The earthquake will produce other effects. It will level mountains and cause islands to disappear. A less literal view is that it will only produce political turmoil. [1] As the Flood produced global topographical changes, so will this earthquake. It will prepare the earth for the Edenic conditions that the prophets predicted would characterize the earth during the Millennium. These changes will be a foreview of the final disappearance of the old creation and the creation of a new earth (cf. Revelation 20:11; Revelation 21:1-2). A literal interpretation of these changes does not preclude an earthly reign of Christ, as some have claimed. [2][source]
Context Summary
Revelation 16:10-21 - "the War Of The Great Day Of God"
All these judgments apparently refer to the destruction of those great systems of falsehood and apostasy which set themselves against the truth and purity of God. The dragon, beast, and false prophet are the devil's mimicry of the divine Trinity. The dragon corresponds to God the Father in delegating His authority; the beast, like our Lord, is crowned with diadems, Revelation 13:1; Revelation 19:12; the false prophet directs attention to the beast, as does the Holy Spirit to Christ.
The mystery of iniquity will make one last effort to obtain the empire of the world, seeking to effect its purpose through a human confederacy. When that confederacy has reached its climax of effrontery, the coming of the Son of God is near; hence the need for watchfulness and purity, Revelation 16:15. Armageddon is the mountain of Megiddo, in the plain of Esdraelon. See Joel 3:2; Joel 3:12; Joel 3:14; also Zechariah 12:11. The great city symbolizes the apostate Church, or professing Christendom. The true Bride is away from these judgments, awaiting the manifestation of her Lord. [source]
Chapter Summary: Revelation 16
1The angels pour out their bowls of wrath 6The plagues that follow 16Armageddon
Greek Commentary for Revelation 16:20
Fled [επυγεν] Second aorist active indicative of πευγω pheugō Islands sometimes sink in the sea in earthquakes (Revelation 6:14). [source]
Were not found [ουχ ευρετησαν] First aorist passive indicative of ευρισκω heuriskō See Revelation 20:11 for the same idea. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Revelation 16:20
Revelation 1:9Patmos [] Now called Patmo and Palmosa. In the Aegean, one of the group of the Sporades, about twenty-eight miles S. S.W. of Samos. It is about ten miles long by six in breadth. The island is volcanic, and is bare and rocky throughout; the hills, of which the highest rises to nearly a thousand feet, commanding a magnificent view of the neighboring sea and islands. The bay of La Scala, running into the land on the east, divides the island into two nearly equal parts, a northern and a southern. The ancient town, remains of which are still to be seen, occupied the isthmus which separates La Scala from the bay of Merika on the western coast. The modern town is on a hill in the southern half of the island, clustered at the foot of the monastery of St. John. A grotto is shown called “the grotto of the Apocalypse,” in which the apostle is said to have received the vision. “The stern, rugged barrenness of its broken promontories well suits the historical fact of the relegation of the condemned Christian to its shores, as of a convict to his prison. The view from the topmost peak, or, indeed, from any lofty elevation in the islands, unfolds an unusual sweep such as well became the Apocalypse, the unveiling of the future to the eyes of the solitary seer. Above, there was always the broad heaven of a Grecian sky; sometimes bright with its 'white cloud' (Revelation 14:14), sometimes torn with 'lightnings and thunderings,' and darkened by 'great hail,' or cheered with 'a rainbow like unto an emerald' (Revelation 4:3; Revelation 8:7; Revelation 11:19; Revelation 16:21). Over the high tops of Icaria, Samos, and Naxos rise the mountains of Asia Minor; amongst which would lie, to the north, the circle of the Seven Churches to which his addresses were to be sent. Around him stood the mountains and islands of the Archipelago (Revelation 6:14; Revelation 16:20). When he looked round, above or below, 'the sea' would always occupy the foremost place … the voices of heaven were like the sound of the waves beating on the shore, as 'the sound of many waters' (Revelation 14:2; Revelation 19:6); the millstone was 'cast into the sea' (Revelation 18:21); the sea was to 'give up the dead which were in it' (Revelation 20:13)” (Stanley, “Sermons in the East”). [source]
Revelation 20:11From whose face the earth and the heaven fled away [ου απο προσωπου επυγεν η γε και ο ουρανος] Second aorist (prophetic) active of πευγω pheugō See Revelation 16:20. The non-eternity of matter is a common teaching in the O.T. (Psalm 97:5; Psalm 102:27; Isaiah 51:6) as in the N.T. (Mark 13:31; 2 Peter 3:10).Was found (ευρετη heurethē). First aorist passive indicative of ευρισκω heuriskō All is now spiritual. Even scientists today are speaking of the non-eternity of the universe. [source]
Revelation 6:14As a scroll when it is rolled up [ως βιβλιον ελισσομενον] Present passive participle of ελισσω helissō old verb, to roll up, in N.T. only here (from Isaiah 34:4) and Hebrews 1:12 (from Psalm 102:27). Vivid picture of the expanse of the sky rolled up and away as a papyrus roll (Luke 4:17).Were moved (εκινητησαν ekinēthēsan). First aorist passive indicative of κινεω kineō to move.Out of their places See also Revelation 16:20 for these violent displacements in the earth‘s crust. Cf. Nahum 1:5; Jeremiah 4:24. Jesus spoke of faith removing mountains (of difficulty) as in Mark 11:23 (cf. 1 Corinthians 13:2). [source]
Greek Commentary for Revelation 16:20
Second aorist active indicative of πευγω pheugō Islands sometimes sink in the sea in earthquakes (Revelation 6:14). [source]
First aorist passive indicative of ευρισκω heuriskō See Revelation 20:11 for the same idea. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Revelation 16:20
Now called Patmo and Palmosa. In the Aegean, one of the group of the Sporades, about twenty-eight miles S. S.W. of Samos. It is about ten miles long by six in breadth. The island is volcanic, and is bare and rocky throughout; the hills, of which the highest rises to nearly a thousand feet, commanding a magnificent view of the neighboring sea and islands. The bay of La Scala, running into the land on the east, divides the island into two nearly equal parts, a northern and a southern. The ancient town, remains of which are still to be seen, occupied the isthmus which separates La Scala from the bay of Merika on the western coast. The modern town is on a hill in the southern half of the island, clustered at the foot of the monastery of St. John. A grotto is shown called “the grotto of the Apocalypse,” in which the apostle is said to have received the vision. “The stern, rugged barrenness of its broken promontories well suits the historical fact of the relegation of the condemned Christian to its shores, as of a convict to his prison. The view from the topmost peak, or, indeed, from any lofty elevation in the islands, unfolds an unusual sweep such as well became the Apocalypse, the unveiling of the future to the eyes of the solitary seer. Above, there was always the broad heaven of a Grecian sky; sometimes bright with its 'white cloud' (Revelation 14:14), sometimes torn with 'lightnings and thunderings,' and darkened by 'great hail,' or cheered with 'a rainbow like unto an emerald' (Revelation 4:3; Revelation 8:7; Revelation 11:19; Revelation 16:21). Over the high tops of Icaria, Samos, and Naxos rise the mountains of Asia Minor; amongst which would lie, to the north, the circle of the Seven Churches to which his addresses were to be sent. Around him stood the mountains and islands of the Archipelago (Revelation 6:14; Revelation 16:20). When he looked round, above or below, 'the sea' would always occupy the foremost place … the voices of heaven were like the sound of the waves beating on the shore, as 'the sound of many waters' (Revelation 14:2; Revelation 19:6); the millstone was 'cast into the sea' (Revelation 18:21); the sea was to 'give up the dead which were in it' (Revelation 20:13)” (Stanley, “Sermons in the East”). [source]
Second aorist (prophetic) active of πευγω pheugō See Revelation 16:20. The non-eternity of matter is a common teaching in the O.T. (Psalm 97:5; Psalm 102:27; Isaiah 51:6) as in the N.T. (Mark 13:31; 2 Peter 3:10).Was found (ευρετη heurethē). First aorist passive indicative of ευρισκω heuriskō All is now spiritual. Even scientists today are speaking of the non-eternity of the universe. [source]
Present passive participle of ελισσω helissō old verb, to roll up, in N.T. only here (from Isaiah 34:4) and Hebrews 1:12 (from Psalm 102:27). Vivid picture of the expanse of the sky rolled up and away as a papyrus roll (Luke 4:17).Were moved (εκινητησαν ekinēthēsan). First aorist passive indicative of κινεω kineō to move.Out of their places See also Revelation 16:20 for these violent displacements in the earth‘s crust. Cf. Nahum 1:5; Jeremiah 4:24. Jesus spoke of faith removing mountains (of difficulty) as in Mark 11:23 (cf. 1 Corinthians 13:2). [source]
See also Revelation 16:20 for these violent displacements in the earth‘s crust. Cf. Nahum 1:5; Jeremiah 4:24. Jesus spoke of faith removing mountains (of difficulty) as in Mark 11:23 (cf. 1 Corinthians 13:2). [source]