Revelation 16:1-21 - Exposition

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 EUPHRATES destroy one third part of men; men repent not.

Episode:—The two witnesses of God WITNESS for him and work MIRACLES ; WAR against them by the beast.

7. VOICES in heaven; the JUDGMENT ; earthquake, etc., and HAIL .

Vials .

1. Vial poured ON THE EARTH ; sore upon the followers of the beast.

2. The SEA made blood as of a dead man; every soul therein destroyed.

3. RIVERS made blood; declared to be God's vengeance upon [ ALL ] men.

4. SUN smitten; men scorched; men blaspheme, men repent not.

5. The THRONE and kingdom of the beast smitten; men, in pain, blaspheme God; men repent not.

6. The way prepared for kings beyond the EUPHRATES .

Episode:—Three unclean spirits of the dragon WITNESS for him and work MIRACLES ; WAR by the world at (the Hebrew ) Armageddon.

7. VOICES in heaven; the FALL of Babylon; EARTHQUAKE , etc., and HAIL .,

We may from this comparison notice—

(1) The vials form a series of visions denouncing God's judgments against the wicked.

(a) Like the former visions, these may be divided into two groups of four and three (see on the trumpets).

(b) The structure of the vial visions is almost exactly parallel to that of the seals.

(c) The visions all terminate with the same events portrayed in similar language, though, as the three sets of visions proceed, more stress is laid upon the judgment of the wicked, and less on the victory of the redeemed.

(d) An episode occurs after the sixth vial of almost identical nature with, though much shorter titan, that after the sixth trumpet.

(e) The severity of the nature of the vial judgments is conspicuous. Whereas under the seals one fourth was afflicted, and under the trumpets one third, there is nothing to indicate any exemption in the vial visions.