1UndG2532 ich hörteG191 eine lauteG3173 StimmeG5456 ausG1537 dem TempelG3485 zu den siebenG2033 EngelnG32 sagenG3004: Gehet hinG5217 undG2532 gießetG1632 die sieben SchalenG5357 des GrimmesG2372 GottesG2316 ausG1632 aufG1519 die ErdeG1093. 2UndG2532 der ersteG4413 ging hinG565 undG2532 goßG1632 seineG846 SchaleG5357 ausG1632 aufG1909 die ErdeG1093; undG2532 es kamG1096 ein bösesG2556 undG2532 schlimmesG4190 GeschwürG1668 anG1519 die MenschenG444, welcheG3588 das MalzeichenG5480 des TieresG2342 hattenG2192 undG2532 die seinG846 BildG1504 anbetetenG4352. 3UndG2532 der zweiteG1208 goßG1632 seineG846 SchaleG5357 ausG1632 aufG1909 das MeerG2281; undG2532 es wurdeG1096 zu BlutG129, wieG5613 von einem TotenG3498, undG2532 jedeG3956 lebendigeG2198 SeeleG5590 starbG599, alles was inG1722 dem MeereG2281 war. 4UndG2532 der dritteG5154 goßG1632 seineG846 SchaleG5357 ausG1632 aufG1909 die StrömeG4215 undG2532 [auf]G1519 die WasserquellenG4077 G5204, undG2532 sie wurdenG1096 zu BlutG129. 5UndG2532 ich hörteG191 den EngelG32 der WasserG5204 sagenG3004: Du bistG1488 gerechtG1342, derG3588 da istG3801 undG2532 der da warG2258 G3801, der HeiligeG3741 G3801, daßG3754 du alsoG5023 gerichtetG2919 hast. 6DennG3754 BlutG129 von HeiligenG40 undG2532 ProphetenG4396 haben sie vergossenG1632, undG2532 BlutG129 hastG1325 du ihnenG846 zu trinkenG4095 gegebenG1325; sie sindG1526 es wertG514. 7UndG2532 ich hörteG191 den AltarG2379 sagenG3004: JaG3483, HerrG2962, GottG2316, AllmächtigerG3841, wahrhaftigG228 undG2532 gerechtG1342 sind deineG4675 GerichteG2920. 8UndG2532 der vierteG5067 goßG1632 seineG846 SchaleG5357 ausG1632 aufG1909 die SonneG2246; undG2532 es wurdeG1325 ihrG846 gegebenG1325, die MenschenG444 mitG1722 FeuerG4442 zu versengenG2739. 9UndG2532 die MenschenG444 wurdenG2739 von großerG3173 HitzeG2738 versengtG2739 undG2532 lästertenG987 den NamenG3686 GottesG2316, derG3588 überG1909 dieseG5025 PlagenG4127 GewaltG1849 hatG2192, undG2532 tatenG3340 nichtG3756 BußeG3340, ihmG846 EhreG1391 zu gebenG1325. 10UndG2532 der fünfteG3991 goßG1632 seineG846 SchaleG5357 ausG1632 aufG1909 den ThronG2362 des TieresG2342; undG2532 seinG846 ReichG932 wurdeG1096 verfinstertG4656; undG2532 sie zerbissenG3145 ihreG846 ZungenG1100 vorG1537 PeinG4192 11undG2532 lästertenG987 den GottG2316 des HimmelsG3772 wegenG1537 ihrerG846 PeinG4192 undG2532 wegenG1537 ihrerG846 GeschwüreG1668, undG2532 tatenG3340 nichtG3756 BußeG3340 vonG1537 ihrenG846 WerkenG2041. 12UndG2532 der sechsteG1632 goßG1632 seineG846 SchaleG5357 ausG1632 aufG1909 den großenG3173 StromG4215 EuphratG2166; undG2532 seinG846 WasserG5204 vertrockneteG3583, auf daßG2443 der WegG3598 der KönigeG935 bereitetG2090 würde, die vonG575 SonnenaufgangG2246 G395 herkommenG575. 13UndG2532 ich sahG1492 ausG1537 dem MundeG4750 des DrachenG1404 undG2532 ausG1537 dem MundeG4750 des TieresG2342 undG2532 ausG1537 dem MundeG4750 des falschen ProphetenG5578 dreiG5140 unreineG169 GeisterG4151 kommen, wieG3664 FröscheG944; 14dennG1063 es sindG1526 GeisterG4151 von DämonenG1142, die ZeichenG4592 tunG4160, welche zuG1909 den KönigenG935 des ganzenG3650 ErdkreisesG3625 ausgehenG1607, sieG846 zu versammelnG4863 zuG1519 dem KriegeG4171 [jenes]G1565 großenG3173 TagesG2250 GottesG2316, des AllmächtigenG3841. 15(SieheG2400, ich kommeG2064 wieG5613 ein DiebG2812. GlückseligG3107, der da wachtG1127 undG2532 seineG846 KleiderG2440 bewahrtG5083, auf daß er nichtG3363 nacktG1131 wandleG4043 undG2532 man seineG846 SchandeG808 seheG991!) 16UndG2532 er versammelteG4863 sieG846 anG1519 den OrtG5117, der auf hebräischG1447 ArmagedonG717 heißtG2564. 17UndG2532 der siebteG1442 goßG1632 seineG846 SchaleG5357 ausG1632 inG1519 die LuftG109; undG2532 es gingG1831 eine lauteG3173 StimmeG5456 ausG1831 vonG575 dem TempelG3485 [des Himmels]G3772, vonG575 dem ThroneG2362, welche sprachG3004: Es ist geschehenG1096. 18UndG2532 es geschahenG1096 BlitzeG796 undG2532 StimmenG5456 undG2532 DonnerG1027; undG2532 ein großesG3173 ErdbebenG4578 geschahG1096, desgleichenG3634 nichtG3756 geschehenG1096 ist, seitdemG3739 G575 die MenschenG444 aufG1909 der ErdeG1093 warenG1096, solchG5082 ein ErdbebenG4578, soG3779 großG3173. 19UndG2532 die großeG3173 StadtG4172 wurdeG1096 inG1519 dreiG5140 TeileG3313 geteiltG1096, undG2532 die StädteG4172 der NationenG1484 fielenG4098, undG2532 die großeG3173 BabylonG897 kamG3403 ins GedächtnisG3415 vorG1799 GottG2316, ihrG846 den KelchG4221 des WeinesG3631 des GrimmesG2372 seinesG846 ZornesG3709 zu gebenG1325. 20UndG2532 jedeG3956 InselG3520 entflohG5343, undG2532 BergeG3735 wurdenG2147 nichtG3756 gefundenG2147. 21UndG2532 großeG3173 HagelsteineG5464, wieG5613 ein Talent schwerG5006, fallenG2597 ausG1537 dem HimmelG3772 aufG1909 die MenschenG444 herniederG2597; undG2532 die MenschenG444 lästertenG987 GottG2316 wegenG1537 der PlageG4127 des HagelsG5464, dennG3754 seineG846 PlageG4127 istG2076 sehrG4970 großG3173.
Matthew Henry - Complete Commentary 1 We had in the foregoing chapter the great and solemn preparation that was made for the pouring out of the vials; now we have the performance of that work. Here observe,
I. That, though every thing was made ready before, yet nothing was to be put in execution without an immediate positive order from God; and this he gave out of the temple, answering the prayers of his people, and avenging their quarrel.
II. No sooner was the word of command given than it was immediately obeyed; no delay, no objection made. We find that some of the best men, as Moses and Jeremiah, did not so readily come in and comply with the call of God to their work; but the angels of God excel not only in strength, but in a readiness to do the will of God. God says,
Go your ways, and pour out the vials, and immediately the work is begun. We are taught to pray that the will of God may be done on earth as it is done in heaven. And now we enter upon a series of very terrible dispensations of Providence, of which it is difficult to give the certain meaning or to make the particular application. But in the general it is worth our observation that,
1. We have here a reference and allusion to several of the plagues of Egypt, such as the turning of their waters into blood, and smiting them with boils and sores. Their sins were alike, and so were their punishments.
2. These vials have a plain reference to the seven trumpets, which represented the rise of antichrist; and we learn hence that the fall of the church's enemies shall bear some resemblance to their rise, and that God can bring them down in such ways as they chose to exalt themselves. And the fall of antichrist shall be gradual; as Rome was not built in one day, so neither shall it fall in one day, but it falls by degrees; it shall fall so as to rise no more.
3. The fall of the antichristian interest shall be universal. Every thing that any ways belonged to them, or could be serviceable to them, the premises and all their appurtenances, are put into the writ for destruction: their earth, their air, their sea, their rivers, their cities, all consigned over to ruin, all accursed for the sake of the wickedness of that people. Thus the creation groans and suffers through the sins of men. Now we proceed to,
(1.) The first angel who poured out his vial,
Revel 16:2. Observe, [1.] Where it fell -
upon the earth; that is, say some, upon the common people; others upon the body of the Romish clergy, who were the basis of the papacy, and of an earthly spirit, all carrying on earthly designs. [2.] What it produced -
noisome and grievous sores on all who had the mark of the beast. They had marked themselves by their sin; now God marks them out by his judgments. This sore, some think, signifies some of the first appearances of Providence against their state and interest which gave them great uneasiness, as it discovered their inward distemper and was a token of further evil; the plague - tokens appeared.
(2.)
The second angel poured out his vial; and here we see, [1.] Where it fell -
upon the sea; that is, say some, upon the jurisdiction and dominion of the papacy; others upon the whole system of their religion, their false doctrines, their corrupt glosses, their superstitious rites, their idolatrous worship, their pardons, indulgences, a great conflux of wicked inventions and institutions, by which they maintain a trade and traffic advantageous to themselves, but injurious to all who deal with them. [2.] What it produced: It turned the sea into blood,
as the blood of a dead man, and every living soul died in the sea. God discovered not only the vanity and falsehood of their religion, but the pernicious and deadly nature of it - that the souls of men were poisoned by that which was pretended to be the sure means of their salvation.
(3.) The next angel poured out his vial; and we are told, [1.] Where it fell -
upon the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters; that is, say some very learned men, upon their emissaries, and especially the Jesuits, who, like streams, conveyed the venom and poison of their errors and idolatries from the spring-head through the earth. [2.] What effect it had upon them:
It turned them into blood; some think it stirred up Christian princes to take a just revenge upon those that had been the great incendiaries of the world, and had occasioned the shedding of the blood of armies and of martyrs. The following doxology (
Revel 16:5,
Revel 16:6) favours this sense. The instrument that God makes use of in this work is here called
the angel of the waters, who extols the righteousness of God in this retaliation:
They have shed the blood of thy saints, and thou hast given them blood to drink, for they are worthy, to which another angel answered by full consent,
Revel 16:7.
8 In these verses we see the work going on in the appointed order. The fourth angel poured out his vial, and that fell upon the sun; that is, say some, upon some eminent prince of the popish communion, who should renounce their false religion a little while before his utter downfall; and some expect it will be the German emperor. And now what will be the consequence of this? That sun which before cherished them with warm and benign influences shall now grow hot against these idolaters, and shall scorch them. Princes shall use their power and authority to suppress them, which yet will be so far from bringing them to repentance, that it will cause them to curse God and their king, and look upward, throwing out their blasphemous speeches against the God of heaven; they will be hardened to their ruin. The fifth angel poured out his vial,
Revel 16:10. And observe, 1. Where this fell -
upon the seat of the beast, upon Rome itself, the mystical Babylon, the head of the antichristian empire. 2. What effect it had there: The whole kingdom of the beast
was full of darkness and distress. That very city which was the seat of their policy, the source of all their learning, and all their knowledge, and all their pomp and pleasure, now becomes a source of darkness, and pain, and anguish. Darkness was one of the plagues of Egypt, and it is opposed to lustre and honour, and so forebodes the contempt and scorn to which the antichristian interest should be exposed. Darkness is opposed to wisdom and penetration, and forbodes the confusion and folly which the idolaters should discover at that time. It is opposed to pleasure and joy, and so signifies their anguish and vexation of Spirit, when their calamities thus came upon them.
12 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 river Tiber; for, as Rome is mystical Babylon, Tiber is mystical Euphrates. And when Rome shall be destroyed her river and merchandise must suffer with her.
II. What did this vial produce? 1. The drying up of the river, which furnished the city with wealth, provisions, and all sorts of accommodations. 2. A way is hereby prepared
for the kings of the east. The idolatry of the church of Rome had been a great hindrance both to the conversion of the Jews, who have been long cured of their inclination to idols, and of the Gentiles, who are hardened in their idolatry by seeing that which so much symbolizes with it among those called Christians. It is therefore very probable that the downfall of popery, removing these obstructions, will open a way for both the Jews and other eastern nations to come into the church of Christ. And, if we suppose that Mahomedism shall fall at the same time, there will be still a more open communication between the western and eastern nations, which may facilitate the conversion of the Jews, and of
the fulness of the Gentiles. And when this work of God appears, and is about to be accomplished, no wonder if it occasion another consequence, which is, 3. The last effort of the great dragon; he is resolved to have another push for it, that, if possible, he may retrieve the ruinous posture of his affairs in the world. He is now rallying his forces, recollecting all his spirits, to make one desperate sally before all be lost. This is occasioned by the pouring out of the sixth vial. Here observe, (1.) The instruments he makes use of to engage the powers of the earth in his cause and quarrel:
Three unclean spirits like frogs come forth, one
out of the mouth of the dragon, another
out of the mouth of the beast, and a third
out of the mouth of the false prophet. Hell, the secular power of antichrist, and the ecclesiastical power, would combine to send their several instruments, furnished with hellish malice, with worldly policy, and with religious falsehood and deceit; and these would muster up the devil's forces for a decisive battle. (2.) The means these instruments would use to engage the powers of earth in this war. They would work pretended miracles, the old stratagem of him
whose coming is after the working of Satan, with all power, and signs, and lying wonders, and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness, 2Thes 2:9,
2Thes 2:10. Some think that a little before the fall of antichrist the popish pretence of power to work miracles will be revived and will very much amuse and deceive the world. (3.) The field of battle - a place called
Armageddon; that is, say some, the mount of Megiddo, near to which, by a stream issuing thence, Barak overcame Sisera, and all the kings in alliance with him,
Judg 5:19. And in the valley of Megiddo Josiah was slain. This place had been famous for two events of a very different nature, the former very happy for the church of God, the latter very unhappy; but it shall now be the field of the last battle in which the church shall be engaged, and she shall be victorious. This battle required time to prepare for it, and therefore the further account of it is suspended till we come to the nineteenth chapter,
Revel 19:19,
Revel 19:20. (4.) The warning which God gives of this great and decisive trial, to engage his people to prepare for it,
Revel 16:15. It would be sudden and unexpected, and therefore Christians should be clothed, and armed, and ready for it, that they might not be surprised and ashamed. When God's cause comes to be tried, and his battles to be fought, all his people shall be ready to stand up for his interest and be faithful and valiant in his service.
17 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 subject to the almighty power of God. He had used all possible means to preserve the antichristian interest, and to prevent the fall of Babylon - all the influence that he has upon the minds of men, blinding their judgments and perverting them, hardening their hearts, raising their enmity to the gospel as high as could be. But now here is a vial poured out upon his kingdom, and he is not able to support his tottering cause and interest any longer.
II. What it produced, 1. A thankful voice from heaven, pronouncing that now the work was done. The church triumphant in heaven saw it, and rejoiced; the church militant on earth saw it, and became triumphant. It is finished. 2. A mighty commotion on the earth - an earthquake, so great as never was before, shaking the very centre, and this ushered in by the usual concomitants of thunder and lightnings. 3. The fall of Babylon, which was divided into three parts,
called the cities of the nations (
Revel 16:19); having had rule over the nations, and taken in the idolatry of the nations, incorporating into her religion something of the Jewish, something of the pagan, and something of the Christian religion, she was as three cities in one. God now remembered this great and wicked city. Though for some time he seemed to have forgotten her idolatry and cruelty, yet now he gives unto her
the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath. And this downfall extended further than to the seat of antichrist; it reached from the centre to the circumference; and every island and every mountain, that seemed by nature and situation the most secured, were carried away in the deluge of this ruin.
III. How the antichristian party were affected with it. Though it fell upon them as a dreadful storm, as if the stones of the city, tossed up into the air, came down upon their heads, like hailstones of a talent weight each, yet they were so far from repenting that they blasphemed that God who thus punished them. Here was a dreadful plague of the heart, a spiritual judgment more dreadful and destructive than all the rest. Observe, 1. The greatest calamities that can befall men will not bring them to repentance without the grace of God working with them. 2. Those that are not made better by the judgments of God are always the worse for them. 3. To be hardened in sin and enmity against God by his righteous judgments is a certain token of utter destruction.