Analysis Of The Chapter The previous chapter Revelation 15:1 had described the preparation for the last plagues that were to come upon that mighty anti-Christian power to which this series of prophetic visions refers. All is now ready; and this chapter contains the description of those seven last “p... [ Continue Reading ]
AND I HEARD A GREAT VOICE OUT OF THE TEMPLE - A loud voice out of the temple as seen in heaven (notes on Revelation 11:19), and that came, therefore, from the very presence of God. SAYING TO THE SEVEN ANGELS - That had the seven vials of wrath. See the notes on Revelation 15:1, Revelation 15:7. GO... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE FIRST WENT - Went forth from heaven, where the seat of the vision was laid. AND POURED OUT HIS VIAL UPON THE EARTH - That is, upon the land, in contradistinction from the sea, the rivers, the air, the seat of the beast, the sun, as represented in the other vials. In Revelation 16:1, the word... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE SECOND ANGEL POURED OUT HIS VIAL UPON THE SEA - So the second trumpet Revelation 8:8, “And the second angel sounded, and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea; and the third part of the sea became blood.” For the meaning of this as a symbol, see the notes on tha... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE THIRD ANGEL POURED OUT HIS VIAL UPON THE RIVERS AND FOUNTAINS OF WATERS - This coincides also with the account of the sounding of the third trumpet Revelation 8:10; “And the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of th... [ Continue Reading ]
AND I HEARD THE ANGEL OF THE WATERS SAY - The angel who presides over the element of water; in allusion to the common opinion among the Hebrews that the angels presided over elements, and that each element was committed to the jurisdiction of a particular angel. Compare the notes on Revelation 7:1.... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THEY HAVE SHED THE BLOOD OF SAINTS - The nations here referred to. They have been engaged in scenes of bloody persecution, and this is a just recompense. AND PROPHETS - Teachers of religion; ministers of truth. It is not necessary to understand the word “prophets” here in its technical sense, a... [ Continue Reading ]
AND I HEARD ANOTHER - Evidently another angel, though this is not specified. OUT OF THE ALTAR - Either the angel of the altar - that is, who presided over the altar (Prof. Stuart), or an angel whose voice seemed to come from the altar. The sense is essentially the same. The writer seemed to hear a v... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE FOURTH ANGEL POURED OUT HIS VIAL UPON THE SUN - Toward the sun, or so as to reach the sun. The effect was as if it had been poured upon the sun, giving it an intense heat, and thus inflicting a severe judgment upon people. This corresponds also with the fourth trumpet Revelation 8:12, where... [ Continue Reading ]
AND MEN WERE SCORCHED WITH GREAT HEAT - That is, as above expressed, calamity came upon them which would be well represented by such heat. It is said that this calamity would come upon people, and we are to suppose that it would be such that human life would be particularly affected; and as that hea... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE FIFTH ANGEL POURED OUT HIS VIAL UPON THE SEAT OF THE BEAST - The previous judgments had been preparatory to this. They all had a bearing on this, and were all preliminary to it; but the “seat” - the home, the center of the power of the beast - had not yet been reached. Here, however, there w... [ Continue Reading ]
AND BLASPHEMED THE GOD OF HEAVEN - The same effect which it was said would be produced by the pouring out of the fourth vial, Revelation 16:9. BECAUSE OF THEIR PAINS AND THEIR SORES - Of the calamities that had come upon them. AND REPENTED NOT OF THEIR DEEDS - See the notes on Revelation 16:9. Com... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE SIXTH ANGEL POURED OUT HIS VIAL UPON THE GREAT RIVER EUPHRATES - On the situation of that river, and the symbolical meaning of this language, see the notes on Revelation 9:14. The reference there was supposed to be to the Turkish power, and the analogy of interpretation would seem to require... [ Continue Reading ]
AND I SAW THREE UNCLEAN SPIRITS - They assumed a visible form which would well represent their odiousness - that of frogs - but still they are spoken of as “spirits.” They were evil powers, or evil influences (Revelation 16:14, “spirits of devils”), and the language here is undoubtedly designed to r... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THEY ARE THE SPIRITS OF DEVILS - On the meaning of the word used here, see the notes on Revelation 9:20. It is used here, as it is in Revelation 9:20, in a bad sense, as denoting evil spirits. Compare the notes on Matthew 4:1, Matthew 4:24. WORKING MIRACLES - Working what seemed to be miracles;... [ Continue Reading ]
BEHOLD, I COME AS A THIEF - That is, suddenly and unexpectedly. See the Matthew 24:43 note; 1 Thessalonians 5:2 note. This is designed evidently to admonish people to watch, or to be in readiness for his coming, since, whenever it would occur, it would be at a time when people were not expecting him... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE GATHERED THEM TOGETHER - Who gathered them? Prof. Stuart renders it “they gathered them together,” supposing that it refers to the “spirits” - πνέυματα pneumata - in Revelation 16:13, and that this is the construction of the neuter plural with a singular verb. So DeWette understands it. Heng... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE SEVENTH ANGEL POURED OUT HIS VIAL INTO THE AIR - This introduces the final catastrophe in regard to the “beast” - his complete and utter overthrow, accompanied with tremendous judgments. Why the vial was poured into the air is not stated. The most probable supposition as to the idea intended... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THERE WERE VOICES, AND THUNDERS, AND LIGHTNINGS - Accompanying the voice that was heard from the throne. See the notes on Revelation 4:5; Revelation 11:19. AND THERE WAS A GREAT EARTHQUAKE, ... - See the notes on Revelation 6:12; Revelation 11:19. The meaning is, that a judgment followed as if... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE GREAT CITY WAS DIVIDED INTO THREE PARTS - The city of Babylon; or the mighty power that was represented by Babylon. See the notes on Revelation 14:8. The division mentioned here in three parts was manifestly with reference to its destruction - either that one part was smitten and the others... [ Continue Reading ]
AND EVERY ISLAND FLED AWAY - Expressive of great and terrible judgments, as if the very earth were convulsed, and everything were moved out of its place. See the notes on Revelation 6:14. AND THE MOUNTAINS WERE NOT FOUND - The same image occurs in Revelation 6:14. See the notes on that place.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THERE FELL UPON MEN A GREAT HAIL OUT OF HEAVEN - Perhaps this is an allusion to one of the plagues of Egypt, Exodus 9:22. Compare the notes on Revelation 11:19. For a graphic description (by Com. Porter) of the effects of a hailstorm, see the notes on Isaiah 30:30. Compare the notes on Job 38:22... [ Continue Reading ]