Revelation 16:17-21 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Revelation 16:17-21

Here we have an account of the seventh and last angel pouring forth his vial, contributing his part towards the accomplishment of the downfall of Babylon, which was the finishing stroke. And here, as before, observe, I. Where this plague fell?on the air, upon the prince of the power of the air, that is, the devil. His powers were restrained, his policies confounded; he was bound in God's chain: the sword of God was upon his eye and upon his arm; for he, as well as the powers of the earth, is... 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 16:17

And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air ,.... Or "upon the air", as the Alexandrian copy, Syriac and Arabic versions, read; by which is meant the kingdom of Satan, he being the prince of the power of the air, Ephesians 2:2 not that he has power over the air, to raise or lay winds and storms in it at pleasure; but he is so called because he is the prince of that posse of devils, the principalities and powers of darkness, that have their dwelling in the air; hence the air,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 16:18

And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings ,.... As at the giving of the law, Exodus 19:16 and at the sounding of the seventh trumpet; see Gill on Revelation 11:15 and may intend either the pure ministry of the Gospel in the spiritual reign, the voices of Christ's ministers, and the effects of them, who will be "Boanergeses", sons of thunder, and will be the means of enlightening the minds of many, as well as of shaking the consciences of men, signified by the earthquake... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 16:19

And the great city was divided into three parts,.... By which is meant not Christendom, distinguished into Protestants, Papists, and neutrals, which has been long the case; nor the city of Jerusalem, as inhabited by Christians, Jews, and Turks; nor the city of Rome itself, the seat of the beast, which will have suffered under the fifth vial; but the whole Romish jurisdiction, which is the great city, that reigns over the kings of the earth, as it will now be; though some think the Turkish... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 16:20

And every island fled away ,.... This may be understood either of the dissolution of the world, the present heavens and earth, when there will be no more sea, Revelation 21:1 and so consequently no islands: and the mountains were not found ; for the earth and the heaven will be fled away at the appearance of Christ the Judge, and there will be no place found for them, Revelation 20:11 and new heavens, and a new earth, without sea or mountains, will succeed: or rather this may signify... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 16:21

And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven ,.... Which must be understood not as after the fall of the cities, and the flight of the islands and mountains, but at the same time; and it looks as if such men that shall escape at the battle of Armageddon, that hail stones from heaven will fall upon them and destroy them; just as the kings of the Amorites and their men were killed by hail stones, cast down by the Lord from heaven, as they fled before Joshua, when more were killed by the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Revelation 16:17

Poured out his vial into the air - To signify that this plague was to be widely diffused, and perhaps to intimate that pestilences and various deaths would be the effect of this vial. But possibly air in this place may have some emblematical meaning. It is done - It is said, Revelation 10:7 , that in the days of the seventh trumpet the mystery of God should be finished; so here we find it completed. Γεγονε· All's over! Fuimus Troes! Ilium fuit! Once there were Trojans, and they... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Revelation 16:18

A great earthquake - Most terrible commotions, both civil and religious. Or a convulsion, shaking, or revolution. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Revelation 16:19

The great city - Some say Jerusalem, others Rome pagan, others Rome papal. The cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath - Alluding to the mode of putting certain criminals to death, by making them drink a cup of poison. See on Hebrews 2:9 ; (note). read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Revelation 16:17-21

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

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 16:17

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 16:18

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 16:19

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 16:20

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 16:21

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Revelation 16:17

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Revelation 16:18

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Revelation 16:19

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