THE
REVELATION
OF
JOHN THE DIVINE*

1 Namely, of heaven, as was expressed in the previous chapter verse 5, Rev. 15:5, and below in verse 17, whereby is meant the throne of God in heaven, as was shown there. For, though these vials were already given to the seven angels in the previous chapter, yet they proceed not to the execution of this power, before they received a new charge for it. See Psalm 103:20.

2 It appears in the sequel that only the first angel poured out his vial upon the earth. But forasmuch as the plagues of the other six vials came also at last upon the people who dwell on the earth, though at first they were poured out upon other bodies and elements, they are truly said to be poured out upon the earth or earthly people, to whom God makes all the elements to be their enemies.

3 That by these angels are meant God’s instruments, whereby antichrist with his whole dominion, in different times, and by sundry degrees, was plagued or punished, appears sufficiently by the entire intention of this chapter, and expressly by this 2nd verse, and by the 6th and 10th verse following. But whether these were the celestial spirits themselves, or others, who under their conduct were for that purpose raised up by God in the world, will best appear by the exposition of every vial.

4 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 wanted to deliver the Israelites out of Egypt, as appears by comparing chapters Exodus 7; 8; 9; 10, excepting the plague contained in the fourth vial, verse 8, which for the most part agrees with the plague wherewith God punished Ahab and his people, who also slew the prophets, and persecuted his people in the time of Elijah, whereof see 1 Kings 17 and 18. Now whether these plagues are to be understood according to the letter or in a spiritual sense, there are different opinions concerning it. And it is the more obscure, because a part of them was not yet poured out, but was to be poured out afterwards; as appears from this, that these plagues, Rev. 15:1, are expressly called the seven last plagues, and that in this chapter those are punished by those plagues who bear the mark of the beast, and that the throne of the beast and great Babylon are at last destroyed by them; of which destruction a further relation will follow in the next two 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 what is most probable, shall be briefly noted on every vial.

a shallow bowl or dish*

5 The realm of the antichrist is continually considered in this revelation as a world in which there are earth, sea, rivers, air, sun, stars, etc.; and that by reason of this condition and the power which the antichrist ascribes to himself to have over heaven, earth, sea, etc. The first part then of this anti-christian world is the earth, whereby here, as elsewhere in this book, earthly men in general are properly understood, who are attached to earthly and idolatrous worships, and do obstinately maintain them; upon whom this first vial, according to the opinion of many, is said to be poured out, when the realm of the antichrist began to be broken down, as by the renewing of the preaching of the everlasting Gospel, in different places of Europe by Waldus, Wycliffe, John Hus and Jerome of Prague, and their counterparts, the men of this anti-christian world, and the worshippers of the beast, instead that they ought to have repented, were given up by the judgment of God to a reprobate mind, and were incensed and vexed in their mind with hatred and envy as with a grievous bile, so that they could neither be at rest themselves, nor would permit others to take rest, till they had again, as much as was possible in them, suppressed and obscured the same Gospel. Though some do add thereunto, that for a special punishment of these idolatrous persons and persecutors of God’s people about the year 1500, some secret sicknesses and ulcers began to reign in the countries that were nearest unto the antichrist, which from thereon spread also abroad into other parts of Europe, especially against those who in their forced single life committed many impurities, whereof the very naming is to be abhorred even by the world; with such like diseases God also plagued the Philistines, when they detained the ark of the covenant captive among them, 1 Sam. 5:6, etc.

b hurtful, deadly

c Exod. 9:9, 10, 11.

6 See the exposition hereof, and of that which follows on Rev. 13:14.

d Rev. 13:16, 17.

e Rev. 13:14.

7 By this sea, are fittingly understood those many nations and kingdoms, which compassed the kingdom of the antichrist about like a sea, as the angel himself declares hereafter in Rev. 17:15; which here, in respect of the worshippers of the beast, is said to have been turned into blood, when after Luther’s time, entire provinces, kingdoms and nations, that were round about, disaffiliated from him, so that the fishes or inhabitants of this his 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 blood, which was also shed under his dominion by the worshippers of this image of the beast; as the justice of God is extolled for it hereafter in verse 6. Others understand hereby the decrees and statutes of their latest councils, and especially of the Council of Trent, which lasted for several years, and whereunto the ecclesiastical and secular worshippers of the beast gathered from all parts of Europe; which are therefore said to have been turned into blood, because therein was established the false and idolatrous doctrine, which necessarily leads men to death, if they do receive it, forasmuch as no idolater can be saved, 1 Cor. 6:10, and they who will be justified by the works of the law, are fallen from the grace of Christ, Gal. 5:4.

f Exod. 7:20.

8 Some understand hereby the wresting and falsifying of the Word of God, which in Scripture is compared to clear fountains of waters and rivers. And so hereby is signified a power of error and spiritual blindness that would be upon them by the righteous judgment of God. But since this began a long while before, and here is spoken of the last plagues, whereby the realm of the antichrist has been a good while weakened, and will fall to ruin at last, it is as properly understood by others of their ecclesiastical inquisitions, courts, societies, convents, colleges, schools and the like, which the antichrist has set up in all the countries of his domain, and divided them as rivers to establish his throne and realm thereby, which were also turned into blood, when they were abolished and forbidden in these reformed kingdoms and countries, so that no man was permitted to stay there any longer, or further to exercise his superstitions; which things, as they have already come to pass in some places, shall also occur more and more in the future, when other kings shall withdraw their power from the beast, as is foretold hereafter in Rev. 17:16.

9 That is, who had poured out the vials upon the rivers and fountains of waters, as he is called the angel of the fire in Rev. 14:18, who had received power over the fire to punish wicked persons.

g Rev. 1:4, 8; 4:8; 11:17.

10 Others read: and the holy one.

h Mat. 23:34.

11 That is, Thou hast also suffered them to perish in their own blood. From which it appears that these two vials must be taken of such just recompense and the shedding of their blood.

i Rev. 15:3.

12 By the pouring out of this vial into the sun, and the scorching of men thereby, some understand very great heats, droughts and infertilities, as also famines and mortalities which thereupon are wont to follow, as came to pass among the Jews in Elijah’s time, which yet in a special manner shall be sent in future times upon lands and kingdoms attached to the beast. But since such punishments seldom prevail in one land, another participates thereof likewise, and that these plagues are properly threatened to the worshippers of the beast, therefore others understand it of the light of the Holy Gospel upon which this vial is poured out, to give it more power for the convincing and inflaming of the hearts of men, whereby yet more shall be brought to repentance, yea even the Jews shall receive Christ in great numbers, Rom. 11:25, 26, and the other obstinate worshippers of the image of the beast shall be stirred up to greater despite and blasphemy, because they shall see that their kingdom shall thereby at last be brought to ruin. For which cause they even shall blaspheme the name of God, when they shall accuse the Holy Scripture of darkness, imperfection and uncertainty, and shall dare to call it the ground and foundation of all heresies.

j verses 11, 21.

13 Namely, in acknowledging His justice, and embracing His mercy and grace which is offered to them.

14 Many expositors understand hereby the city of Rome, where properly is the throne of the antichrist, from which he bears his spiritual rule over other countries; which throne shall be destroyed by such instruments as God shall raise for that purpose, which shall chase away the antichrist himself with his consistory and adherents, whereby his realm shall greatly decrease, and his splendor be obscured in the world, till he shall be at last utterly destroyed by the Spirit of Christ’s mouth.

15 Namely, for spite and vexation, that such a thing did befall them, whereas they had fancied to themselves a realm without end.

16 That is, superstitions, idolatries and blasphemies.

17 Hereby some understand the river Euphrates properly so called, whereof on both sides the Turks, and Persians and such like nations eastward have their jurisdiction, as was noted in Rev. 9:14; who would yet unite themselves together, and take possession of the antichrist’s throne. Others understand by this river Euphrates, by way of similitude, all the revenues which the antichrist gathers from the entire Christendom, whereby his throne is enriched, and whereby he defends himself and his throne against all other power whatsoever, which being once utterly suspended and dried up by the Christian princes, as has been already begun, they will make him unable to stand it out; which princes are here said to come from the rising of the sun, because they would be raised for that purpose by Christ, Who is the Day-spring from on high; as old Babylon, being aforetime defended and enriched by the river Euphrates, was dried up by Cyrus, and opened the way for the invading and taking of the city, and for destroying the realm thereof; as was foretold in Jer. 51:31, etc. and fulfilled in Dan. 5:30.

18 Of the dragon and of the two beasts was spoken heretofore, whereunto was also added afore the image of the beast, in whose place of the second beast here is named the false prophet. From which it appears that this false prophet is also the image of the beast, that is, the antichrist, with his entire realm, forasmuch as he, by himself and others, his ministers, defends false doctrine, and uses for this purpose all his ecclesiastical prelates, consistories, courts, convents, councils and persons, to spread abroad the same false doctrine, as shall appear in the next chapter. By these then, jointly taken, are these unclean spirits 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 one mouth, and are moved by one spirit.

19 Namely, which live in unclean waters, and always hold one manner of croaking.

20 Hereby are meant the many ambassadors, papal representatives and other ecclesiastical ministers of the antichrist, who are sent forth throughout the world, to subdue princes, kings and nations to the realm of the antichrist, full of deceit and hypocrisy, which the apostle, 2 Thes. 2:11, calls a power of error, which the apostle there calls miracles of lies, as is known to all the world.

k 2 Thes. 2:9; Rev. 13:13; 19:20.

21 Namely, who still are attached to the anti-christian realm, as the words earth and world used here are continually taken in the sequel.

22 That is, whom they still seek to bring under their dominion throughout the whole world, which is done daily in all countries of the world, even in the barbarian countries in the East and West.

23 Though this is done also daily, that these unclean spirits seek by their daily clamor to stir up all kings and nations against good Christians, whom they, with an unanimous voice, call damned heretics, yet in this vial respect is properly had to the last assault, which the antichrist still shall use before his last ruin; whereof is spoken in the next vial, when he shall seek to bring together throughout the entire world, not only the people who bear the name of Christians, but also many barbarous and remote nations, to destroy the church of Christ, and to set up his own throne again.

l Rev. 17:14; 19:19; 20:8.

24 Namely, wherein God, in an extraordinary manner, will execute His judgment against all this power, whereof further mention shall be made hereafter in Rev. 19:19 and 20:8.

25 This is added here to admonish everyone to stand upon his guard, forasmuch as all things shall have an end at that day, and after that time there will be no more time left for repentance; as will follow hereafter. See Mat. 24:43; Luke 12:39; Rev. 3:3.

m Mat. 24:43; Luke 12:39; 1 Thes. 5:2; 2 Peter 3:10; Rev. 3:3.

n Rev. 3:18.

26 Or, and men see his shame, that is, the shamefulness of his sins, namely, if they are not covered with the robe of Christ’s righteousness, and with true faith joined with repentance. See Gal. 3:27 and Rev. 3:18.

27 This word is differently interpreted. Some render it: the camp of anathema, or of devastation, or, the deceit of extermination, because these armies of the antichrist shall be deceitfully gathered together out of all nations, but to their own destruction and desolation. But others perceive that this is a proper name of a certain place mentioned in the Scripture of the Old Testament, where a similar thing happened that is here foretold, namely in 2 Chron. 35:22 and Zech. 12:11; where mention is made of the valley of Megiddon; as here of the mountain of Megiddon, where king Josiah was smitten with the entire army of Israel by the Egyptians; in which similar place the army of the antichrist would be gathered again, in hope of obtaining the like victory against the Israel of God, but that the Lord by His unexpected coming would turn away this reproach from His church, and would fully and perfectly smite and finally destroy the enemies themselves. Though some are of the opinion that here it is referred rather to those places, Judges 5:19, where Sisera, with a whole army of the Canaanites, was miraculously smitten by Deborah and Barak by the waters of Megiddo, unto deliverance of the children of Israel; which very well agrees with this victory.

28 This seventh vial makes an end to all things, and consequently to the entire realm of the antichrist, who is poured out upon the air, because no living creature can live without air, and because Satan, who has thus far ruled in the greatest part of the world, has there his throne and habitation, as Paul speaks in Eph. 2:2 and 6:12, which shall also be abolished thereby, as is more plainly testified hereafter in Rev. 20:10.

29 That is, all things are fulfilled, which were to be done in the world according to the Word of God. Or, it has been, namely, the great city and the beast; whereof shall be treated more distinctly in the next two chapters.

o Rev. 21:6.

30 By these voices, thunderclaps, etc., are meant the signs which shall precede the last coming of Christ to judgment, as also similar signs are related in Matthew 24; Mark 13; Luke 21 and 2 Peter 3:10.

p Rev. 4:5; 8:5.

31 Which is the ecclesiastical Sodom and Egypt, and comprehends the total realm of the antichrist, as was shown in Rev. 11:8, which is also called hereafter that great city Babylon, see Rev. 14:8 and 18:10.

q Rev. 14:8.

32 Gr. became into three parts, that is, was utterly smashed to pieces, come to nothing as things which are broken into many pieces.

33 Or, the cities of the Gentiles. Hereby are meant all other cities outside of Christendom, as for example, the cities of the Turks, Persians and other heathens.

34 Namely, to receive her righteous sentence of God; for, God seemed before to wink at her, and to have forgotten her wantonness.

r Rev. 18:5.

35 See Rev. 14:8, 10.

s Jer. 25:15; Rev. 14:10.

36 That is, the places, unto which were held to be the safest to flee, did leave them or were gone, as in Rev. 6:14.

37 Namely, for the punishment of the wicked, as Joshua 10:11, but this one more severe, because it brought the intolerable burden of God’s wrath upon them. For, a talent weighed, according to the testimony of some, an hundred pound weight.

t Rev. 11:19.

u NT weight (Gr. talanton): 75 pounds or 34 kilograms*

38 Namely, through fear and despair, as the wicked will do at the last day. See Rev. 6:16.

v verses 9, 11.