(Rev 16 KJV)  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. {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. {3} And the second angel poured out his vial upon the sea; and it became as the blood of a dead man; and every living soul died in the sea. {4} And the third angel poured out his vial upon the rivers and fountains of waters; and they became blood. {5} And I heard the angel of the waters say, Thou art righteous, O Lord, which art, and wast, and shalt be, because thou hast judged thus. {6} For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and thou hast given them blood to drink; for they are worthy. {7} And I heard another out of the altar say, Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are thy judgments. {8} And the fourth angel poured out his vial upon the sun; and power was given unto him to scorch men with fire. {9} And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which hath power over these plagues: and they repented not to give him glory. {10} And the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast; and his kingdom was full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues for pain, {11} And blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and repented not of their deeds. {12} And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared. {13} And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. {14} 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. {15} Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame. {16} And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon. {17} And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done. {18} And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great. {19} And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath. {20} And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. {21} And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent: and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof was exceeding great.  

Chapter 16 is a continuation of chapter 15 and concerns the third or last woe of the trumpet judgments, which includes the seven vials poured out upon the earth.  We have already established that these seven angels are a figure and are not literal angels.  We have also established that they are almost certainly representative of the 24 elders, who have been in heaven since the beginning of the tribulation period.  It was the 24 elders and the four living creatures who were taken out of the Church in the Firstfruits Rapture, which is the Separation that took place at the beginning of the tribulation period.  

It is important to know whom these angels represent because it is one of them that introduces the Bride of Christ in Rev. 21:9.  Since they are introducing the Bride of Christ, they cannot be part of the Bride of Christ.  We now have Scriptural evidence that the 24 elders are not included in the Bride of Christ, so we must conclude that only those represented by the four living creatures are included in the Bride of Christ.  We had already surmised this from Rev. 4:6, since they actually shared in the throne of the Lamb, while the 24 elders had their own thrones around the throne of Christ (Rev. 4:4).  Also, it was the four living creatures who were the praise and worship leaders in heaven (Rev. 4:9).  It should be remembered that it was Lucifer who was the praise and worship leader in heaven before his fall, and he was originally one of the Seven Presence Angels who stood before the throne of God.  He was also the most powerful of all of the angels. 

We know that those in the Church who are overcomers will fill the positions vacated by the fallen angels under the leadership of Lucifer.  It now seems clear that the Bride of Christ will fill the position vacated by Lucifer.  Christ will be head over the Church and the Bride will share in His power and authority.  Relatively speaking, only a few in the Church will attain unto this position.  Even the 24 elders will not attain unto it.  

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.  

a. Since it was one of the four living creatures that gave the vials to the seven angels, we conclude that this great voice would be either that of Christ or the four living creatures.  The great voice in Rev. 1:10 and 11:12 was Christ and the great voice in Rev. 16:17 comes out of the throne, so it would have to be Christ or the four living creatures.  It is more probable that the voice is that of Christ.  

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.  

a. The figure of the seven angels continues, and the first angel pours out his vial or bowl upon the earth.  The picture is that of a shallow bowl that is completely emptied upon the earth with one quick motion.  The judgment will be intense, but not enduring for a long time.  All seven bowl judgments will occur at the very end of the tribulation period over a short time span.  

b. It is significant that the word "angel" is not used after the word "first" like it was in the trumpet judgments.  The reason is that they were literally angels in the trumpet judgments, but the seven angels in this instance are only a figure employed to represent a group of people (i.e., the 24 Elders).  

c. The noisome and grievous sore is analogous to the sixth Egyptian plague (Ex. 9:10,11).  In Rev. 15:1 it is the seven angels and the bowls of wrath that are the figure or sign.  The plagues are literal just as they are described.  

d. It is unnecessary to conclude that there will be something inherent in the mark itself that will cause this sore on the people who take it.  This is a divine judgment so those who take the mark and those who worship the Antichrist will come under divine judgment.  These judgments will be supernatural just as the plagues upon Egypt were supernatural.  There is no need for determining a providential cause of these plagues.  There is nothing providential that could cause the rivers and fountains in verse 4 to actually become blood.  

3. And the second angel poured out his vial upon the sea; and it became as the blood of a dead man; and every living soul died in the sea.  

a. This judgment is upon the sea, and the sea became "as the blood of a dead man".  The sea does not become blood, but it becomes corrupted like the blood of a dead man.  The rivers and waters in the following verse actually become blood.  Because of the corruption of the sea, every kind of creature that lives in the sea dies.  It is not every single creature in the sea that dies, but every kind of creature that dies.  It is the same word as in Matthew 4:23 where the Lord healed "all manner (i.e., kinds) of sickness and all manner (i.e., kinds) of disease".  He healed every kind of sickness and disease.  

4. And the third angel poured out his vial upon the rivers and fountains of waters; and they became blood.  

a. The word angel is not in the best manuscripts for the reason stated above.  

b. Unlike the sea, which becomes corrupted in verse 3 above, the rivers and fountains actually become blood.  This is clearly a supernatural judgment that cannot be attributed to any providential happening upon the earth.  The people of the earth have rejected the blood of Christ, so the Lord deemed it appropriate that they be given blood to drink in lieu of water.  

5. And I heard the angel of the waters say, Thou art righteous, O Lord, which art, and wast, and shalt be, because thou hast judged thus.  

a. The Greek word for angel in this verse is in the best manuscripts, and there is a reason for it.  This is a literal angel who is in charge of the waters of the earth.  This is equivalent to an imprecatory psalm where the Lord is lauded for his judgments upon the waters of the earth.  This is true even from an angel whose responsibility is the protection of the waters of the earth.  

b. Apparently, different angels have responsibility for watching over the various components of the earth.  Some of the angels even have responsibility over different countries.  For example, Michael is the chief prince who watches over Israel according to the following Scriptures:  

(Dan 10:21 KJV)  But I will show thee that which is noted in the scripture of truth: and there is none that holdeth with me in these things, but Michael your prince.  

(Dan 12:1 KJV)  And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.  

6. For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and thou hast given them blood to drink; for they are worthy.  

a. This verse reiterates the fact that the water has become literal blood.  The reason for giving them blood to drink is related to the fact that they have shed the blood of saints and prophets.  The punishment is related to the sins that were committed.  Since they have shed the blood of God's people, God saw fit to give them blood to drink.  It is, so to speak, punishment that fits the crime.  

b. "For they are worthy" simply means that they deserve this judgment.  

7. And I heard another out of the altar say, Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are thy judgments.  

a. The voice comes out of the altar, which is the place of sacrifice.  The voice confirms that the judgment is true and righteous.  The altar would point to the sacrifice of the saints and prophets, but it would also point to the sacrifice of Christ.  

8. And the fourth angel poured out his vial upon the sun; and power was given unto him to scorch men with fire.  

a. Again, the word for angel is not in the best manuscripts.  

b. So far, the judgments have been upon the people who took the mark and worshipped Antichrist, upon the sea and upon the rivers and fountains.  We now have judgments upon the sun, and the "fourth" has been given power to scorch men with fire.  

9. And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which hath power over these plagues: and they repented not to give him glory.  

a. The people of the earth are scorched with a great heat from the sun, and they blaspheme the authority and character of God because of it.  They know that it is God who is the cause of these plagues, but they refuse to repent and give him glory.  This confirms the total depravity of man without a regeneration of his spirit by the Holy Spirit.  No amount of knowledge or human persuasion can cause a person to turn to Christ without the quickening of the spirit of man.  

10. And the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast; and his kingdom was full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues for pain,  

a. Again, the word for angel is not in the best manuscripts.  

b. This vial is poured out upon the throne of the antichrist, which is the great city Babylon.  His entire kingdom becomes engulfed in darkness.  Immediately after the intense heat there is intense darkness, and mostly likely intense cold that would accompany the darkness.  The pain and suffering will be so intense that people will gnaw their tongues in agony.  Their tongues have spoken blasphemies, and they themselves punish their own tongues.  They would rather gnaw their tongues in pain rather than speak a prayer in repentance  

11. And blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and repented not of their deeds.  

a. Again, the people know from where the judgments are coming, but they continue to blaspheme God, and they continue to refuse to repent of their sins.  

12. And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared.  

a. Again, the word for angel is not in the best manuscripts.  

b. The sixth vial is poured out upon the river Euphrates, and the river dries up to prepare the way of the kings from the East.  This is preparation for the battle of Armageddon.  Partial preparation has already been made for this judgment when the sixth trumpet judgment was sounded (Rev. 9:13-15), and the four bound angels were loosed in preparation for this upcoming judgment.  

c. The kings of the East will most likely be China, Japan, North Korea and perhaps a few other oriental countries that will come against Antichrist who will have his troops stationed in the Middle East.  Their armies will assemble in the Valley of Magiddo, and there will be 200 million of them.  They will think that they are coming against Antichrist, but they will transfer their animosity towards Jesus Christ when He returns in power and glory.  This sequence of events is given in the remaining verses of this chapter.  

13. And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet.  

a. Three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouths of the members of the satanic trinity.  We need not speculate about these three unclean spirits for the following verse states precisely their identity.  

b. According to Walter Scott, "The mouth is regarded as the source and means of destructive agency."  

14. 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.  

a. The unclean spirits are demons working miracles who go out to the kings of the earth and supernaturally influence them to gather for the battle of Armageddon.  The kings of the earth think they are coming for a battle between Antichrist and the kings from the East. They are being deceived by these three demons, so that the nations of the earth will be in Israel to fight against Jesus Christ at the time He returns in power and glory.  

b. God is about to set up His King on Mount Zion, and Satan is gathering the nations of the world to fight against Him.  

15. Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.  

a. The normal meaning of this verse in another context would refer to the Separation or the Rapture, but the context of this verse is at the end of the tribulation period and requires another interpretation.  The context is the Second Coming in power and glory, and the nations of the world are gathered to fight against each other in Israel.  Jesus Christ will suddenly appear in power and glory, and the nations of the earth will turn to war against Him.  There will be saved people on the earth at that time who will be looking for the return of Christ at the end of the tribulation period.  This is a warning for them to keep watching for the return of Jesus, and to remain undefiled in their walk.  Otherwise, they will be ashamed and lose all rewards.  

b. The context of this verse pertains to the earthly aspect of the kingdom and not the heavenly aspect of the kingdom.  Admittedly, it is tempting to try and remove this verse from its context and apply it to the Rapture, but the context will not allow it.  

c. The verse is an interjection by Jesus Christ himself to the believers who are alive at the time of His triumphant return.  Just as Christians who are prepared at the Separation and at the Main Harvest Rapture of the Church, the believers who are prepared at the return of Jesus Christ in power and glory will be rewarded for their faithfulness.  Jesus will come three times as a thief in the night.  These three times are the Separation, the Rapture and the Second Coming in Power and Glory. Jesus will come as Bridegroom at the Separation, and He will come as Lord at the Main Harvest Rapture. He will come as King at the Second Coming in power and glory.  

16. And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon.  

a. Satan will gather the nations of the world into the Valley of Mageddo.  This is the final preparation for the last battle between Jesus Christ and the nations of the world. Armageddon is the final battle in this age between good and evil. There will be another battle between Satan and God at the end of the millennial kingdom age.  

17. And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done.  

a. The seventh and last vial is poured out into the air, and the great voice out of the temple—probably Jesus Christ—says, "It is done."  

18. And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great.  

a. The voices, and thunders, and lightnings announce the final, but the most devastating judgment from God Almighty.  

b. An earthquake will take place that will shake the whole earth.  This is undoubtedly the earthquake described in the following Scripture:  

(Isa 24:20 KJV)  The earth shall reel to and fro like a drunkard, and shall be removed like a cottage; and the transgression thereof shall be heavy upon it; and it shall fall, and not rise again.    

19. And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath.  

a. The great city could refer to either Jerusalem (See Rev. 11:8) or Babylon the Great (See Rev. 14:8).  Since Babylon is referred to further on in this same verse, it must be concluded that Jerusalem is the reference.  This is consistent with other Scripture since the earthquake will affect Jerusalem, and the Mount of Olives will split in two in order to make a way of escape for the remnant of Israel to escape destruction by the nations.  Also, "the great city" is simply divided into three parts, but the other cites and great Babylon will be destroyed completely.  

b. The cities of the nations that fall are literal cities, but they also represent the world system.  They will be destroyed from the earthquake.  Babylon the Great will also be destroyed by the great earthquake.  Chapters 17 and 18 of Revelation go into detail regarding the identity and the destruction of Babylon the Great.  

c. The USA is both political and commercial Babylon.  Washington DC is the political Capitol of Babylon, and New York City is the commercial Capitol of Babylon.  Religious Babylon is the papal worship system, and its Capitol is located in the Vatican in Rome, Italy.  All three Babylons will be discussed in detail in the studies of Chapters 17 and 18 where numerous clues are given to the identities of these three Babylons.  These three Babylons together will form the leadership of the New World Order with Antichrist as its political leader and the False Prophet as its religious leader.  

d. It is important to understand that America is on the verge of losing its sovereignty as a nation, but it will be the headquarters, both politically and commercially, of the ten-horned beast.  America with Antichrist as its leader will be the little horn that comes up among the ten horns in Daniel 7:8.  Little horn is an ancient oriental idiom that means a young powerful nation.  The word little is not in reference to power, but the age of the nation.  The word horn by itself means it is a powerful nation, and the word little means it is a young powerful nation.  Thus, America will not lose its power and might until it is destroyed at the end of the tribulation period.  It will, however, lose its independence and sovereignty as a free nation when it becomes amalgamated with the European Union.  Even Russia and the middle-eastern Arab countries under Egypt will be associated with the kingdom of Antichrist.  This is why the ten-horned beast will be so powerful, and Antichrist will be the leader of this world power.  

20. And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found.  

a. The topography of the earth will be greatly changed for the institution of the millennial reign of Jesus Christ.  This does not say that islands will cease to be or that there will be no more mountains.  It says that islands will recede from their present places, and some mountains will entirely disappear.  

b. In Rev. 6:14 at the beginning of the day of the Lord, the mountains and islands were loosened from their present positions, but they are not completely removed from these positions until the end of the day of the Lord.  

c. Jeremiah describes this scene in the following Scripture:  

(Jer 4:23-26 KJV)  I beheld the earth, and, lo, it was without form, and void; and the heavens, and they had no light. {24}  I beheld the mountains, and, lo, they trembled, and all the hills moved lightly (i.e., leaping and gliding from their places). {25} I beheld, and, lo, there was no man, and all the birds of the heavens were fled. {26} I beheld, and, lo, the fruitful place was a wilderness, and all the cities thereof were broken down at the presence of the LORD, and by his fierce anger.  

d. The devastation that will occur is probably incomprehensible to our minds at present.  The Lord is going to completely demolish everything connected to the world system, and He is going to rebuild, replenish, and renew everything according to His blueprint.  The globe will not cease to exist, and God will not destroy the matter that makes up the earth.  He is going to redeem the earth, and make all things new.  He is going to completely and totally renovate the earth.  It will be unrecognizable when He is finished with it  

e.  Even though the moving of the islands and mountains will be a literal topographical change in the earth's surface, there will also be a figurative fulfillment of this same Scripture.  Mountain is a symbol for an earthly kingdom, and island is a symbol for an independent and sovereign nation separate and apart from Israel.  Both will cease during the millennial kingdom.  The only kingdom (i.e., mountain) will be that of the Lord Jesus Christ, and all nations (i.e., islands) will look to Jerusalem in Israel for leadership and guidance.  The following Scriptures confirm this to be true:  

(Isa 2:2-3 KJV)  And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. {3} And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.  

(Zec 8:3 KJV)  Thus saith the LORD; I am returned unto Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and Jerusalem shall be called a city of truth; and the mountain of the LORD of hosts the holy mountain.  

21. And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent: and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof was exceeding great.  

a. This is literal hail that falls out of heaven.  The Jewish talent for silver-weight was 115 lbs. and for weighing other things, it was 135 lbs.  The Egyptian and Greek talent was about 86 lbs.  There was a talent used at Antioch that weighed 390 lbs.  Even if the Greek talent of 86 lbs. is meant, the devastation will be total and complete.  

b. A hailstorm occurred in Constantinople in October 1831 in which the hailstones weighed about a pound.  The hail destroyed everything upon which it fell.  Hailstones weighing in excess of 86 pounds will reduce cities, buildings and homes to rubble.  As the hail melts it is likely that the places where cities once stood will look like plowed and harrowed fields ready to be planted.  All vestiges of the current world system will be done away with.  

c. It is still amazing that men will continue to blaspheme God for the destruction.  There is no sign of repentance on the part of mankind during these plagues.