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Revelation 16:18

New Testament Apocalyptic ASV (1901)

What does Revelation 16:18 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunders; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since there were men upon the earth, so great an earthquake, so mighty.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunders; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since there were men upon the earth, so great an earthquake, so mighty.
Revelation 16:18 — American Standard Version

Context — Revelation 16

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
15(Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walked naked, and they see his shame.)
16And they gathered them together into the place which is called in Hebrew Har-magedon.
17And the seventh poured out his bowl upon the air; and there came forth 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 as was not since there were men upon the earth, so great an earthquake, so mighty.
19And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and Babylon the great was remembered in the sight of God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath.
20And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found.
21And great hail, [every stone] about the weight of a talent, cometh down out of heaven upon men: and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof is exceeding great.
← Revelation 16:17Revelation 16:19 →
← Full Chapter 16 Revelation Overview

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings, etc.] As at the giving of the law, (<021916>Exodus 19:16) and at the sounding of the seventh trumpet, (see Gill on “<661115>Revelation 11:15”) and may intend either the pure ministry of the Gospel in the spiritual reign, the voices of Christ's ministers, and the effects of them, who will be “Boanergeses”, sons of thunder, and will be the means of enlightening the minds of many, as well as of shaking the consciences of men, signified by the earthquake following; or rather, the tremendous and awful judgments of God upon the remains of the antichristian party, as the very great commotions and changes that will be made in the world are…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“voice . . . thunders . . . lightnings--A has the order, "lightnings . . . voices . . . thunders." This is the same close as that of the seven seals and the seven thunders; but with the difference that they do not merely form the conclusion, but introduce the consequence, of the last vial, namely, the utter destruction of Babylon and then of the Antichristian armies. earthquake--which is often preceded by a lurid state of air, such as would result from the vial poured upon it. men were--so B, Vulgate, Syriac, and ANDREAS. But A and Coptic read, "A man was." so mighty--Greek, "such."”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings - Accompanying the voice that was heard from the throne. See the notes on Revelation 4:5; Revelation 11:19. And there was a great earthquake, ... - See the notes on Revelation 6:12; Revelation 11:19. The meaning is, that a judgment followed as if the world were shaken by an earthquake, or which would be properly represented by that. So mighty an earthquake, and so great - All this is intensive, and is designed to represent the severity of the judgment that would follow. return to 'Top of Page'”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“A great earthquake, such as had not been since men were upon the earth - It was therefore a literal, not figurative, earthquake. Revelation 16:19”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“16:18-20 The catastrophic events of this judgment scene recapitulate the scenes portraying the destruction of the world (6:12-14; 11:13). They also foreshadow the final judgment (20:11-15) when the earth will be dismantled to make way for the new creation (21:1; cp. Isa 45:2; Rom 8:19-22).”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“were: Rev 4:5, Rev 8:5, Rev 11:19 a: Rev 11:13; Dan 12:1 Revelation 16:19”
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Related study paths

Read Revelation 16 in contextBrowse Greek word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification