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
And I will tread down the people in mine anger, and make them drunk in my fury, and I will …
Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in his apparel, travelling …
For it is the day of the Lord’s vengeance, and the year of recompences for the controversy of Zion.
Come near, ye nations, to hear; and hearken, ye people: let the earth hear, and all that is therein; the …
And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.
And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, …
And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived …
And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against …
These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and …
And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon.