*Revelation 15:1 / *Rev. 15:1 -
Note that none of the "wrath" verses in Revelation chapters 15-16 requires that the entire future Tribulation of Revelation chapters 6 to 18 and Matthew 24 will be God's wrath. For Revelation chapters 15-16 refer only to the Tribulation's final stage, the seven plagues of the seven vials of God's wrath, which could be the "last" plagues which "fill up" (complete) God's Tribulation wrath (Revelation 15:1) in relation to the earlier plagues which will be brought on the world by God's future, Two Witnesses (Revelation 11:6). Also, nothing requires that the plagues from God in Revelation 11:6 or Revelation 16 will be directed against the Christians (1 Thessalonians 5:9) who will still be alive on the earth during those times (Matthew 24:9-13, Revelation 13:7-10, Revelation 14:12-13, Revelation 20:4-6), still waiting for Jesus Christ's Second Coming as a thief (Revelation 16:15).
(See also 1 Thessalonians 5:9 above)
~
Revelation 15:1 means that the Tribulation wrath of God will be completed with the seven plagues of the seven vials (Revelation 16). Revelation 15:1 is not contradicting that Jesus Christ's post-tribulation, Second Coming (Matthew 24:29-31) will also involve God's wrath (Revelation 19:15).
(See also the "7th vial" section of Revelation 16:17 below)
--
*Revelation 15:2 / *Rev. 15:2 -
Here the "sea of glass" is the same as in Revelation 4:6. That is, it is in heaven, just as the context of Revelation 15:2-4 is in heaven (Revelation 15:1, Revelation 15:5-8). For the people in Revelation 15:2 will be Christians who will have been killed by the future Antichrist (the individual-man aspect of Revelation's "beast") (Revelation 13:7-10, Revelation 14:12-13, Revelation 20:4-6, Matthew 24:9-13), and who will have gone into heaven (cf. 2 Corinthians 5:8, Philippians 1:21,23).
The "fire" part of Revelation 15:2 can be the same as the Spiritual fire of Revelation 4:5-6. That is, it can be reflected within the sea of glass. Or, the "fire" part of Revelation 15:2 can refer to a golden color of the glass itself (compare what Revelation 21:18,21 says).
Also, Revelation 15:2 says: "as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire". That is, it is not to be taken literally, but only as a simile for how it appears.
~
(Over his mark, and over the number of his name)
In the original Greek of Revelation 15:2b there is no "and" between "his mark" and "the number of his name". For one of the two options regarding receiving the future Antichrist's mark will be to receive a representation of the gematrial number of his name (666) (Revelation 13:17-18), the other option being to receive his name (Revelation 13:17, Revelation 14:11c).
(See also Revelation 13:16 above)
--
*Revelation 15:6 / *Rev. 15:6 -
The "girdles" could be golden sashes fastened horizontally across the chest. Compare the one worn by Jesus Christ Himself in Revelation 1:13b.
--
*Revelation 15:8 / *Rev. 15:8 -
This does not mean that Jesus Christ is no longer mediator as high priest. For He will be that forever (Hebrews 7:24-26, Hebrews 2:17; 1 Timothy 2:5).
Also, Revelation 15:8 does not mean that no man had been in the literal temple building in heaven up to that time.
Instead, Revelation 15:8b simply means that, at that time, the people already in the temple building in heaven (e.g. Revelation 7:9,14-15, Revelation 15:2) will have to exit it temporarily, and will not be allowed back in until the seven plagues of the seven vials of God's wrath of Revelation chapters 15-16 are over. The people in the temple building in heaven in Revelation 7:9,14-15 will have been there for years before the seven vials even start. For Revelation 7 is after only the Tribulation's sixth seal (Revelation 6:12), and before the seventh seal and the subsequent events of the first six trumpets (Revelation 8:1-2) up to Revelation 9:19. And it is only after all of these events that the future Antichrist's literal 3.5-year worldwide reign will begin, which time period is shown from four different angles in Revelation chapters 11 to 14. And it is only after this time period that the seven vials will start.
(See also the "Chronological" section of Revelation chapters 6 to 22 (Overview) above)
--
*Revelation 16 / *Rev. 16 -
(*Vials / *Euphrates)
The world will not experience the seven last plagues of the seven vials of God's wrath (Revelation chapters 15-16), the final stage of the future Tribulation of Revelation chapters 6 to 18 and Matthew 24, until after the never-fulfilled Revelation chapters 6 to 15 have been fulfilled in our future.
At the first vial, an awful sore will appear on those people who will have received the future Antichrist's mark and worshipped his image (Revelation 16:2). At the second vial, the sea will become like the blood of a dead man, and every living creature in the sea will die (Revelation 16:3). At the third vial, all natural, surface sources of fresh water will become blood (Revelation 16:4). At the fourth vial, mankind will be scorched with fire shot out from the sun (Revelation 16:8). This would be a solar-flare coronal mass ejection of solar plasma, which could make its way down to the surface of the earth due to the earth's magnetic field being disrupted during a magnetic-pole reversal which could occur near the end of the future Tribulation.
At the fifth vial, the whole world will be plunged into literal darkness (Revelation 16:10). At the sixth vial, unclean spirits like frogs will come out of the mouths of Lucifer (Satan, the dragon: Revelation 12:9), and of the future Antichrist (the individual-man aspect of Revelation's "beast"), and of the False Prophet (Revelation 16:13). And these unclean spirits like frogs will go forth and perform amazing miracles to convince the world's armies to gather together to fight against YHWH God Himself (Revelation 16:14, Revelation 19:19). The Euphrates will dry up so that the armies of "the kings of the east" (Revelation 16:12), such as the vast armies of China and India, can easily cross the riverbed and gather at the "place" called Armageddon (Revelation 16:16), which is Har Megiddo, Mount Megiddo in northern Israel. Once the armies of the east have gathered there, as only a staging area, along with all of the other armies of the world (Revelation 16:14,16), they will not wage battle there. That is why the Bible does not refer to a "battle" of Armageddon. Instead, the armies will travel south to pillage Jerusalem, right before Jesus Christ (who is YHWH) returns from heaven and defeats them completely (Zechariah 14:2-21, Revelation 19:19-21).
At the seventh vial, right before Jesus Christ returns (Revelation 16:17,19, Revelation 19:2-21), there will be a huge earthquake which will affect the whole world (Revelation 16:18-20). And 100-pound hailstones will pummel the earth (Revelation 16:21). The seventh vial will also be when Revelation's symbolic (and worldwide) "Babylon" (Revelation chapters 17-18) will be destroyed (Revelation 16:19).
(See Revelation chapters 17-18 below)
~
(Seven angels)
The seven angels in Revelation 16 will be literal, not the Church, just as, for example, the angels in Hebrews 2:5,16, Jude 1:6, and 2 Peter 2:4 are literal, not the Church.
~
(Re: The plagues of Egypt)
More than one of the future, literal, seven plagues/vials of Revelation chapters 15-16 will resemble the past, literal, ten Egyptian plagues. For both Revelation 16:2 and Exodus 9:10 refer to sores. And both Revelation 16:3-6 and Exodus 7:20 refer to water turning to blood. And both Revelation 16:10 and Exodus 10:22-23 refer to an extraordinary, literal darkness. And both Revelation 16:21 and Exodus 9:25 refer to a horrible hail.
~
(Re: Is the wrath of the vials the same as the all-consuming wrath at the Great White Throne Judgment?)
No, for between the wrath of the vials (Revelation 16) and the wrath at the Great White Throne Judgment (which wrath is the lake of fire: Revelation 20:15,10, Revelation 14:10-11) will come the wrath at Jesus Christ's future, Second Coming (Revelation 19:15), and then the wrath during the subsequent Millennium (Psalms 2:8-12, Zechariah 14:17-19), and then the wrath at the end of the subsequent Gog/Magog rebellion (Revelation 20:7-10, Ezekiel 38:18-23).
Also, God's wrath per se does not have to consume everything. For not everything will be consumed at the future vials of God's wrath (Revelation 16) or at the subsequent wrath of God at Jesus Christ's future, Second Coming (Revelation 19:15). And God destroying everything right before the future, Great White Throne Judgment (Revelation 20:11; 2 Peter 3:10) may not be an instance of His wrath, but could be done calmly in a simple desire to wipe the slate clean and begin again with the future, New Earth (Revelation 21:1-4), as in a new surface for the earth.
(See also Isaiah 65:20 above)
--
*Revelation 16:2 / *Rev. 16:2 -
The original Greek word (helkos: G1668) translated as "a sore" means "an ulcer" (Strong's Greek Dictionary). So the sore could be a festering skin ulcer. It could appear at the place on the skin where people had received the Antichrist's mark on either their right hand or forehead (Revelation 13:16, Revelation 16:2).
(See also Revelation 13:16 above)
~
(Noisome and grievous)
The original Greek words (kakos: G2556; and poneros: G4190) translated as "noisome" and "grievous" can both mean "bad", "evil". The English word "noisome" can mean "smelly", like how skin ulcers can become smelly as bacteria feed on their pus and blood.
--
*Revelation 16:5 / *Rev. 16:5 -
Here "the angel of the waters" refers to the good angel whom God has set over all of the earth's fresh water. God similarly set Lucifer (before his fall to become Satan) as the good angelic being over all of the earth's atmosphere, the "air" in Ephesians 2:2. But Satan now uses his power over the air to sometimes murder people (e.g. Job 1:19).
--
*Revelation 16:13 / *Rev. 16:13 -
This shows that Satan (the dragon: Revelation 12:9), and the future Antichrist (the individual-man aspect of Revelation's "beast"), and the man who will be his False Prophet, will be three separate persons.
--
*Revelation 16:14 / *Rev. 16:14 -
The "battle of that great day of God Almighty" refers to the battle at Jesus Christ's future, Second Coming (Revelation 19:19 to 20:3).
--
*Revelation 16:15 / *Rev. 16:15 -
Here, Jesus Christ is encouraging and warning those Christians who will still be alive on the earth at the time of the sixth vial (Revelation 16:12), near the end of the future Tribulation of Revelation chapters 6 to 18 and Matthew 24. These Christians will still be waiting for Jesus' Second Coming as a thief (Revelation 16:15). Jesus will be encouraging them to hang on just a little longer until His Second Coming occurs in Revelation 19:7 to 20:3, right after the destruction of Revelation's symbolic (and worldwide) "Babylon" at the seventh vial (Revelation 16:17,19, Revelation 19:2 to 20:3).
Revelation 16:15 could be the same blessing as Daniel 12:11-12.
(See Daniel 12:11 above)
~
(Re: Does Revelation 16:15 mean that they must not be dead; only then can they be blessed?)
No, those addressed in Revelation 16:15 do not have to still be alive by the 1,335th day (Daniel 12:11-12), but they do have to be righteous, whether they will die (compare what Revelation 14:13 and 1 Thessalonians 5:23 say) or will still be alive. For keeping one's garments in Revelation 16:15 is figurative for keeping righteous, just as the garments in Revelation 19:8 are figurative of righteousness (Revelation 19:8b).
--
*Revelation 16:16 / *Rev. 16:16 -
(*Armageddon / *Megiddo)
Per Strong's Concordance and Greek and Hebrew Dictionary, in Revelation 16:16 the original Greek word "Armageddon" (G0717) comes from the Hebrew words "har" (H2022) and "Megiddow" (H4023).
The Hebrew word "har" when used before a place-name means "the mount of", like it is used in Judges 2:9 to refer to "the mount of" Ephraim. And the Hebrew word "Megiddow" refers to the place called "Megiddo", which is in northern Israel (Joshua 17:11, Judges 1:27, Judges 5:19; 1 Chronicles 7:29).
So "Armageddon", "har Megiddow", refers to "the mount of Megiddo". This is a hill which overlooks a large valley in northern Israel. It is in this valley of Armageddon that the armies of the world will gather (Revelation 16:14,16), using it as only a staging area before they proceed south to pillage Jerusalem, right before Jesus Christ returns from heaven and defeats them completely (Zechariah 14:2-21, Revelation 19:19-21).
The Hebrew word "Megiddow" means "rendezvous" (Strong's Hebrew Dictionary), as it is derived from the Hebrew word "gadad" (H1413), which can be translated as "gather themselves together" (Psalms 94:21), or "gather thyself in troops" (Micah 5:1), or "assembled themselves by troops" (Jeremiah 5:7).
--
*Revelation 16:17-19 / *Rev. 16:17 -
In the Bible, just as outside of it, the phrase: "It is done" can refer to different things in different contexts (Ezekiel 39:8, Luke 14:22, Revelation 16:17, Revelation 21:6).
Revelation 16:17 means that the future Tribulation of Revelation chapters 6 to 18 and Matthew 24 will be done, completed, at its seventh vial, whereas Revelation 21:6 refers to the completion, some 1,000 years later, of the creation of the New Heaven and New Earth (Revelation 21:5,1), as in a new atmosphere (first heaven) and surface for the earth. For between the time of the completion of the Tribulation and the completion of the creation of the New Heaven and New Earth will occur Jesus Christ's future, Second Coming (Revelation 19:7 to 20:3), then the Millennium (Revelation 20:4-6), then the Gog/Magog rebellion (Revelation 20:7-10), and then the Great White Throne Judgment (Revelation 20:11-15).
Also, Jesus Christ used a similar phrase: "It is finished" on the Cross (John 19:30), whereas "It is finished" refers to something else in a different context (James 1:15).
(See also John 19:30 above)
~
(Re: The *7th vial)
Only after the destruction of Revelation's symbolic (and worldwide) "Babylon" at the seventh vial, the final event of the future Tribulation (Revelation 16:17,19, Revelation 19:2) of Revelation chapters 6 to 18 and Matthew 24, will Jesus Christ return from heaven and rapture (gather together) and marry the Church (Revelation 19:7 to 20:6, Matthew 24:29-31; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-8).
(See also Mark 13:20 above)
--
*Revelation 16:18 / *Rev. 16:18 -
At the end of the future Tribulation of Revelation chapters 6 to 18 and Matthew 24, as a result of a literal earthquake which will occur at that time, Jerusalem will be split into three parts topographically (Revelation 16:18b-19a), just as subsequently, at Jesus Christ's Second Coming, He will split the Mount of Olives into two parts (Zechariah 14:4), and will make other topographical changes to Jerusalem (Zechariah 14:10).
~
(Re: Has there ever been a literal earthquake in Jerusalem?)
Yes, part of Zechariah 14:5 could refer back to an earthquake which occurred in Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, King of Judah.
There was also a 1927 earthquake in which "the death toll in Jerusalem included more than 130 people and around 450 were injured. About 300 houses collapsed or were severely damaged to the point of not being usable. The earthquake also caused heavy damage to the domes of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and the al-Aqsa Mosque" ( 1927 Jericho earthquake - Wikipedia ).
"The Jerusalem municipality is installing the country's most advanced network of sensors to warn of potential earthquakes"; "local geologists have warned that the region is due for a major earthquake" ( Earthquake Sensors Installed in Jerusalem Schools ).
Near the start of the future Tribulation of Revelation chapters 6 to 18 and Matthew 24, there could be a series of major earthquakes in Jerusalem which could damage the Muslim structures on the Temple Mount so badly that the ultra-Orthodox Jews in Israel could see it as a sign from God that the time has come for them to completely destroy these structures (or remove their rubble) in order to build a third Jewish temple there.
(See Revelation 11:1-2 above)
Also, Revelation 16:18-19 is best understood in the context of Revelation 16.
(See Revelation 16(space) above)
--
*Revelation 16:19 / *Rev. 16:19 -
(See Revelation 16:18 above)
In Revelation 16:19 the "great city" which will be literally, topographically divided into three parts by a literal, future earthquake (Revelation 16:18) is the literal, earthly "great city" of Jerusalem, where Jesus Christ was crucified (Revelation 11:8, Luke 13:33). In Revelation 16:19, "great Babylon" is something much bigger than just Jerusalem.
(See Revelation chapters 17-18 below)
~
(Re: The literal city of Babylon)
In Revelation 16:19, "great Babylon" is not the future, single, literal city of Babylon (in Iraq). For that will not be destroyed until Jesus Christ's future, Second Coming (Isaiah 13), which will not occur until after the seventh vial of the future Tribulation. For it is at the seventh vial that the symbolic (and worldwide) "Mystery Babylon" (Revelation chapters 17-18) will be destroyed by the cities of the nations being destroyed (Revelation 16:17,19, Revelation 19:2 to 20:6).
(See also Isaiah 13(space) above, and Revelation chapters 17-18 below)
--
*Revelation 16:20 / *Rev. 16:20 -
The original Greek word (pheugo, G5343) translated as "fled away" can refer to a movement of only a few feet (Acts 27:30), which can happen to islands in a great earthquake (Revelation 16:18b).
Also, in Revelation 16:20 the original Greek word (heurisko, G2147) translated as "found" can be translated as "saw" (Matthew 2:11, Textus Receptus) or "perceived" (Acts 23:29), and so can refer to the peaks of every mountain range being so damaged by the future, unprecedented earthquake of Revelation 16:18b that mountain ranges will no longer look like what they look like today.
~
(Re: Same event as Revelation 20:11b?)
Revelation 16:20 is different than Revelation 20:11b because the latter adds the idea of "no place", which the former does not require. Also, between the time of Revelation 16:20 and the time of Revelation 20:11 will occur Jesus Christ's future, Second Coming (Revelation 19:7 to 20:3), then the Millennium (Revelation 20:4-6), and then the Gog/Magog rebellion (Revelation 20:7-10).
--
*Revelation 16:21 / *Rev. 16:21 -
(Re: The *hailstones)
Revelation 16:21 refers to 100-pound hailstones which will be literal hailstones, just as the plagues of hailstones from God in Exodus 9:25 and Joshua 10:11 were literal hailstones. Also, the 100-pound hailstones in Revelation 16:21, which will be part of the future, seventh vial (Revelation 16:17-21), will plague mankind in general, and only after the never-fulfilled first six vials of Revelation 16 have all been fulfilled in our future. Also at the seventh vial, which will be the final event of the future Tribulation of Revelation chapters 6 to 18 and Matthew 24, and right before Jesus Christ's future, Second Coming (Revelation 16:17,19, Revelation 19:2-21), there will be a huge earthquake which will affect the whole world (Revelation 16:18-20). And Revelation's symbolic (and worldwide) "Babylon" (Revelation chapters 17-18) will be destroyed by the cities of the nations being destroyed at the time of the seventh vial (Revelation 16:19). None of these things has happened yet. So the seventh vial has not happened yet.
(See also Revelation 16(space) above. And see Revelation chapters 17-18 below)
~
(Re: If Revelation is symbolic, then how can the hailstones be literal?)
See the "Literal" section of Revelation chapters 6 to 22 (Overview) above.
Also, for a few, preliminary examples, just as:
1) The angel was a literal angel in Revelation 1:1.
2) The seven churches were seven literal congregations in Revelation 1:4.
3) "Asia" was the literal Roman province of "Asia" (what is today Western Turkey) in Revelation 1:4.
4) The seven Spirits which are before God's throne are literal in Revelation 1:4b.
5) God's throne is literal in Revelation 1:4b.
6) The clouds will be literal at Jesus Christ's (still future) Second Coming in Revelation 1:7.
7) The eyes and the seeing will be literal at Jesus' Second Coming in Revelation 1:7.
8) The piercing is literal in Revelation 1:7.
9) The island which is called Patmos is literal in Revelation 1:9.
10) The book is literal in Revelation 1:11.
So the hailstones will be literal in Revelation 16:21.
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Next entry / Prior / Table of Contents
Nov 10, 2018
Note that none of the "wrath" verses in Revelation chapters 15-16 requires that the entire future Tribulation of Revelation chapters 6 to 18 and Matthew 24 will be God's wrath. For Revelation chapters 15-16 refer only to the Tribulation's final stage, the seven plagues of the seven vials of God's wrath, which could be the "last" plagues which "fill up" (complete) God's Tribulation wrath (Revelation 15:1) in relation to the earlier plagues which will be brought on the world by God's future, Two Witnesses (Revelation 11:6). Also, nothing requires that the plagues from God in Revelation 11:6 or Revelation 16 will be directed against the Christians (1 Thessalonians 5:9) who will still be alive on the earth during those times (Matthew 24:9-13, Revelation 13:7-10, Revelation 14:12-13, Revelation 20:4-6), still waiting for Jesus Christ's Second Coming as a thief (Revelation 16:15).
(See also 1 Thessalonians 5:9 above)
~
Revelation 15:1 means that the Tribulation wrath of God will be completed with the seven plagues of the seven vials (Revelation 16). Revelation 15:1 is not contradicting that Jesus Christ's post-tribulation, Second Coming (Matthew 24:29-31) will also involve God's wrath (Revelation 19:15).
(See also the "7th vial" section of Revelation 16:17 below)
--
*Revelation 15:2 / *Rev. 15:2 -
Here the "sea of glass" is the same as in Revelation 4:6. That is, it is in heaven, just as the context of Revelation 15:2-4 is in heaven (Revelation 15:1, Revelation 15:5-8). For the people in Revelation 15:2 will be Christians who will have been killed by the future Antichrist (the individual-man aspect of Revelation's "beast") (Revelation 13:7-10, Revelation 14:12-13, Revelation 20:4-6, Matthew 24:9-13), and who will have gone into heaven (cf. 2 Corinthians 5:8, Philippians 1:21,23).
The "fire" part of Revelation 15:2 can be the same as the Spiritual fire of Revelation 4:5-6. That is, it can be reflected within the sea of glass. Or, the "fire" part of Revelation 15:2 can refer to a golden color of the glass itself (compare what Revelation 21:18,21 says).
Also, Revelation 15:2 says: "as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire". That is, it is not to be taken literally, but only as a simile for how it appears.
~
(Over his mark, and over the number of his name)
In the original Greek of Revelation 15:2b there is no "and" between "his mark" and "the number of his name". For one of the two options regarding receiving the future Antichrist's mark will be to receive a representation of the gematrial number of his name (666) (Revelation 13:17-18), the other option being to receive his name (Revelation 13:17, Revelation 14:11c).
(See also Revelation 13:16 above)
--
*Revelation 15:6 / *Rev. 15:6 -
The "girdles" could be golden sashes fastened horizontally across the chest. Compare the one worn by Jesus Christ Himself in Revelation 1:13b.
--
*Revelation 15:8 / *Rev. 15:8 -
This does not mean that Jesus Christ is no longer mediator as high priest. For He will be that forever (Hebrews 7:24-26, Hebrews 2:17; 1 Timothy 2:5).
Also, Revelation 15:8 does not mean that no man had been in the literal temple building in heaven up to that time.
Instead, Revelation 15:8b simply means that, at that time, the people already in the temple building in heaven (e.g. Revelation 7:9,14-15, Revelation 15:2) will have to exit it temporarily, and will not be allowed back in until the seven plagues of the seven vials of God's wrath of Revelation chapters 15-16 are over. The people in the temple building in heaven in Revelation 7:9,14-15 will have been there for years before the seven vials even start. For Revelation 7 is after only the Tribulation's sixth seal (Revelation 6:12), and before the seventh seal and the subsequent events of the first six trumpets (Revelation 8:1-2) up to Revelation 9:19. And it is only after all of these events that the future Antichrist's literal 3.5-year worldwide reign will begin, which time period is shown from four different angles in Revelation chapters 11 to 14. And it is only after this time period that the seven vials will start.
(See also the "Chronological" section of Revelation chapters 6 to 22 (Overview) above)
--
*Revelation 16 / *Rev. 16 -
(*Vials / *Euphrates)
The world will not experience the seven last plagues of the seven vials of God's wrath (Revelation chapters 15-16), the final stage of the future Tribulation of Revelation chapters 6 to 18 and Matthew 24, until after the never-fulfilled Revelation chapters 6 to 15 have been fulfilled in our future.
At the first vial, an awful sore will appear on those people who will have received the future Antichrist's mark and worshipped his image (Revelation 16:2). At the second vial, the sea will become like the blood of a dead man, and every living creature in the sea will die (Revelation 16:3). At the third vial, all natural, surface sources of fresh water will become blood (Revelation 16:4). At the fourth vial, mankind will be scorched with fire shot out from the sun (Revelation 16:8). This would be a solar-flare coronal mass ejection of solar plasma, which could make its way down to the surface of the earth due to the earth's magnetic field being disrupted during a magnetic-pole reversal which could occur near the end of the future Tribulation.
At the fifth vial, the whole world will be plunged into literal darkness (Revelation 16:10). At the sixth vial, unclean spirits like frogs will come out of the mouths of Lucifer (Satan, the dragon: Revelation 12:9), and of the future Antichrist (the individual-man aspect of Revelation's "beast"), and of the False Prophet (Revelation 16:13). And these unclean spirits like frogs will go forth and perform amazing miracles to convince the world's armies to gather together to fight against YHWH God Himself (Revelation 16:14, Revelation 19:19). The Euphrates will dry up so that the armies of "the kings of the east" (Revelation 16:12), such as the vast armies of China and India, can easily cross the riverbed and gather at the "place" called Armageddon (Revelation 16:16), which is Har Megiddo, Mount Megiddo in northern Israel. Once the armies of the east have gathered there, as only a staging area, along with all of the other armies of the world (Revelation 16:14,16), they will not wage battle there. That is why the Bible does not refer to a "battle" of Armageddon. Instead, the armies will travel south to pillage Jerusalem, right before Jesus Christ (who is YHWH) returns from heaven and defeats them completely (Zechariah 14:2-21, Revelation 19:19-21).
At the seventh vial, right before Jesus Christ returns (Revelation 16:17,19, Revelation 19:2-21), there will be a huge earthquake which will affect the whole world (Revelation 16:18-20). And 100-pound hailstones will pummel the earth (Revelation 16:21). The seventh vial will also be when Revelation's symbolic (and worldwide) "Babylon" (Revelation chapters 17-18) will be destroyed (Revelation 16:19).
(See Revelation chapters 17-18 below)
~
(Seven angels)
The seven angels in Revelation 16 will be literal, not the Church, just as, for example, the angels in Hebrews 2:5,16, Jude 1:6, and 2 Peter 2:4 are literal, not the Church.
~
(Re: The plagues of Egypt)
More than one of the future, literal, seven plagues/vials of Revelation chapters 15-16 will resemble the past, literal, ten Egyptian plagues. For both Revelation 16:2 and Exodus 9:10 refer to sores. And both Revelation 16:3-6 and Exodus 7:20 refer to water turning to blood. And both Revelation 16:10 and Exodus 10:22-23 refer to an extraordinary, literal darkness. And both Revelation 16:21 and Exodus 9:25 refer to a horrible hail.
~
(Re: Is the wrath of the vials the same as the all-consuming wrath at the Great White Throne Judgment?)
No, for between the wrath of the vials (Revelation 16) and the wrath at the Great White Throne Judgment (which wrath is the lake of fire: Revelation 20:15,10, Revelation 14:10-11) will come the wrath at Jesus Christ's future, Second Coming (Revelation 19:15), and then the wrath during the subsequent Millennium (Psalms 2:8-12, Zechariah 14:17-19), and then the wrath at the end of the subsequent Gog/Magog rebellion (Revelation 20:7-10, Ezekiel 38:18-23).
Also, God's wrath per se does not have to consume everything. For not everything will be consumed at the future vials of God's wrath (Revelation 16) or at the subsequent wrath of God at Jesus Christ's future, Second Coming (Revelation 19:15). And God destroying everything right before the future, Great White Throne Judgment (Revelation 20:11; 2 Peter 3:10) may not be an instance of His wrath, but could be done calmly in a simple desire to wipe the slate clean and begin again with the future, New Earth (Revelation 21:1-4), as in a new surface for the earth.
(See also Isaiah 65:20 above)
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*Revelation 16:2 / *Rev. 16:2 -
The original Greek word (helkos: G1668) translated as "a sore" means "an ulcer" (Strong's Greek Dictionary). So the sore could be a festering skin ulcer. It could appear at the place on the skin where people had received the Antichrist's mark on either their right hand or forehead (Revelation 13:16, Revelation 16:2).
(See also Revelation 13:16 above)
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(Noisome and grievous)
The original Greek words (kakos: G2556; and poneros: G4190) translated as "noisome" and "grievous" can both mean "bad", "evil". The English word "noisome" can mean "smelly", like how skin ulcers can become smelly as bacteria feed on their pus and blood.
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*Revelation 16:5 / *Rev. 16:5 -
Here "the angel of the waters" refers to the good angel whom God has set over all of the earth's fresh water. God similarly set Lucifer (before his fall to become Satan) as the good angelic being over all of the earth's atmosphere, the "air" in Ephesians 2:2. But Satan now uses his power over the air to sometimes murder people (e.g. Job 1:19).
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*Revelation 16:13 / *Rev. 16:13 -
This shows that Satan (the dragon: Revelation 12:9), and the future Antichrist (the individual-man aspect of Revelation's "beast"), and the man who will be his False Prophet, will be three separate persons.
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*Revelation 16:14 / *Rev. 16:14 -
The "battle of that great day of God Almighty" refers to the battle at Jesus Christ's future, Second Coming (Revelation 19:19 to 20:3).
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*Revelation 16:15 / *Rev. 16:15 -
Here, Jesus Christ is encouraging and warning those Christians who will still be alive on the earth at the time of the sixth vial (Revelation 16:12), near the end of the future Tribulation of Revelation chapters 6 to 18 and Matthew 24. These Christians will still be waiting for Jesus' Second Coming as a thief (Revelation 16:15). Jesus will be encouraging them to hang on just a little longer until His Second Coming occurs in Revelation 19:7 to 20:3, right after the destruction of Revelation's symbolic (and worldwide) "Babylon" at the seventh vial (Revelation 16:17,19, Revelation 19:2 to 20:3).
Revelation 16:15 could be the same blessing as Daniel 12:11-12.
(See Daniel 12:11 above)
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(Re: Does Revelation 16:15 mean that they must not be dead; only then can they be blessed?)
No, those addressed in Revelation 16:15 do not have to still be alive by the 1,335th day (Daniel 12:11-12), but they do have to be righteous, whether they will die (compare what Revelation 14:13 and 1 Thessalonians 5:23 say) or will still be alive. For keeping one's garments in Revelation 16:15 is figurative for keeping righteous, just as the garments in Revelation 19:8 are figurative of righteousness (Revelation 19:8b).
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*Revelation 16:16 / *Rev. 16:16 -
(*Armageddon / *Megiddo)
Per Strong's Concordance and Greek and Hebrew Dictionary, in Revelation 16:16 the original Greek word "Armageddon" (G0717) comes from the Hebrew words "har" (H2022) and "Megiddow" (H4023).
The Hebrew word "har" when used before a place-name means "the mount of", like it is used in Judges 2:9 to refer to "the mount of" Ephraim. And the Hebrew word "Megiddow" refers to the place called "Megiddo", which is in northern Israel (Joshua 17:11, Judges 1:27, Judges 5:19; 1 Chronicles 7:29).
So "Armageddon", "har Megiddow", refers to "the mount of Megiddo". This is a hill which overlooks a large valley in northern Israel. It is in this valley of Armageddon that the armies of the world will gather (Revelation 16:14,16), using it as only a staging area before they proceed south to pillage Jerusalem, right before Jesus Christ returns from heaven and defeats them completely (Zechariah 14:2-21, Revelation 19:19-21).
The Hebrew word "Megiddow" means "rendezvous" (Strong's Hebrew Dictionary), as it is derived from the Hebrew word "gadad" (H1413), which can be translated as "gather themselves together" (Psalms 94:21), or "gather thyself in troops" (Micah 5:1), or "assembled themselves by troops" (Jeremiah 5:7).
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*Revelation 16:17-19 / *Rev. 16:17 -
In the Bible, just as outside of it, the phrase: "It is done" can refer to different things in different contexts (Ezekiel 39:8, Luke 14:22, Revelation 16:17, Revelation 21:6).
Revelation 16:17 means that the future Tribulation of Revelation chapters 6 to 18 and Matthew 24 will be done, completed, at its seventh vial, whereas Revelation 21:6 refers to the completion, some 1,000 years later, of the creation of the New Heaven and New Earth (Revelation 21:5,1), as in a new atmosphere (first heaven) and surface for the earth. For between the time of the completion of the Tribulation and the completion of the creation of the New Heaven and New Earth will occur Jesus Christ's future, Second Coming (Revelation 19:7 to 20:3), then the Millennium (Revelation 20:4-6), then the Gog/Magog rebellion (Revelation 20:7-10), and then the Great White Throne Judgment (Revelation 20:11-15).
Also, Jesus Christ used a similar phrase: "It is finished" on the Cross (John 19:30), whereas "It is finished" refers to something else in a different context (James 1:15).
(See also John 19:30 above)
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(Re: The *7th vial)
Only after the destruction of Revelation's symbolic (and worldwide) "Babylon" at the seventh vial, the final event of the future Tribulation (Revelation 16:17,19, Revelation 19:2) of Revelation chapters 6 to 18 and Matthew 24, will Jesus Christ return from heaven and rapture (gather together) and marry the Church (Revelation 19:7 to 20:6, Matthew 24:29-31; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-8).
(See also Mark 13:20 above)
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*Revelation 16:18 / *Rev. 16:18 -
At the end of the future Tribulation of Revelation chapters 6 to 18 and Matthew 24, as a result of a literal earthquake which will occur at that time, Jerusalem will be split into three parts topographically (Revelation 16:18b-19a), just as subsequently, at Jesus Christ's Second Coming, He will split the Mount of Olives into two parts (Zechariah 14:4), and will make other topographical changes to Jerusalem (Zechariah 14:10).
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(Re: Has there ever been a literal earthquake in Jerusalem?)
Yes, part of Zechariah 14:5 could refer back to an earthquake which occurred in Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, King of Judah.
There was also a 1927 earthquake in which "the death toll in Jerusalem included more than 130 people and around 450 were injured. About 300 houses collapsed or were severely damaged to the point of not being usable. The earthquake also caused heavy damage to the domes of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and the al-Aqsa Mosque" ( 1927 Jericho earthquake - Wikipedia ).
"The Jerusalem municipality is installing the country's most advanced network of sensors to warn of potential earthquakes"; "local geologists have warned that the region is due for a major earthquake" ( Earthquake Sensors Installed in Jerusalem Schools ).
Near the start of the future Tribulation of Revelation chapters 6 to 18 and Matthew 24, there could be a series of major earthquakes in Jerusalem which could damage the Muslim structures on the Temple Mount so badly that the ultra-Orthodox Jews in Israel could see it as a sign from God that the time has come for them to completely destroy these structures (or remove their rubble) in order to build a third Jewish temple there.
(See Revelation 11:1-2 above)
Also, Revelation 16:18-19 is best understood in the context of Revelation 16.
(See Revelation 16(space) above)
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*Revelation 16:19 / *Rev. 16:19 -
(See Revelation 16:18 above)
In Revelation 16:19 the "great city" which will be literally, topographically divided into three parts by a literal, future earthquake (Revelation 16:18) is the literal, earthly "great city" of Jerusalem, where Jesus Christ was crucified (Revelation 11:8, Luke 13:33). In Revelation 16:19, "great Babylon" is something much bigger than just Jerusalem.
(See Revelation chapters 17-18 below)
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(Re: The literal city of Babylon)
In Revelation 16:19, "great Babylon" is not the future, single, literal city of Babylon (in Iraq). For that will not be destroyed until Jesus Christ's future, Second Coming (Isaiah 13), which will not occur until after the seventh vial of the future Tribulation. For it is at the seventh vial that the symbolic (and worldwide) "Mystery Babylon" (Revelation chapters 17-18) will be destroyed by the cities of the nations being destroyed (Revelation 16:17,19, Revelation 19:2 to 20:6).
(See also Isaiah 13(space) above, and Revelation chapters 17-18 below)
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*Revelation 16:20 / *Rev. 16:20 -
The original Greek word (pheugo, G5343) translated as "fled away" can refer to a movement of only a few feet (Acts 27:30), which can happen to islands in a great earthquake (Revelation 16:18b).
Also, in Revelation 16:20 the original Greek word (heurisko, G2147) translated as "found" can be translated as "saw" (Matthew 2:11, Textus Receptus) or "perceived" (Acts 23:29), and so can refer to the peaks of every mountain range being so damaged by the future, unprecedented earthquake of Revelation 16:18b that mountain ranges will no longer look like what they look like today.
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(Re: Same event as Revelation 20:11b?)
Revelation 16:20 is different than Revelation 20:11b because the latter adds the idea of "no place", which the former does not require. Also, between the time of Revelation 16:20 and the time of Revelation 20:11 will occur Jesus Christ's future, Second Coming (Revelation 19:7 to 20:3), then the Millennium (Revelation 20:4-6), and then the Gog/Magog rebellion (Revelation 20:7-10).
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*Revelation 16:21 / *Rev. 16:21 -
(Re: The *hailstones)
Revelation 16:21 refers to 100-pound hailstones which will be literal hailstones, just as the plagues of hailstones from God in Exodus 9:25 and Joshua 10:11 were literal hailstones. Also, the 100-pound hailstones in Revelation 16:21, which will be part of the future, seventh vial (Revelation 16:17-21), will plague mankind in general, and only after the never-fulfilled first six vials of Revelation 16 have all been fulfilled in our future. Also at the seventh vial, which will be the final event of the future Tribulation of Revelation chapters 6 to 18 and Matthew 24, and right before Jesus Christ's future, Second Coming (Revelation 16:17,19, Revelation 19:2-21), there will be a huge earthquake which will affect the whole world (Revelation 16:18-20). And Revelation's symbolic (and worldwide) "Babylon" (Revelation chapters 17-18) will be destroyed by the cities of the nations being destroyed at the time of the seventh vial (Revelation 16:19). None of these things has happened yet. So the seventh vial has not happened yet.
(See also Revelation 16(space) above. And see Revelation chapters 17-18 below)
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(Re: If Revelation is symbolic, then how can the hailstones be literal?)
See the "Literal" section of Revelation chapters 6 to 22 (Overview) above.
Also, for a few, preliminary examples, just as:
1) The angel was a literal angel in Revelation 1:1.
2) The seven churches were seven literal congregations in Revelation 1:4.
3) "Asia" was the literal Roman province of "Asia" (what is today Western Turkey) in Revelation 1:4.
4) The seven Spirits which are before God's throne are literal in Revelation 1:4b.
5) God's throne is literal in Revelation 1:4b.
6) The clouds will be literal at Jesus Christ's (still future) Second Coming in Revelation 1:7.
7) The eyes and the seeing will be literal at Jesus' Second Coming in Revelation 1:7.
8) The piercing is literal in Revelation 1:7.
9) The island which is called Patmos is literal in Revelation 1:9.
10) The book is literal in Revelation 1:11.
So the hailstones will be literal in Revelation 16:21.
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Nov 10, 2018