Revelation 16
Berean Standard Bible · Compare translations · AD 68 – AD 96 · Late apostolic age · Tap a verse to copy, share or highlight ·
21 verses · 530 words · ~3 min read · ~4 min listen
The First Six Bowls of Wrath
1Then I heard a loud voice from the temple saying to the seven angels, “Go, pour out on the earth the seven bowls of Godʼs wrath.”
2So the first angel went and poured out his bowl on the earth, and loathsome, malignant sores broke out on those who had the mark of the beast and worshiped its image.
3And the second angel poured out his bowl into the sea, and it turned to blood like that of the dead, and every living thing in the sea died.
4And the third angel poured out his bowl into the rivers and springs of water, and they turned to blood. 5And I heard the angel of the waters say:
7And I heard the altar reply:
8Then the fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and it was given power to scorch the people with fire. 9And the people were scorched by intense heat, and they cursed the name of God, who had authority over these plagues. Yet they did not repent and give Him glory.
10And the fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and its kingdom was plunged into darkness, and men began to gnaw their tongues in anguish 11and curse the God of heaven for their pains and sores. Yet they did not repent of their deeds.
12And the sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up to prepare the way for the kings of the East.
13And I saw three unclean spirits that looked like frogs coming out of the mouths of the dragon, the beast, and the false prophet. 14These are demonic spirits that perform signs and go out to all the kings of the earth, to assemble them for battle on the great day of God the Almighty.
15“Behold, I am coming like a thief. Blessed is the one who remains awake and clothed, so that he will not go naked and let his shame be exposed.”
16And they assembled the kings in the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon.
The Seventh Bowl of Wrath
17Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came from the throne in the temple, saying, “It is done!”
18And there were flashes of lightning, and rumblings, and peals of thunder, and a great earthquake the likes of which had not occurred since men were upon the earth—so mighty was the great quake. 19The great city was split into three parts, and the cities of the nations collapsed. And God remembered Babylon the great and gave her the cup of the wine of the fury of His wrath.
20Then every island fled, and no mountain could be found. 21And great hailstones weighing almost a hundred pounds each rained down on them from above. And men cursed God for the plague of hail, because it was so horrendous.
Footnotes (1)
- a v21 Greek great hail as of a talent; that is, hailstones weighing approximately 75.4 pounds or 34.2 kilograms each
Study notes on this chapter · 1
Armageddon
At the sixth bowl the kings of the whole world are gathered to the place called in Hebrew 'Armageddon' for the battle of the great day of God. The name probably means 'Mountain of Megiddo', though no such mountain exists. Megiddo was a site of decisive battles in Israel's history.
When: Revelation, c. AD 90s.
Ways people read this (4)
- A literal end-time battle in the valley of Jezreel near Megiddo (many futurist readings).
- A symbolic picture of the final defeat of evil, drawing on Megiddo's history and on Ezekiel 38–39, and not tied to a place.
- 'Har-Magedon' may come from Hebrew 'mo'ed' (assembly) or 'Megiddo' and may refer to Jerusalem or a mountain of assembly.
- The battle has been fulfilled in the victory of Christ at the cross (some idealist readings).
Editorial note by BibleWay. Interpretations vary; dates are approximate scholarly estimates.