Chapter XVI.
(Vers. 1.)
(Version 1.) And I heard a loud voice from the temple saying to the seven angels, 'Go and pour out on the earth the seven bowls of the wrath of God.' The voice from the temple is the voice of the Lord commanding the messengers to proclaim the word of God not only to the chosen, but also to the reprobate, so that these may have something to correct them and those may have something by which they may be condemned even more severely. Sinners are designated by the earth. Therefore, the messengers pour out their bowls upon the earth when they proclaim the word of God to sinners.
(Vers. 2.)
(Verse 2.) And the first went and poured out his bowl on the earth, and a grievous and terrible sore came upon the men who had the mark of the beast and who worshipped his image. The first Angel designates the preachers who existed before the Law, just as he who was seen first to have sung with the trumpet in the preceding vision (in chapter 8). But those chosen are designated as the third part of the earth which is burned, whereas here the reprobate are designated as those who suffered a grievous and terrible sore. Therefore, the angel poured out his bowl upon the earth, for the holy men who were before the Law spent their words of admonition upon the impious to correct them, but a severe and terrible wound was inflicted upon them, because they became worse from the preaching of the saints and despised God's commandments; for a severe and terrible wound indeed is the contempt of God's commandments. But if the severe and terrible wound pertains only to the reprobate, and those who bore the mark of the beast alone suffered this, we must inquire what the mark of the beast is. But if we want to understand the pride of the beast through its character, because of which the devil fell from heaven, we must note that many of the chosen ones had the wound of pride, but were healed by the medicine of humility. However, there is another most destructive vice, which always excludes the medicine of repentance from itself; for we know that the devil is irrevocable, so that he cannot be corrected in any way from his wickedness. Therefore, whoever is irrevocable does not require the medicine of repentance, just as the devil is alien to this medicine. Therefore, those who could not be converted from their sins through the teaching of the holy Fathers, have the mark of the devil, who perseveres incorrigible and unrepentant. But because many suffer from this vice in our time, it is necessary that we speak about its magnitude; for there are some who are so irredeemable that, although they know their assertion is false, they cannot be convinced otherwise, fearing to be defeated by men. And in order not to be convinced, they attempt to defend their falsehood with lies, perjury, and heated arguments: and while they fear being defeated by men, they are conquered by the devil. Therefore, all other vices are healed by the remedy of repentance: only this excludes them from themselves, so that they may not seem to be conquered by confession and penance. And because they wish to appear to have conquered their evil, they praise it. In them is fulfilled the prophecy: Woe to those who say that evil is good, and good is evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness (Isaiah 5:20)! There is said to be a bird that overcomes and eats a serpent, but after a little while it is destroyed by its venom. Similarly, these people rejoice in having conquered their neighbors, but such a victory is the killer of their souls. Therefore, whoever possesses such qualities carries the mark of the devil. And through the image of the beast, we can understand vices; because he himself is the author of all evils. Therefore, whoever serves vices worships the image of the beast; for Paul also says that their god is their belly, and their glory is in their shame: who mind earthly things (Philippians 3:19). Similarly, he called greed idolatry (Colossians 3:5).
(Vers. 3.)
(Verse 3.) And the second poured out his vial into the sea, and it became blood as of a dead man; and every living soul died in the sea. This angel signifies the teachers of the Law, just as he who in the preceding vision appeared to have sounded the second trumpet (Sup. to ch. 8): but there, it is said that a third part of the sea turned into blood, by which we have meant that the elect were designated; here, however, it is read that the whole sea was turned into blood (Genesis 9:5). The punishment for criminal offenses according to the Law was the shedding of blood. Therefore, transgressors of the Law are designated through the sea, which represents the shedding of blood, because they have received everlasting punishment for their contempt of God's commandments. But every living soul is dead in the sea, because many of those who are in the sea, that is, among the number of the wicked, who are designated through the sea, and who were considered righteous before receiving the Law, it has been proven through the transgression of the Law that they were unjust. There are also many in the Church who, before ascending to ecclesiastical or secular honors, appear to be holy and just: but after receiving honors, while they pervert the gift of God to evil, it is evident to all that they were dead and not alive.
(Vers. 4.)
(Verse 4) And the third angel poured out his vial upon the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters; and they became blood. This angel symbolizes the prophets, and by the rivers and fountains of waters, the twelve tribes with their families are represented. For in the previous vision, we said that the prophets were symbolized by the third angel sounding the trumpet. But there, it is read that a third part of the rivers and fountains were turned into wormwood, which we said symbolized those who, through the teachings of the prophets, took on the bitterness of repentance and deserved to be saved through it. But here, it is read that the pouring out of the vial by the third angel turned the rivers and fountains into blood. Therefore, the angel poured out his vial upon the rivers and fountains of water, when the holy prophets proclaimed the word of God to the impious people. However, they, having become much worse from the preaching of the saints, not only despised God's commandments, but also killed the ministers of the word of God themselves. Indeed, they were turned into blood, because they brought upon themselves eternal death.
(Vers. 5, 6.)
(Verses 5, 6.) And I heard the fourth angel saying: You are just, who is and who was holy, because you have judged these things; because they have shed the blood of the saints and prophets, and you have given them blood to drink, for they are worthy. We can understand by the fourth angel the angel of that people who, seeing the unjust people condemned by the just judgment of God, praises the most just sentence of Almighty God. And because they shed the blood of the saints and prophets, they drank blood; because for the temporal death that they imposed on the just, they received eternal death.
(Vers. 7.)
(Verse 7.) And I heard also the altar saying: Lord God Almighty, your judgments are true and just. We can understand through the altar the holy men who were at that time, who praised the just judgment of God, because he inflicted the most just condemnation on the impious people, just as we read that Daniel and the three young men did.
(Vers. 8, 9.)
(Verse 8, 9.) And the fourth poured out his bowl upon the sun, and it was given to him to scorch people with fire. And the people were scorched with great heat, and they blasphemed the name of God who has power over these plagues. They did not repent and give Him glory. The fourth angel symbolizes Christ and his apostles, and all other preachers, as we have said the fourth angel in the previous vision represented. But here, the people of the Jews are represented by the sun, and the faithful who believed in Christ from among that people are represented by a third part of the sun, moon, and stars. Therefore, the fourth angel poured out his vial upon the sun; for Christ and his apostles openly proclaimed that the wicked Jews would be destroyed by the Romans. For just as every servant receives a sword from his master, not so that he may kill himself, but so that he may kill the guilty: in the same way, the Romans received the outpouring of the vial, in which the wrath of God was contained, not for the purpose of perishing in it themselves, but to avenge the blood of Christ by pouring it out upon the Jews; hence it is written: 'For it was given to him to torment men with heat and fire.' We can understand the siege by heat, and by fire, famine, and sword, by which almost all the Jews were consumed. Therefore, it was given to afflict men with heat and fire; for it was given to the Romans by God, that they might kill the wicked Jews, afflicted with various calamities, and banish some from their own land. And men were scorched with great heat. How great that heat was, by which the Romans afflicted the Jews, let him who desires know, let him read Josephus, and he will find that no nation perished more atrociously in all the kingdoms of the earth (From The Jewish War). And they blasphemed the name of God who has power over these plagues. So impious was the Jewish nation, that when they knew they were suffering unprecedented evils for their crimes, they not only did not cease from blaspheming Christ, but also vomited even worse blasphemies against God in their afflictions. Hence it follows: Nor did they repent to give Him glory; for they would have given glory to God, if, repenting of their iniquities, they had believed in Christ and kept His commandments.
(Vers. 10, 11.)
(Verse 10, 11) And the fifth poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast, and his kingdom became dark; and they gnawed their tongues for pain, and blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and repented not of their deeds. The fifth angel represents the orthodox fathers who fought against the heretics, as we have already said he signifies, who in the previous vision sounded the fifth trumpet (Sup. ch. 9). And just as there the heretics were designated by locusts, here they are designated by the seat of the beast; and the beast signifies the devil. Therefore, the heretics are rightly called the seat of the beast, because the devil dwells in their hearts. Therefore, the fifth angel poured out his bowl upon the seat of the beast, because the holy men, exposing the errors of the heretics, sought to reveal the punishment that awaited them. And his kingdom became dark; because through the teachings of the holy Fathers, it was shown to those to whom the bright doctrine of the heretics seemed shining, how wretched and dark it was. They argued with each other due to pain, as each one criticized the errors of the others; for neither did Arius follow Eunomius, or Sabellius, or any of them; nor did they follow him: but each one, wishing to establish his own heresy, criticized the errors of the others. They are also said to have blasphemed God due to their pain and wounds; for the heretics were grieving because they were always being refuted by Catholic men: but their wounds were the errors of each one. The heretics were indeed blaspheming God because of their sufferings; for as much as they were overcome by Catholic men, they found greater blasphemies to hurl at them in return. Nevertheless, they were also compelled to blaspheme God because of their own errors which they professed. It is said that they were without repentance; for scarcely will you find any of the inventors of heresies who have repented of their errors.
(Vers. 12.)
(Verse 12.) And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up, that the way of the kings from the east might be prepared. This sixth angel has the same significance as the one who was seen blowing the sixth trumpet; for it signifies the holy martyrs. And those who are designated there as horsemen, by whom a third of mankind is said to have been killed, they themselves are also represented in this place by the great river Euphrates, namely the persecutors of the Church of God. Therefore, the angel poured out his vial upon the river Euphrates; for they had foretold without any hesitation what condemnation would come upon the persecutors of the Church. But the persecution itself is represented by the water: and the water thereof was dried up; because the holy martyrs persisted in preaching the word of God until every persecution would come to an end, with some of the persecutors being cast into hell and others submitting themselves to the Christian faith. By the multitude of nations that flocked to the faith of Christ, we can understand the power of kings. Therefore, the way was prepared for kings through the drying up of prepared water; because once the persecutions ceased, the free opportunity was given to all nations to come to the faith of Christ. But how can they be said to have come from the rising of the sun, that is, from Christ, who is represented by the sun; when they have not come from Christ, but to Christ, leaving behind the devil? Unless perhaps by the sun we understand the devil, so that they came from him to Christ: but it is better to understand the sun as Christ, because of that prophecy: But unto you that fear my name, the Sun of righteousness shall arise, with healing in his wings. From the rising of the sun, that is, from Christ, they come, because they come by His inspiration and impulsion; it is His gift both to will and to accomplish what is good, as He Himself said: Without Me you can do nothing (John 15:5). Therefore, whoever comes to Christ comes from Christ; for He gives that they may come, and He Himself receives those who come.
(Vers. 13, 14.)
(Verse 13, 14.) And I saw coming out of the mouth of the dragon and out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet three unclean spirits like frogs. For they are spirits of demons, performing signs. It describes the calling of the nations, how they came to the faith of Christ, and mentions the Antichrist, who is to come near the end of the world. The three unclean spirits represent the disciples of the Antichrist, who will proclaim him throughout the whole world: although they will be human beings, they are called unclean spirits and spirits of demons because demons will dwell in them and speak through their mouths. They are seen as having come out of the mouth of the Antichrist and the mouth of his false prophet because through their teachings the children of the devil will be produced. They are also seen as having come out of the mouth of the dragon because the devil will speak through the mouth of the Antichrist. Frogs, however, which are unclean reptiles and live in mud, can rightly be compared: just as frogs dwell in dirty waters, so too the disciples of the Antichrist will easily deceive those who have not feared to be defiled by various vices and wickedness. For the harsh and disgusting voice of the frogs signifies their most impious preaching full of blasphemies. And they will go forth to gather the kings of the whole earth for battle on the great day of God Almighty. By kings of the earth, not only kings but also peoples are designated. However, the disciples of the Antichrist will gather them for battle on the great day of Almighty God, not that they dare to fight against God on the day of judgment, from whom they will be judged so terribly. But they will gather them for battle to persecute the Church, so that on the great day of Almighty God they may be condemned to eternal punishment. And because the persecution of the Antichrist will end, the Lord will come for judgment soon after.
(Vers. 15.)
(Verse 15.) And behold, I come as a thief. The day of the Lord, as the Apostle says, as a thief, so he will come in the night; for when they shall say: Peace and security, then sudden destruction shall come upon them, as the pains upon her that is with child, and they shall not escape. Blessed are they that watch, and keep their garments, lest they walk naked, and see their shame (1 Thess. 5:2-3). The wicked, who indulge in the pleasures of the flesh and rest in the softness of their bed, and do not want to foresee the evils that follow, are fittingly called asleep. The Apostle admonishes, saying: Arise, you who sleep, and arise from the dead, and Christ will enlighten you (Eph. V, 4). But the righteous, who strive to foresee the evils that follow, who extinguish carnal pleasures within themselves, who fortify themselves with the weapons of virtues, so that they may constantly combat against visible and invisible enemies, are rightly called watchful, and therefore blessed. And the clothing of our souls is good works: the keeping of the clothing is the keeping of God's commandments. Therefore, we guard our clothing, if we fulfill by working what God has commanded: however, the one who is naked is the one who is devoid of good works. The impious will walk naked, when they are led away empty of good works to the judgment day; and therefore, their shamelessness will be seen, because both to the angels and to humans their crimes will be revealed.
(Vers. 16.)
(Verse 16.) And he will gather them in a place called in Hebrew Armageddon. Armageddon is a mountain that is interpreted as a gathering place or resurrection: both interpretations can be applied to the day of judgement. Indeed, the mountain is properly called "globosus" because the whole world will be destroyed by spheres of flames; similarly, the gathering place or resurrection is rightly called "consurrectio in priora" because all men will be restored to their former state by rising again.
(Vers. 17.)
(Verse 17.) And the seventh poured out his vial into the air. By this seventh angel, the holy preachers, who will exist during the time of the future Antichrist, are designated, just as we said he signifies, who is read to have sounded with the seventh trumpet above (in Chapter 9); but by the air, vain men are designated. Therefore, the angel poured out his vial into the air, because the holy preachers will proclaim to vain and impious men that they are condemned to perpetual punishment. And there came forth a loud voice from the temple, saying. The great voice is the voice of the holy preachers: by the temple, the Church is understood. Therefore, the voice came forth from the temple, because the voice of holy preaching proceeds from the Church: which is also said to have come forth from the throne: because the Church of God is the throne of God, and He rests upon it. But what this voice says, it manifests by expressing it: It has happened; that is, the end of the world is approaching, in which all things that have been predicted by the Lord and the saints will be fulfilled.
(Vers. 18.)
(Verse 18.) And there were lightnings and voices and thunderings, and a great earthquake occurred, such as has never been since men were on the earth, so great an earthquake. Through the miracles of lightning, which God will perform through his saints, are signified; for we read in the preceding verses, that Elijah and Enoch will perform many miracles: through the voices, the preaching of the saints is expressed: through the thunderings, the terror of eternal fire is expressed: but the earthquake often signifies the movement of hearts. Indeed, some will be moved from evil to good, such as the Jews who will believe in Christ: others will be moved from good to evil, who will abandon the faith of Christ and follow the errors of Antichrist.
(Vers. 19.)
(Verse 19.) And there arose a great city divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. The great city is the city of the devil, that is, the whole multitude of the unrighteous: divided into three parts, the Jews who refused to believe in Christ, and the pagans and false Christians are designated. And what he says, "And the cities of the nations fell," seems to pertain to the day of judgment. The cities of the nations will fall then, when the fire of the face of the Lord coming to judgment precedes Him, all the nations will be destroyed, as the Psalmist says: Fire shall go before Him, and shall burn His enemies round about (Psalm 96:3).
And Babylon came greatly into remembrance before God, to give her the cup of the wine of the fury of his indignation. How Babylon is said to have come into remembrance before God, to whom nothing can be added or taken away from remembrance, in whose sight both the present, the past, and the future exist? But he placed remembrance in time: therefore Babylon will come into remembrance before God, when that time comes, in which he has determined to judge the world and to render to each according to his works. But truly, wine of righteous wrath is the eternal punishment of God; for after the judgment is complete, all the wicked, together with the instigator of iniquity, the devil, will be condemned.
(Vers. 20.)
(Verse 20) And every island fled, and mountains were not found. Islands and mountains have the same meaning as the cities of the nations, which were said to have fallen a little earlier; for by islands the nations are meant, and by mountains their rulers are designated; they are said to flee when they are destroyed by fire on the day of judgment.
(Vers. 21.)
(Verse 21.) And great hail, like a talent, descends from heaven upon men. In the Gospel it is written that a certain householder, going on a journey, gave his servants five talents, to another two, and to another one. But the first and second, trading with the talents they had received from their master, doubled them; but the third dug into the ground and hid his master's money (Matthew 25:15). Therefore, whatever temporal goods or whatever skills we have received from the Lord, they will be accounted to us according to the receipt of talents: so the righteous, who are signified by the first and second servant, double their talents; they spend the temporal goods they receive from the Lord in good works and encourage others to do good as well. But the wicked, who are signified by the third servant, hide their talents in the ground; for from the temporal goods they have received from the Lord, they nourish vices rather than virtues. By hail, which destroys and wipes out the things that grow from the earth; the vengeance of almighty God is designated, by which he will crush the wicked and send them to hell: which is said to be like a talent, because it will punish each individual according to the quality of their talent; and the more one has transgressed, the more severe torments they will be forced to endure. But what follows is very obscure: And men blasphemed God because of the plague of hail, for it was greatly magnified. For who in that strict and just judgement will dare to blaspheme God? But they are said to blaspheme, because the blasphemies of the reprobate, which they now conceal in their hearts, will be manifest to all.