Discovery BoxRevelation 16:16-18
Context16:16 Now 1 the spirits 2 gathered the kings and their armies 3 to the place that is called Armageddon 4 in Hebrew.
16:17 Finally 5 the seventh angel 6 poured out his bowl into the air and a loud voice came out of the temple from the throne, saying: “It is done!” 16:18 Then 7 there were flashes of lightning, roaring, 8 and crashes of thunder, and there was a tremendous earthquake – an earthquake unequaled since humanity 9 has been on the earth, so tremendous was that earthquake.
[16:16] 1 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] 2 tn Grk “they”; the referent (the demonic spirits, v. 14) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[16:16] 3 tn Grk “gathered them”; the referent (the kings and [implied] their armies, v. 14) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[16:16] 4 tc There are many variations in the spelling of this name among the Greek
[16:17] 5 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “finally” to indicate the conclusion of the seven bowl judgments.
[16:17] 6 tn Grk “the seventh”; the referent (the seventh angel) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[16:18] 7 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.
[16:18] 8 tn Or “sounds,” “voices.” It is not entirely clear what this refers to. BDAG 1071 s.v. φωνή 1 states, “In Rv we have ἀστραπαὶ καὶ φωναὶ καὶ βρονταί (cp. Ex 19:16) 4:5; 8:5; 11:19; 16:18 (are certain other sounds in nature thought of here in addition to thunder, as e.g. the roar of the storm?…).”
[16:18] 9 tn The singular ἄνθρωπος (anqrwpo") is used generically here to refer to the human race.
