Revelation 16

Chap. XVI. Ver. 1—7. The first three angels pour out their vials.—Commentators are much divided as to the period of time in which we may expect the fulfilment of these predictions. Mr. Lowman reckons them from the middle of the 9th century to nearly the close of the 19th. Mr. Morell, though he closes at the same period, goes no farther back than to the middle of the 16th century for their commencement. There is, however, a remarkable correspondence between the trumpets and the vials, so far as respects the parties concerned. Thus, the first trumpet regards the earth and so the first vial—the second trumpet turned the sea into blood, and so the second vial—the third trumpet affects the rivers and fountains, and upon these is the third vial poured—the fourth trumpet affected the sun, and so also the fourth vial—the fifth trumpet produced pain and darkness, and so the fifth vial also—the sixth trumpet loosed the four angels from the Euphrates, on which also the sixth vial is poured—the seventh angel announces the near approach of the Millennium, and the seventh plague produces the destruction of Popery to make room for it.

But what are here meant by the earth—the sea—the rivers, &c.? Dr. Gill (who has written largely and learnedly on this Book) thus explains them:—“The first vial will be poured out upon the earth, and designs those Popish countries which are upon the Continent, as France and Germany: and as the first trumpet brought the Goths into Germany, so the first vial will bring great distress upon the Popish party in the empire….. The second vial will be poured out upon the sea, and may intend the maritime powers belonging to the church of Rome, ports Spain and Portugal: and as the second trumpet brought the Vandals into these places, [so the Dr. explains it,] so this vial will affect the same, and bring wars and desolations into them…….

The third vial will be poured out upon the rivers and fountains of waters, which may point to those places adjacent to Rome, as Italy and Savoy: and as the third trumpet brought the Huns into those parts, so this [third] vial will bring in large armies hither, which will cause much bloodshed, and a great revolution in church and state.” “This comment on the vials, founded on their analogy to the trumpets, bids fair (says Fuller, who quotes the same passage) to be the true one.” Dr. Gill adds, “As yet, I take it none of them are poured out, though some great and learned men have thought otherwise. As yet there have been no such devastations on the Continent, as in France and Germany, as to produce the above effects; nor in the countries of Spain, Portugal,”

&c.— This [remarks Fuller] was doubtless the case in 1752, the year in which the Sermon from which the above extract is made was printed, but this is more than can be in 1810.”—We may add, far more than can be pretended in 1827! When we calculate the evils produced and the blood shed in the French Revolution—the wars of Napoleon—the last great contest of the Allied Powers—and the various revolutions in Spain and Portugal, we may see a full justification of all the strong images here used. The first vial produces a noisome and grievous ulcer, which rendered the whole body politic a mass of corruption and putridity. A circumstance of peculiar horror occurs under the second vial: the sea—the maritime powers are not only dyed with blood, but that blood becomes stagnant, “like the blood of a dead man.”

So that every soul living in those countries died. This is strong language; but seems fully justified in considering that, as different parties prevailed in the various revolutions and counter-revolutions, they successively destroyed each other. But upon whom did those judgments fall? Upon “the men that had the mark of the beast, and which worshipped his image; upon those countries, for the most part, which were peculiarly bigoted to Popery and the Inquisition: as France and Italy, Spain and Portugal. And this circumstance is made the ground of a sacred anthem: ‘‘Thou art righteous, O Lord, because thou hast judged thus:… For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and thou hast given them blood to drink; for they are worthy.”—“And I heard another”—that is, another angel, as it is generally understood; but perhaps it should be another voice out of the altar, namely, the altar of burnt-offerings, from whence ((Revelation 6:9)) had issued this cry,— “How long, O Lord, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood?” But the blood is now avenged, and the call for vengeance is changed into a song of praise—‘Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are thy judgments.” Ver. 8—21. The next three vials poured out.—Under the fourth trumpet the sun (as well as the moon and stars) lost a third part of its power and influence: here its influence is increased, and he has power given him to scorch men with fire. Fleming (some of whose successful predictions on (Revelation 11)have been already mentioned) considers this as an humiliating judgment on the French empire; but increasing heat must, we think, imply rather an augmentation than diminution of power in the solar flame: nor can this scorching heat “be understood of the persecution of the faithful; for (as Fuller remarks) they would not blaspheme under it.

It would seem, therefore, to be the galling tyranny by which the adherents of the beast will be oppressed:” we should rather say, have been oppressed; for if we refer the judgments of the first three vials to the wars of the last century and the beginning of this, may we not refer this to that increase of power in the sovereigns of Papal Europe, and particularly of France, whereby the French themselves were aggrieved, and murmured, and blasphemed? Even the French clergy themselves, as is well known, murmured and repined at the tyranny, to which they were subjected; yet they reformed not, but blasphemed: and this applies not only to the tyranny of the Bourbons, but also to the more recent tyranny of Napoleon..

Ver. 14. Spirits of devils—i.e. unclean demons. See note on (Luke 4:36). Ver. 15. And they see his shame.—See (2 Samuel 10:4-5).; © Ver. 19. The great city.—In the Rabbinical writings, it is certain that Rome is termed Babylon: and it is also styled “the great city,” and ‘great Rome.” Ver. 21. A great hail.—See (Exodus 9:23-25). ’

Notes on the verses

Chap. XVI. Ver. 2. A noisome and grievous sore.—Doddridge, ‘a malignant and grievous ulcer.” Ver. 3. Every living soul died in the sea.—Doddridge, ‘* And every living soul [that was] in the sea died.” Compare (Exodus 7:21). Ver. 5. The angel of the waters.—This seems a bold and beautiful poetical figure; as if the angel who was set to guard the waters, himself acquiesced in the equity of the judgment—as if he had said, “The blood of thy saints has often swelled the rivers, justly, therefore, are these rivers turned into blood.—Hast judged thus.—Doddridge, “‘Judged these.” Woodhouse, ‘Executed this judgment.” Ver. 6. Thou hast given them blood to drink; for they are worthy.—If “the angel who had power over fire,”

((Revelation 14:18),) allude to the priest who kept the fire on the altar of burnt-offering, this angel may have a like allusion to him who had the care of the great laver of purification. Ver. 7. Another out of the altar.—‘Another [angel,”) says Doddridge.— Woodhouse, “heard [a voice from] the altar;” which is, we think, more exact. Ver. 10. The seat.—Greek, ** throne.” Ver. 12. Euphrates.—See note on (Revelation 9:14).——Kings of the east.—Doddridge and Woodhouse, (more literally,) ‘from the rising of the sun.”” - _ Ver. 13. Like frogs.—That the frog was a sacred representation in Egypt, is certain; as it is found in the Bembine Table, sitting upon a lotus. It was sacred to Osiris Helius. Inspiration, of old, was supposed to arise from fountains and streams.

The Muses, who were esteemed prophetic deities, were (like Moses) denominated from water. As frogs were…… engraved upon the basis of Apollo’s statue at Delphi, they might originally be characteristic of the priests and prophets of Egypt. “All inspiration [among the heathen] was supposed to be an imitation of the Deity,” and this animal “is remarkable for swelling itself by inflation.” See Orient. Lit. No. 161.