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Commentary on Revelation 16 verses 17–21
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 (Rev 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 befall 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.
Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 17–21. Public domain.
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Primasius of HadrumetumAD 560
COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 16:20
It is my view that by the terms islands and also mountains the church is signified on account of the greatness of its stability. Isaiah spoke about these: “In [your] teachings give glory to the Lord; in the islands of the sea [give glory] to the name of the Lord, the God of Israel,” and again: “And in the latter days that mountain of the house of the Lord will be established upon the tops of the mountains.” This flight will occur when the society of evil persons is at last avoided to such an extent that there will be no confusion or mixture of the church with the wicked. Therefore, the prophet said, “Flee from the midst of Babylon, let every one save his life.” Babylon will fall at that time when at the end it has received the power to persecute the saints. For this reason [Scripture] says, “The heart is proud before destruction, and the spirit is humbled before glory.”
Andreas of CaesareaAD 614
COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 16:20
The holy Scriptures have taught us that “islands” refer to the churches and “mountains” refer to those who are leaders in them. That they flee at the time of the arrival of the aforementioned occurrences, we have heard from the Lord, who said, “Then they will flee from the east to the west and from the west to the east. For there will be a great tribulation, such as has not been from the foundation of the world, nor will ever be.” At that time some will be tormented for their sins, and others will endure misfortunes for the testing of their virtue. Such misfortunes will not only be those torments from the antichrist which they suffer for the sake of Christ, but also their flights and their sufferings among the mountains and caves. For they will prefer the mountains and caves to living in the cities for the sake of preserving their piety.
BedeAD 735
Commentary on Revelation
And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. The Church, which, because of its eminence of stability, is compared to islands and mountains, cautiously hides itself from the waves of persecutors.
OecumeniusAD 990
Commentary on Revelation
And he says that every island fled and no mountains were found.
Islands are said to be the churches from the nations, as the prophet says: "The Lord has reigned; let the earth rejoice; let many islands be glad." (Ps. 97:1) Islands are also said, as those that have emerged and overcome the bitter and salty idolatry. But one might also understand islands as the impure hordes of demons, signifying something different, as being entangled in this salt and fickle life.
About the mountains, he says that they are demons, and the great singer, singing, shows that "the mountains melted like wax before the face of the Lord because he is coming." (Ps. 96:5) The account therefore hands down to us that the ranks of the demons at that time will be destroyed and vanish. But where could the wretched ones flee from the presence of God, "in whose hand are the ends of the earth," (Ps. 4:4) who measured the heaven by a span and the earth with a handful? (Isa. 40:12) except that those who suffer will attempt a useless flight and escape.
Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
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SUMMARY
Revelation 16:20 vividly portrays a cataclysmic geological upheaval during the pouring out of the seventh and final bowl of God's wrath. This verse describes the complete disappearance of all islands and mountains, signifying an unprecedented and absolute transformation of the earth's topography. It underscores the culmination of divine judgment, demonstrating God's ultimate sovereignty over creation and the irreversible nature of the end-time events that precede the establishment of His eternal kingdom.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
Revelation 16:20 employs several powerful literary devices to convey its dramatic message. Hyperbole is evident in the description of every island and mountain vanishing, an exaggeration intended to emphasize the unprecedented and total nature of the geological upheaval, rather than necessarily a literal, atom-by-atom dissolution. This dramatic imagery serves as Symbolism, where islands and mountains, traditionally representing stability, permanence, and places of refuge or human power, symbolize the complete collapse of the old world order and any perceived earthly security. Their disappearance signifies that nothing in the created realm can withstand God's ultimate judgment. Furthermore, the verse utilizes Apocalyptic Imagery, a characteristic feature of the book of Revelation, employing vivid, cosmic-scale events to communicate profound theological truths about divine judgment, the end of an age, and the preparation for a new creation.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Revelation 16:20 powerfully asserts God's ultimate sovereignty over creation and His absolute authority to bring about its complete transformation. This dramatic cosmic upheaval underscores the temporary nature of all earthly realities and the certainty of divine judgment upon a rebellious world. It signifies that no part of the created order, no matter how seemingly stable or enduring, can escape the final outpouring of God's wrath. This destruction is not merely punitive but also purgative, clearing the way for the establishment of God's righteous and eternal kingdom, where a new heavens and new earth will reside. It serves as a stark reminder that true security and lasting hope are found only in God, not in the transient structures of this world.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Revelation 16:20 serves as a profound reminder of the transient nature of all earthly things and the ultimate, unshakeable sovereignty of God. In a world that often seeks security in physical stability, financial assets, or political power, this verse dramatically shatters such illusions, demonstrating that even the most enduring geographical features are subject to God's will and can vanish in an instant. For believers, this should cultivate a deeper sense of detachment from worldly attachments and a greater urgency to fix our hope and trust in the eternal, unshakeable kingdom of God. It calls us to live with an eternal perspective, investing in what truly lasts and aligning our lives with God's purposes. For those who have not yet surrendered to God, it stands as a solemn and inescapable warning of the comprehensive judgment that awaits those who reject His grace. Ultimately, while depicting immense destruction, this verse points to the necessary purification of creation and the glorious promise of a new heaven and new earth, where righteousness dwells and where God's presence will be fully realized, free from the stain of sin and decay.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Is the vanishing of islands and mountains in Revelation 16:20 a literal geological event, or is it symbolic?
Answer: While the language is highly vivid and dramatic, typical of apocalyptic literature, scholars often interpret the vanishing of islands and mountains as primarily symbolic, though not necessarily precluding some form of literal geological transformation. The primary intent is to convey the utter and complete disruption of the existing world order and the finality of God's judgment. Islands and mountains represent stability, refuge, and even human power structures. Their disappearance symbolizes that nothing in the created world, no matter how seemingly enduring or secure, can withstand the final outpouring of God's wrath. This profound change prepares the way for the new heavens and new earth described in Revelation 21:1, where the old order has completely passed away. The emphasis is on the totality and irreversibility of God's judgment, demonstrating His absolute sovereignty over all creation.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Revelation 16:20, with its depiction of cosmic upheaval and the dissolution of the old creation, finds its ultimate fulfillment and meaning in the person and work of Jesus Christ. As the one through whom "all things were created, in heaven and on earth" (Colossians 1:16), Christ is also the one who holds all things together and, ultimately, the one through whom the old creation will pass away. He is the appointed Judge of the living and the dead (Acts 10:42), and the judgments described in Revelation are executed under His authority. More profoundly, the destruction of the old order, symbolized by the vanishing islands and mountains, is a necessary precursor for the establishment of the new heaven and new earth, which is the eternal dwelling place of God with humanity, made possible only through Christ's redemptive work. His death and resurrection not only atone for sin but also inaugurate a new creation, where He promises, "Behold, I am making all things new" (Revelation 21:5). Thus, the terrifying judgment of Revelation 16:20 ultimately points to Christ as the one who brings about the end of the old and the glorious beginning of the truly eternal, stable, and righteous new creation.