Revelation 16:21Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The hail falling from heaven signifies the wrath of God descending from above. Its being as heavy as a talent signifies the fullness of wrath for the grave sins of men. The prophet Zechariah also saw a vision in a similar sense (Zech 5:7). Those struck by this hail will turn not to repentance, but to blasphemy. This bears witness to the hardness of their hearts, in which they become like Pharaoh (cf. Ex 4:21; 7:3; 9:12). This hardness will even exceed Pharaoh's. He was at least somewhat softened by the plagues and acknowledged his impiety, but they will blaspheme God even amid their punishments.

Hail signifies the wrath of God, concerning which we read: “The wrath of God falls like descending hail” (Ezek 13:13).

The Lord promises to shelter His children from this, saying through the Apostle: “Jesus delivers us from the wrath to come” (1 Thess 1:10).

John does not mention the weight of a talent by chance. Punishment is imposed by the righteousness of divine justice upon each person, taking into account the difference of sins.

Among the Greeks a talent has one measure and value, and among the Romans another.

Therefore, of course, some acts are sins, some are punishments, and some are both. Here blasphemy against God because of the hail is both a sin and a punishment for sin.

The punishment consists in this: the ungodly have become so blind that, even while being punished, they do not come to their senses. From punishments they become still more evil and mad.

Men instructed in so manifest a way come not to repentance, but to blasphemy. This shows the hardness of sinners' hearts, whose end is described in the following chapter.