Albert Barnes Commentary Revelation 16:21

"And great hail, [every stone] about the weight of a talent, cometh down out of heaven upon men: and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof is exceeding great." — Revelation 16:21 (ASV)

And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven. Perhaps this is an allusion to one of the plagues of Egypt (Exodus 9:22–26). Compare to Barnes' notes on Revelation 11:19.

For a graphic description of the effects of a hailstorm, see Barnes' notes on Isaiah 30:30.

This reference is to the second edition. Compare also to Barnes' notes on Job 38:22.

Every stone about the weight of a talent. The Attic talent was equal to about 55 lbs. or 56 lbs. Troy weight; the Jewish talent to about 113 lbs. Troy. Whichever weight is adopted, it is easy to conceive what the horror of such a storm must be, and what destruction it must cause. We are not, of course, to suppose, necessarily, that this would literally occur. It is a frightful image to denote the terrible and certain destruction that would come upon Babylon; that is, upon the Papal power.

And men blasphemed God. See Barnes' notes on Revelation 16:9.

Because of the plague of the hail. The word plague is used in allusion to the plagues of Egypt.

For the plague thereof was exceeding great. The calamity was great and terrible. The design of the whole is to show that the destruction would be complete and awful.

This finishes the summary statement of the final destruction of this formidable Antichristian power. The details and consequences of that overthrow are more fully stated in the following chapters.

The fulfilment of what is stated here, according to the proposed method of interpretation, will be found in the ultimate overthrow of the Papacy.

The process described in this chapter involves successive calamities that would weaken it and prepare it for its fall. This is followed by a rallying of its dying strength, and then some tremendous judgment—compared to a storm of hail, accompanied by lightning, thunder, and an earthquake—that would completely overthrow everything connected with it.

We are not, indeed, to suppose that this will literally occur. However, the fair interpretation of prophecy leads us to suppose that this formidable power will, at no very distant period, be overthrown in a manner that would be well represented by such a fearful storm.