REV 16

Revelation 16:14

WEB

for they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the whole inhabited earth, to gather them together for the war of that great day of God the Almighty.

BSB

These 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.

KJV

For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.

Matthew Henry

Verses 12–16

Revelation 16:12–16

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, Th2 2:9, Th2 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, Jdg 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, Rev 19:19, Rev 19:20. (4.) The warning which God gives of this great and decisive trial, to engage his people to prepare for it, Rev 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.

Cross-references: 2Thess 2:9 · 2Thess 2:10 · Judg 5:19 · Rev 19:19 · Rev 19:20 · Rev 16:15

Greek interlinear

G1510

εἰμίeimí/i-mee'/

am, have been, X it is I, was

Derivation: the first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb;

I exist (used only when emphatic)

KJV: am, have been, X it is I, was.

See also G1488, G1498, G1511, G1527, G2258, G2071, G2070, G2075, G2076, G2771, G2468, G5600.

See also: G1488, G1498, G1511, G1527, G2258, G2071, G2070, G2075, G2076, G2771, G2468, G5600.

G1063

γάρgár/gar/

and, as, because (that), but, even, for, indeed, no doubt, seeing, then, therefore, verily, what, why, yet

Derivation: a primary particle;

properly, assigning a reason (used in argument, explanation or intensification; often with other particles)

KJV: and, as, because (that), but, even, for, indeed, no doubt, seeing, then, therefore, verily, what, why, yet.

G4151

πνεῦμαpneûma/pnyoo'-mah/

ghost, life, spirit(-ual, -ually), mind

Derivation: from G4154;

a current of air, i.e. breath (blast) or a breeze; by analogy or figuratively, a spirit, i.e. (human) the rational soul, (by implication) vital principle, mental disposition, etc., or (superhuman) an angel, demon, or (divine) God, Christ's spirit, the Holy Spirit

KJV: ghost, life, spirit(-ual, -ually), mind.

Compare G5590.

See also: G4154, G5590.

G1140

δαιμόνιονdaimónion/dahee-mon'-ee-on/

devil, god

Derivation: neuter of a derivative of G1142;

a dæmonic being; by extension a deity

KJV: devil, god.

See also: G1142.

G4160

ποιέωpoiéō/poy-eh'-o/

abide, + agree, appoint, X avenge, + band together, be, bear, + bewray, bring (forth), cast out, cause, commit, + content, continue, deal, + without any delay, (would) do(-ing), execute, exercise, fulfil, gain, give, have, hold, X journeying, keep, + lay wait, + lighten the ship, make, X mean, + none of these things move me, observe, ordain, perform, provide, + have purged, purpose, put, + raising up, X secure, shew, X shoot out, spend, take, tarry, + transgress the law, work, yield

Derivation: apparently a prolonged form of an obsolete primary;

to make or do (in a very wide application, more or less direct)

KJV: abide, + agree, appoint, X avenge, + band together, be, bear, + bewray, bring (forth), cast out, cause, commit, + content, continue, deal, + without any delay, (would) do(-ing), execute, exercise, fulfil, gain, give, have, hold, X journeying, keep, + lay wait, + lighten the ship, make, X mean, + none of these things move me, observe, ordain, perform, provide, + have purged, purpose, put, + raising up, X secure, shew, X shoot out, spend, take, tarry, + transgress the law, work, yield.

Compare G4238.

See also: G4238.

G4592

σημεῖονsēmeîon/say-mi'-on/

miracle, sign, token, wonder

Derivation: neuter of a presumed derivative of the base of G4591;

an indication, especially ceremonially or supernaturally

KJV: miracle, sign, token, wonder.

See also: G4591.

G3739

ὅςhós/hos/

one, (an-, the) other, some, that, what, which, who(-m, -se), etc

, including feminine , and neuter

Derivation: probably a primary word (or perhaps a form of the article G3588);

the relatively (sometimes demonstrative) pronoun, who, which, what, that

KJV: one, (an-, the) other, some, that, what, which, who(-m, -se), etc.

See also G3757.

See also: G3588, G3757.

G1607

ἐκπορεύομαιekporeúomai/ek-por-yoo'-om-ahee/

come (forth, out of), depart, go (forth, out), issue, proceed (out of)

Derivation: from G1537 and G4198;

to depart, be discharged, proceed, project

KJV: come (forth, out of), depart, go (forth, out), issue, proceed (out of).

See also: G1537, G4198.

G1909

ἐπίepí/ep-ee'/

about (the times), above, after, against, among, as long as (touching), at, beside, X have charge of, (be-, (where-))fore, in (a place, as much as, the time of, -to), (because) of, (up-)on (behalf of), over, (by, for) the space of, through(-out), (un-)to(-ward), with

Derivation: a primary preposition;

properly, meaning superimposition (of time, place, order, etc.), as a relation of distribution (with the genitive case), i.e. over, upon, etc.; of rest (with the dative case) at, on, etc.; of direction (with the accusative case) towards, upon, etc.

KJV: about (the times), above, after, against, among, as long as (touching), at, beside, X have charge of, (be-, (where-))fore, in (a place, as much as, the time of, -to), (because) of, (up-)on (behalf of), over, (by, for) the space of, through(-out), (un-)to(-ward), with.

In compounds it retains essentially the same import, at, upon, etc. (literally or figuratively).

G3588

ho/ho/

the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc

, including the feminine , and the neuter τό in all their inflections;

Derivation: the definite article;

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)

KJV: the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.

G935

βασιλεύςbasileús/bas-il-yooce'/

king

Derivation: probably from G939 (through the notion of a foundation of power);

a sovereign (abstractly, relatively, or figuratively)

KJV: king.

See also: G939.

G3625

οἰκουμένηoikouménē/oy-kou-men'-ay/

earth, world

Derivation: feminine participle present passive of G3611 (as noun, by implication, of G1093);

land, i.e. the (terrene part of the) globe; specially, the Roman empire

KJV: earth, world.

See also: G3611, G1093.

G3650

ὅλοςhólos/hol'-os/

all, altogether, every whit, + throughout, whole

Derivation: a primary word;

"whole" or "all", i.e. complete (in extent, amount, time or degree), especially (neuter) as noun or adverb

KJV: all, altogether, every whit, + throughout, whole.

G4863

συνάγωsynágō/soon-ag'-o/

+ accompany, assemble (selves, together), bestow, come together, gather (selves together, up, together), lead into, resort, take in

Derivation: from G4862 and G71;

to lead together, i.e. collect or convene; specially, to entertain (hospitably)

KJV: + accompany, assemble (selves, together), bestow, come together, gather (selves together, up, together), lead into, resort, take in.

See also: G4862, G71.

G846

αὐτόςautós/ow-tos'/

her, it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which

Derivation: from the particle αὖ (perhaps akin to the base of G109 through the idea of a baffling wind) (backward);

the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative G1438) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons

KJV: her, it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which.

Compare G848.

See also: G109, G1438, G848.

G1519

εἰςeis/ice/

(abundant-)ly, against, among, as, at, (back-)ward, before, by, concerning, + continual, + far more exceeding, for (intent, purpose), fore, + forth, in (among, at, unto, -so much that, -to), to the intent that, + of one mind, + never, of, (up-)on, + perish, + set at one again, (so) that, therefore(-unto), throughout, til, to (be, the end, -ward), (here-)until(-to), …ward, (where-)fore, with

Derivation: a primary preposition;

to or into (indicating the point reached or entered), of place, time, or (figuratively) purpose (result, etc.); also in adverbial phrases

KJV: (abundant-)ly, against, among, as, at, (back-)ward, before, by, concerning, + continual, + far more exceeding, for (intent, purpose), fore, + forth, in (among, at, unto, -so much that, -to), to the intent that, + of one mind, + never, of, (up-)on, + perish, + set at one again, (so) that, therefore(-unto), throughout, til, to (be, the end, -ward), (here-)until(-to), …ward, (where-)fore, with.

Often used in composition with the same general import, but only with verbs (etc.) expressing motion (literally or figuratively).

G4171

πόλεμοςpólemos/pol'-em-os/

battle, fight, war

Derivation: from πέλομαι (to bustle);

warfare (literally or figuratively; a single encounter or a series)

KJV: battle, fight, war.

G2250

ἡμέραhēméra/hay-mer'-ah/

age, + alway, (mid-)day (by day, (-ly)), + for ever, judgment, (day) time, while, years

Derivation: feminine (with G5610 implied) of a derivative of ἧμαι (to sit; akin to the base of G1476) meaning tame, i.e. gentle;

day, i.e. (literally) the time space between dawn and dark, or the whole 24 hours (but several days were usually reckoned by the Jews as inclusive of the parts of both extremes); figuratively, a period (always defined more or less clearly by the context)

KJV: age, + alway, (mid-)day (by day, (-ly)), + for ever, judgment, (day) time, while, years.

See also: G5610, G1476.

G3173

μέγαςmégas/meg'-as/

(+ fear) exceedingly, great(-est), high, large, loud, mighty, + (be) sore (afraid), strong, X to years

Derivation: (including the prolonged forms, feminine μεγάλη, plural μεγάλοι, etc.; compare also G3176, G3187);

big (literally or figuratively, in a very wide application)

KJV: (+ fear) exceedingly, great(-est), high, large, loud, mighty, + (be) sore (afraid), strong, X to years.

See also: G3176, G3187.

G2316

θεόςtheós/theh'-os/

X exceeding, God, god(-ly, -ward)

Derivation: of uncertain affinity; a deity, especially (with G3588) the supreme Divinity;

figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very

KJV: X exceeding, God, god(-ly, -ward).

See also: G3588.

G3841

παντοκράτωρpantokrátōr/pan-tok-rat'-ore/

Almighty, Omnipotent

Derivation: from G3956 and G2904;

the all-ruling, i.e. God (as absolute and universal sovereign)

KJV: Almighty, Omnipotent.

See also: G3956, G2904.

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