Revelation 16:12

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Revelation 16:12-16

The sixth angel poured out his vial; and observe, I. Where it fell?upon the great river Euphrates. Some take it literally, for the place where the Turkish power and empire began; and they think this is a prophecy of the destruction of the Turkish monarchy and of idolatry, which they suppose will be effected about the same time with that of the papacy, as another antichrist, and that thereby a way shall be made for the conveniency of the Jews, those princes of the east. Others take it for the... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Revelation 16:1-21

It will be better to read through the whole chapter before we study it in detail, 16:1-21 1 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying to the seven angels: Go, and pour out the seven bowls of the wrath of God 2 upon the earth. The first angel went away and poured out his bowl upon the earth, and there came an outbreak of evil and malignant ulcerous sores on the men who had the mark of the beast and who worshipped his image. 3 The second poured out his bowl upon the sea; and it became... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 16:12

And the sixth angel poured his vial on the great river Euphrates ,.... Which is not to be understood literally of the river Euphrates, which ran through Mesopotamia and Chaldea, and by the walls of Babylon; and of the drying of it up to make way for the Jews in the eastern parts of the world, to pass into their own land, and possess it; when a like miracle will be wrought for them as was when they came out of Egypt, by dividing the Red sea for them; and as when they entered into Canaan's... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Revelation 16:12

Upon the great river Euphrates - Probably meaning the people in the vicinity of this river; though some think that the Tiber is intended. The water thereof was dried up - The people discomfited, and all impediments removed. The kings of the east - There seems to be an allusion here to the ruin of Babylon by Cyrus, predicted by the Prophet Jeremiah, Jeremiah 50:1-51:64. But what city or people is pointed out by this Babylon it is in vain to conjecture. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 16:1-21

Trumpets. 1. Hail, fire, and blood cast upon THE EARTH ; one third trees, etc., burnt. 2. One third of SEA made blood; one third of creatures therein and of ships destroyed. 3. One third of the RIVERS made bitter; many men destroyed. 4. One third of the SUN , etc. smitten; one third of the day darkened. 5. Star from heaven falls into the ABYSS ; he sends forth locusts; men seek death; Hebrew name of their king is Abaddon. 6. Armies from the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 16:1-21

"The seven vials:" predestined suffering in the government of the world. "And 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. And the first went," etc. "It is incredible," says Bishop Horsley, "to any one who has not made the experiment, what proficiency may be made by studying the Scriptures without any other commentary or exposition than what the different parts of the sacred volume naturally... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 16:12

And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river: Euphrates. Omit "angel" (see on previous verses). (On the Euphrates, see on Revelation 9:14 .) This river also figures in the sixth trumpet vision, and possesses the same signification in both places. It is the natural direction from which enemies arise; and it derives this signification from the fact that the enemies of the Jews often came from that direction. The next sentence leaves no doubt that this is the meaning, and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 16:12

"The great river, the Euphrates." The details of the wonderful symbolism of this book must find their interpretation, if it be needful, at the hands of the expositor. For the purposes of homiletic teaching, selections only can be treated. Of the parts of this chapter which serve our purpose we select the pouring forth of the "sixth vial," or "bowl." The whole book has but one burden—the conflict of the two kingdoms, light and darkness, Christ and Belial, good and evil in the world. It... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 16:12-16

The sixth bowl. In the prophetic parables of this book there is, as we have before remarked, a manifest moral progression, although the varied attempts to indicate in detail an exact historic progression, with dates assigned, has resulted, and must result, in repeated and disappointing failure. We should also note that at about this part of the book many of the historical interpreters stop short, and give considerable scope to conjecture. But while on their method we always find... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 16:12-16

Armageddon. It is the name of a place. It lies to the northwest of the Plain of Esdraelon, on the southern slopes of Carmel. It is mentioned on various occasions in the Bible (cf. infra ) . But these verses tell of a great event connected with it. I. WHAT WAS THIS ? It is called "the battle of that great day of God Almighty" ( Revelation 16:14 ). Whether St. John had some literal battle taking place in his day present in his mind, we cannot certainly say. Not... read more

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