1. Revelation 16:15 (ESV)
  2. Exposition

Who is the person interjecting John’s account?

Revelation 16:15 (ESV)

15 (“Behold, I am coming like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake, keeping his garments on, that he may not go about naked and be seen exposed!”)

The person interjecting John’s account is Jesus Christ himself. Consider the following in support of this:

  • It is Jesus himself who showed John the visions recorded in Revelation (Revelation 1:10–11). Jesus is the I of the seven letters of Revelation 2:1 – 3:22. The use of the same pronoun I points to the speaker being Jesus.

  • Jesus himself had earlier said that his return would be like the coming of a thief (Matthew 24:42–44; Revelation 3:3).

The reason Christ interjects is because the latest part of John’s account of the outpouring of God’s wrath was potentially horrifying; kings and governments and people of influence band together for battle against God’s church, all under the evil leadership of an enraged dragon and his beast and false prophet. In such a setting, who can survive?! That is when Jesus interjects with a word of divine encouragement.