Devine Scripture

Revelation 16:17

What does Revelation 16:17 mean?

A plain-English look at Revelation 16:17 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Revelation 16:17 means

The seventh angel pours his bowl into the air, and a great voice from the temple, from the throne, declares, “It is done.” The air, the breath of earthly life and the realm through which plagues have spread, is struck, suggesting the all-encompassing scope of this final judgment. The voice’s location—temple and throne—identifies it with God Himself. What is finished is not redemption here, but the outpouring of wrath begun with the first bowl. The longed-for justice reaches its appointed end. Heaven’s verdict is rendered before the shaking begins, so that the events to follow are received as the executed sentence of the sovereign Judge.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And 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:

KJV

King James Version · 1611

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.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And 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:

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And the seventh let what was in his vessel come out on the air; and there came out a great voice from the house of God, from the high seat, saying, It is done.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

And the seventh messenger did pour out his vial to the air, and there came forth a great voice from the sanctuary of the heaven, from the throne, saying, `It hath come!'

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And 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.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And the seventh poured out his bowl on the air; and there came out a great voice from the temple of the heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done.

Context

This declaration inaugurates the climax of the bowl series. Immediately, verse 18 will describe the cosmic signs that accompany the seventh bowl: lightning, thunder, and the greatest earthquake in human history. Verses 19–21 will then specify the consequences—division of the great city, the fall of the nations’ cities, Babylon’s remembrance, the vanishing of islands and mountains, and devastating hail—along with the continued blasphemy of the unrepentant.

v.16And they gathered them together into the place which is called in Hebrew Har-Magedon.

v.17This passage

v.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.

Cross references

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

  • Revelation 20:1

    And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand.

  • Ephesians 2:2

    wherein ye once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the powers of the air, of the spirit that now worketh in the sons of disobedience;

  • Revelation 11:15

    And the seventh angel sounded; and there followed great voices in heaven, and they said, The kingdom of the world is becomethe kingdomof our Lord, and of his Christ: and he shall reign for ever and ever.

  • Daniel 12:7

    And I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever that it shall be for a time, times, and a half; and when they have made an end of breaking in pieces the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished.

  • John 19:30

    When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up his spirit.

  • Revelation 16:1

    And I heard a great voice out of the temple, saying to the seven angels, Go ye, and pour out the seven bowls of the wrath of God into the earth.

Related questions readers ask

Keep reading

Want to dig deeper? Explore Revelation 16

Hand-picked devotionals, topical studies, and pastoral answers that draw on Revelation 16.

Keep exploring

Follow this verse across Scripture

Topics, devotionals, original-language word studies, and figures connected to Revelation 16:17.

Browse every hub

BibleTopicsBible answersDevotionalsFamous passagesWord studiesPeoplePlacesVerses for…Reading plansCommentary