Revelation 16

The seven former angels are commanded to pour out their vial s2 whereof the first is poured upon the earth 3 the second in the sea 4 the third in the river for which the justice of God is praised with a praise of song 8 the forth vial is poured out into the sun 10 the fifth upon the throne of the beasts after which notwithstanding the men on earth to repent not 12 the sixth upon the great rivers Euphrates 13 three unclean spirits like frogs come forth and go to the kings of the earth to gather them to the war of the great day 15 and there upon every one is exhorted to watch 17 lastly the seventh vial is pour upon the air and all things have an end ye also even great Babylon 21 after which a grievous hail falleth upon men who blaspheme God for it.

1. And I heard a great voice out of the temple [namely of heaven as was expressed in the former chapter verse 5 and below verse 17 whereby is meant the throne of God in heaven as was shewed there for though the vials were already given to the seven angels in the former chapter yet they proceed not to the execution of the former power before they have received a charge for it as followeth see Psalms 103 verse 20] saying go your ways and pour out the seven vials of wrath of God upon the earth [it appeareth in the sequel that only the first angel poured out his vials upon the earth but for as much as the plagues of the six other vials came also at last upon the man that dwell through at first they were poured out upon the other bodies and the elements they were truly said to be poured out upon the earth and the earthly men to whom God maketh all the elements of their enemies .]

2. And the first went his way and poured out the vial upon the earth [the kingdom of the antichrist is continually considered in this revelation as a world wherein there is earth sea river air stars &c and that by reason of the condition thereof and the power which antichrist ascribeth to himself to have over heaven earth sea &c the first part then of this antichristian world is the earth whereby here as elsewhere in this book earthly men in general are fitly understood which are addicted to earthly and idolatrous worship and do obstinately maintain them upon whom this first vial according to the opinion of many is said to be poured out when the kingdom of the antichrist began to decay as by the renewing of the preaching of the everlasting gospel in divers places of Europe by Waldus, Wiclef, John Hus and Jerome of Pragus and their fellow and the men of this earthly world and the worshippers of the beasts instead that they should have repented by the judgments of God were given up to a reprobate mind and were incensed and vexed in their mind with hatred and envy as with grievous bile so that they could neither be at rest themselves or would suffer others to take rest till they had again as much as in them lay suppressed and obscured the same gospel. Though some do add thereunto, for a special punishment of these idolatrous persons and persecutors of God’s people about the year 1500,some secret sicknesses and ulcers whereof in the sequel began to reign in the countries that lay nearest in the countries lay nearest unto antichrist which from thence spread also abroad into other parts of Europe especially against those that in their forced single life committed many uncleanness the very naming whereof is to be abhorred with such like diseases God also plagued the Philistines when they detained the ark of the covenant captive among them 1Samuel 5.6 c.] and there was an evil and wicked sore upon the man which had the mark of the beast [all these following plagues do very well agree with the plagues which God by the hand of Moses and Aaron inflicted upon king Pharaoh and his people when he would deliver the Israelite out of Egypt as appeareth by comparing the 7, 8, 9, and 10 chapters of Exodus excepting the plagues contained in the third vial verse 8 which for the most part agreeth with the plague wherewith God punished Achab and his people who also flew the Prophets and persecuted his people in the time of Elias whereof see 1 Kings 17 and 18 now whether these plagues are to be understood according to the letter or to a spiritual sense there are divers opinions corning it. And it is the more obscure because a part of them was not poured out but was to be poured out afterwards as appeareth from thence that these plagues before chapter 15.1 are expressly called the seven last plagues and that is the chapter those that are punished by those plagues that bear the mark of the beast and that the throne of the beast and that great Babylon are at last destroyed by them and which destruction a further relation will follow in the two next chapters which for a great part is yet to be fulfilled the issue then will yet further discover some things hereof in the mean while that which is most probable shall be briefly noted on every vial the first went c that by these angels are meant God instruments whereby antichrist with his whole dominion in divers time and by divers degree was plagued and punished as appeareth sufficienly by the whole scope of this chapter and expressly by the second verse and by the sixth and tenth verse following but whether these were the celestial spirits themselves or others that under their conduct were for that purpose raised up by God in the world will best appear by every exposition of every vial which had the mark of the beast see the exposition hereof and which followeth on chapter 13.14] and which shipped his image .

3. And the second angel poured out his vial into the sea and it became blood as blood of the dead man and every living soul died in the sea [by this sea are fitly understood those nations and kingdoms which compassed the kings of the antichrist about like a sea as the angel himself declareth hereafter chapter 17.15which here in respect of the worshippers of the beasts is said to have been turned into blood when after Luthers time and whole province kingdoms and nation that lay round about fell off from him so that the fishes or inhabitants of the earthly kingdom could not any longer live quietly in it or perform their superstitions whereby much of their blood was shed and is yet daily shed for a just recompense and revenge of the abundance of the blood which was also shed under the dominion of the worshippers of this image of the beast as the justice of God is excellent for hereafter verse 6 others understand hereby the decrees and statutes of their council and especially of the council of the Trent which lasted for certain years whereunto the spiritual and temporal worshippers of the beast flowed from all parts of Europe which are therefore said to have turned into blood because therein false and idolatrous doctrines was established which necessarily leadeth man to death if they receive it for as much as no idolater can be saved 1 Corinthians chapter 6 verse 10 and they that will be justified by the works of the law are fallen from the grace of Christ Galatians 5:4]

4. And the third angel poured out his vial into the river into the fountains of the water and the waters became blood [some understand hereby the westing and falsifying of the word of God which in scripture is compared unto clear fountains of waters and rivers so hereby is signified a power of error and spiritual blindness that should be upon them by just spirit of God but sith this began a long while before and here is spoken of the last plagues whereby the kingdom of the antichrist hath been a good while weakened and will fall to ruin the last it is as fitly understood by others in their inquisitions courts societies covenants conventions colleges schools and the like which antichrist has set up all the kingdoms thereby which were also turned into blood when they were abolished and forbidden in these reformed kingdom and countries so that no man was suffered to stay any longer there or to exercise his superstitions there anymore which things as they already come to pass in some places so shall they likewise more and more come to pass hereafter when the kings shall withdraw their power from the beasts as is foretold hereafter chapter 17.16.]

5. And I heard the angel of the waters [that is which had poured out the vials upon the rivers and fountains of water as before chapter 14 verse 18 here is called the angel of the fire which had received power over the fire to punish wicked men therewith] say thou art righteous Lord which is which was and which shall be [others read and the holy one] because thou hast judged this.

6. Because they shed the blood of the saints and of the prophets therefore thou hast given them blood to drink [that is thou hast also suffered them to perish in their own blood whence it appeareth that these two vials must be taken for such just recompense and shedding of their blood] for they are worthy of it.

7. and I heard another from the alter say yea Lord thou almighty God thy judgments are true and righteous .

8. And the forth pored out his vial upon the sun and the power was given unto him to search men with fire.

9. And men were scotched with great heat and blasphemed the name of God which had power over these plagues and they repented not to give him glory [namely in acknowledging his justice and embracing his mercy and grace offered to them by the pouring out of this vial into the sun and the scorching of men thereby some understand very great heats drought and barrenness as also famine and mortalities which are wont to follow thereupon as came to pass among the Jews in Elias his time which yet in a special manner in after time shall be sent upon lands and kingdoms addicted to the beast but in regard such punishment seldom prevail in one land but another participateth thereof likewise and that these plagues are properly threatened to the worshippers of the beast therefore others understand it of the light of the gospel upon which this vial is poured out to give it more virtue for the convincing and inflaming of the heart of man whereby yet more shall be brought to repentance yea even the Jews in great number shall receive Christ Romans 11:25,26 and the other obstinate worshippers of the beasts shall be stirred up to greater despite and blasphemies because they shall see that their kingdom shall be thereby brought to ruin at last for which cause they themselves shall blaspheme the name of God when they shall accuse the scriptures of the darkness imperfection and uncertainty and shall dare to call it a ground and foundation of heresies.]

10. And the first angel poured out his vial upon the throne of the beast and his kingdom waxed dark[many expositors understand hereby the city of Rome which properly is the throne of the antichrist from whence he beareth the spiritual rule over other countries which throne shall be destroyed by such instruments as God shall raise fro that purpose who shall cause for that antichrist himself with his consistory and adherents whereby his kingdom shall greatly decrease and his splendor be obscured in the world till at last utterly destroyed by the spirit of Christ mouth] and gowned their tongue for pain [namely for spite and vexation that such a thing did befall them whereas they had fancied to themselves a kingdom without end.]

11. And they blasphemed the God of heaven because their pans and because of their souls and they repented not of their works[that is superstitions idolatries and blasphemies.]

12. And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates and the water therefore was dried up that the way of the kings that should come from the rising of the sun might be prepared [by the river Euphrates some understand the river Euphrates properly so called on both sides whereof the Turks and the Persian s such like nations eastwards have their jurisdiction as was noted chapter 9.14 who should yet united themselves together and take possession of the antichrist throne others understand by the river Euphrates by the way similitude all the revenues which antichrist gathereth from whole christiandom whereby his throne is enriched where he descend himself and his throne by the power and against all power whatsoever which being utterly suspended and dried up by the Christians princes as hath already begun they will make him unable to stand it out with princes are here said to come from the rising of the sun because they should be raised for that purpose by Christ who is the day spring from a high and old Babylonian being aforetime defended and enriched by river Euphrates was dried up by Cyrus and opened the way for the invading and taking of the city and destroying the kingdom thereof was foretold Jeremiah 51.31c and fulfilled Daniel 5:30.]

13. And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs [namely which live in unclean water and always hold one manner of croaking]come out of the mouth of the dragon out of the womb of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophets [hereby are meant the many Legats and Nuncio’s and other spiritual ministries of the antichrist that are sent forth throughout the world to subdue nations kings princes to the kingdom of the antichrist full of deceit and hypocrisy which the apostle 2Thessalonians 2.11 called a power of error which also boasts of miracles which the apostle there calleth miracles of lies as is known to all the word of the dragon and of the two beasts was spoken heretofore whereunto was also added before the images of the beasts in which second beast room here the false prophets is named hence it appeareth that this false prophet is also the image of the beast that is the antichrist with his whole kingdom for as much as he by himself and others his ministers defended false doctrines and shall appear in the next chapter by these then jointly taken are these unclean spirit sent forth because they unite and bring together all their craft and authority and combine together to destroy the church of God and his truth and speak herein as it were out of the mouth and are moved by one spirit.]

14. For they are the spirit of the devils and do miracles which go forth unto the kings of the earth [namely yet are addicted to the kingdom of the antichrist as the word earth used here and the world used in the sequel is continually taken] and of the whole world [that is which throughout the whole world they yet seek to bring under their dominion which is done daily in all countries of the world even in the barbarous countries in the east and west] to gather them to the war of a great day of the almighty God [namely wherein God is an extraordinary manner will execute his judgment against all his power whereof further mention shall be made hereafter chapter 19.19 and 20.1 though this be also daily done that these unclean spirits by their daily clamor seek to stir up all kings and nations against good Christian whom they with an unanimous voice call damned heretics yet in his vial respect is properly had to the last assault which the antichrist yet should make before his last ruin whereof is spoken in the next vial when he shall seek to bring together throughout the whole world not only the people that bear the name of the Christian but also barbarous and remote nations to destroy the church of Christ and to set up his own throne again.]

15. Behold I come as a thief blessed is that he watched and keepeth his garment[this is added here to admonish everyone to standeth upon his guard forasmuch as all things shall have an end that day and after that time there will be no more time left for repentance as will follow hereafter see Matthew 24.42luke 12.39 Revelations 3.3] lest he walk necked and men see his shame [Gr and they see his shame that is the shamefulness of his sins namely if they not covered with his robe of Christ righteousness and with true faith joined with repentance see Galatians 5.27 and revelations 3.18.]

16. And they gathered them together into the place which in the Hebrew is called Armageddon [this word is diversely interpreted some render it the causing of desolation or the deceit of cutting off because these camps of the antichrist shall be deceitful gathered together out of all nations but to their desolation and destruction but others conceive that this is a proper name of a proper name of a certain place mentioned in the scripture of the old testament where the like thing happened that is here foretold namely 2 Corinthians 35.21 and Zach. 12.11 where mention is made of the valley of Megiddon where king Josiah with the whole army of Israel was smitten by the Egyptians in the like place whereunto the army of the antichrist should be gathered together again in the like hope of obtaining the like victory against the Israel of God but tat the Lord by his unexpected coming should like turn away his reproach from the church and should fully and perfectly smite and finally destroy the enemies themselves though some are of opinion here rather respect s had to those places Judges 5:18 where Safera with the whole army of the Canaanites was miraculously smitten by Deborah and Barak about the valley of Megiddon to the comfort and deliverance of the children of Israel which they very well agreeth with this victory.]

17. And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air[the seventh angel putteth the period to all and all consequently to the whole kingdom of the antichrist which is poured out upon the air because no living creature can live without air and because Satan who hath hither to ruled in the greatest part of the world hath his throne and habiteth there as Paul speaketh E[hessians 2.2 and 6.12 which shall also be abolished hereby as is more plainly testified hereafter chapter 20.10] and there came a great voice of the temple of the heaven from the throne saying it is done [that is all things are fulfilled that wee to be done in the world according to the word of God or it hath been namely the great city and the beast whereof shall be treated more distinctly in the two next chapter.]

18. And there were voices and thunders of lightning and there was great earth quake such as was not since men were upon the earth namely such an earth quake and so great [by these voices etc. thunders are meant the token which should go the last coming of Christ to judgment as also the like token related Matthew 24 Mark 13 Luke 21 and 2Peter 3.10.]

19. and the great city [which is spiritual Sodom and Egypt and comprehended the whole kingdom of the antichrist as was shewed chapter 11.18 which is called after great Babylon see chapter 14.8 and chapter 18.10]was rent into three parts [Gr became into three parts that is was utterly broken to shiver as things that are broken in many pieces come to nothing] and the cities of the gentiles [or the cities of the nations hereby are meant all other cities without Christiandom as for example the city of the Turks and Persians and other heathen] are fallen and great Babylonian was come into remembrance before God [namely to receive her just sentence of God for God seemed before to wink at her and to have forgotten her willfulness[ to give unto her the cup of the wine of the wrath of indignation[see before chapter 14.8,10.]

20. And every Island fled away and the mountains were not found [that is the place that were held fastest for to flee unto did leave them or were gone as chapter 6.14.]

21. And they fell down from heaven upon men and were hail every stone was a talent in weight [namely this hail fell out of heaven for the punishment of the wicked as John 10:11 but this punishment was so much as heavier because it brought intolerable burden of God wrath upon them for a talent weighed according to the testimony of some hundred pound weight] and men blasphemed God because of the plagues of hail [namely though despair s the wicked will do at the last day see before chapter 6.16] for the plague thereof was exceeding great .