Revelation 16 - ESV - Bible Reading / Study Notes

Revelation 16

The Seven Bowls of God’s Wrath

16:1 Then I heard a loud voice from the temple telling the seven angels, “Go and pour out on the earth the 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 sores came upon the people who bore the mark of the beast and worshiped its image.

3 The second angel poured out his bowl into the sea, and it became like the blood of a corpse, and every living thing died that was in the sea.

4 The third angel poured out his bowl into the rivers and the springs of water, and they became blood. 5 And I heard the angel in charge of the waters¹ say,

  “Just are you, O Holy One, who is and who was,
    for you brought these judgments.
6   For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets,
    and you have given them blood to drink.
  It is what they deserve!”

7 And I heard the altar saying,

“Yes, Lord God the Almighty,
true and just are your judgments!”

8 The fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and it was allowed to scorch people with fire. 9 They were scorched by the fierce heat, and they cursed² the name of God who had power over these plagues. They did not repent and give him glory.

10 The fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and its kingdom was plunged into darkness. People gnawed their tongues in anguish 11 and cursed the God of heaven for their pain and sores. They did not repent of their deeds.

12 The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up, to prepare the way for the kings from the east. 13 And I saw, coming out of the mouth of the dragon and out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits like frogs. 14 For they are demonic spirits, performing signs, who go abroad to the kings of the whole world, to assemble them for battle on the great day of God the Almighty. 15 (“Behold, I am coming like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake, keeping his garments on, that he may not go about naked and be seen exposed!”) 16 And they assembled them at the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon.

The Seventh Bowl

17 The seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple, from the throne, saying, “It is done!” 18 And there were flashes of lightning, rumblings,³ peals of thunder, and a great earthquake such as there had never been since man was on the earth, so great was that earthquake. 19 The great city was split into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell, and God remembered Babylon the great, to make her drain the cup of the wine of the fury of his wrath. 20 And every island fled away, and no mountains were to be found. 21 And great hailstones, about one hundred pounds⁴ each, fell from heaven on people; and they cursed God for the plague of the hail, because the plague was so severe.

Footnotes

[1] 16:5 Greek angel of the waters
[2] 16:9 Greek blasphemed; also verses 11, 21
[3] 16:18 Or voices, or sounds
[4] 16:21 Greek a talent in weight

Commentary

v1-7: The first three bowls are poured out. Those who have the mark of the beast receive the first judgment. These judgments are not the actions of a capricious God, revelling in suffering, but in a righteous God, honouring His own word, and demonstrating His own character. There is judgment on those who have shed the blood of God's servants, and therefore receive their due recompense. God's course of action is not doubted, for all agree, led by the altar of God, "Yes, Lord God Almighty."

v8-11: The fourth and fifth angels pour out their bowls. Scorching heat is followed by intense darkness, but men refuse to repent and give God glory. The fact that the judgments do not actually kill them, provides men with an opportunity to repent. Here again is God's mercy, and His restraint in judgment.

We note that the first four bowls affect the land and waters, sun and seas, as in 8.7-13; all areas of creation are thus affected.

v12-14: The Euphrates is dried up, preparing the way for the great army, gathered from throughout the world to meet at Armageddon, see 19.19; here the beast, with the kings of the earth, and their armies, gather together.

The source of the beast's power is made manifest; evil spirits, demons, performing miraculous signs. There is no doubt that they are opposed to the true God.

v15: The godly respond in watchfulness and holiness; there are false prophets, counterfeit miracles, spirits of demons. Not everything that looks wonderful is good. The Lord Jesus commanded His followers to be ready, Matt 24.44.

It is said that if a priest or Levite fell asleep on night watch (see comment at Luke 12.38), the punishment was to have his clothes set on fire! But there is no historical record of this occurring.

v16: The kings of the whole world gather at Armageddon. They are inspired by the dragon, the beast, the false prophet. They unite to oppose the Lamb and His people. Armageddon (Megiddo) was the sight of previous battles; Judg 5.18; 2 Kings 23.29. For a Jew, the very name carried significance.

v17-21: The seventh angel brings a severe earthquake, affecting the "great city" and "the cities of the nations." Islands and mountains disappear, and hailstones fall; and men curse God, instead of repenting.