Bible Commentaries
Revelation 16

Verses 1-21

With the pouring out of the first bowl, ugly and painful sores break out upon his worshippers (16:2).

The second bowl completes the destruction of the sea, so that everything in it dies and its waters turn to blood (16:3). We will learn later that in the world to come there will be no more sea (Revelation 21:1). In like fashion the third bowl brings the final pollution and destruction of all the rivers and springs (16:4). Natural life is being cut off from earth.

Through all the ages men have dared question the judgments of God. They have particularly questioned God in regard to his dealings with Israel. Yet, in Psalm 99:4, the Psalmist says, "…in Jacob you have done what is just and right." Here the angel of God declares a similar thing, "You are just in these judgments – for they have shed the blood of your holy people and your prophets, and you have given them blood to drink as they deserve" (16:5-6). The very altar in heaven responds in affirmation to this declaration.

True to the other scenarios we have seen in Revelation, the heavenly bodies are now affected. When the fourth angel pours out his bowl, the sun begins to scorch people with fire (16:8). These afflicted have become so hardened by their devotion to the Beast that they still refuse to repent (16:9).

When the fifth angel pours out his bowl, the Beast is afflicted. There is darkness, sores and awful pain in his dominion. Still, his people only curse God and refuse to repent (16:10-11). We have seen in our own time the beginnings of a similar hardness displayed. Years ago when some of the first homosexuals became infected with the dreadful plague of AIDS, they cried out in hatred and derision, "God just wants his pound of flesh!"

At this point the massive troop movements begin. These will lead up to the great Battle of Armageddon. The sixth angel is instrumental in this development, by pouring out his bowl of wrath on the waters of the Euphrates River(16:12). This act prepares the way for a great military invasion from the East. This movement seems to be both natural and spiritual.

We see here that evil spirits go out, probably from the Euphrates area or Babylon. They are described as frogs, perhaps due to their uncleanness and incessant croaking.^(F1) Their purpose is to deceive the whole world and gather it to this last great battle (16:13-14). We see that as far back as the days of Daniel, there were powerful spiritual entities ruling in this area of the world (Daniel 10:12-14). Now it is perhaps these very spiritual powers that are going out to draw the whole world to Armageddon.

What a time to watch and be sober! Jesus says, "Behold, I come like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake and remains clothed, so as not to go naked and be shamefully exposed" (16:15). Here the author may be referring back to those who kept watch in the temple. When they were found asleep, their superiors often confiscated their garments or set them on fire because of their negligence.^(F2)

Now once again we see the great end-time move to gather all nations to Armageddon (16:16). Many of the prophets had long before spoken of this event (Joel 3:2; Zephaniah 3:8). The seventh angel now pours out his bowl into the air. Accompanying this is lightning, thunder, rumblings and a mighty earthquake. With these are the words, "…It is done!" (16:17). The Holy City of Jerusalem is split into three parts (16:19; cf. Zechariah 14:4-5). Now we have the second mention of Babylon, whose fall is imminent. God is about to give her the cup of his fury. Evil people continue to curse God as hundred-pound (45 kg) hailstones (16:21) rain from the sky.