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Revelation 16:14

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.
Revelation 16:14 · Berean Standard Bible
Parallel translations
  • 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.
  • KJV 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.
  • NKJV For they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.
  • NASB for they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the entire world, to gather them together for the war of the great day of God, the Almighty.
  • NLT They are demonic spirits who work miracles and go out to all the rulers of the world to gather them for battle against the Lord on that great judgment day of God the Almighty.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Quick answer

These demonic spirits gather the world's kings for the great battle on God's day. The nations are deceived into assembling against the Almighty.

Overview

Performing signs, the demonic spirits rally the kings of the whole world for 'the war of that great day of God, the Almighty.' Deception draws the nations to their own judgment, gathering them where God will act decisively. The scene shows that the climactic conflict is ultimately against God himself, who will triumph.

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 31

  • Rev 17:14They will make war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will triumph over them, because He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and He will be accompanied by His called and chosen and faithful ones.”
  • 1 Tim 4:1Now the Spirit expressly states that in later times some will abandon the faith to follow deceitful spirits and the teachings of demons,
  • Rev 20:8and will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth—Gog and Magog—to assemble them for battle. Their number is like the sand of the seashore.
  • 2 Cor 11:13–15For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ.
  • Jas 3:15Such wisdom does not come from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.
  • 1 Jn 5:19We know that we are of God, and that the whole world is under the power of the evil one.
  • John 8:44You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out his desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, refusing to uphold the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, because he is a liar and the father of lies.
  • Rev 16:16And they assembled the kings in the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon.
  • 2 Th 2:9The coming of the lawless one will be accompanied by the working of Satan, with every kind of power, sign, and false wonder,
  • Rev 12:9And the great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.
  • Mark 13:22For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and wonders that would deceive even the elect, if that were possible.
  • Matt 24:24For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders that would deceive even the elect, if that were possible.
  • Rev 19:19–20Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth with their armies assembled to wage war against the One seated on the horse, and against His army.
  • Ezek 38:8–12After a long time you will be summoned. In the latter years you will enter a land that has recovered from war, whose people were gathered from many nations to the mountains of Israel, which had long been desolate. They had been brought out from the nations, and all now dwell securely.
  • Deut 13:1–2If a prophet or dreamer of dreams arises among you and proclaims a sign or wonder to you,
  • Rev 13:13–14And the second beast performed great signs to cause even fire from heaven to come down to earth in the presence of the people.
  • Isa 34:1–8Come near, O nations, to listen; pay attention, O peoples. Let the earth hear, and all that fills it, the world and all that springs from it.
  • Acts 13:8–10But Elymas the sorcerer (for that is what his name means) opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul from the faith.
  • Joel 3:11–14Come quickly, all you surrounding nations, and gather yourselves. Bring down Your mighty ones, O LORD.
  • Rev 16:7And I heard the altar reply: “Yes, Lord God Almighty, true and just are Your judgments.”
  • Rev 3:10Because you have kept My command to persevere, I will also keep you from the hour of testing that is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.
  • 1 Kgs 22:10–11Dressed in royal attire, the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah were sitting on their thrones at the threshing floor by the entrance of the gate of Samaria, with all the prophets prophesying before them.
  • Rom 1:8First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being proclaimed all over the world.
  • 2 Chr 18:18–22Micaiah continued, “Therefore hear the word of the LORD: I saw the LORD sitting on His throne, and all the host of heaven standing on His right and on His left.
  • 1 Kgs 22:19–23Micaiah continued, “Therefore hear the word of the LORD: I saw the LORD sitting on His throne, and all the host of heaven standing by Him on His right and on His left.
  • Isa 63:1–6Who is this coming from Edom, from Bozrah with crimson-stained garments? Who is this robed in splendor, marching in the greatness of His strength? “It is I, proclaiming vindication, mighty to save.”
  • Rev 13:3One of the heads of the beast appeared to be mortally wounded. But the mortal wound was healed, and the whole world marveled and followed the beast.
  • Rev 6:17For the great day of Their wrath has come, and who is able to withstand it?”
  • Ezek 14:9But if the prophet is enticed to speak a message, then it was I the LORD who enticed him, and I will stretch out My hand against him and destroy him from among My people Israel.
  • 1 Kgs 22:6So the king of Israel assembled the prophets, about four hundred men, and asked them, “Should I go to war against Ramoth-gilead, or should I refrain?” “Go up,” they replied, “and the Lord will deliver it into the hand of the king.”
  • Luke 2:1Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that a census should be taken of the whole empire.

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (1)

Resources, by level

Commentaries & study tools

  • VideoBibleProject — Revelation videosBibleProject · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.

  • VideoWatch teaching on Revelation 16:14YouTube · Lay · Free

    Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.

  • CommentaryEnduring Word — verse-by-verseDavid Guzik · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.

  • CommentaryClassic commentaries for this verseBibleHub (20+ works) · Pastoral · Free

    Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.

  • CommentaryMatthew Henry on RevelationMatthew Henry · Pastoral · Free · evangelical

    The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).

  • ReferenceInterlinear, lexicon & Strong'sBlue Letter Bible · Seminary · Free

    Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.

Christ at the center

Revelation ends the story with the slain-yet-standing Lamb who is worthy, the Lion of Judah, the Alpha and Omega, the returning King who makes all things new and dwells with his people forever.

How Revelation 16:14 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.

Original language

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