Teks -- Revelation 16:1-2 (NET)

The Bowls of God’s Wrath

16:1 Then I heard a loud voice from the temple declaring to the seven angels: “Go and pour out on the earth the seven bowls containing God’s wrath.” 16:2 So the first angel went and poured out his bowl on the earth. Then ugly and painful sores appeared on the people who had the mark of the beast and who worshiped his image.

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per frasa)

Robertson: Rev 16:1 - A great voice

A great voice ( megalēs phōnēs ).

Not an angel as in Rev 5:2; Rev 7:2; Rev 10:3; Rev 14:7, Rev 14:9, Rev 14:15, Rev 14:18, but of God as Rev 15:8 shows, since no one could enter the naos .

Robertson: Rev 16:1 - Pour out

Pour out ( ekcheete ).

Second aorist active imperative of ekcheō (same form as present active imperative). Blass would change to ekcheate (clearly aorist) as in Rev 16:6.

Robertson: Rev 16:1 - The seven bowls

The seven bowls ( tas hepta phialas ).

The article points to Rev 16:7.

Robertson: Rev 16:2 - Went and poured out

Went and poured out ( apēlthen kai execheen ).

Second aorist active indicative of aperchomai (redundant use like hupagete with ekcheete , "go and pour out,"in Rev 16:1) and of ekcheō . Each angel "went off"to perform his task. For execheen see it repeated in Rev 16:3, Rev 16:4, Rev 16:8, Rev 16:10, Rev 16:12, Rev 16:17.

Robertson: Rev 16:2 - Into the earth

Into the earth ( eis tēn gēn ).

This same use of eis after execheen in Rev 16:3, Rev 16:4.

Robertson: Rev 16:2 - It became

It became ( egeneto ).

"There came"(second aorist middle indicative of ginomai ).

Robertson: Rev 16:2 - A noisome and grievous sore

A noisome and grievous sore ( helkos kakon kai ponēron ).

"Bad and malignant sore."Helkos is old word for a suppurated wound (Latin ulcus ), here, Rev 16:11; Luk 16:21. See the sixth Egyptian plague (Exo 9:10; Deu 28:27, Deu 28:35) and Job 2:7. The magicians were attacked in Egypt and the worshippers of Caesar here (Rev 13:17; Rev 14:9, Rev 14:11; Rev 19:20).

Vincent: Rev 16:1 - The vials

The vials

Add seven .

Vincent: Rev 16:2 - And the first went

And the first went

Each angel, as his turn comes, with draws (ὑπάγετε , see on Joh 6:21; see on Joh 8:21) from the heavenly scene.

Vincent: Rev 16:2 - There fell

There fell ( ἐγένετο )

Lit., there came to pass . Rev., it became . Elliott, very aptly, there broke out .

Vincent: Rev 16:2 - Noisome and grievous

Noisome and grievous ( κακὸν καὶ πονηρὸν )

Similarly the two cognate nouns κακία and πονρία malice and wickedness occur together in 1Co 5:8. Πονηρός emphasizes the activity of evil. See on Luk 3:19.

Vincent: Rev 16:2 - Sore

Sore ( ἕλκος )

See on Luk 16:20. Compare the sixth Egyptian plague, Exo 9:8-12, where the Septuagint uses this word ἕλκος boil . Also of the boil or scab of leprosy, Lev 13:18; king Hezekiah's boil , 2Ki 20:7; the botch of Egypt , Deu 28:27, Deu 28:35. In Job 2:7 (Sept.) the boils are described as here by πονηρός sore .

Wesley: Rev 16:1 - Pour out the seven phials

The epistles to the seven churches are divided into three and four: the seven seals, and so the trumpets and phials, into four and three. The trumpets gradually, and in a long tract of time, overthrow the kingdom of the world: the phials destroy chiefly the beast and his followers, with a swift and impetuous force. The four first affect the earth, the sea, the rivers, the sun; the rest fall elsewhere, and are much more terrible.

Wesley: Rev 16:2 - And the first went

So the second, third, &c., without adding angel, to denote the utmost swiftness; of which this also is a token, that there is no period of time mentioned in the pouring out of each phial. They have a great resemblance to the plagues of Egypt, which the Hebrews generally suppose to have been a month distant from each other. Perhaps so may the phials; but they are all yet to come.

Wesley: Rev 16:2 - And poured out his phial upon the earth

Literally taken.

Wesley: Rev 16:2 - And there came a grievous ulcer

As in Egypt, Exo 9:10-11.

Wesley: Rev 16:2 - On the men who had the mark of the wild beast

All of them, and them only. All those plagues seem to be described in proper, not figurative, words.

JFB: Rev 16:1 - a great voice

Namely, God's. These seven vials (the detailed expansion of the vintage, Rev 14:18-20) being called "the last," must belong to the period just when the term of the beast's power has expired (whence reference is made in them all to the worshippers of the beast as the objects of the judgments), close to the end or coming of the Son of man. The first four are distinguished from the last three, just as in the case of the seven seals and the seven trumpets. The first four are more general, affecting the earth, the sea, springs, and the sun, not merely a portion of these natural bodies, as in the case of the trumpets, but the whole of them; the last three are more particular, affecting the throne of the beast, the Euphrates, and the grand consummation. Some of these particular judgments are set forth in detail in the seventeenth through twentieth chapters.

JFB: Rev 16:1 - out of the temple

B and Syriac omit. But A, C, Vulgate, and ANDREAS support the words.

JFB: Rev 16:1 - the vials

So Syriac and Coptic. But A, B, C, Vulgate, and ANDREAS read, "the seven vials."

JFB: Rev 16:1 - upon

Greek, "into."

JFB: Rev 16:2 - went

Greek, "went away."

JFB: Rev 16:2 - poured out

So the angel cast fire into the earth previous to the series of trumpets (Rev 8:5).

JFB: Rev 16:2 - upon

So Coptic. But A, B, C, Vulgate, and Syriac read, "into."

JFB: Rev 16:2 - noisome

Literally, "evil" (compare Deu 28:27, Deu 28:35). The very same Greek word is used in the Septuagint as here, Greek, "helkos." The reason why the sixth Egyptian plague is the first here is because it was directed against the Egyptian magicians, Jannes and Jambres, so that they could not stand before Moses; and so here the plague is sent upon those who in the beast worship had practiced sorcery. As they submitted to the mark of the beast, so they must bear the mark of the avenging God. Contrast Rev 7:3; Eze 9:4, Eze 9:6.

JFB: Rev 16:2 - grievous

Distressing to the sufferers.

JFB: Rev 16:2 - sore upon the men

Antitype to the sixth Egyptian plague.

JFB: Rev 16:2 - which had the mark of the beast

Therefore this first vial is subsequent to the period of the beast's rule.

Clarke: Rev 16:1 - Go your ways, and pour out

Go your ways, and pour out - These ministers of the Divine justice were ready to execute vengeance upon transgressors, having full power; but could do nothing in this way till they received especial commission. Nothing can be done without the permission of God; and in the manifestation of justice or mercy by Divine agency, there must be positive command.

Clarke: Rev 16:2 - A noisome and grievous sore

A noisome and grievous sore - This is a reference to the sixth Egyptian plague, boils and blains, Exo 9:8, Exo 9:9, etc.

Defender: Rev 16:1 - seven angels

These seven vial judgments all are a part of the seventh trumpet judgment and the third woe (Rev 10:7; Rev 11:14, Rev 11:15; Rev 15:6-8)."

Defender: Rev 16:2 - had the mark

This judgment will not be on just the third part of men this time (compare Rev 9:15), but upon all the men destined for hell (Rev 14:9-11). They had preferred the mark of the beast to suffering for Christ, but they will suffer now. The grievous sore may have some connection with the nature of the "mark" (perhaps achieved through chemical or electronic means) which they will have received on their skins; whatever substance the angel pours out on the earth will perhaps react with the mark and infect it with incurable pain."

TSK: Rev 16:1 - I heard // the seven // and pour

I heard : Rev 14:15, Rev 14:18, Rev 15:5-8

the seven : Rev 15:1, Rev 15:6

and pour : Rev 16:2-12, Rev 16:17, Rev 14:9-11, Rev 15:7; 1Sa 15:3, 1Sa 15:18; Eze 9:5-8, Eze 10:2; Mat 13:41, Mat 13:42

TSK: Rev 16:2 - upon the earth // a noisome // had

upon the earth : Rev 8:7, Rev 14:16

a noisome : Exo 9:8-11; Deu 7:15, Deu 28:27; 1Sa 5:6, 1Sa 5:9; 2Ch 21:15, 2Ch 21:18; Job 2:7, Job 2:8; Psa 78:26; Isa 1:5, Isa 1:6, Isa 3:17, Isa 3:24; Luk 16:20-22; Act 12:23

had : Rev 13:15-18

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per Ayat)

Poole: Rev 16:1 - Chapter Summary // And I heard a great voice out of the temple

Rev 16:1 The seven angels are commanded to pour out their

vials on the earth.

Rev 16:2-14 Great plagues follow thereupon.

Rev 16:15-21 Christ cometh suddenly as a thief: blessed are they

that watch.

Chapter Summary

God having showed unto his servant John in the vision of the first six seals, the fate of the church under the pagan emperors of Rome, Rev 5:1-6:17 , and its fate under antichrist, in the vision of the six first trumpets, under the seventh seal, Rev 8:1-9:21 , and diverted him by the vision of the little book opened, Rev 10:1-11 , and by the contents of it, Rev 12:1-14:20 , and instructed him concerning the affairs of the church during all the time of the reign of the dragon, and antichrist, who was the image of the dragon, comes now to instruct him particularly how and by what means he would ruin antichrist, and restore peace to his church.

And I heard a great voice out of the temple either out of the church triumphant, Christ, the Head of it, commanding the executioners of his justice to go and do their office; or out of the church militant, by their prayers soliciting God to execute vengeance upon the beast. All the beast’ s territories, or the several parts of his kingdom, are expressed in this chapter, under the notions of the earth, the sea, the rivers and fountains, the sun, and the seat of the beast. The first command to the executioners of God’ s justice, is, to pour out his wrath on the earth. By the earth; Pareus understands some parts of the earth; others, the common people; others, the Roman empire; but others, considering the earth as the firmest part of the universe, say, that by the earth is meant the popish clergy, the basis of the papacy; and I am very much inclined to judge that the most probable sense of it, not only because there is little of heaven in them, and their whole frame and model is the product of earthly policy, but because experience hath told us that the pope here received his first wound, in the diminution of their power and authority, and a contempt of them. God hath used many instruments to pour out this vial, even so many (whether princes or ministers) as he hath made use of to root out monasteries and abbeys, and to expose mass priests to scorn and contempt. Mr. Mede seemeth to be of another mind, thinking, that by earth is meant the commonalty of the people, whose defection from the pope was his first plague: but that which is to be understood by the earth, being the affected part of antichrist, I cannot agree with that learned man; for though the beast suffered by the defection of the commonalty, yet I cannot see how those that made the defection suffered at all by it.

Poole: Rev 16:2 - grievous sore

Here is a plain allusion to the plagues which God brought upon Pharaoh king of Egypt for his oppression of his ancient Israel; God hereby showing us, that he would deal by this Romish beast for his persecutions of his gospel churches, as he dealt by Pharaoh: as he turned the Egyptian rivers into blood, so as the fish died, and the waters stunk, Exo 7:20,21 , and as he plagued the Egyptians with boils and blains, Exo 9:9 ; so he would plague the papacy by proportionable judgments, until, as Pharaoh with his whole party was at last drowned in the Red Sea, so all the antichristian party shall be rooted out. Here are two of the Egyptian plagues mentioned, but this vision begins with the sixth of the Egyptian plagues, viz. that of boils breaking out in blains. What is meant by this

grievous sore I must profess myself not to understand, but think Dr. More speaks very probably, interpreting it of trouble and vexation, which the popish party should have upon the first prospect of their kingdom’ s going down; it being of the nature of sores to vex and disturb those that are affected with them, so as they are very uneasy so long as they are affected with them. And, indeed, I find many interpreters agree in this notion.

PBC: Rev 16:1

Since the glory of God filled the temple until none could enter, this must be the voice of God who is the only one in the temple. He gave the order for the seven angels to pour out the vials of wrath of God upon the earth.— Eld. Charles Taylor

PBC: Rev 16:2

Re 16:2 And the first went, and poured out his vial upon the earth; and there fell a noisome and grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and upon them which worshipped his image.

In Re 14:1-20, we interpreted the mark of the beast as being those Jews whose minds had been captured by the works of Satan. We learned of their torment, " And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name." {Re 14:9-11} We interpreted the image of the beast as being in direct conflict to the image of Christ. The mark of identification was received in the forehead (mind) and in the hand (works). As the first angel poured out his vial upon these men, " there fell a noisome[1] and grievous sore" upon them.

We are again faced with language which is very figurative. Instead of repenting of their evil deeds, they became more and more corrupt and vile both in mannerism and thinking. Truly the mark of the beast was taking over their lives.— Eld. Charles Taylor

[1] kakos, apparently a primary word; worthless.

Haydock: Rev 16:1 - I heard a great voice // Go and pour out the seven vials

I heard a great voice. Bossuet explains the pouring out of the seven vials in this manner. The five first he supposes to have taken place under the reign of Valerian and Gallien; the sixth he supposes to have been poured out during the reigns of Valerian, Dioclesian, and Julian; and the seventh under Honorius and the Alani. (Bossuet) ---

All commentators, however, seem to agree that the great city mentioned in the 19th verse, is to be understood of Rome, and that the plagues which are here foretold, are denounced against her. (Calmet, Pastorini, &c.) ---

Go and pour out the seven vials, &c. According to the exposition followed by the bishop of Meaux, all these seven vials are already past, being punishments and judgments exercised against the heathen emperors, from the time of Valerian even to the time of Julian, at whose death it might be said, (ver. 17) it is done. Idolatry is destroyed, as to its public worship. Here in particular, by the drying up of the Euphrates, and by the armies of the East, these interpreters understand those of the Persians, who first gave the great shock to the empire in Valerian's time, and by whom afterwards Julian the apostate was defeated, and killed. By the great Babylon they also understand idolatrous Rome; and by the islands and mountains sunk by earthquakes, they understand the destruction of divers kingdoms. According to another interpretation, (which is very common) all these judgments are to come before the end of the world; and will be in a manner literally executed about antichrist's time. At the first vial, men shall be struck with ulcers and wounds, not unlike to the sixth plague of Egypt. At the second and third vial, the sea and fountains shall be turned into blood, as in Egypt. At the fourth vial shall be excessive scorching heats, tormenting men, and burning every thing for their use. At the fifth vial darkness, like that of Egypt. At the sixth vial, (ver. 12.) the Euphrates dried up, to open a passage for the armies from the East, to come and join the forces of antichrist. And the three unclean spirits like frogs, may signify devils sent by the dragon, or chief of the devils, to excite the wicked to all manner of unclean abominations. They are here said to be gathered together in a place called Armagedon, perhaps with an allusion to Mageddon, in the tribe of Manasses, where the two kings of Israel, Ochozias and Josias, perished. (4 Kings ix. 21.) And they are brought in only to signify a place of great destruction. See also Zacharias xii. 11. At the seventh vial, a voice, it is done, i.e. the reign of the wicked in general, and of antichrist, is at an end. (Witham)

Haydock: Rev 16:2 - And the first

And the first. From hence it appears that the first vial was poured out indiscriminately upon the good equally with the wicked. But behold the different consequences that follow: those that have the mark of the beast are afflicted with a sore and grievous wound, which is said in allusion to the madness, fury, and despair with which the wicked were afflicted, whilst St. John's omitting to say any thing of the just, shews that they bore it with resignation and joy. (Calmet)

Gill: Rev 16:1 - And I heard a great voice out of the temple // Saying to the seven angels, go your ways and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth

And I heard a great voice out of the temple,.... The church, which in the preceding chapter is said to be opened; this was either the voice of God, whose temple the church is, and where he dwells, and who, has power over these plagues, Rev 16:9 and who, when he is about to bring judgments on the earth, is said to roar out of Zion, Rev 16:16 or of Christ, who is always in the midst of his church and people, and whose voice is as the voice of many waters; see Rev 16:15 or it may be of one of the four living creatures, the ministers of the word, in and by whom Christ often speaks; and the rather, since one of these gave the seven angels the golden vials of the wrath of God, they are now bid to pour out.

Saying to the seven angels, go your ways and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth; for though these angels had the seven last plagues to inflict, and the seven vials of God's wrath to pour out, and were in a readiness to do it, yet they did not move without an order, which is here given them; and they are bid to go their ways, from the temple, the church, where they were, and of which they were members, to the several parts of the antichristian empire; and there pour out all the wrath and vengeance of God upon his enemies, and theirs, and leave nothing behind, but give them the dregs of every cup of his fury: the earth here is to be taken in a larger sense than in the following verse, and includes the land and sea, the fountains and rivers, and even the ambient air, and also the sun in the firmament, as the pouring out of these vials upon them show; and designs the whole apostate church, consisting of earthly men, all the inhabitants of the earth, that worship the beast. The Alexandrian copy, the Vulgate Latin, Syriac, and Arabic versions, and the Complutensian edition, read, "the seven vials of the wrath of God"; these seven vials are not contemporary, much less the same with the seven trumpets; there is indeed a likeness between them in some things, especially in the first four; for as the first four trumpets affect the earth, the sea, the fountains, and rivers of water, and the sun, so the first four vials are poured out on the same, and that in the same order; first on the earth, and then on the sea, &c. and which will give some light, and be a direction to observe the several parts of the antichristian empire, which will suffer by these vials, and the in which their ruin will proceed; and as the trumpets were so many gradual steps to the ruin of the Roman empire, eastern and western, when become Christian, so these vials are so many gradual steps to, and which issue in the ruin of, both the eastern and western antichrist; though they do not respect the same things, nor the same times: the trumpets respect the Roman empire as Christian, under the government of emperors, after the downfall of Paganism in it; and the vials respect the antichristian powers in their several branches, under the pope and Turk. Antichrist did not appear until the fifth trumpet sounded, whereas the first vial is poured out upon his followers and worshippers, Rev 16:2 from whence it is a clear point, that the first trumpet and the first vial cannot be contemporary; and the same judgment may be made of the rest: and it may be further observed, that these vials are only poured out on the enemies of God and of Christ, and of his church and people; for no wrath can be poured out upon the saints, not the least drop of it can fall upon them; this would not be consistent with God's everlasting love to them, with the satisfaction of Christ made for them, nor with the blessings of justification, pardon, adoption, &c. bestowed on them; not but that they may meet with trouble in the of these vials, through the wars that will be in the world, and through the struggles of the beast of Rome, especially its last, which will be the hour of temptation, and that time of trouble than which never was the like; yet all will work for, and issue in their good, and they will rejoice in God's righteous judgments; the blow will be upon antichrist, the vengeance of God will fall upon those that have the mark of the beast, and the worshippers of his image, upon the seat of the beast, even upon Babylon, and the whole Romish jurisdiction, as appears from Rev 16:2 and also upon the Turkish empire, and all the nations engaged in the interest of both pope and Turk, Rev 16:12 and it is easy to observe, that there is in many of these vials an allusion to the plagues of Egypt; in the first, Rev 16:2 to the plague of boils, Exo 9:8 in the second and third, Rev 16:3 to that of turning the waters of Egypt into blood, Exo 7:19 in the fourth, Rev 16:10 to the darkness that was over all the land of Egypt, Exo 10:21 and in the fifth there is a manifest reference to the frogs that distressed the Egyptians, Exo 8:5 and in the seventh, to the plague of hail, Exo 9:23 and they have much the same effect, even the hardening of those on whom they fall, being far from being brought to repentance by them, Rev 16:9 and this confirms the application of the vials to the destruction of Rome, which is spiritually called Egypt, Rev 11:8 and may assure that they will issue in the ruin of antichrist, and in the salvation of God's people, as the plagues of Egypt did in the destruction of Pharaoh, and in the deliverance of the children of Israel; and may also lead us to conclude, that there will be a like quick execution of the one as of the other; for as the plagues of Egypt came very quick one after another, so it seems as if the pouring out of these vials would be in like manner; the angels receive them together, and have their orders at the same time; and they go forth immediately, one after another, if not together, to the respective parts where they are to pour them forth, and which they do directly; see Rev 16:8. Moreover, these vials will affect antichrist both with respect to his civil and ecclesiastic capacity, or both in temporals and spirituals, and, both antichrists, eastern and western: whether they are begun to be poured out or not, is a question. I am ready to think they are not, because they seem to me to refer to the seventh trumpet, which as yet has not sounded, and are the same with the wrath of God, and the time of the judging the dead, or avenging the blood of the saints, which will be come when that sounds, Rev 11:18. Besides, the outer court is not entirely given to the Gentiles, nor the witnesses slain, which must be before this time of wrath upon antichrist; not but that there has been some manifest marks of the divine displeasure upon the whore of Rome, and she has been sinking ever since the Reformation, at which time some begin these vials, or before; and she is reduced to a low estate; yet I think not to such a degree as these vials express.

Gill: Rev 16:2 - And the first went // and poured out his vial upon the earth // and there fell a noisome and grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast

And the first went,.... The Arabic and Ethiopic versions read, "the first angel", and who undoubtedly is meant, who readily and cheerfully obeyed the orders given him, as did the rest; by this angel cannot be meant Pope Adrian, as Lyra, a Popish interpreter, imagines; for a pope would never hurt the worshippers of the beast, as this angel does; rather some Christian Protestant prince or magistrate is designed, and Brightman applies it to Queen Elizabeth; though a set of kings and princes yet to come seem to be intended:

and poured out his vial upon the earth; not upon the whole earth, and the inhabitants of it; not upon the temple or church of God, and the worshippers in it, which are measured, hid, and protected; nor upon the Roman Pagan empire, which was destroyed under the sixth seal, and which never had any worshippers of the beast and his image in it, for then he was not risen; nor upon the whole apostate church, only a part of it: some think the meaner and vulgar sort of Papists are meant, who were reformed by the Waldenses, Wycliff, Huss, and others before Luther; but rather the antichristian powers on the continent are designed, and particularly Germany; for as the first trumpet affected the earth, Rev 8:7 and brought the Goths into Germany, and other inland countries on the continent; so this first vial affects the earth, and brings distress upon the Popish party in the same place: and this respects not the Reformation by Luther, as some have thought, nor the wars of the Turks here in the last age; though were it not for some things unfulfilled, which are to precede these vials, one would be tempted to think that this vial was now pouring out upon the empire; but I rather think this refers to a time of distress yet to come on those parts, and which will issue in a reformation from Popery again; for it should be observed, and it may be observed once for all, that though these vials are so many plagues upon antichrist, they are each of them so many steps to the advancement of Christ's kingdom and glory:

and there fell a noisome and grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and upon them which worshipped his image; that is, who were professors of the Popish religion, and adherents of the pope of Rome in those parts; see Rev 13:15 who will only feel the effects of this vial, and that by a noisome and grievous sore falling on them, in allusion to the plague of boils in Egypt, Exo 9:8 by which may be meant, either literally something external, but not the plague in Dioclesian's time, for then the beast was not risen; and there were none that could have his mark or worship his image: some have thought the French disease is intended, which first appeared in the world in 1490, among the Papists, as a just judgment upon them for the horrible and unnatural lusts and uncleanness of the Romish clergy; and others understand it of a very great heat, which will be before the burning of the world, and will raise blisters and boils upon men: or rather this may design something internal, either the remorse of their consciences, reflections on their past practices, and black despair and horror of mind; and their madness, wrath, and fury, their malice and envy at the success of the preachers of the Gospel, and of Protestant states and princes against them; see Deu 28:27. Moreover, their secret and wicked practices, both in political and ecclesiastical affairs, will be discovered, and they will appear with boils and blotches upon them all over, which will render them odious to the people, and be the means of a general reformation. Mr. Daubuz thinks the curse of wickedness in the ninth and tenth centuries, after the invocation of saints and angels, and the worship of images were settled, is meant.