Revelation – Chapter 16

New Testament21 Verses

Chapter Summary

Chapter 16 of Revelation begins: "And I heard a great voice out of the temple, saying to the seven angels: Go and pour out the seven vials of the wrath of God upon the earth." Across its 21 verses, two threads run through the text: sin and divine judgment and God's kingdom and kingship. Read slowly, this chapter rewards the kind of prayerful attention the Church calls lectio divina.

1And I heard a great voice out of the temple, saying to the seven angels: Go and pour out the seven vials of the wrath of God upon the earth.

2And the first went and poured out his vial upon the earth. And there fell a sore and grievous wound upon men who had the character of the beast: and upon them that adored the image thereof.

3And the second angel poured out his vial upon the sea. And there came blood as it were of a dead man: and every living soul died in the sea.

4And the third poured out his vial upon the rivers and the fountains of waters. And there was made blood.

5And I heard the angel of the waters saying: Thou art just, O Lord, who art and who wast, the Holy One, because thou hast judged these things.

6For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets: and thou hast given them blood to drink. For they are worthy.

7And I heard another, from the altar, saying: Yea, O Lord God Almighty, true and just are thy judgments.

8And the fourth angel poured out his vial upon the sun. And it was given unto him to afflict men with heat and fire.

9And men were scorched with great heat: and they blasphemed the name of God, who hath power over these plagues. Neither did they penance to give him glory.

10And the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast. And his kingdom became dark: and they gnawed their tongues for pain.

11And they blasphemed the God of heaven, because of their pains and wounds: and did not penance for their works.

12And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon that great river Euphrates and dried up the water thereof, that a way might be prepared for the kings from the rising of the sun.

13And I saw from the mouth of the dragon and from the mouth of the beast and from the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits like frogs.

14For they are the spirits of devils, working signs: and they go forth unto the kings of the whole earth, to gather them to battle against the great day of the Almighty God.

15Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.

16And he shall gather them together into a place which in Hebrew is called Armagedon.

17And the seventh angel poured out his vial upon the air. And there came a great voice out of the temple from the throne, saying: It is done.

18And there were lightnings and voices and thunders: and there was a great earthquake, such an one as never had been since men were upon the earth, such an earthquake, so great.

19And the great city was divided into three parts: and the cities of the Gentiles fell. And great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give her the cup of the wine of the indignation of his wrath.

20And every island fled away: and the mountains were not found.

21And great hail, like a talent, came down from heaven upon men: and men blasphemed God, for the plague of the hail: because it was exceeding great.

Important Verses in Revelation 16

And I heard a great voice out of the temple, saying to the seven angels: Go and pour out the seven vials of the wrath of God upon the earth.

Revelation 16:1

And I heard the angel of the waters saying: Thou art just, O Lord, who art and who wast, the Holy One, because thou hast judged these things.

Revelation 16:5

And men were scorched with great heat: and they blasphemed the name of God, who hath power over these plagues. Neither did they penance to give him glory.

Revelation 16:9

And great hail, like a talent, came down from heaven upon men: and men blasphemed God, for the plague of the hail: because it was exceeding great.

Revelation 16:21

Historical Context

As a New Testament book, Revelation was written with persecuted churches, lifted to see Christ's final victory in view. Chapter 16 of 22 moves toward the climax of the book as earlier promises and conflicts converge. It is a apocalyptic vision revealing God's ultimate victory over evil with 21 verses in the Douay-Rheims translation. It opens with the line: "And I heard a great voice out of the temple, saying to the seven angels: Go and pour out the seven vials of the wrath…" It concludes: "And great hail, like a talent, came down from heaven upon men: and men blasphemed God, for the plague of the hail:…" Read against its original backdrop, Written to seven churches of Asia suffering under Rome's demand for emperor worship, Revelation unveils history's hidden meaning through visions of heavenly liturgy: the Lamb who was slain stands victorious, and every… Scholarly and ecclesial tradition places the composition of Revelation around About AD 95, under the persecution of Emperor Domitian.

Who Wrote It

John, exiled on the island of Patmos; tradition identifies him with the Apostle

When It Was Written

About AD 95, under the persecution of Emperor Domitian

Catholic Commentary

This chapter uses symbolic imagery to reveal God's sovereignty over history and the final triumph of good. A pivotal line is verse 1: "And I heard a great voice out of the temple, saying to the seven angels: Go and pour out the seven vials of the wrath of God upon the earth." The passage repeatedly touches on sin and divine judgment.

Catholic exegesis reads Revelation 16 within the unity of Scripture and Tradition. Revelation reveals the Church's ultimate destiny (CIC 1042-1050). St. Basil the Great and other Fathers of the Church saw in texts like this a preparation for or reflection of Christ, the center of revelation (CIC 385).

For Christians today, the chapter's lesson is clear: Sin has real consequences, but God's judgment always aims at conversion and restoration.. The Church invites us to receive this word not as antiquarian information but as living Scripture proclaimed at Mass and prayed in lectio divina.

Main Teachings

  • Sin has real consequences, but God's judgment always aims at conversion and restoration.
  • God's kingdom is not of this world; every earthly throne stands under His eternal reign.
  • True conversion means turning away from sin and returning to God with our whole heart.

Reflection for Today

Revelation Chapter 16 belongs to the New Testament and forms part of the Catholic canon proclaimed in the liturgy of the Word.

Through typology, the Church often reads Old Testament passages as preparing for Christ, while New Testament passages reveal Him explicitly. Revelation reveals the Church's ultimate destiny (CIC 1042-1050). Here the believer is invited to ponder worship as the heart of the Christian life.

Let Revelation Chapter 16 deepen your love for the Eucharist, where the Word made flesh continues to feed His people. The same Christ who speaks in Scripture offers Himself sacramentally on the altar.

💡Catholic Reflection • Church Teachings

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Revelation Chapter 16 about?

Revelation 16 contains 21 verses. It opens with "And I heard a great voice out of the temple, saying to the seven angels: Go and pour out the seven vials of the wrath…" and closes with "And great hail, like a talent, came down from heaven upon men: and men blasphemed God, for the plague of the hail:…". The book as a whole is apocalyptic prophecy and epistle.

What is a key verse in Revelation 16?

One of the most significant verses is verse 1: "And I heard a great voice out of the temple, saying to the seven angels: Go and pour out the seven vials of the wrath of God upon the earth." It is often cited in Catholic teaching and preaching.

Who wrote Revelation and when?

John, exiled on the island of Patmos; tradition identifies him with the Apostle. About AD 95, under the persecution of Emperor Domitian.

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