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.
Study Note
Study Note
The identification of 'spirits of devils, working miracles' going out to gather 'the kings of the earth and of the whole world' to 'the battle of that great day of God Almighty' introduces Armageddon (16:16) as the eschatological military assembly staged by demonic forces against God. The reference to miracle-working spirits deceiving political leaders draws on the Exodus plague tradition and the false prophet motif of Deuteronomy 13:1-3, extending them to a global, apocalyptic scale. The term 'Armageddon' (har-mĕgiddô, 'mountain of Megiddo') evokes the plain of Esdraelon where decisive battles in Israel's history were fought (Judges 4-5; 2 Kings 23:29), making it a symbolic geography of ultimate confrontation. Dispensationalist interpretation reads the passage as predictive of a literal future military campaign, while historical-preterist and idealist interpreters read it as a symbolic portrayal of ongoing spiritual and political conflict.
Other Translations
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.
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; --
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.
Cross References
If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder,
And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other …
Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, about four hundred men, and said unto them, Shall I go …
And the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah sat each on his throne, having put on their …
And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah made him horns of iron: and he said, Thus saith the Lord, With these …
And he said, Hear thou therefore the word of the Lord: I saw the Lord sitting on his throne, and …
Now therefore, behold, the Lord hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these thy prophets, and the …
Again he said, Therefore hear the word of the Lord; I saw the Lord sitting upon his throne, and all …
Now therefore, behold, the Lord hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of these thy prophets, and the Lord …
Come near, ye nations, to hear; and hearken, ye people: let the earth hear, and all that is therein; the …