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Revelation

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Revelation 16

Commentary · verses 1-21

This chapter gave the curses of the seven bowls during the last days of the Tribulation.

1And I heard a great voice out of the temple, saying to the seven angels, Go ye, and pour out the seven bowls of the wrath of God into the earth.

1And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth.

Commentary · verse 1

The seven angels were told to pour out the bowls (vials) of God's wrath on the earth.

2And the first went, and poured out his bowl into the earth; and it became a noisome and grievous sore upon the men that had the mark of the beast, and that worshipped his image.

2And the first went, and poured out his vial upon the earth; and there fell a noisome and grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and upon them which worshipped his image.

Commentary · verse 2

The first bowl caused a "noisome" (of a bad nature, not such as it ought to be) and "grievous" (full of labors, annoyances, hardships) sore to come upon those who had the mark of the beast and those who worshipped his image. It appears that people will have an allergic/toxic reaction to the (electronic?) mark that is placed in their skin.

3And the second poured out his bowl into the sea; and it became blood as of a dead man; and every living soul died, even the things that were in the sea.

3And the second angel poured out his vial upon the sea; and it became as the blood of a dead man: and every living soul died in the sea.

Commentary · verse 3

The second bowl was poured on the sea and it became blood as of a dead man (coagulated - from a liquid to a thickened mass; curdle). The oceans cover 3/4 of the earth's surface. Everything that exists in this part of the earth will die.

4And the third poured out his bowl into the rivers and the fountains of the waters; and it became blood.

4And the third angel poured out his vial upon the rivers and fountains of waters; and they became blood.

Commentary · verse 4

The third bowl was poured on the rivers and fountains of waters and they became blood (flowing blood).

5And I heard the angel of the waters saying, Righteous art thou, who art and who wast, thou Holy One, because thou didst thus judge: 6for they poured out the blood of saints and prophets, and blood hast thou given them to drink: they are worthy.

5And I heard the angel of the waters say, Thou art righteous, O Lord, which art, and wast, and shalt be, because thou hast judged thus.

6For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and thou hast given them blood to drink; for they are worthy.

Commentary · verses 5-6

The second bowl made the salt water deadly. This third bowl made the fresh water deadly. The people of the earth will not have a fresh water supply, which will be God's response through Justice for the people of the earth martyring believers. The people of earth will require the blood of the martyrs, so God will give them blood in place of water. People cannot live very long without fresh water, so this would imply the timing of these events will be within days of the end of the Tribulation.

7And I heard the altar saying, Yea, O Lord God, the Almighty, true and righteous are thy judgments.

7And I heard another out of the altar say, Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are thy judgments.

Commentary · verse 7

The people under the altar were the martyred saints of the Tribulation (Revelation 6:9). They testified that God's response through Justice was Righteous.

Doctrines on this passage

8And the fourth poured out his bowl upon the sun; and it was given unto it to scorch men with fire.

8And the fourth angel poured out his vial upon the sun; and power was given unto him to scorch men with fire.

Commentary · verse 8

The fourth bowl was poured on the sun and the angel was given power to scorch men with fire. It appears the earth's ability to protect people from harmful radiation from the sun will be removed.

9And men were scorched with great heat: and they blasphemed the name of God who hath the power over these plagues; and they repented not to give him glory.

9And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which hath power over these plagues: and they repented not to give him glory.

Commentary · verse 9

The men who were scorched blasphemed God and were unrepentant. In fact, like Pharaoh, these people of earth will harden their hearts.

10And the fifth poured out his bowl upon the throne of the beast; and his kingdom was darkened; and they gnawed their tongues for pain, 11and they blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores; and they repented not of their works.

10And the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast; and his kingdom was full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues for pain,

11And blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and repented not of their deeds.

Commentary · verses 10-11

The fifth bowl was poured on the throne of the beast, the leadership. Notice, the first four bowls focused on the people. The fifth bowl then focused on the leadership. The curses on everyone were completed.

12And the sixth poured out his bowl upon the great river, the river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way might be made ready for the kings that come from the sunrising.

12And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared.

Commentary · verse 12

The sixth bowl was poured on the great Euphrates River and the water dried up. This was related to the sixth trumpet of Revelation 9:13. The reason for this curse was to make the battle of Armageddon possible.

13And 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, as it were frogs:

13And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet.

Commentary · verse 13

The "Anti-trinity" was mentioned together with the effect being three unclean spirits were released.

14for they are spirits of demons, working signs; which go forth unto the kings of the whole world, to gather them together unto the war of the great day of God, the Almighty.

14For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.

Commentary · verse 14

The purpose of these unclean spirits will be to gather the armies of the whole world for the battle of Armageddon.

Doctrines on this passage

15(Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.)

16And they gathered them together into the place which is called in Hebrew Har-Magedon.

15Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.

16And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon.

Commentary · verses 15-16

The sixth bowl completely facilitated everything necessary for the battle of Armageddon.

17And the seventh poured out his bowl upon the air; and there came forth a great voice out of the temple, from the throne, saying, It is done:

17And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done.

Commentary · verse 17

The seventh bowl was poured in the air and a voice from the temple of heaven, from the throne stated, "It is done." (Revelation 10:7) The Tribulation could be ended.

18and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunders; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since there were men upon the earth, so great an earthquake, so mighty.

19And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and Babylon the great was remembered in the sight of God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath.

18And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great.

19And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath.

Commentary · verses 18-19

Jerusalem will be divided into three parts from the earthquake.

20And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found.

21And great hail, every stone about the weight of a talent, cometh down out of heaven upon men: and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof is exceeding great.

20And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found.

21And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent: and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof was exceeding great.

Commentary · verses 20-21

Hail from heaven with each piece weighing about a talent (about 120 lbs.) will change the landscape of the earth, and men will continue to blaspheme God!

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