Revelation 16:1-10

Revelation 16:2. The first bowl. The wrath of God is poured out on the worshippers of the beast, i.e. Antichrist, i.e. Nero. mark of the beast: Revelation 13:16 *. worshipped his image: i.e. the image or statue of the emperor (cf. Revelation 13:14 f.).

Revelation 16:3. The second bowl, like the second trumpet (Revelation 8:8), destroys the living creatures in the sea. Cf. also the first of the Egyptian plagues (Exodus 7:7).

Revelation 16:4. The third bowl, following the precedent of the third trumpet (Revelation 8:10), destroys the rivers and springs.

Revelation 16:5. angel of the waters: in later Jewish thought every part of nature was under the control of some angel. The Book of Enoch (6:62) speaks of the angels which were over the powers of the waters. Here the angel recognises the righteousness of the Divine action.

Revelation 16:6. The explanation of the form which the Divine retribution assumed.

Revelation 16:7. the altar saying: a response comes to the angel of the waters from the altar in heaven (Swete).

Revelation 16:8. The fourth bowl, like the fourth trumpet (Revelation 8:12), affects the sun, but whereas the trumpet diminishes its power, the bowl intensifies its heat

Revelation 16:10. The fifth bowl. The first four bowls produce general effects, but now the wrath of God smites the beast (Nero or Domitian) on his throne.