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简体中文
英文原文
In this chapter we have an account of the pouring forth of these vials that were filled with the wrath of God. They were poured out upon the whole antichristian empire, and on every thing appertaining to it. I. Upon the earth, Re 16:2. II. Upon the sea, Re 16:3. III. Upon the rivers and fountains of water, Re 16:4. Here the heavenly hosts proclaim and applaud the righteousness of the judgments of God. IV. The fourth vial was poured out on the sun, Re 16:8. V. The fifth on the seat of the beast. VI. The sixth on the river Euphrates. VII. The seventh in the air, upon which the cities of the nations fell, and great Babylon came in remembrance before God.
1-7
The Seven Vials (95 AD)
简体中文
七碗（公元95年）
¹ 我听见有大声音从殿中出来，向那七位天使说：你们去，把盛神大怒的七碗倒在地上。
² 第一位天使去，把碗倒在地上，就有恶而且毒的疮生在那些有兽印记、拜兽像的人身上。
³ 第二位天使把碗倒在海里，海就变成血好像死人的血，一切活在海中的活物都死了。
⁴ 第三位天使把碗倒在江河与众水泉源里，水就变成血了。
⁵ 我听见掌管众水的天使说：昔在、今在的圣者啊，你这样判断，公义啊！
⁶ 他们曾流圣徒与先知的血，现在你给他们血喝，这是他们所该受的。
⁷ 我又听见祭坛中有声音说：是的，主神全能者啊，你的判断义哉，诚哉！
上一章我们看见为倾倒七碗所作的重大而庄严的预备；如今我们看见这事的施行。在此请观察：
一、虽然万事都已预备妥当，却没有神的直接正面命令便不得执行；而这命令他从殿中发出，回应他百姓的祈祷，为他们伸冤。
二、命令一发，立即遵行；没有迟延，没有异议。我们看见一些最好的人，如摩西和耶利米，并不那样立刻前来顺服神对他们工作的呼召；但神的使者不仅在力量上卓越，在乐于遵行神旨意上也卓越。神说：「你们去，把碗倒在地上」，工作立刻就开始。我们受教祈祷，愿神的旨意行在地上如同行在天上。如今我们进入一连串非常可畏的护理作为，其中确切的含义或特别的指证都难定夺。但概括而言，值得留意的是：
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我们在此看见对埃及几样灾祸的引用与暗指，如变水为血，用疮灾击打他们。他们的罪既相似，刑罚也就相似。
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这些碗明显与七号相关，七号代表敌基督的兴起；由此我们得知，教会仇敌的倾覆必与其兴起有所相似，神能以他们高举自己的方式将他们降卑。敌基督的倾覆将是渐进的；罗马既非一日建成，也不会一日倾覆，而是渐渐倾覆；它必倾倒，永不再起。
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敌基督势力的倾覆将是普遍的。凡是与他们有关、能为他们效劳的一切，房屋及一切附属物，都被列入毁灭的令状之内：他们的地、他们的空气、他们的海、他们的江河、他们的城邑，全都交与毁坏，全都因那百姓的邪恶而被咒诅。受造之物如此因人的罪而叹息受苦。如今我们进而看：
（1）第一位天使倒下他的碗（启16:2）。请观察：[1] 这碗落在哪里——「在地上」；有人说这是指平民百姓；另有人说是指罗马教廷的整体圣职人员，他们是教皇制的根基，并且有属地的心思，全都在推行属地的事。[2] 这碗产生了什么——「在一切有兽印记的人身上」生了「恶而且毒的疮」。他们因罪在自己身上打了印记；如今神以审判把他们标明出来。有人以为这疮表明神护理对他们国家与利益的若干初步对付，使他们大感不安，因为这显出他们内在的病态，又是进一步灾祸的征兆；瘟疫的征象出现了。
（2）「第二位天使把碗倒在海里」；在此我们看见：[1] 这碗落在哪里——「在海里」；有人说这是指教皇制的管辖与统治权；另有人说是指他们宗教的整个体系，他们的假教义、他们败坏的强解、他们迷信的礼仪、他们拜偶像的敬拜、他们的赦罪票、赎罪票，这一大堆邪恶的发明与制度，借此他们维持一种贸易与交易，于自己有益，却于一切与之往来的人有害。[2] 这碗产生了什么：它使海变成血，「好像死人的血，一切活在海中的活物都死了」。神不仅显明了他们宗教的虚空与虚谎，更显明了其有害与致死的性质——人的灵魂竟被那假冒为灵魂确定救恩之途径的事物所毒害。
（3）下一位天使倒下他的碗；我们被告知：[1] 这碗落在哪里——「在江河与众水的泉源里」；很有学问的人以为这是指他们的密使，尤其是耶稣会士，他们如水流一般，将他们错谬与偶像崇拜的毒液从源头输遍全地。[2] 这碗对他们产生什么效果：「使水变成血」；有人以为这是激发基督徒君王对那些作世界大纵火犯、导致大军与殉道者流血的人施以公义的报应。随后的颂赞（启16:5-6）支持这一理解。神在这工作中所用的器皿在此被称为「掌管众水的天使」，他颂赞神在这报应中的公义：「他们曾流圣徒与先知的血，现在你给他们血喝，这是他们所该受的」，对此另一位天使完全同意地回应（启16:7）。
英文原文
The Seven Vials (95 AD)
¹ And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth.
² And the first went, and poured out his vial upon the earth; and there fell a noisome and grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and upon them which worshipped his image.
³ And the second angel poured out his vial upon the sea; and it became as the blood of a dead man: and every living soul died in the sea.
⁴ And the third angel poured out his vial upon the rivers and fountains of waters; and they became blood.
⁵ And I heard the angel of the waters say, Thou art righteous, O Lord, which art, and wast, and shalt be, because thou hast judged thus.
⁶ For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and thou hast given them blood to drink; for they are worthy.
⁷ And I heard another out of the altar say, Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are thy judgments.
We had in the foregoing chapter the great and solemn preparation that was made for the pouring out of the vials; now we have the performance of that work. Here observe,
I. That, though every thing was made ready before, yet nothing was to be put in execution without an immediate positive order from God; and this he gave out of the temple, answering the prayers of his people, and avenging their quarrel.
II. No sooner was the word of command given than it was immediately obeyed; no delay, no objection made. We find that some of the best men, as Moses and Jeremiah, did not so readily come in and comply with the call of God to their work; but the angels of God excel not only in strength, but in a readiness to do the will of God. God says, Go your ways, and pour out the vials, and immediately the work is begun. We are taught to pray that the will of God may be done on earth as it is done in heaven. And now we enter upon a series of very terrible dispensations of Providence, of which it is difficult to give the certain meaning or to make the particular application. But in the general it is worth our observation that,
1. We have here a reference and allusion to several of the plagues of Egypt, such as the turning of their waters into blood, and smiting them with boils and sores. Their sins were alike, and so were their punishments.
2. These vials have a plain reference to the seven trumpets, which represented the rise of antichrist; and we learn hence that the fall of the church's enemies shall bear some resemblance to their rise, and that God can bring them down in such ways as they chose to exalt themselves. And the fall of antichrist shall be gradual; as Rome was not built in one day, so neither shall it fall in one day, but it falls by degrees; it shall fall so as to rise no more.
3. The fall of the antichristian interest shall be universal. Every thing that any ways belonged to them, or could be serviceable to them, the premises and all their appurtenances, are put into the writ for destruction: their earth, their air, their sea, their rivers, their cities, all consigned over to ruin, all accursed for the sake of the wickedness of that people. Thus the creation groans and suffers through the sins of men. Now we proceed to,
(1.) The first angel who poured out his vial, Re 16:2. Observe, [1.] Where it fell—upon the earth; that is, say some, upon the common people; others upon the body of the Romish clergy, who were the basis of the papacy, and of an earthly spirit, all carrying on earthly designs. [2.] What it produced—noisome and grievous sores on all who had the mark of the beast. They had marked themselves by their sin; now God marks them out by his judgments. This sore, some think, signifies some of the first appearances of Providence against their state and interest which gave them great uneasiness, as it discovered their inward distemper and was a token of further evil; the plague—tokens appeared.
(2.) The second angel poured out his vial; and here we see, [1.] Where it fell—upon the sea; that is, say some, upon the jurisdiction and dominion of the papacy; others upon the whole system of their religion, their false doctrines, their corrupt glosses, their superstitious rites, their idolatrous worship, their pardons, indulgences, a great conflux of wicked inventions and institutions, by which they maintain a trade and traffic advantageous to themselves, but injurious to all who deal with them. [2.] What it produced: It turned the sea into blood, as the blood of a dead man, and every living soul died in the sea. God discovered not only the vanity and falsehood of their religion, but the pernicious and deadly nature of it—that the souls of men were poisoned by that which was pretended to be the sure means of their salvation.
(3.) The next angel poured out his vial; and we are told, [1.] Where it fell—upon the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters; that is, say some very learned men, upon their emissaries, and especially the Jesuits, who, like streams, conveyed the venom and poison of their errors and idolatries from the spring-head through the earth. [2.] What effect it had upon them: It turned them into blood; some think it stirred up Christian princes to take a just revenge upon those that had been the great incendiaries of the world, and had occasioned the shedding of the blood of armies and of martyrs. The following doxology (Re 16:5,6) favours this sense. The instrument that God makes use of in this work is here called the angel of the waters, who extols the righteousness of God in this retaliation: They have shed the blood of thy saints, and thou hast given them blood to drink, for they are worthy, to which another angel answered by full consent, Re 16:7.
8-11
The Seven Vials (95 AD)
简体中文
七碗（公元95年）
⁸ 第四位天使把碗倒在日头上，即以烈日烤人。
⁹ 人被大热所烤，就亵渎那有权掌管这些灾的神之名，并不悔改，将荣耀归给神。
¹⁰ 第五位天使把碗倒在兽的座位上，兽的国就黑暗了。人因疼痛就咬自己的舌头，
¹¹ 又因所受的疼痛和身上的疮，就亵渎天上的神，并不悔改所行的。
在这些经节中，我们看见这工照着所定的次序继续进行。第四位天使倒下他的碗，那碗倒在日头上；有人说这是指教皇阵营中某位显赫的君王，他要在教皇彻底倾覆之前片刻弃绝那假宗教；有人指望这将是德国皇帝。那么结果将如何呢？那先前以温暖和煦的影响滋养他们的日头，如今要向这些拜偶像的人变热，烤灼他们。君王要运用他们的权势和权柄压制他们，但这非但不能使他们悔改，反倒使他们咒诅神和他们的君王，并向上呼喊，向天上的神发出亵渎的话；他们必刚硬至于灭亡。第五位天使倒下他的碗（启16:10）。请观察：1. 这碗落在哪里——「在兽的座位上」，即落在罗马本身，那奥秘的巴比伦，敌基督帝国的首府。2. 这碗在那里产生什么效果：兽的全国「充满了黑暗」与困苦。那作他们谋略之本、一切学问、知识、一切华美与宴乐之源的城，如今成了黑暗、疼痛、苦闷之源。黑暗原是埃及的灾之一，它与光辉尊荣相对，预示敌基督教的势力将受藐视和讥诮。黑暗与智慧和洞察相对，预示拜偶像之人在那时所要显露的混乱与愚昧。黑暗与喜乐和欢乐相对，所以表明他们灾祸临到之时心灵的痛苦与烦恼。
英文原文
The Seven Vials (95 AD)
⁸ And the fourth angel poured out his vial upon the sun; and power was given unto him to scorch men with fire.
⁹ And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which hath power over these plagues: and they repented not to give him glory.
¹⁰ And the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast; and his kingdom was full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues for pain,
¹¹ And blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and repented not of their deeds.
In these verses we see the work going on in the appointed order. The fourth angel poured out his vial, and that fell upon the sun; that is, say some, upon some eminent prince of the popish communion, who should renounce their false religion a little while before his utter downfall; and some expect it will be the German emperor. And now what will be the consequence of this? That sun which before cherished them with warm and benign influences shall now grow hot against these idolaters, and shall scorch them. Princes shall use their power and authority to suppress them, which yet will be so far from bringing them to repentance, that it will cause them to curse God and their king, and look upward, throwing out their blasphemous speeches against the God of heaven; they will be hardened to their ruin. The fifth angel poured out his vial, Re 16:10. And observe, 1. Where this fell—upon the seat of the beast, upon Rome itself, the mystical Babylon, the head of the antichristian empire. 2. What effect it had there: The whole kingdom of the beast was full of darkness and distress. That very city which was the seat of their policy, the source of all their learning, and all their knowledge, and all their pomp and pleasure, now becomes a source of darkness, and pain, and anguish. Darkness was one of the plagues of Egypt, and it is opposed to lustre and honour, and so forebodes the contempt and scorn to which the antichristian interest should be exposed. Darkness is opposed to wisdom and penetration, and forebodes the confusion and folly which the idolaters should discover at that time. It is opposed to pleasure and joy, and so signifies their anguish and vexation of Spirit, when their calamities thus came upon them.
12-16
The Seven Vials (95 AD)
简体中文
七碗（公元95年）
¹² 第六位天使把碗倒在伯拉大河上，河水就干了，要给那从日出之地所来的众王预备道路。 ¹³ 我又看见三个污秽的灵，好像青蛙，从龙口、兽口并假先知的口中出来。 ¹⁴ 他们本是鬼魔的灵，施行奇事，出去到普天下众王那里，叫他们在神全能者的大日聚集争战。 ¹⁵ 看哪，我来像贼一样。那警醒、看守衣服，免得赤身而行，叫人见他羞耻的有福了！ ¹⁶ 那三个鬼魔便叫众王聚集在一处，希伯来话叫作哈米吉多顿。
「第六位天使把碗倒出来」；请留意：
一、这碗倒在哪里——「倒在伯拉大河上」。有人按字面理解，认为这是土耳其权势与帝国发源之地；他们认为这是关于土耳其君主政体与偶像崇拜将要灭亡的预言，并设想此事将与教皇制的倾覆大约同时发生——因土耳其政权被视为另一位敌基督——借此为那些东方的君王即犹太人的便利开辟道路。也有人认为这指的是台伯河；因为罗马既是奥秘的巴比伦，台伯河便是奥秘的伯拉大河。罗马既将被毁灭，她的河流与商贸也必同受其害。
二、这碗产生了什么？1. 河水干涸，而这河原为那城提供财富、食物与各样补给。2. 由此为「从日出之地所来的众王」预备了道路。罗马教会的偶像崇拜，对犹太人和外邦人的归信都曾是极大的拦阻——犹太人早已脱离了偏向偶像的倾向，而外邦人却因看见那些称为基督徒的人中竟有如此多与偶像崇拜相合的作法，反而在偶像崇拜中更加刚硬。因此，教皇制的倾覆既除去了这些阻碍，便很可能为犹太人和其他东方民族进入基督的教会敞开一条道路。倘若我们又设想伊斯兰教也将在同时倾覆，那么东西方列国之间将有更畅通的往来，这也许会促进犹太人以及「外邦人的丰满」的归信。当神的这工显明、即将成就之时，若它引起另一后果，也就不足为奇了，那就是：3. 大龙最后的挣扎；他决意再作一次尝试，若有可能，便挽回自己在世上岌岌可危的局势。他如今正重整兵力，召集自己一切的心思，要在全然失丧之前作一次孤注一掷的出击。这正是第六碗倒出所引发的。在此请留意：（1）他所利用的工具，以使地上的权势参与他的阵营与争斗：「三个污秽的灵，好像青蛙」出来，一个「从龙口」出来，另一个「从兽口」出来，第三个「从假先知的口」出来。地狱、敌基督的世俗权势与宗教权势将要联合起来，差遣各自的工具，他们装备了地狱般的恶毒、属世的诡计、以及宗教上的虚假与欺瞒；这些人将集合魔鬼的兵力，作决定性的一战。（2）这些工具用来使地上权势参战的手法。他们将行假冒的神迹，这正是那位「不法之人的来到，是照撒但的运动，行各样的异能、神迹，和一切虚假的奇事，又用各样不义诡诈」之人的旧策略（帖后2:9,10）。有人认为在敌基督倾覆之前不久，教皇自称能行神迹的声称将再度兴起，并大大迷惑欺骗世人。（3）战场——一个称为「哈米吉多顿」的地方；有人说那是米吉多山，从那里流出的溪水旁，巴拉曾胜过西西拉及与他结盟的诸王（士5:19）。而约西亚正是在米吉多谷被杀。这地方因两件性质截然不同的事而闻名——前者对神的教会是大喜之事，后者则是大忧之事；但如今它将成为教会所要参与的最后一场战役的战场，而她必得胜。这场战役需要时间预备，因此对此事的进一步记述被搁置，直到第十九章才继续（启16:19,20）。（4）神对这极大而决定性之试验所发的警告，为要使他的百姓为之预备（启16:15）。这试验将突如其来、出乎意料，因此基督徒当穿戴整齐、武装完备、随时预备好，免得被忽然抓住而蒙羞。当神的事业受审、他的争战开打之时，他一切的百姓都当预备好为他的权益挺身而出，并在他服事中忠心勇敢。
英文原文
The Seven Vials (95 AD)
¹² And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared.
¹³ And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet.
¹⁴ For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.
¹⁵ Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.
¹⁶ And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon.
The sixth angel poured out his vial; and observe,
I. Where it fell—upon the great river Euphrates. Some take it literally, for the place where the Turkish power and empire began; and they think this is a prophecy of the destruction of the Turkish monarchy and of idolatry, which they suppose will be effected about the same time with that of the papacy, as another antichrist, and that thereby a way shall be made for the conveniency of the Jews, those princes of the east. Others take it for the river Tiber; for, as Rome is mystical Babylon, Tiber is mystical Euphrates. And when Rome shall be destroyed her river and merchandise must suffer with her.
II. What did this vial produce? 1. The drying up of the river, which furnished the city with wealth, provisions, and all sorts of accommodations. 2. A way is hereby prepared for the kings of the east. The idolatry of the church of Rome had been a great hindrance both to the conversion of the Jews, who have been long cured of their inclination to idols, and of the Gentiles, who are hardened in their idolatry by seeing that which so much symbolizes with it among those called Christians. It is therefore very probable that the downfall of popery, removing these obstructions, will open a way for both the Jews and other eastern nations to come into the church of Christ. And, if we suppose that Mahomedism shall fall at the same time, there will be still a more open communication between the western and eastern nations, which may facilitate the conversion of the Jews, and of the fulness of the Gentiles. And when this work of God appears, and is about to be accomplished, no wonder if it occasion another consequence, which is, 3. The last effort of the great dragon; he is resolved to have another push for it, that, if possible, he may retrieve the ruinous posture of his affairs in the world. He is now rallying his forces, recollecting all his spirits, to make one desperate sally before all be lost. This is occasioned by the pouring out of the sixth vial. Here observe, (1.) The instruments he makes use of to engage the powers of the earth in his cause and quarrel: Three unclean spirits like frogs come forth, one out of the mouth of the dragon, another out of the mouth of the beast, and a third out of the mouth of the false prophet. Hell, the secular power of antichrist, and the ecclesiastical power, would combine to send their several instruments, furnished with hellish malice, with worldly policy, and with religious falsehood and deceit; and these would muster up the devil's forces for a decisive battle. (2.) The means these instruments would use to engage the powers of earth in this war. They would work pretended miracles, the old stratagem of him whose coming is after the working of Satan, with all power, and signs, and lying wonders, and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness, 2Th 2:9,10. Some think that a little before the fall of antichrist the popish pretence of power to work miracles will be revived and will very much amuse and deceive the world. (3.) The field of battle—a place called Armageddon; that is, say some, the mount of Megiddo, near to which, by a stream issuing thence, Barak overcame Sisera, and all the kings in alliance with him, Jdg 5:19. And in the valley of Megiddo Josiah was slain. This place had been famous for two events of a very different nature, the former very happy for the church of God, the latter very unhappy; but it shall now be the field of the last battle in which the church shall be engaged, and she shall be victorious. This battle required time to prepare for it, and therefore the further account of it is suspended till we come to the nineteenth chapter, Re 16:19,20. (4.) The warning which God gives of this great and decisive trial, to engage his people to prepare for it, Re 16:15. It would be sudden and unexpected, and therefore Christians should be clothed, and armed, and ready for it, that they might not be surprised and ashamed. When God's cause comes to be tried, and his battles to be fought, all his people shall be ready to stand up for his interest and be faithful and valiant in his service.
17-21
The Seven Vials (95 AD)
简体中文
七碗（公元95年）
¹⁷ 第七位天使把碗倒在空中，就有大声音从殿中的宝座上出来，说：成了！ ¹⁸ 又有闪电、声音、雷轰、大地震，自从地上有人以来，没有这样大、这样厉害的地震。 ¹⁹ 那大城裂为三段，列国的城也都倒塌了；神也想起巴比伦大城来，要把那盛自己烈怒的酒杯递给他。 ²⁰ 各海岛都逃避了，众山也不见了。 ²¹ 又有大雹子从天落在人身上，每一个约重一他连得。为这雹子的灾极大，人就亵渎神。
这里我们读到第七位、也就是末了一位天使倒出他的碗，为巴比伦的倾覆这件完成之工尽上他的一份。在此，如前所述，请留意：
一、这灾倒在哪里——「倒在空中」，倒在空中掌权者的首领身上，也就是魔鬼。他的权势受到拘禁，他的诡计被挫败；他被神链子捆锁：神的刀剑临到他的眼目与膀臂；因为他和地上的权势一样，都服在神全能的权能之下。他曾用尽一切手段来保全敌基督的势力，阻止巴比伦的倾覆——动用他对人心一切的影响，弄瞎他们的判断并加以歪曲，使他们的心刚硬，将对福音的敌意挑旺到极处。但如今这里倒出一碗在他的国上，他再也无法支撑自己摇摇欲坠的事业与利益了。
二、这灾产生了什么。1. 从天上发出感恩的声音，宣告如今这工已经成了。天上得胜的教会看见了，就喜乐；地上争战的教会看见了，也成为得胜的。「成了。」2. 地上极大的震动——一次前所未有的大地震，震撼了地的中心，并有雷轰闪电这通常相伴的现象为前导。3. 巴比伦的倾覆，她裂为三段，称为「列国的城」（启16:19）；她既曾统管列国，又吸纳了列国的偶像崇拜，把犹太教的、异教的、与基督教的某些成分都搀入自己的宗教之中，便如一城而兼有三城。如今神记念了这大而恶的城。虽然有一段时期他似乎忘记了她的偶像崇拜与残忍，但如今他却把「那盛自己烈怒的酒杯」递给她。这倾覆所及的范围远超过敌基督的所在之处；它从中心直达四境；凡海岛、凡众山——那些按本性、按地势看来最为稳固稳妥的——都在这场毁灭的洪涛中被卷走。
三、敌基督一党对此有何反应。这灾虽如可怖的风暴倾倒在他们身上，仿佛城的石头被抛入空中，又如重达一他连得的雹子般落在他们头上，但他们非但没有悔改，反而亵渎那如此刑罚他们的神。这是心中可怕的灾祸，是属灵的审判，比其余一切更可怕、更毁灭人。请留意：1. 若没有神的恩典在人心中动工，那能临到人的最大灾祸也不能使他们悔改。2. 那些没有被神的审判改好的人，总是因审判而更坏。3. 因神公义的审判而在罪中、在对神的敌意中更加刚硬，这是必然走向彻底毁灭的标记。
英文原文
The Seven Vials (95 AD)
¹⁷ And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done.
¹⁸ And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great.
¹⁹ And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath.
²⁰ And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found.
²¹ And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent: and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof was exceeding great.
Here we have an account of the seventh and last angel pouring forth his vial, contributing his part towards the accomplishment of the downfall of Babylon, which was the finishing stroke. And here, as before, observe,
I. Where this plague fell—on the air, upon the prince of the power of the air, that is, the devil. His powers were restrained, his policies confounded; he was bound in God's chain: the sword of God was upon his eye and upon his arm; for he, as well as the powers of the earth, is subject to the almighty power of God. He had used all possible means to preserve the antichristian interest, and to prevent the fall of Babylon—all the influence that he has upon the minds of men, blinding their judgments and perverting them, hardening their hearts, raising their enmity to the gospel as high as could be. But now here is a vial poured out upon his kingdom, and he is not able to support his tottering cause and interest any longer.
II. What it produced, 1. A thankful voice from heaven, pronouncing that now the work was done. The church triumphant in heaven saw it, and rejoiced; the church militant on earth saw it, and became triumphant. It is finished. 2. A mighty commotion on the earth—an earthquake, so great as never was before, shaking the very centre, and this ushered in by the usual concomitants of thunder and lightnings. 3. The fall of Babylon, which was divided into three parts, called the cities of the nations (Re 16:19); having had rule over the nations, and taken in the idolatry of the nations, incorporating into her religion something of the Jewish, something of the pagan, and something of the Christian religion, she was as three cities in one. God now remembered this great and wicked city. Though for some time he seemed to have forgotten her idolatry and cruelty, yet now he gives unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath. And this downfall extended further than to the seat of antichrist; it reached from the centre to the circumference; and every island and every mountain, that seemed by nature and situation the most secured, were carried away in the deluge of this ruin.
III. How the antichristian party were affected with it. Though it fell upon them as a dreadful storm, as if the stones of the city, tossed up into the air, came down upon their heads, like hailstones of a talent weight each, yet they were so far from repenting that they blasphemed that God who thus punished them. Here was a dreadful plague of the heart, a spiritual judgment more dreadful and destructive than all the rest. Observe, 1. The greatest calamities that can befal men will not bring them to repentance without the grace of God working with them. 2. Those that are not made better by the judgments of God are always the worse for them. 3. To be hardened in sin and enmity against God by his righteous judgments is a certain token of utter destruction.
本章记述那些盛满神忿怒的七碗倾倒出来的情形。它们倾倒在敌基督的整个帝国之上，也倾倒在其一切附属之物上。一、倒在地上，启 16:2。二、倒在海里，启 16:3。三、倒在江河与众水之源上，启 16:4。在此天上的众军宣告并称颂神审判的公义。四、第四碗倒在日头上，启 16:8。五、第五碗倒在兽的座位上。六、第六碗倒在幼发拉底河上。七、第七碗倒在空中，于是列国的城倾倒了，大巴比伦在神面前被记念。