Revelation 16 · Verse 14

Revelation 16:14

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.

Revelation 16:14, King James Version

Revelation 16:14 in other translations

BSB	These are demonic spirits that perform signs and go out to all the kings of the earth, to assemble them for battle on the great day of God the Almighty.
WEB	for they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the whole inhabited earth, to gather them together for the war of that great day of God the Almighty.
ASV	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.
YLT	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; --
DARBY	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 of God the Almighty.
BBE	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.
Webster	For they are the spirits of demons, working miracles, which go forth to the kings of the earth, and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.

What does Revelation 16:14 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

14. devils--Greek, "demons." working miracles--Greek, "signs." go forth unto--or "for," that is, to tempt them to the battle with Christ. the kings of the earth and, &c.--A, B, Syriac, and Andreas omit "of the earth and," which clause is not in any manuscript. Translate, "kings of the whole habitable world," who are "of this world," in contrast to "the kings of (from) the East" (the sun-rising), Re 16:12, namely, the saints to whom Christ has appointed a kingdom, and who are "children of light." God, in permitting Satan's miracles, as in the case of the Egyptian magicians who were His instruments in hardening Pharaoh's heart, gives the reprobate up to judicial delusion preparatory to their destruction. As Aaron's rod was changed into a serpent, so were those of the Egyptian magicians. Aaron turned the water into blood; so did the magicians. Aaron brought up frogs; so did the magicians. With the frogs their power ceased. So this, or whatever is antitypical to it, will be the last effort of the dragon, beast, and false prophet. battle--Greek, "war"; the final conflict for the kingship of the world described in Re 19:17-21.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes

Verse 14. For they are the spirits of devils. On the meaning of the word used here, Rev 9:20. It is used here, as it is in Rev 9:20, in a bad sense as denoting evil spirits. Compare Barnes on "Mt 4:1-2,24".

Working miracles. Working what seemed to be miracles; that is, such wonders as to deceive the world with the belief that they were miracles. Rev 13:13-14, where the same power is ascribed to the "beast."

Which go forth unto the kings of the earth. Which particularly affect and influence kings and rulers. No class of men have been more under the influence of Pagan superstition, Mohammedan delusion, or the Papacy, than kings and princes. We are taught by this passage that this will continue to be so in the circumstances referred to.

And of the whole world. That is, so far that it might be represented as affecting the whole world--to wit, the Heathen, the Mohammedan, and the Papal portions of the earth. These still embrace so large a portion of the globe, that it might be said that what would affect those powers now would influence the whole world.

To gather them. Not literally to assemble them all in one place, but so to unite and combine them that it might be represented as an assembling of the hosts for battle.

To the battle of that great day of God Almighty. Not the day of judgment, but the day which would determine the ascendency of true religion in the world--the final conflict with those powers which had so long opposed the gospel. It is not necessary to suppose that there would be a literal "battle," in which God would be seen to contend with his foes; but there would be that which might be properly represented as a battle. That is, there would be a combined struggle against the truth, and in that God would appear by his Providence and Spirit on the side of the church, and would give it the victory. It accords with all that has occurred in the past, to suppose that there will be such a combined struggle before the church shall finally triumph in the world.

(d) "devils" 1Timm 4:1 (e) "miracles" 2Thes 2:9 (f) "whole world" 1Jn 5:19 (g) "battle" Rev 19:19

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Revelation 16:12-16

This probably shows the destruction of the Turkish power, and of idolatry, and that a way will be made for the return of the Jews. Or, take it for Rome, as mystical Babylon, the name of Babylon being put for Rome, which was meant, but was not then to be directly named. When Rome is destroyed, her river and merchandise must suffer with her. And perhaps a way will be opened for the eastern nations to come into the…

Read the full comment on Revelation 16:12-16 →

Revelation 16:14 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

εἰσὶνeisinthey areG1510

γὰρgarforG1063

πνεύματαpneumataspiritsG4151

δαιμονίωνdaimoniōnof demonsG1140

ποιοῦνταpoiountaperformingG4160

σημεῖαsēmeiasignsG4592

ἃhawhichG3739

ἐκπορεύεταιekporeuetaigo forthG1607

ἐπὶepitoG1909

τοὺςtoustheG3588

βασιλεῖςbasileiskingsG935

τῆςtēsof theG3588

γῆςgēsearthG1093

καὶkaiandG2532

τῆςtēsof theG3588

οἰκουμένηςoikoumenēsinhabited [world]G3625

ὅληςholēswholeG3650

συναγαγεῖνsunagageinto gather togetherG4863

αὐτοὺςautousthemG846

εἰςeisuntoG1519

τὸνtontheG3588

πόλεμονpolemonbattleG4171

τῆςtēsof theG3588

ἡμέραςhēmerasdayG2250

τῆςtēstheG3588

μεγάληςmegalēsgreat [day]G3173

τοῦtou<the>G3588

θεοῦtheouof GodG2316

τοῦtoutheG3588

παντοκράτορος.pantokratorosAlmighty.G3841

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Revelation 16:14

Revelation 17:14
These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.
1 Timothy 4:1
Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
Revelation 20:8
And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.
2 Corinthians 11:13-15
For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.
James 3:15
This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.
1 John 5:19
And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.
John 8:44
Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode 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 of it.
Mark 13:22
For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect.
Matthew 24:24
For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
Revelation 12:9
And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
2 Thessalonians 2:9
Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
Revelation 16:16
And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

the spirits.
12:9; 1Ki 22:19-23; 2Ch 18:18-22; Eze 14:9; Joh 8:44; 2Co 11:13-15
1Ti 4:1; Jas 3:15
working.
13:13,14; 19:20; De 13:1,2; Mt 24:24; Mr 13:22; 2Th 2:9
which.
1Ki 22:6,10,11,19-22; Ac 13:8-10
the whole.
3:10; 12:9; 13:3; Lu 2:1; Ro 1:8; 1Jo 5:19
to gather.
16; 17:14; 19:19; 20:8; Isa 34:1-8; 63:1-6; Eze 38:8-12; Joe 3:11-14
God Almighty.
7

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

Revelation 16:13
And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet.
Revelation 16:14
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.
Revelation 16:15
Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.

Read all of Revelation 16

Revelation 16:14 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Porque son espíritus de demonios, que hacen señales, para ir á los reyes de la tierra y de todo el mundo, para congregarlos para la batalla de aquel gran día del Dios Todopoderoso.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	car ce sont des esprits de démons faisant des miracles, qui s’en vont vers les rois de la terre habitée tout entière, pour les assembler pour le combat de ce grand jour de Dieu le Tout-puissant.
German Elberfelder 1871	denn es sind Geister von Dämonen, die Zeichen tun, welche zu den Königen des ganzen Erdkreises ausgehen, sie zu versammeln zu dem Kriege jenes großen Tages Gottes, des Allmächtigen.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Sunt enim spiritus dæmoniorum facientes signa, et procedunt ad reges totius terræ congregare illos in prælium ad diem magnum omnipotentis Dei.