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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadWilliam Burkitt Notes and Observations - Revelation 16:17 - 16:17
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These words describe and declare unto us the pouring out of the seventh vial by the seventh angel; in which we have observable,
1. The subject upon which it fell, namely, the air; not the elements of air, earth, or water, are to be understood in this chapter literally; for the vials poured forth are vials of wrath, and consequently are poured forth upon the proper objects of God's displeasure, which the elements are not; but it is the earthly antichristian church which is thought to be here intended, so called in opposition to the heavenly and pure church. So that by the air, here, Mr. Mede understands all the subjects of Satan's kingdom, who is called the prince of the air; and the pouring out of this vial upon the air denotes the full and final destruction of Satan's power.
Observe, 2. The adjunct accompanying the pouring out of this vial, namely, a voice out of heaven, saying, It is done; that is, "These last plagues are now finished, the work of God is done, and what in his counsels he designed for the destruction of his enemies, and for the deliverance of his people: this is said to be done, because it was now doing; and accomplished, because it was now accomplishing." God's threatenings of judgment (except man repent) are as sure when denounced as if they were already executed.
Observe, 3. The direful effects and dreadful consequences of this last vial's pouring forth, namely,
1. Thunder, lightning, and earthquake: all implying thus much, that the storm of God's wrath, now coming upon the kingdoms of sin, Satan, and Antichrist, would be very terrible and amazing.
2. The great city was divided into three parts; into three factions, say some, and that Antichrist's kingdom was now falling by being divided within itself. And the cities of the nations fell, namely, Heathens, nations, and places which withstood Christ and his gospel. For all Christ's enemies are now to be deposed from public authority. And great Babylon come up in remembrance before God; not that God was ever unmindful of her, either of her impiety towards himself, or of her cruelty towards his people: but as good works are said to be remembered when they are rewarded, so wickedness is then remembered when it is punished. God remembered Babylon, when for the full cup of her sins, he put into her hand a full cup of wine of the fierceness of his wrath. God is never forgetful either of his church's sufferings, or his enemies' sins, but will punish the one, and redress the other, in his own appointed time.
3. As another effect of the pouring forth of this vial, it is added, every island fled away and the mountains were not to be found; signifying, say some, that the remotest and strongest places, which owned and maintained Babylon, shall either be converted or confounded. Intimating, say others, that there shall be no place in that day of God's wrath to flee unto for safety; neither island in the sea, nor mountain on dry land.
Observe lastly, The superadded judgment of unusual hail which God poured forth upon Babylon, as before upon Egypt, Exo_9:19-34 There fell great hail out of heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent. An hyperbolical expression, setting forth the design and purpose of God to pursue Babylon, and the worshippers of the beast, until they be utterly destroyed.
A talent, say some, was an hundred pound weight; if so, these hail-stones were sufficient not only to kill men, but to dash them all in pieces. This heavy hail shows that weighty sins procure heavy judgments yet mark what a bad use these obdurate sinners made of all these tremendous judgments, they blasphemed God.
They were so obstinate in their idolatry, that they stood it out against all God's judgments; and when they should have humbled themselves under his mighty hand, they opened their mouths in blasphemies against him.
Here note, that in the book of Exodus we do not read that the old Egyptians blasphemed God when the plague of hail was inflicted upon them, nor when they lay under any of the ten plagues; but these idolaters instead of giving glory to God, they blasphemed him, because of the greatness of their plagues. This perhaps is an emblem of what the damned will do at the day of judgment: though their consciences be convinced of the righteousness of their sentence, yet they will not cease to pour out blasphemies against God, upon the account of the severity and eternity of their torments.
But verily then will all the divine attributes be conspicuously glorified, his wonderful clemency sweetly displayed, his exact justice terribly demonstrated, his perfect wisdom clearly unfolded, and all the knotty intricacies of providence wisely resolved, and the injured honour and glory of Almighty God visibly cleared and repaired, to the joyful satisfaction of all good men, and to the dreadful consternation and confusion of all impenitent sinners, who with these worshippers of the beast will gnaw their tongues for anguish, and blaspheme the holy and just God most unjustly, for bringing upon them that destruction which they had deserved, yea, that damnation which they had chosen.