Commentaries:
Robertson's Word Pictures (NT)
Spirits of devils (pneumata daimoniwn). "Spirits of demons." Explanation of the simile wv batraxoi. See I Timothy 4:1 about "deceiving spirits and teachings of demons."
Working signs (poiounta shmeia). "Doing signs" (present active participle of poiew). The Egyptian magicians wrought "signs" (tricks), as did Simon Magus and later Apollonius of Tyana. Houdini claimed that he could reproduce every trick of the spiritualistic mediums.
Which go forth (a ekporeuetai). Singular verb with neuter plural (collective) subject.
Unto the kings (epi touv basileiv). The three evil spirits (dragon and the two beasts) spur on the kings of the whole world to a real world war. "There have been times when nations have been seized by a passion for war which the historian can but imperfectly explain" (Swete).
To gather them together (sunagagein). Second aorist active infinitive of sunagw, to express purpose (that of the unclean spirits).
Unto the war of the great day of God, the Almighty (eiv ton polemon thv hmerav thv megalhv tou qeou tou pantokratorov). Some take this to be war between nations, like Mark 13:8, but it is more likely war against God (Psalms 2:2) and probably the battle pictured in Revelation 17:14; Revelation 19:19. Cf. II Peter 3:12, "the day of God," his reckoning with the nations. See Joel 2:11; Joel 3:4. Paul uses "that day" for the day of the Lord Jesus (the Parousia) as in I Thessalonians 5:2; II Thessalonians 1:10; II Thessalonians 2:2; I Corinthians 1:8; II Corinthians 1:14; Philippians 1:6; Philippians 2:16; II Timothy 1:12, II Timothy 1:18; II Timothy 4:8.
Other Robertson's Word Pictures (NT) entries containing Revelation 16:14:
Revelation 1:8
Revelation 12:1
Revelation 12:9
Revelation 16:16
Revelation 17:2
Revelation 19:6
Revelation 19:19
Revelation 20:8
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