Devine Scripture

Revelation 16:14

What does Revelation 16:14 mean?

A plain-English look at Revelation 16:14 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Revelation 16:14 means

These spirits are plainly called demons who perform signs. They travel to the kings of the whole world, persuading them to assemble for battle against God on His “great day.” Miracles can mislead when they serve a lie; power is not proof of truth. The kings’ coalition is real, but the field of conflict is God’s day and God’s arena. He is “the Almighty,” so their gathering guarantees not victory but exposure to His judgment. The verse teaches that human politics and spiritual deception intertwine, and that the final confrontation is ultimately theological: the world unites to resist the reign of the living God.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

for they are spirits of demons, working signs; which go forth unto the kings of the whole world, to gather them together unto the war of the great day of God, the Almighty.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

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.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

for they are spirits of demons, working signs; which go forth unto the kings of the whole world, to gather them together unto the war of the great day of God, the Almighty.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

For they are evil spirits, working signs; who go out even to the kings of all the earth, to get them together to the war of the great day of God, the Ruler of all.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

for they are spirits of demons, doing signs--which go forth unto the kings of the earth, and of the whole world, to bring them together to the battle of that great day of God the Almighty; --

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

For 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.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

for they are [the] spirits of demons, doing signs; which go out to the kings of the whole habitable world to gather them together to the war of [that] great day ofGod the Almighty.

Context

After showing how the path is opened and the spirits go out, the text pauses in verse 15 for a direct word of promise and exhortation from Christ. That pastoral aside equips the faithful to endure while the world rushes toward conflict. Then, in verse 16, John returns to the result of the demonic mission: the armies gather at a place named in Hebrew, signaling a deliberate echo of Israel’s history and God’s sovereign plan.

v.13And I saw coming out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits, as it were frogs:

v.14This passage

v.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.)

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Revelation 16:7

    And I heard the altar saying, Yea, O Lord God, the Almighty, true and righteous are thy judgments.

  • Revelation 20:8

    and shall come forth to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to the war: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.

  • Revelation 16:16

    And they gathered them together into the place which is called in Hebrew Har-Magedon.

  • John 8:44

    Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father it is your will to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and standeth not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father thereof.

  • 1 Kings 22:10

    Now the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah were sitting each on his throne, arrayed in their robes, in an open place at the entrance of the gate of Samaria; and all the prophets were prophesying before them.

  • Revelation 13:13

    And he doeth great signs, that he should even make fire to come down out of heaven upon the earth in the sight of men.

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