are from the rising of the sun." But as Babylon refers to the apostate Church, not to Mohammedanism, the drying up of the Euphrates (answering to Cyrus' overthrow of literal Babylon by marching into it through the dry channel of the Euphrates) must answer to the draining off of the apostate Church's resources, the Roman and Greek corrupt Church having been heretofore one of the greatest barriers by its idolatries and persecutions in the way of Israel's restoration and conversion. Here, it is enough to say that God gives her, Great hail from heaven fell upon men, each hailstone about the weight of a talent, : Giant hailstones fall, weighing up to 100 pounds (45 kilograms). 5. An anticipation of Revelation 18:20 Revelation 18:24 ; compare Revelation 13:15 . And I heard a great voice out of the temple, saying to the seven angels, Go ye, and pour out the seven bowls of the wrath of God into the earth. The iron is cast into another image, but it is not transformed into gold. But A, C, and Syriac, "soul of life" (compare Genesis 1:30 , Genesis 7:21 Genesis 7:22 ). Compare Joel 3:2 Joel 3:12 Joel 3:14 , where "the valley of Jehoshaphat" (meaning in Hebrew, "judgment of God") is mentioned as the scene of God's final vengeance on the God-opposing foe. Otherwise you will be prompted again when opening a new browser window or new a tab. With ecological disaster such as this, the human race cannot survive long. is frequently a tool of judgment against God’s enemies, as seen against Egypt (Exodus 9:24), the Canaanites (Joshua 10:11), apostate Israel (Isaiah 28:2), and Gog and Magog (Ezekiel 38:22). Caird called the last three plagues a “triad of political disaster” – internal anarchy, invasion, and irreparable collapse. This is the same close as that of the seven seals and the seven thunders; but with the difference that they do not merely form the conclusion, but introduce the consequence, of the last vial, namely, the utter destruction of Babylon and then of the Antichristian armies. Then every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs coming out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. But A omits. 13. unclean spirits like frogs--the antitype to the plague of frogs sent on Egypt. “The combination of thymos and orge connotes the strongest kind of outpouring of divine judgment.” (Walvoord). It describes great tools of judgment: great heat (Revelation 16:9), a great river dried up (Revelation 16:12), a great earthquake (Revelation 16:18), great hail and great plagues (Revelation 16:21). You are righteous, O Lord: Even in the midst of judgment, it is right that the angel says this. “This is real penitence, when the man gives glory to the justice of God, even though it condemns him. (10-11) Fifth bowl: a plague of darkness. 16 Then I heard a loud voice from the temple saying to the seven angels, “Go, pour out the seven bowls of God’s wrath on the earth.” (2 The first angel went and poured out his bowl on the land, and ugly, festering sores broke out on the people who had the mark of the beast and worshiped its image. “They thirsted after blood and massacred the saints of God; and now they have got blood to drink!” (Clarke). Commentary on Revelation — [Chapter 16] Posted on January 25, 2020 January 25, 2020 Author Steve Sewell All Scripture quotations are from the 1901 American Standard Version unless otherwise noted. Revelation 16:19 and 14:8 have already declared Babylon’s fall. Revelation 16:16, ESV: "And they assembled them at the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon." Whilst many take it as a mere ideal place, for an ideal assemblage, having no existence in fact. Keith Simons. Click to enable/disable essential site cookies. Since there is no specific mount (Har) Megiddo (Megiddo is actually a valley), many see this as a symbolic mountain or hill of slaughter. “I have known people say, ‘Well, if I were afflicted I might be converted. thunders." Revelation 15 was a prelude to the last of the Tribulation judgments that complete the wrath of God described in chapter 16. I saw three unclean spirits like frogs coming out of the mouth of the dragon. 16:1 The Seven Last Plagues: These seven angels are messengers of wrath bringing pain and destruction. here is the second beast of Revelation 13. : This battle is not nation against nation, but the nations against God (Psalm 2:2). But Coptic and ANDREAS support it. Compare Micah 4:8 as to the return of the kingdom to Jerusalem. a. Commentary on Revelation 16:1-7. Due to security reasons we are not able to show or modify cookies from other domains. i. i. Look at the lost in hell. Israel's exodus after the last Egyptian plagues typifies Israel's restoration after the spiritual Babylon, the apostate Church, has been smitten. The gathering of the world kings with the beast against the Lamb is the signal for Christ's coming; therefore He here gives the charge to be watching for His coming and clothed in the garments of justification and sanctification, so as to be accepted. angel--so Syriac, Coptic, and ANDREAS. The waters of the Euphrates (compare Isaiah 8:7 Isaiah 8:8 ) are spiritual Babylon's, that is, the apostate Church's (of which Rome is the chief, though not exclusive representative) spiritual and temporal powers. But A and Coptic read, "A man was." living soul--So B and ANDREAS. Revelation 16:1-21 . . d. They are spirits of demons, performing signs: Again, signs and wonders are used by demons as tools of deception. c. I heard another from the altar saying: This voice is either an angel speaking from the altar, or the altar personified, representing the corporate testimony of the martyrs (Revelation 6:9) and the prayers of the saints (Revelation 8:3-5). In mercy, God has stretched out this scene as much has He possibly could. : In these final judgments, God shakes the earth with a tremendous earthquake. Its water was dried up, so that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared: If the Euphrates were dried up and made a road, massive armies from the east (nations such as China, India, and Japan) could move westward with ease. they--saints and angels. b. Probably some great plain, antitypical to the valleys of Megiddo and Jehoshaphat, will be the scene. "Thou didst inflict this judgment.". The very same Greek word is used in the Septuagint as here, Greek, "helkos." If earth doesn’t mean earth, then no one can tell what it means, and God may as well not have written it. Note that blocking some types of cookies may impact your experience on our websites and the services we are able to offer. . c. I saw three unclean spirits like frogs coming out of the mouth of the dragon: The spirits are like frogs in form. thief--( Matthew 24:43 , 2 Peter 3:10 ). Click to enable/disable Google Analytics tracking. working miracles--Greek, "signs." ii. i. In mercy, God has stretched out this scene as much has He possibly could. Because You have judged these things. They refused the Living Water, and now will be given death to drink. The instrument that God makes use of in this work is here called the angel of the waters, who extols the righteousness of God in this retaliation: They have shed the blood of thy saints, and thou hast given them blood to drink, for they are worthy, to which another angel answered by full consent, Revelation 16:7. We are given the righteousness of Jesus as a garment (Galatians 3:27), but we are also called to “put on” the nature of Jesus in terms of practical holiness (Ephesians 4:20-24). : Even in the midst of judgment, it is right that the angel says this. God's voice as to the final consummation, as Jesus' voice on the cross when the work of expiation was completed, "It is finished. Revelation 16:12 And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared. It could be felt, as described in Exodus 10:21-22. b. There is nothing in pain and suffering that, by their own natural operation, will tend to purification.” (Spurgeon). b. Babylon is mentioned 287 times in the Scriptures, more … Check to enable permanent hiding of message bar and refuse all cookies if you do not opt in. lightnings--A has the order, "lightnings . 13. unclean spirits like frogs--the antitype to the plague of frogs sent on Egypt. The. Christ will come again. Abraham from the East (if Isaiah 41:2 Isaiah 41:8 Isaiah 41:9 , refers to him, and not Cyrus) conquering the Chaldean kings is a type of Israel's victorious restoration to the priest-kingdom. repented not--(Compare Revelation 16:9 ). “But what is the battle of Armageddon? In each of these instances, hail rained down from heaven as a tool of judgment, not as a corrective chastisement of God’s own children. great . It describes great evil: a great city, great Babylon (Revelation 16:19). The rivers and springs of water, and they became blood: This complete contamination is in contrast to the partial (one-third) pollution of fresh waters shown in Revelation 8:10-11. b. It will match the appearance and sickening character of the blood in a dead body. iii. The trumpets shook the world kingdoms in a longer process; the vials destroy with a swift and sudden overthrow the kingdom of "the beast" in particular who had invested himself with the world kingdom. b. This is one of three important battles mentioned in prophecy. On it the prayers of saints are presented before God: beneath it are the souls of the martyrs crying for vengeance on the foes of God. The point is clear. Then the third angel poured out his bowl on the rivers and springs of water, and they became blood. (with Pharaoh Tuthmosis III) to 1917 (with Lord Allenby of the British). Suffering has effected no good in them. Revelation 16:4. The same heavenly altar which would have kindled the sweet incense of prayer bringing down blessing upon earth, by man's sin kindles the fiery descending curse. Please enter your email address associated with your Salem All-Pass account, then click Continue. In the chapter introduction, it was noted that these seven bowls are … VERSE BY VERSE COMMENTARY ON THE REVELATION "A TESTIMONY OF JESUS CHRIST" by Tony Garland. the mountains--rather as Greek, "there were found no mountains. The same is promised in Hebrews 12:26: Great Babylon was remembered before God, to give her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of His wrath, ) is more explicitly described in Revelation 17 and 18. That revelation 16 commentary day of the nations fell but not a new man on, and ANDREAS whatever antitypical! Suggestions on what on each chapter of Revelation is all fulfilled in history have a hard time this. Have known people say, ‘ Well, if I lay sick I be! Alike, and now Waterloo unto it, '' namely, those who believe the Book of Revelation Revelation... You have given them blood to drink the nations of the mouth of the:. 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