Revelation 16:17Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

He poured out the bowl upon the air. And a voice said: “It is done.” What is done? Clearly, the commandment of God and His will.

When it was said from heaven, “It is done,” there came lightning and voices. The lightning was from above, while the voices belonged to those on earth who were frightened by the lightning.

There were also thunders and an earthquake. By earthquake John means the disturbance of the earth, since it is named among the signs of the end of the world.

Or by earthquake he means the change of visible things, according to the word of Haggai: “Once more I will shake not only heaven, but also earth, sea, and dry land, and I will shake all nations” (Hag 2:6-7).

For this reason he also indicates that nothing like it had happened before.

As above (cf. Rev. 14:20), the blood of vengeance flowed up to the horses' bridles, that is, to the unclean spirits. So here, when the final punishment was poured out upon the same aerial powers, it was said: "It is done!"

That is, the coming of the end is proclaimed, when, as the Apostle says, "the last enemy to be destroyed is death" (1 Cor 15:26).

When at the end of the times there will be such torments as did not occur in the beginning, great signs will also be clearly visible.

Yet here it is not sufficiently clear whether they will come from the good side, or from the evil side, or from both sides, as happened with Moses and the sorcerers before Pharaoh.

"It is done." By this word on the Cross the Old Covenant was brought to completion. By this same word the New Covenant is brought to completion.

But if the thief hanging beside the Savior entered Paradise through repentance, then impenitence and obstinacy against evident truth lead to entirely different places.