Bible Commentaries
Revelation 16

Verse 1

^{THE VIALS OF WRATH EMPTIED UPON THE EARTH v. 1-21}

^{Note: see also Introduction Revelation}

^{1) "And I heard a great voice," (kai ekousa megales phones) "and I heard a megaphone-like voice;”- voice of a shaking power, like the voice of God from Sinai, Exodus 19:16-19. It was a voice of judgment.}

^{2) " Out of the temple saying to the seven angels," (ek tou naou legouses tois hepta angelois) "out of the shrine area of heaven saying," instructing them regarding their role in pouring out their vials or bowls of judgments for their God. Hebrews 1:14.}

^{3) "Go your ways and pour out," (hupagete kai ekcheete) "you all go and pour out," or empty; These seven recurring degrees of divine judgment that are to be poured out seem to be during the last forty-two month period of the Great tribulation, not so much in orderly sequence as in increased intensity to the end.}

^{4) "The vials of the wrath of God upon the earth," (tas hepta philias tou thumou tou theou eis ten gen) "The seven vials - bowls of the impassioned anger or wrath of God into the earth," upon the land; Revelation 14:10; Revelation 15:1; Revelation 15:7.}

^{This wrath is reserved for:}

^{a) rebels, Psalms 79:6;}

^{b) persecutors, Jeremiah 10:25;}

^{c) heathen nations, Zephaniah 3:8-9;}

^{d) natural unbelieving Israel, Daniel 9:27;}

^{e) despising unbelievers, Romans 2:4-5.}

^{It will be as literal as God’s judgment upon the pre-flood world, Sodom and Gomorrha, and as the plagues of Egypt.}

Verse 2

^{1) "And the first went," (kai apelthen ho protos) "and the first (of the seven angels) went away," away from the temple in heaven, as he had been directed, Revelation 16:1; Revelation 8:7; For God’s angels are now eager to do his will, Hebrews 1:6.}

^{2) "And poured out his vial upon the earth," (kai eksecheen ten phialen autou eis ten gen) "And poured out his vial (bowl) into the earth," or upon the land area of the earth, the domain of the devil, the seat of sin for yet a little season. John 12:31; John 14:30; Ephesians 2:2; Revelation 12:8-12.}

^{3) "And there fell a noisome and grievous sore upon the men," (kai egeneto helkos kakon kai poneron epi tous anthropous) "and there came a loud, bad, and vulgar appearing sore, a painful ulcer upon the men of the earth," Isaiah 1:6; to annoy and make them cry aloud in pain, as Pharaoh’s rebellion in Egypt, Exodus 9:9-11; Deuteronomy 28:35; as literal and as real as were the sores that dogs licked on Lazarus’ body, Luke 16:19-21.}

^{4) "Which had the mark of the beast," (tous echontas to charagma tou theriou) "(upon) those who had received the mark of the beast;” who were his slaves, his property by their personal choice. The antichrist controls every polluted soul, every lost soul, every false teacher, 2 Corinthians 4:3-4.}

^{5) "And upon them which worshipped his image," (kai tous proskunountas te eikoni autou) "and upon those continually worshipping his image," or who had continually worshipped his image, who had bowed down before this beast person who had declared himself to be God and required worship of men, Daniel 9:27; John 5:43; 2 Thessalonians 2:4-12; Revelation 13:14-17.}

Verse 3

^{1) "And the second angel poured out his vial," (kai ho deuteros eksecheen ten phialen autou) "and the second (of the seven angels) poured out (emptied) his vial-like bowl;" as in Revelation 8:8-9 judgment is here poured out, in even a more intense manner.}

^{2) "Upon the sea," (eis ten thalassan) "into the sea;” where the burning mountain had formerly been cast and killed one third of sea life creatures, Revelation 8:9.}

^{3) "And it became as the blood of a dead man," (kai egeneto haima hos nekrou)"and it became similar to (the) blood of a dead corpse," coagulated, or congealed blood, as clotted and polluted blood, with no more liquid, or flowing form. Such was the judgment of God that the second angel poured out on the sea! This plague is final as compared with the former of similar nature, Revelation 8:8.}

^{4) "And every living soul died in the sea," (kai pasa psuche zoes apethanen ta en tethalasse) "and every soul of life (living creature), the things that had lived in the sea, died." For the sea had become jelled as congealed blood, no longer with life in it, all living creatures in it yet surviving the previous judgment under the angel of the second trumpet died. Revelation 8:8-9.}

^{This judgment was after the Divine order of that sent upon the waters of Egypt, in the days of Pharaoh’s rebellion, Exodus 7:20-21; Psalms 78:44; Psalms 105:29.}

Verse 4

^{1) "And the third angel poured his vial," (kai ho tritos eksecheen ten phialen autou) "and the third (of the seven angels) poured out or emptied his vial-like bowl;” his judgment containing bowl that he had brought from the temple of God in heaven, Revelation 16:1.}

^{2) "Upon the rivers and fountains of waters," (eis tous potamous kai tas pegas ton hudaton) "into the rivers and fountains of waters;” This is as Moses had done to the fresh water supplies in the former days of God’s judgment upon Egypt, Exodus 7:17-21.}

^{3) "And they became blood," (kai egeneto haima) "and it (the water) or waters of rivers and fountains became blood;” all fresh water sources above and beneath the ground were corrupted or polluted so that the Antichrist and all his hordes had only water polluted with blood to drink, Revelation 8:10; Exodus 7:17; Exodus 7:20; Psalms 78:44.}

Verse 5

^{1) "And I heard the angel of the waters say," (kai ekousa tou angelou ton hudaton legontos) "the third of the seven angels saying repeatedly," the one that had poured out his bowl of Divine vengeance upon the rivers and fountains of waters, repeating the following Divine adoration of his righteous judgment.}

^{2) "Thou art righteous, 0 Lord, which art," (dikaios ei ho on ho hosios) "righteous art thou, the one who is the holy one," 0 Lord, as in Revelation 15:3.}

^{3) "And wast and shalt be," (kai ho en) "and existed (was) and shall ever be;” the eternal God, the Master or Lord of all forever, Revelation 1:4; Revelation 1:8; Revelation 4:8; Revelation 11:17.}

^{4) "Because thou hast judged thus," (hoti tauta ekrinas) "Because thou judgest these things;” only the evil of the earth question the justice and righteousness of God- not the angels of heaven or the redeemed, Romans 3:3-6.}

^{If God did not judge sin, he could not save sinners. It was the judgment of sin in his Son (sins that he bore for us), that provided the righteous ground for the believer’s pardon, as well as the unbeliever’s judgment for his own sins, 1 Peter 2:24; 1 Peter 3:18; John 3:18; John 8:24.}

Verse 6

^{1) "For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets," (hoti haima hagion kai propheton eksechean) "Because they have shed blood of both saints and prophets;” primarily from among the Jewish believers who had received the Messiah as Saviour under the witnessing of the two witnesses, during their testimony for 42 months, before the revelation of the man of sin, who required personal worship, Revelation 11:1-4; Daniel 9:26-27; 2 Thessalonians 2:4-12 - - and before the 144,000 were sealed against death in the 42 month period after Satan was cast out of heaven, Revelation 12:7-14.}

^{2) "And thou hast given them blood to drink," (kai haima autois dedokas pein) "And thou hast, in judgment that is righteous, doled out to them, given to them, blood to drink;” even to those who had been blood-thirsty for forced worship of the beast, to the point of murdering those who would not worship him or his image, Revelation 13:14.}

^{3) "For they are worthy," (aksioi eisin) "They are worthy," they have it coming, it is a just retribution for their blood-thirsty murder of saints and prophets (those who had not been among the 144,000) who were sealed and preserved against death, Revelation 7:3-4; Revelation 14:1.}

^{They had murdered saints and prophets of their own lifetime, as their rebellious fathers had done before the coming of Christ, Matthew 23:34-36; Acts 7:51-54; Revelation 11:18; Revelation 18:20. They were given blood to drink to quench their thirst.}

^{This judgment blood is given to Israel’s persecutors in the last days. So vicious are her beast persecutors that they are figuratively identified with both Babylon and Rome in their most wicked and cruel times, as persecutors of the Church of Jesus Christ, Revelation 17:6; Revelation 18:24; Revelation 6:10.}

Verse 7

^{1) "And I heard another out of the altar say,"(kai ekousa tou thusiasteriou legontos) "And I heard (another voice) out of the altar area of heaven saying repeatedly," as if in a refrain of holy temple harmony, affirming:}

^{2) "Even so Lord God Almighty, (nai kurie ho theos ho pantokrator) "even so (yea), O Lord, the God who is Almighty;”- the God of adoration. Heaven’s choir seems attuned with a rousing "Amen"! to the administration of righteous judgment.}

^{3) "True and righteous are thy judgments," (alethenai kai dikaiai hai kriseis sou) "thy judgments (exist as) true and righteous," in every essence of being and administration. With this righteous judgment upon the earth no angel can find a flaw, whether it be upon rebellious Israel or the great whore and her offspring among the Gentiles, Revelation 15:3; Revelation 18:20; Revelation 19:2; Psalms 119:75; Psalms 119:164.}

Verse 8

^{4) THE FOURTH VIAL, UPON THE SUN v. 8, 9}

^{1) "And the fourth angel poured out his vial," (kai ho tetaros eksecheen ten phialen autou) "and the fourth (of the seven angels) poured out or emptied his bowl," his vial-like container, as he had been directed to do, Revelation 16:1.}

^{2) "Upon the sun," (epi ton helion) "upon or onto the sun," source and center of earth’s energy and light. After the earth, the sea, and the rivers were accursed, then came the curse upon the Sun - - boils, ulcers, sores, and survival by drinking of bloody water were the dregs of judgment God had already poured out, Psalms 75:8; Proverbs 1:23-31; Revelation 6:14-17.}

^{3) "And power was given unto him," (kai edothe auto) and it was given over to him;” to the fourth angel, a minister of God in delivering vengeance to earth’s final wicked rebels, Hebrews 1:14.}

^{4) "To scorch men with fire," (kaumatisai tous anthropous en puri) "to scorch men with (in) fire;” Earth’s greatest blessing became man’s greatest blight. This was a much more intense heat than the former sun smiting, Revelation 8:12; Revelation 9:17-18; Revelation 14:18. This judgment seems to be a retribution of special design upon those deceived by the beast, who as a miracle-working deceiver, deluded men on earth who disregarded God’s Word and warning against the nature and work of the antichrist and his false prophets, John 5:43; 2 Corinthians 11:13-15; Revelation 13:14; Revelation 16:13-15.}

Verse 9

^{1) "And men were scorched with great heat," (kai ekaumatithesan hoi anthropoi kauma mega) "and the men were burnt with a conflagration, a furious heat;" The heat as of an oven, Malachi 4:1; as forewarned under the Law that Israel claims to believe, Deuteronomy 2:18; Deuteronomy 2:23-24; Isaiah 24:4-13.}

^{2) "And blasphemed the name of God," (kai eblasphemesan to onoma tou theou) "and they blasphemed (spoke in derision against) the name of God," against God’s authority and judgments, as in Revelation 16:11; Revelation 16:21. They dare and defy and deride judgment, yet it comes, Proverbs 1:23-30. They knew God, but glorified him not, chose their obstinate destiny, Romans 1:19-28.}

^{3) "Which hath power over these plagues," (tou echontos tes eksousian epi tas plegas tautas) "the God who continually holds administrative power or ,jurisdiction over these many plagues;” Acts 17:30-31; 2 Timothy 4:1-2.}

^{4) "And they repented not," (kai ou metenoesan) "and these (men) who had received the mark and worshipped the image of the beast repented not;” what one sows he surely reaps, Galatians 6:7-8; Hebrews 9:27; 2 Peter 3:9.}

^{5) "To give him glory," (dounai auto doksan) "to give glory to him," the-righteous and true God. Apart from or without repentance and faith no man can please or glorify God, through Jesus Christ, while living or beyond death, Luke 13:3; Luke 13:5; Acts 17:30-31; 2 Corinthians 7:10. Others under judgment had given him glory, Revelation 11:13.}

Verse 10

^{5) THE FIFTH VIAL, UPON THE SEAT OF THE BEAST v. 10, 11}

^{1) "And the fifth angel poured out his vial," (kai ho pemptos execheen ten phialen autou) "and the fifth (of the seven angels) poured out (emptied) his vial-like bowl," of final tribulation judgment, Revelation 15:1; Revelation 16:1.}

^{2) "Upon the seat of the beast," (epi ton thronon tou theriou) "upon the throne (administrative seat) of the beast," from the center, fountain-head of his work, where his headquarters of administration was located, called his throne, Revelation 13:2. The throne the dragon gave to the antichrist has now been assailed by the judgment vindicating angels of God.}

^{3) "And his kingdom was full of darkness," (kai egeneto he basileia autou eskotomene) "and the kingdom of the beast’s administration became darkened," horrified, confused in ignorance, in a state of convulsion. Note the first four judgments (prior ones) were through nature, but the last three are upon men. This fifth vial of darkness came not only upon the very throne of the antichrist but also upon all men, outer darkness, Isaiah 8:22; Isaiah 60:2; Joel 2:1-2; Joel 2:31; Mark 13:24-25; It is chosen darkness; John 3:19-20.}

^{4) "And they gnawed their tongues for pain," (kai emasonto tas glossas auton ek panou) "and they (those who had taken the mark and were worshipping the beast) gnawed (or chewed) their tongues from (originating from) the pain," they had conscious convulsions, Zechariah 14:12. Self -condemnation, self-blame, guilty consciences of gripping fear, tortured their souls because of their blind insolence against the righteous, living God. They gnawed their tongues that had cursed, derided, and blasphemed God - yet did not repent.}

Verse 11

^{1) "And blasphemed the God of heaven," (kai eblasphemesan ton tou ouranou) "and they blasphemed (derided) the God of heaven;” as also described Revelation 16:9; Revelation 16:21; This is the "God of heaven," through whom Daniel and the three Hebrew children received grace for their trials and deliverance, Daniel 2:18.}

^{2) "Because of their pains," (ek ton panon auton)"from their pains," their just judgment sufferings, from boils and ulcers and burns upon their bodies, Zechariah 14:12. Too ignorant to see their wickedness and repent these have to suffer the effects of the former plagues.}

^{3) "And their sores," (kai ek ton helkon auton) "and from (out of) their sores," the polluted, corrupt, putrefying sores that would not be healed, Isaiah 1:4-6; Jeremiah 8:22; The answer to their cry of blasphemy is Proverbs 1:23-30; Proverbs 29:1.}

^{4) "And repented not of their deeds," (kai ou metenoesan ek ton ergon auton) "and they did not repent (turn away from) their works or deeds," from their allegiance to the beast, the man of sin, or the antichrist, Proverbs 27:22; Daniel 12:10; Luke 23:39-40. Yet, God desires that none perish, but that all come to repentance, though he forces his will on none, Amos 4:12; 2 Peter 3:9; Romans 2:5.}

Verse 12

^{1) "And the sixth angel poured out his vial," (kai ho hektos execheen ten phialen autou) "And the sixth (of the seven angels) poured out (emptied) his vial-like container, (bowl)," of judgment as directed from the temple area of heaven, Revelation 15:1; Revelation 16:1.}

^{2) "Upon the great river Euphrates," (epi ton potamon ton megan Euphraten) "Upon that great river, the Euphrates;” where four angels were bound or held back for a time, where the East meets the West, where the Eastern boundary of God’s land grant covenant of Abraham and Israel is located, Revelation 9:14; Genesis 15:18. The river Euphrates is 1,800 miles long from 900 to 3,600 feet wide, 10 to 30 feet deep.}

^{3) "And the water thereof was dried up," (kai ekseranthe to hudor autou) "And its water was dried up (evaporated)," taken away or taken out of its bed, dried up, by Divine provision, much as the Red Sea and Jordan were for Israel’s crossing, Exodus 14:16; Exodus 21:30; Jeremiah 50:38-39; Jeremiah 51:36.}

^{4) "That the way of the kings of the East," (hina he hodos ton basileon ton apoanatoles heliou) "in order that (for the purpose that) the roadway of the kings (royal rulers)from the land of the rising sun," the Eastern world, India, Pakistan, Japan, China, etc., Isaiah 41:2; Isaiah 41:25.}

^{5) "Might be prepared," (hetoimasthe) "might be prepared," or made ready, ready for royal confrontations of earthly rulers yet to occur in tribulation fury nearing the end of the tribulation era, Isaiah 11:15-16; Isaiah 44:27; Jeremiah 51:36; Zechariah 10:11.}

Verse 13

^{(PARENTHETICAL RELIEF) v. 13-16}

^{1) "And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs," (kai eidon pneumatitria akatharta hos batrachoi) "and I recognized three unclean (polluted, foul) spirits similar to frogs;” These amphibious creatures are associated with and in a class with serpents, considered to be unclean, here used to signify demon (unclean spirits) spirits, originating from the Devil. This reminds of the loathsome frog plague upon Egypt, Exodus 8:1-6.}

^{2) "Come out of the mouth of the dragon," (ek tou stomatos tou drakontos) "exuding out of the mouth of the dragon," that old serpent, the Devil; clever, cunning, and deceptive was his speech (like honey) to trap a spider; This proceeds from the Devil, through his demon spirits and false prophets, 1 Timothy 4:1-2; Revelation 12:3; Revelation 12:9.}

^{3) "And out of the mouth of the beast," (kai ektou stomatos tou theriou) "and coming (exuding) out of or from the mouth of the beast;” from the one world, Gentile heathen, antichrist ruler, John 5:43; 1 John 4:1-6; Babylon is identified as either the physical location or the corrupt moral and ethical state and condition of the time and events of this blasphemy and deception, Revelation 18:2.}

^{4) "And out of the mouth of the false prophet," (kai ek tou stomatos tou pseudoprophetou) "and exuding (coming out from) the mouth of the false prophet," who represents himself as, and requires worship as if he were God, 2 Thessalonians 2:4-12; Revelation 13:11-17; Revelation 19:20; Revelation 20:10; 1 John 2:18.}

^{Seducing, demon spirits, bearing the message of the Devil called doctrines (teachings) of devils, go forth on a malicious and disastrous expedition with the support or cooperation of all kings and governments to oppose and suppress the coming Kingdom of the Lamb of God.}

Verse 14

^{1) "For they are the spirits of devils," (eisin gar pneumata daimonian) "for they (these frog-like creatures) are spirits of demons," cohorts who do the work of the devil, 1 Timothy 4:1-2; 1 John 4:1-6. They have a devil directed mission of pious religious deception by which they doom souls to hell, Matthew 7:22; 1 Corinthians 10:20-21.}

^{2) "Working miracles," (poiounta semeia) "working, continually manipulating signs," miracles of natural phenomena, trying by deceptive powers to doom and damn her followers, as Pharaoh’s magicians did, and as others have done, Revelation 13:13; Deuteronomy 13:1-3; Exodus 7:11-12; Exodus 7:22; Exodus 8:7; Exodus 18:19; 1 Kings 22:19-23.}

^{3) "Which go forth," (ha ekporeuetai) "which signs or miracles go forth (are done)," and have been done by Satan and his false prophets through the ages as lying deceiving witnesses, Matthew 7:22; as Simon the Sorcerer Elymas the Sorcerer, and Seven sons of Sceva, Acts 8:9; Acts 13:6-12; Acts 19:11-20.}

^{4) "Unto the kings of the whole earth," (epi tous basileis tes oikoumenes holes) "upon or to influence the kings (royal rulers) of the whole inhabited earth;” These attempt to counter or disclaim, disprove every claim of Christ even before kings and rulers of the whole earth, 1 Timothy 4:1-3; They are to be resisted by the Word and power of the Spirit, James 4:7.}

^{5) "To gather them to the battle," (sunagagein autous eis ton polemon) "to assemble them as colleagues into the war," the Battle of Armageddon. Though this final battle begins at the great Euphrates, it appears to move 1,000 miles westward to Megiddo the valley of Jehoshaphat for its final end, Luke 21:24; Revelation 16:19; Zechariah 12:10-11; Joel 3:2; Joel 3:12.}

^{6) "Of that great day of God Almighty," (tes hemeras tes megales tou theou tou pantokratoros) "of the great day of God Almighty;” Psalms 2:1-4; Revelation 6:17; Revelation 19:11-21.}

Verse 15

^{1) "Behold I come as a thief," (idou erchomai hos kleptes) "Behold (of my own accord) I am coming as a thief" at a time when the unbelieving world ignores signs and warnings of the coming Lord and judge he shall come upon them, when they have no expectancy, 1 Thessalonians 5:2; Matthew 24:42; Matthew 25:6; 2 Peter 3:10.}

^{2) "Blessed is he that watcheth," (makarios ho gregoron) "Blessed (spiritually prosperous) is the one continually watching;" Matthew 24:46; Luke 12:37; Luke 21:34-36; Mark 13:33-37.}

^{3) "And keepeth his garments," (kai teron ta himatia autou) "and keeping his garments," the passions of the flesh guarding, keeping under subjection. Blessed is he, 1 Corinthians 6:19-20; 1 Corinthians 9:26-27. Separated, holy, dedicated life and service bring special blessings at the coming of Christ. Hebrews 9:28.}

^{4) "Lest he walk naked,"(hina me gumnos peripate)"in order that he not walk naked," before demons and demon led men, without moral and ethical influence; Romans 12:1-2; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20.}

^{5) "And they see his shame," (kai bleposin ten aschumosunes autou) "and that they see not his shame," or conduct that would be an occasion for shame, loss of reward as an unfaithful child of God, tribulation judgment if not looking for the coming of Christ, Luke 21:34-36; Revelation 3:18; Luke 12:45-47.}

Verse 16

^{1) "And he gathered them together," (kai sunagagen autous) "and he gathered them together," he assembled them as colleagues of common interest, nature, and ties, Revelation 18:19.}

^{2) "Into a place," (eis ton topon) "into a physical place," a topographical locality, a specific location, in the plains of Megiddo, (1) where, the stars fought against Sisera, Judges 5:19; (2) where Josiah was slain 2 Kings 23:29; 2 Chronicles 35:22.}

^{3) "Called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon," (ton kaloumenon hebraisti Armageddon) "that is being called in the Hebrew language Armageddon," identified as Armageddon, near Megiddo at the west side of the valley of Jehoshaphat, known also as Mount of Slaughter, place of the final struggle of earth’s armies, where armies of the beast assemble to try to dethrone the Lamb, Revelation 19:19; Joel 3:2; Joel 3:11-14.}

^{NOTE: Revelation 16:13-16 are a parenthetical rest or relief review of earthly activities between the sixth and the seventh or last plague.}

Verse 17

^{7) THE SEVENTH VIAL, INTO THE AIR v. 17-21}

^{1) "And the seventh angel poured out his vial," (kai no hebdomos eksecheen ten phialen autou) "and the seventh (of the seven angels) poured out (emptied) his vial-like bowl of foretold and revealed judgment, Revelation 15:1; Revelation 16:1.}

^{2) "Into the air," (epi ton aera) "upon the air," under the heaven, the atmosphere where Satan exists as Prince of the "power of the air," Ephesians 2:2; Ephesians 6:12. Seven as the number of Divine completion indicated that this was the last judgment plague.}

^{3) "And there came a great voice out of the temple of God," (kai exeelthen phone megale ek tou naou) "and there came forth a megaphone-like voice out of the shrine area;- where God sat upon the throne, Hebrews 12:2; Ephesians 1:20; Hebrews 1:3. This appears to be the voice of the Son of God before the throne whose last cry of the cross was "it is finished," John 19:30.}

^{4) "From the throne saying, it is done," (apo tou thronou legousa gegonen) "From the (central) throne saying repeatedly, it has occurred," as Divinely commanded; happened or become; it is done or finished, Revelation 21:6. It is the completion of earthly judgment on unbelievers, culminated or reaching fruition in the coming of Christ in judgment power and Revelation; 2 Thessalonians 1:6-12; See especially Isaiah 26:20-21.}

Verse 18

^{1) "And there were," (kai egeneto) "and there were," "There existed, became, or occurred," in connection with this seventh plague of aerial convulsions.}

^{a) "Voices," (kai phonai) "voices," were heard, voices of crying and dying men, Revelation 11:19; Psalms 50:3-5; Psalms 102:25-28.}

^{b) "And thunders," (kai brontai) "and there were rumbling thunders," reverberating with tremors of terror to dying men.}

^{c) "And lightnings," (kai astrapai) "and lightnings flashed," as thunder rolled; commotion shall come, unparalleled in human history, preceding this final hour of judgment, Isaiah 29:6; Isaiah 51:6; Matthew 24:29; Hebrews 12:26-27; Revelation 4:5.}

^{2) "And there was a great earthquake," (kai seismos egeneto megas) 11 and there was (occurred) a great earthquake;" Revelation 6:12-17; Isaiah 2:19-22; Daniel 12:1; Haggai 2:6-7.}

^{3) "Such as was not," (hoios ouk egeneto) "the like of which has not occurred or happened," Matthew 24:31. Unprecedented is the scene!}

^{4) "Since men were upon the earth," (aph’ ou anthropos egeneto) "from the time of man’s existence," (epi tes ges) "Since men have been upon the earth," Matthew 24:31.}

^{5) "So mighty an earthquake and so great," (teelikoutos seismos houto megas) "such a devastating earthquake, so exceeding great it was;” that mountains are leveled, islands are destroyed, the Dead Sea level is raised so that it shall flow again into the Red Sea and become fresh water, Zechariah 14:4-5; Revelation 6:12; Revelation 11:13; 1 Peter 4:7.}

Verse 19

^{1) "And the great city was divided into three parts," (kai egeneto he polis he megale eis tria mere) "and the great city (Jerusalem) was divided into three parts;” This cataclysm is to occur at the conclusion of the Battle of Armageddon and the coming of the Lord, in Power and Great glory, to be glorified in the Saints, 2 Thessalonians 1:10-12; The Mount of Olives shall divide, and the city be cleft three ways, Zechariah 14:4-5; Zechariah 13:9.}

^{2) "And the cities of the nations fell," (kai hai poleiston ethnon epesan) "and the cities of the nations fell, were shaken down, collapsed;” while Jerusalem was preserved as the city of Peace, the Zion of Christ’s reign, all cities of the Gentile Beast, one world government of all nations were destroyed, in Universal ruin; This ends the time of the Gentiles. Daniel 2:34-35; Luke 21:24; Revelation 19:11; Revelation 19:21.}

^{3) "And great Babylon came in remembrance before God," (kai Babulon he megale emnesthe enopion tou theou) "and great Babylon was remembered (for judgment) before (in the presence of) God;” This personifies, identifies, the object of God’s judgment wrath as the Gentile World powers in corrupt religious consort much like ancient Babylon and the city of Babylon, Revelation 14:8; Revelation 17:18; Revelation 18:5.}

^{4) "To give unto her the cup," (dounai aute to poterion) "to dole out (give over) to her the cup," the container, the measure or the content of the bitter dregs of his judgment, Psalms 11:6; Psalms 75:8; Isaiah 51:17-23.}

^{5) "Of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath," (tou oinou tou thumou tes orges autou) "of the impassioned anger of the wrath or fury of God," Jeremiah 25:15-17; Revelation 6:14; Revelation 14:9-10. This describes the ultimate, the final, the complete overthrow of civilization without God.}

Verse 20

^{1) "And every island fled away," (kai pasa nesos ephugen) "and every island fled away," was suddenly removed. The very face of the earth is to be changed, perhaps to the point that the physical lay of the earth that seems to have been divided into islands and continents, after the flood, in the days of Peleg shall be brought together again, all in one place, Genesis 10:25; Revelation 6:14.}

^{2) "And the mountains were not found," (kai hore ouch heurethesan) "and mountains were not (to be) found any more;” The earth, it appears, may have barrier mountains no more after the coming of the Lord to restore all things, including the earth to its Edenic and pre-flood glory, as he sits on David’s Throne ruling the Universe in peace, Luke 1:30-34; Romans 8:19-21; Acts 15:13-18; 1 Corinthians 15:24-28.}

Verse 21

^{1) "And there fell upon men," (kai katabainei epi tous anthropous) "and there came down (fell with calamity) upon men;” upon those driven to the plains by the great earthquake, verse 20. But there was found "no hiding place", as in Revelation 6:14-17; Proverbs 1:22-30; Proverbs 29:1.}

^{2) "A great hail out of heaven," (chalaza megale ek tou ouranou) "a calamitous hail out of (originating from) heaven," from the jurisdictional throne of God, Revelation 8:2; Revelation 11:19.}

^{3) "Every stone about the weight of a talent," (hos talan tiaia) "and each stone(hail stone) was about the weight of a talent;- estimated to be from about 50 to 100 pounds in weight, Joshua 10:11; Job 38:22-23; Isaiah 30:30.}

^{4) "And men blasphemed God," (kai eblasphemesan hoi anthropoi ton theon) "and the men blasphemed (derided, scoffed at, blamed) God." These were the men who had taken the mark of and worshipped the beast, now stoned as blasphemers, Revelation 16:9; Revelation 16:11.}

^{5) "Because of the plague of the hail,"(ektes plegestes chalazes) "from (as a result of) the plague of hail;” Pharaoh even repented under a less severe hail, Exodus 9:18-25. Nobody with the brand of the antichrist will ever repent. Their last words are curses and blasphemies against God, yet they die, and "after this the judgment," Hebrews 9:27.}

^{6) "For the plague thereof was exceeding great," (hoti mega n he plege autes sphodra) "because it is (exists as) an exceeding, calamitous hail-plague;" men may breathe God’s air in blasphemy, blame him for ignorance and wrong, though he be righteous and they be obsessed with sin. He desires that all repent ere it is too late - - only judgment remains, Acts 17:30-31; Romans 2:4-5; 2 Peter 3:9; Ezekiel 33:11; 2 Corinthians 7:10.}