ACC ~ Revelation 16 v17 - 18

THE FULFILLMENT OF GOD’S WILL. OECUMENIUS: He poured out the bowl in the air, and the voice said, “It is done!” What is done? To be sure, the commandment of God and his will. And when from the air the voice said, “It is done,” there were flashes of lightning and voices, lightning from on high and voices from those on the earth who were alarmed by the lightning. “And peals of thunder and an earthquake.” By “earthquake” he means either the turmoil of the earth, since this also is included in the signs of the end, or he means the transformation of the visible world, as it is said in Haggai: “Once again I will shake not only the heaven but also the earth and the sea and the dry land; and I will shake all nations.”Therefore, he also indicated that there had never been such an earthquake. COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 16.17-21.

THE FUTURE COMING OF CHRIST WILL BE TERRIFYING. ANDREW OF CAESAREA: The angelic voice from heaven said, “It is done!” That is, the commandment of God has been accomplished. The flashes of lightning and the voices and the thunders are symbolic of the terrifying nature of these occurrences and of the future coming of Christ, just as long ago they announced the descent of God upon Mount Sinai. The earthquake signifies the transformation of that which exists, as the apostle explained: “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heaven.” COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 16.17-18.

A TRIBULATION SUCH AS NEVER BEFORE. BEDE: Just as above the blood of vengeance goes out as far as the bridles of the horses, that is, to the unclean spirits, so also here, when the final revenge was poured over the same powers of the air, it is said, “It is done.” That is, the end is come, when, as the apostle says, “the last enemy, death, will be destroyed.” … When at the end of time there will be such a tribulation as has never been from the beginning, the greatest signs will similarly be evident. However, whether they come from the side of the good or from the side of the evil or come from both sides, as was the case with Moses and the magicians, is in this passage not sufficiently made clear. EXPLANATION OF THE APOCALYPSE 16.17-18.

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