Bible Commentaries
Revelation 16

Verses 1-2

20 A stadium was 600 Greek feet, 625 Roman feet, or 125 paces, or one-eighth of a Roman mile. This is about 606 3/4 English feet. The race course at Olympia was this length. From this standard length, it became the usual name for a race course ( 1Co_9:24 ). From Harmageddon down through the valley of Jehoshaphat ( Joe_3:1-2 ; Joe_3:9-16 ) to Bozrah ( Isa_34:6-8 ; Isa_63:1-6 ) is a line about this length. It is likened to an enormous trough for treading grapes such as was found in almost every vineyard in Palestine. The grapes were cast in and trodden with the feet, the juice running into the vat below. The Vintage is referred to again in the next division, when the Rider on the white horse treads the wine trough of the furious indignation of God the Almighty ( Rev_19:15 ). Joel seems to fill in many details of this scene ( Joe_3:9 ; Joe_3:16 ). After a proclamation inviting the nations to battle in the valley of Jehoshaphat, the account proceeds:

"Send forth the sickle, for the harvest is ripe :

Come, descend, for the wine trough Is full,

The vats run over.

For their evil is much.

Throngs, throngs In the vale of decision!

For the day of Jehovah Is near in the vale of decision !"

It is called The Vale of Decision for here the controversy between Jehovah and the nations is finally decided.

Compare also Zep_3:8 ; Isa_34:1 ; Isa_34:8 .

Before the seven bowls are poured out we are given a vision which is the counterpart of the souls under the altar ( Rev_6:9 ). They are bidden to rest until their number is completed. Here we have all those who suffer on account of their loyalty to God standing on a glassy sea. This is the laver. Only the altar and the laver stood in the temple court. Instead of cleansing, the glassy sea speaks of their permanent purity for resisting the worship of the wild beast and its image, and refusing to wear its emblem.

3 That these are saints out of Israel is evident, for they sing the song of Moses ( Deu_32:1-43 ), which rehearses God's dealings with Israel throughout their history, and forms the ground upon which the judgment of the bowls is based. The song testifies against them. It vindicates God in pouring out the judgments upon them. To this they add the song of the Lambkin, which anticipates the results of His just awards.

5 The temple of the tent of the testimony must be carefully distinguished from the temple of God with the covenant in view. The covenant calls upon God to fulfill His obligations, which He does in the judgments of the Harvest and the Vintage. These are directed against the confederation of the nations who oppose the worship of Jehovah and the priesthood of His people. In this section the testimony or law is in view. These judgments are specially directed against the apostates of the nation, especially the city of Babylon.

7 The bowls were shallow basins used in the service of the temple. Before they are poured out those who are faithful in Israel have been killed or are in refuge. While they follow the same general course as the trumpets, being poured out upon the land, the sea, the water and the sun, they differ from them in intensity and character, corresponding to the different objects to be attained. The trumpets are usually limited in their effects to a third; the bowls seem to have no such limitation. The trumpets are a political measure and close with the sovereignty of the earth in the hands of Christ. The bowls are distinctly religions . They are poured out on the worshipers of the wild beast and on those who shed the blood of the saints and His prophets . The seven messengers who trumpet "stand before God" ( Rev_8:2 ). Another messenger is at the altar ( Rev_8:3 ). The seven messengers who have the bowls come out of the temple . A voice out of the temple bids them perform their duty. No worship is possible while these judgments continue. There is no reason why these infliction’s should not be as literal as the plagues of Egypt, which they resemble ( Isa_11:16 ) .

2 Compare Exo_9:8-11 ; Job_2:7 ; Deu_28:27 .

Verses 3-21

3 This corresponds very closely with the second trumpet ( Rev_8:8 ). That was limited to a third and affected the ships. The blood here is ''as if of a dead man."

4 The third trumpet ( Rev_8:10 ) affects a third of the rivers and springs in the same way as the third bowl. The first plague of Egypt ( Exo_7:17-21 ) is a limited sample of this very judgment.

5 "The messenger of the waters" gives us a glimpse into the divine economy. The various departments of nature seem to be under the guidance and control of special executives who are responsible for their operation. The messenger of the waters acquiesces in this infliction on the ground that the blood of God's witnesses whom they had slain demanded such a retribution. This is echoed by a voice from out of the altar, where the souls of the martyrs are waiting for this very action ( Rev_6:9 ). They call for vengeance on their enemies. This is right, in its place, but must not be imported into the present economy of God's grace. Our only recourse is to heap coals of fire on the heads of our enemies by returning good for their evil ( Rom_12:20 ).

8 The fourth bowl, like the fourth trumpet ( Rev_8:12 ) affects the sun, but in an opposite way. Then a third of the sun and the moon and the stars were eclipsed. Now the heat of the sun is greatly intensified. This is one of the signs in the sun foretold by our Lord ( Luk_21:25 ). This is the day that burns as an oven ( Mal_4:1 ) and its inhabitants are burned ( Isa_24:6 ; Isa_42:25 ). Yet they do not obey the evangel and repent ( Rev_14:7 ).

10 This infliction corresponds to the three days' plague of darkness in Egypt ( Exo_10:21-23 ). Our Lord predicted a total withdrawal of the light of the sun and moon ( Mar_13:24 ). Joel says that the sun should be turned into darkness ( Joe_2:31 ; Act_2:20 ). Under the fifth trumpet the sun and air are darkened by the fumes out of the well of the abyss ( Rev_9:2 ).

12 In view of the reason given, the drying up of the Euphrates must be a literal event. Only so can it have any effect on the mobilization of the oriental armies. It is always best to interpret literally unless that is impossible. There is nothing contrary to fact here.

15 The best text reads "I am coming". The reference seems to be to the watchers in the temple at Jerusalem, in view of the great army coming against it. The inspector of the guard was wont to take away the cloak of anyone found napping. Christ is not coming for us as a thief ( 1Th_5:4 ). He is coming with a shout ( 1Th_4:16 ).

16 Har Megiddon, the mountain district of Megiddo, overlooks the great plain of Esdraelon, about forty miles north of Jerusalem. Here Barak defeated the Canaanites ( Jud_5:19 ), Gideon the Midianites, and the Egyptians Josiah ( 2Ki_23:29 ). There will be no battle of Armageddon. It is the place where the armies of the earth will mobilize for the battle with the Rider on the White Horse (1 Rev_9:19 ). The battle line will extend from Esdraelon down to Bozrah, a distance of about 184 miles. The battle which follows is described later ( Rev_19:11-21 ) when the Rider on the White Horse mobilizes His heavenly army and fights them with the sword which issues out of

His mouth. This battle is also referred to in the Vintage ( Rev_14:17-20 ), where the battle line is compared to along winetrough and the blood to the juice of grapes.

18 Does not this imply that there have been such seismic disturbances before mankind was on the earth, thus confirming the facts of geology? And do not the very strata of the earth's surface prove the possibility of such upheavals? There have been violent local earthquakes during the tenancy of mankind, but this one will be far more destructive and terrible than any in the experience of the race hitherto.

19 This is the climax of all the climaxes in this scroll. It ends the seventh bowl which ends the seventh trumpet which ends the seventh seal. The great earthquake destroys all the cities of the earth except Jerusalem. This is divided into three parts. The destruction of Babylon is detailed in the following chapters.

21 This hail is like one of the plagues of Egypt ( Exo_9:18-26 ). The stones will weigh over eighty-five pounds each. The effect of the earthquake and the hail will be like the springing of a mine beneath and a bombardment from above. It will be terrific.