Discovery BoxRevelation 15:1-7
Context15:1 Then 1 I saw another great and astounding sign in heaven: seven angels who have seven final plagues 2 (they are final because in them God’s anger is completed).
15:2 Then 3 I saw something like a sea of glass 4 mixed with fire, and those who had conquered 5 the beast and his image and the number of his name. They were standing 6 by 7 the sea of glass, holding harps given to them by God. 8 15:3 They 9 sang the song of Moses the servant 10 of God and the song of the Lamb: 11
“Great and astounding are your deeds,
Lord God, the All-Powerful! 12
Just 13 and true are your ways,
King over the nations! 14
15:4 Who will not fear you, O Lord,
and glorify 15 your name, because you alone are holy? 16
All nations 17 will come and worship before you
for your righteous acts 18 have been revealed.”
15:5 After 19 these things I looked, and the temple (the tent 20 of the testimony) 21 was opened in heaven, 15:6 and the seven angels who had the seven plagues came out of the temple, dressed in clean bright linen, wearing wide golden belts 22 around their chests. 15:7 Then 23 one of the four living creatures gave the seven angels seven golden bowls filled with the wrath 24 of God who lives forever and ever,
Revelation 16:1-17
Context16:1 Then 25 I heard a loud voice from the temple declaring to the seven angels: “Go and pour out on the earth the seven bowls containing God’s wrath.” 26 16:2 So 27 the first angel 28 went and poured out his bowl on the earth. Then 29 ugly and painful sores 30 appeared on the people 31 who had the mark of the beast and who worshiped his image.
16:3 Next, 32 the second angel 33 poured out his bowl on the sea and it turned into blood, like that of a corpse, and every living creature that was in the sea died.
16:4 Then 34 the third angel 35 poured out his bowl on the rivers and the springs of water, and they turned into blood. 16:5 Now 36 I heard the angel of the waters saying:
“You are just 37 – the one who is and who was,
the Holy One – because you have passed these judgments, 38
16:6 because they poured out the blood of your saints and prophets,
so 39 you have given them blood to drink. They got what they deserved!” 40
16:7 Then 41 I heard the altar reply, 42 “Yes, Lord God, the All-Powerful, 43 your judgments are true and just!”
16:8 Then 44 the fourth angel 45 poured out his bowl on the sun, and it was permitted to scorch people 46 with fire. 16:9 Thus 47 people 48 were scorched by the terrible heat, 49 yet 50 they blasphemed the name of God, who has ruling authority 51 over these plagues, and they would not repent and give him glory.
16:10 Then 52 the fifth angel 53 poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast so that 54 darkness covered his kingdom, 55 and people 56 began to bite 57 their tongues because 58 of their pain. 16:11 They blasphemed the God of heaven because of their sufferings 59 and because of their sores, 60 but nevertheless 61 they still refused to repent 62 of their deeds.
16:12 Then 63 the sixth angel 64 poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates and dried up its water 65 to prepare the way 66 for the kings from the east. 67 16:13 Then 68 I saw three unclean spirits 69 that looked like frogs coming out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. 16:14 For they are the spirits of the demons performing signs who go out to the kings of the earth 70 to bring them together for the battle that will take place on the great day of God, the All-Powerful. 71
16:15 (Look! I will come like a thief!
Blessed is the one who stays alert and does not lose 72 his clothes so that he will not have to walk around naked and his shameful condition 73 be seen.) 74
16:16 Now 75 the spirits 76 gathered the kings and their armies 77 to the place that is called Armageddon 78 in Hebrew.
16:17 Finally 79 the seventh angel 80 poured out his bowl into the air and a loud voice came out of the temple from the throne, saying: “It is done!”
[15:1] 1 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence within the narrative.
[15:1] 2 tn Grk “seven plagues – the last ones.”
[15:2] 3 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence within the narrative.
[15:2] 4 sn See Rev 4:6 where the sea of glass was mentioned previously.
[15:2] 5 tn Or “had been victorious over”; traditionally, “had overcome.”
[15:2] 6 tn Grk “of his name, standing.” A new sentence was started here in the translation by supplying the words “They were.”
[15:2] 7 tn Or “on.” The preposition ἐπί (epi) with the accusative case could mean “on, at, by, near”; given the nature of this scene appearing in a vision, it is difficult to know precisely which the author of Revelation intended. See BDAG 363 s.v. ἐπί 1.c.γ, “At, by, near someone or someth.”
[15:2] 8 tn Grk “harps of God.” The phrase τοῦ θεοῦ (tou qeou) has been translated as a genitive of agency.
[15:3] 9 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated.
[15:3] 10 tn See the note on the word “servants” in 1:1.
[15:3] 11 tn Grk “saying.” The participle λέγοντες (legontes) is redundant in contemporary English and has not been translated.
[15:3] 12 tn On this word BDAG 755 s.v. παντοκράτωρ states, “the Almighty, All-Powerful, Omnipotent (One) only of God…(ὁ) κύριος ὁ θεὸς ὁ π. …Rv 1:8; 4:8; 11:17; 15:3; 16:7; 21:22.”
[15:3] 13 tn Or “righteous,” although the context favors justice as the theme.
[15:3] 14 tc Certain
[15:4] 16 sn Because you alone are holy. In the Greek text the sentence literally reads “because alone holy.” Three points can be made in connection with John’s language here: (1) Omitting the second person, singular verb “you are” lays stress on the attribute of God’s holiness. (2) The juxtaposition of alone with holy stresses the unique nature of God’s holiness and complete “otherness” in relationship to his creation. It is not just moral purity which is involved in the use of the term holy, though it certainly includes that. It is also the pervasive OT idea that although God is deeply involved in the governing of his creation, he is to be regarded as separate and distinct from it. (3) John’s use of the term holy is also intriguing since it is the term ὅσιος (Josios) and not the more common NT term ἅγιος (Jagios). The former term evokes images of Christ’s messianic status in early Christian preaching. Both Peter in Acts 2:27 and Paul in Acts 13:35 apply Psalm 16:10 (LXX) to Jesus, referring to him as the “holy one” (ὅσιος). It is also the key term in Acts 13:34 (Isa 55:3 [LXX]) where it refers to the “holy blessings” (i.e., forgiveness and justification) brought about through Jesus in fulfillment of Davidic promise. Thus, in Rev 15:3-4, when John refers to God as “holy,” using the term ὅσιος in a context where the emphasis is on both God and Christ, there might be an implicit connection between divinity and the Messiah. This is bolstered by the fact that the Lamb is referred to in other contexts as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords (cf. 1:5; 17:14; 19:16 and perhaps 11:15; G. K. Beale, Revelation [NIGTC], 796-97).
[15:4] 17 tn Or “all the Gentiles” (the same Greek word may be translated “Gentiles” or “nations”).
[15:4] 18 tn Or perhaps, “your sentences of condemnation.” On δικαίωμα (dikaiwma) in this context BDAG 249 s.v. 2. states, “righteous deed…δι᾿ ἑνὸς δικαιώματος (opp. παράπτωμα) Ro 5:18. – B 1:2 (cp. Wengst, Barnabas-brief 196, n.4); Rv 15:4 (here perh.= ‘sentence of condemnation’ [cp. Pla., Leg. 9, 864e; ins fr. Asia Minor: LBW 41, 2 [κατὰ] τὸ δι[καί]ωμα τὸ κυρω[θέν]= ‘acc. to the sentence which has become valid’]; difft. Wengst, s. above); 19:8.”
[15:5] 19 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
[15:5] 20 tn On this term BDAG 928 s.v. σκηνή 1.b.α states, “ἡ σκηνὴ τοῦ μαρτυρίου the Tabernacle or Tent of Testimony (Ex 27:21; 29:4; Lev 1:1; Num 1:1 and oft.…) Ac 7:44; 1 Cl 43:2, 5,” and then continues in section 2 to state, “Rv 15:5 speaks of a ναὸς τῆς σκηνῆς τοῦ μαρτυρίου ἐν τῷ οὐρανῷ. God’s σκ.= dwelling is in heaven 13:6, and will some time be among humans 21:3.”
[15:5] 21 tn Grk “the temple of the tent of the testimony” (ὁ ναός τῆς σκηνῆς τοῦ μαρτυρίου, Jo naos ths skhnhs tou marturiou). The genitive “of the tent” is probably an appositional genitive and should be rendered as “the temple, which is the tent.” The entire expression, then, would be “the temple which is the tent of testimony,” that is, “the heavenly equivalent of the tent or tabernacle that was with Israel in the wilderness” (G. K. Beale, Revelation [NIGTC], 801-2).
[15:6] 22 tn Or “wide golden sashes,” but these would not be diagonal, as some modern sashes are, but horizontal. The Greek term can refer to a wide band of cloth or leather worn on the outside of one’s clothing (L&N 6.178).
[15:7] 23 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.
[16:1] 25 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence within the narrative.
[16:1] 26 tn Or “anger.” Here τοῦ θυμοῦ (tou qumou) has been translated as a genitive of content.
[16:2] 27 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the implied result of the directions given by the voice from the temple.
[16:2] 28 tn Grk “the first”; the referent (the first angel) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[16:2] 29 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.
[16:2] 30 tn Or “ulcerated sores”; the term in the Greek text is singular but is probably best understood as a collective singular.
[16:2] 31 tn Grk ‘the men,” but this is a generic use of ἄνθρωπος (anqrwpo") and refers to both men and women.
[16:3] 32 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “next” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.
[16:3] 33 tn Grk “the second”; the referent (the second angel) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[16:4] 34 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.
[16:4] 35 tn Grk “the third”; the referent (the third angel) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[16:5] 36 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “now” to indicate the somewhat parenthetical nature of the remarks that follow.
[16:5] 37 tn Or “righteous,” although the context favors justice as the theme.
[16:5] 38 tn Or “because you have judged these things.” The pronoun ταῦτα (tauta) is neuter gender.
[16:6] 39 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate that this judgment is the result of what these wicked people did to the saints and prophets.
[16:6] 40 tn Grk “They are worthy”; i.e., of this kind of punishment. By extension, “they got what they deserve.”
[16:7] 41 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.
[16:7] 42 tn Grk “the altar saying.”
[16:7] 43 tn On this word BDAG 755 s.v. παντοκράτωρ states, “the Almighty, All-Powerful, Omnipotent (One) only of God…(ὁ) κύριος ὁ θεὸς ὁ π. …Rv 1:8; 4:8; 11:17; 15:3; 16:7; 21:22.”
[16:8] 44 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.
[16:8] 45 tn Grk “the fourth”; the referent (the fourth angel) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[16:8] 46 tn Grk “men,” but this is a generic use of ἄνθρωπος (anqrwpo") and refers to both men and women.
[16:9] 47 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “thus” to indicate the implied result of the bowl poured on the sun.
[16:9] 48 tn Grk “men,” but this is a generic use of ἄνθρωπος (anqrwpo") and refers to both men and women.
[16:9] 49 tn On this phrase BDAG 536 s.v. καῦμα states, “burning, heat Rv 7:16…καυματίζεσθαι κ. μέγα be burned with a scorching heat 16:9.”
[16:9] 50 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “yet” to indicate the contrast present in this context.
[16:9] 51 tn For the translation “ruling authority” for ἐξουσία (exousia) see L&N 37.35.
[16:10] 52 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.
[16:10] 53 tn Grk “the fifth”; the referent (the fifth angel) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[16:10] 54 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so that” to indicate the implied result of the fifth bowl being poured out.
[16:10] 55 tn Grk “his kingdom became dark.”
[16:10] 56 tn Grk “men,” but this is a generic use of ἄνθρωπος (anqrwpo") and refers to both men and women.
[16:10] 57 tn On this term BDAG 620 s.v. μασάομαι states, “bite w. acc. τὰς γλώσσας bite their tongues Rv 16:10.”
[16:10] 58 tn The preposition ἐκ (ek) has been translated here and twice in the following verse with a causal sense.
[16:11] 59 tn Grk “pains” (the same term in Greek [πόνος, ponos] as the last word in v. 11, here translated “sufferings” because it is plural). BDAG 852 s.v. 2 states, “ἐκ τοῦ π. in pain…Rv 16:10; pl. (Gen 41:51; Jos., C. Ap. 2, 146; Test. Jud. 18:4) ἐκ τῶν π. …because of their sufferings vs. 11.”
[16:11] 60 tn Or “ulcerated sores” (see 16:2).
[16:11] 61 tn Grk “and they did not repent.” Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but nevertheless” to express the contrast here.
[16:11] 62 tn Grk “they did not repent” The addition of “still refused” reflects the hardness of people’s hearts in the context.
[16:12] 63 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.
[16:12] 64 tn Grk “the sixth”; the referent (the sixth angel) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[16:12] 65 tn Grk “and its water was dried up.” Here the passive construction has been translated as an active one.
[16:12] 66 tn Grk “in order that the way might be prepared.” Here the passive construction has been translated as an active one.
[16:12] 67 tn Grk “from the rising of the sun.” BDAG 74 s.v. ἀνατολή 2.a takes this as a geographical direction: “ἀπὸ ἀ. ἡλίου…from the east Rv 7:2; 16:12; simply ἀπὸ ἀ. …21:13.”
[16:13] 68 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.
[16:13] 69 sn According to the next verse, these three unclean spirits are spirits of demons.
[16:14] 70 tn BDAG 699 s.v. οἰκουμένη 1 states, “the inhabited earth, the world…ὅλη ἡ οἰκ. the whole inhabited earth…Mt 24:14; Ac 11:28; Rv 3:10; 16:14.”
[16:14] 71 tn On this word BDAG 755 s.v. παντοκράτωρ states, “the Almighty, All-Powerful, Omnipotent (One) only of God…(ὁ) κύριος ὁ θεὸς ὁ π. …Rv 1:8; 4:8; 11:17; 15:3; 16:7; 21:22.”
[16:15] 72 tn Grk “and keeps.” BDAG 1002 s.v. τηρέω 2.c states “of holding on to someth. so as not to give it up or lose it…τὰ ἱμάτια αὐτοῦ Rv 16:15 (or else he will have to go naked).”
[16:15] 73 tn On the translation of ἀσχημοσύνη (aschmosunh) as “shameful condition” see L&N 25.202. The indefinite third person plural (“and they see”) has been translated as a passive here.
[16:15] 74 sn These lines are parenthetical, forming an aside to the narrative. The speaker here is the Lord Jesus Christ himself rather than the narrator. Many interpreters have seen this verse as so abrupt that it could not be an original part of the work, but the author has used such asides before (1:7; 14:13) and the suddenness here (on the eve of Armageddon) is completely parallel to Jesus’ warning in Mark 13:15-16 and parallels.
[16:16] 75 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “now” to indicate the resumption and conclusion of the remarks about the pouring out of the sixth bowl.
[16:16] 76 tn Grk “they”; the referent (the demonic spirits, v. 14) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[16:16] 77 tn Grk “gathered them”; the referent (the kings and [implied] their armies, v. 14) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[16:16] 78 tc There are many variations in the spelling of this name among the Greek
[16:17] 79 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “finally” to indicate the conclusion of the seven bowl judgments.
[16:17] 80 tn Grk “the seventh”; the referent (the seventh angel) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
