Revelation 16

Revelation 16 describes the outpouring of the seven last plagues, God's final judgments upon those who received the mark of the beast. These plagues, similar to those in Egypt, are literal yet selective, affecting only the wicked while God's faithful are protected. The plagues include painful sores, seas and rivers turning to blood, scorching heat, darkness, Euphrates drying up to prepare for Armageddon, and a massive global earthquake. Despite their suffering, the wicked refuse to repent. These plagues confirm God’s justice, leading to the collapse of Babylon and preparing the way for Christ’s return and the final victory of His people.

Revelation 16:1 (NKJV)
1 Then I heard a loud voice from the temple saying to the seven angels, “Go and pour out the bowls of the wrath of God on the earth.”

This opening verse marks the beginning of the seven last plagues, as a loud voice from the temple commands the seven angels to pour out the bowls of God’s wrath upon the earth. Since the temple was filled with God’s glory in Revelation 15:8, preventing anyone from entering, this voice must be God Himself, signaling that probation has closed and judgment must now be executed. These plagues are not warnings like the trumpets but the final consequences for those who rejected God’s mercy and chose to follow the beast. This verse confirms that divine justice is now being fully carried out upon the unrepentant.

Revelation 16:2 (NKJV)
2 So the first went and poured out his bowl upon the earth, and a foul and loathsome sore came upon the men who had the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image.

This verse describes the first plague, where a foul and loathsome sore falls upon those who received the mark of the beast and worshiped its image. This plague is literal and selective, affecting only those who chose to align with the beast, proving God’s judgment is just. It resembles the sixth plague of Egypt (Exodus 9:8-12), where painful boils struck the Egyptians but not God’s people. The sores symbolize both physical suffering and the outward manifestation of spiritual corruption, revealing the internal decay of those who rejected God's truth. Like in Egypt, this judgment is incurable, and no human power can reverse it. Despite their suffering, the wicked refuse to repent, showing that their hearts are fully hardened against God.

Revelation 16:3 (NKJV)
3 Then the second angel poured out his bowl on the sea, and it became blood as of a dead man; and every living creature in the sea died.

This verse describes the second plague, where the sea becomes like the blood of a dead man, and every living creature in the sea dies. This plague is a direct judgment upon those who rejected God’s truth and aligned with the beast, affecting the world’s oceans and marine life. It parallels the first plague of Egypt (Exodus 7:17-21), where the Nile River turned to blood, killing the fish and making the water undrinkable. However, this end-time plague is even more severe, as it affects not just one river but the entire sea, turning it into thick, putrid blood, completely lifeless. This symbolizes the full corruption of humanity under the beast system and the consequences of rebellion, as the waters—once a source of life and trade—now become a source of death. The destruction of marine life also impacts global commerce, food supplies, and the stability of nations, further intensifying the suffering of the unrepentant. Despite this devastating judgment, the wicked refuse to acknowledge God's authority, setting the stage for the escalating plagues that follow.

Revelation 16:4-7 (NKJV)
4 Then the third angel poured out his bowl on the rivers and springs of water, and they became blood.
5 And I heard the angel of the waters say: “You are righteous, O Lord, The One who is and who was and who is to be, Because You have judged these things.
6 For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, And You have given them blood to drink. For it is their just due.”
7 And I heard another from the altar saying, “Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are Your judgments.”

This passage describes the third plague, where the rivers and springs of water turn to blood, intensifying the judgment from the second plague, which affected the sea. This mirrors the first plague of Egypt (Exodus 7:17-21), where the Nile turned to blood, but here, all freshwater sources are affected, leaving the wicked with nothing to drink. An angel declares that this judgment is just because the wicked shed the blood of saints and prophets, so now they are given blood to drink, showing divine retribution (Galatians 6:7). The altar responds, affirming that God’s judgments are true and righteous, confirming that these plagues are not random but a fair response to the rebellion and persecution of God’s people. This plague highlights God’s perfect justice, ensuring that those who aligned with the beast and rejected truth now face the full consequences of their choices. Yet, despite this suffering, the wicked still refuse to repent, proving their complete hardness of heart.

Revelation 16:8-9 (NKJV)
8 Then the fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and power was given to him to scorch men with fire.
9 And men were scorched with great heat, and they blasphemed the name of God who has power over these plagues; and they did not repent and give Him glory.

These verses describe the fourth plague, where the fourth angel is given power to scorch people with great heat, executing divine judgment. This shows that the plague is not a natural disaster but a direct act of God, carried out under His command. The scorching could involve intensified heat from the sun or supernatural fire, as angels in Scripture often control natural elements (Revelation 7:1). Despite their suffering, the wicked blaspheme God instead of repenting, just like Pharaoh hardened his heart in Egypt (Exodus 9:34-35). This plague confirms God’s justice, as those who rejected His mercy now face the full consequences of their defiance.

Revelation 16:10-11 (NKJV)
10 Then the fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast; and his kingdom became full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues because of the pain,
11 and blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and did not repent of their deeds.

These verses describe the fifth plague, where darkness falls upon the throne of the beast, plunging his kingdom into pain and distress. Unlike previous plagues that affected the earth, sea, and sun, this one directly targets the beast’s authority, exposing its powerlessness. This mirrors the ninth plague of Egypt (Exodus 10:21-23), where darkness covered the land but spared God’s people. The darkness here is not just physical but also symbolic of the spiritual confusion and chaos within the beast’s system. Despite their suffering, the wicked refuse to repent, continuing to blaspheme God, proving their complete rejection of truth.

Revelation 16:12 (NKJV)
12 Then the sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up, so that the way of the kings from the east might be prepared.

This verse describes the sixth plague, where the Euphrates River dries up to prepare the way for the kings from the east. The Euphrates symbolically represented the power and support of Babylon (Jeremiah 50:38, 51:13), and its drying up signifies the collapse of the beast’s support system, leaving it vulnerable. This mirrors how ancient Babylon fell when Cyrus, a king from the east, diverted the Euphrates and conquered the city (Isaiah 44:27-28, Daniel 5:30-31). Likewise, this plague paves the way for Christ and His armies (Revelation 19:11-16) to bring final judgment, signaling the impending fall of spiritual Babylon.

Revelation 16:13-16 (NKJV)
13 And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs coming out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet.
14 For they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.
15 “Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is he who watches and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame.”
16 And they gathered them together to the place called in Hebrew, Armageddon.

This passage describes Satan’s final deception as the world is prepared for the great battle of Armageddon. Following the drying up of the Euphrates in the sixth plague (Revelation 16:12), which symbolizes the collapse of Babylon’s support system, Satan counterattacks through three unclean spirits like frogs coming from the dragon, the beast, and the false prophet. These unclean spirits represent demonic influences working through deception, spiritualism, and false miracles to unite the world’s religious and political powers against God.

The dragon (Satan) represents spiritualism and direct satanic deception, the beast (Papal Rome) symbolizes false Christianity enforcing worship laws, and the false prophet (apostate Protestantism) deceives the world through false miracles and signs. This parallels the plague of frogs in Egypt (Exodus 8:5-7), where Pharaoh’s magicians were able to counterfeit God’s work, but their deception only led to greater judgment. These spirits perform signs to deceive the kings of the earth, leading them to align with Babylon in open rebellion against God, preparing them for the final confrontation.

This gathering is described as the battle of Armageddon, not a literal military conflict but the ultimate spiritual battle between Christ and Satan over the allegiance of humanity. The term Armageddon (Har-Megiddo) may reference ancient battles near Mount Megiddo, where God’s people faced crisis and divine deliverance (Judges 5:19, 2 Kings 23:29). Here, the forces of Babylon unite, believing they can resist God’s final judgment, but they are ultimately preparing for their own destruction.

In the midst of this, Jesus warns, “Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is he who watches and keeps his garments.” This is not a call to repentance, as probation has already closed (Revelation 15:8), but an encouragement for the faithful to remain steadfast, clothed in Christ’s righteousness (Revelation 3:18), and spiritually vigilant. The sixth plague prepares the world for the seventh and final plague, when Babylon’s rebellion will be completely destroyed, bringing the conflict to its climax (Revelation 16:17-21).

Revelation 16:17-21 (NKJV)
17 Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, “It is done!”
18 And there were noises and thunderings and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such a mighty and great earthquake as had not occurred since men were on the earth.
19 Now the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. And great Babylon was remembered before God, to give her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of His wrath.
20 Then every island fled away, and the mountains were not found.
21 And great hail from heaven fell upon men, each hailstone about the weight of a talent; and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail, since the plague was exceedingly great.

This passage describes the seventh and final plague, marking the completion of God’s judgment on the wicked and the beginning of Babylon’s downfall. A loud voice from the temple declares, “It is done!” signaling that God’s wrath has been fully poured out, and the end of the great controversy is near. A massive earthquake, greater than any before, shakes the entire world, splitting Babylon into three parts, symbolizing the collapse of its false religious, political, and economic systems. Though Babylon’s final destruction is detailed in Revelation 17-18, this plague sets the stage for its complete fall.

The earthquake causes global devastation, with mountains and islands disappearing, representing the collapse of all human institutions. This is followed by huge hailstones, each about a talent in weight (75-100 pounds), mirroring the hail plague in Egypt (Exodus 9:22-26) but on a far greater scale. Despite the overwhelming destruction, the wicked continue to blaspheme God, proving their complete rejection of Him. This plague confirms that God’s justice is final, and no earthly power can stand against His righteous judgment. It prepares the way for the full judgment and destruction of Babylon, which is further explained in the following chapters.