Revelation Chapter 16 (Part One)

Timeline of Chapter 16

In the previous chapter, John saw the seven angels having the seven last plagues wherein the wrath of God is complete (Rev. 15:1+). He was also shown those who had overcome the Beast and had refused to worship him or take his mark. These were undoubtedly martyred, filling up the cup of God’s wrath even further. The angels have been given the seven bowls of the wrath of God, and God has shut Himself within the Temple to be alone, undisturbed during the pouring forth of the bowls.Now the scene depicts the actual pouring forth of the seven bowls upon the earth below. As each bowl is poured out, those on the earth receive a plague. Since the wrath of God is complete in these seven bowls, they span the remainder of the Tribulation period up until its end, when Christ returns and overthrows the enemies of God in the Campaign of Armageddon.

The Second Coming of Jesus!

Summary:

The end of chapter 16 is the end of God’s judgment

After the events described in Rev 16 is the 2nd coming

Chapters 17 & 18 describe in detail the destruction of the world’s system, of Babylon.

Chapter 19 will detail the 2nd Coming

The Seven Bowls of God’s Wrath

The primary purposes of the seven bowl judgments are:

1 - to pour out God’s righteous wrath in judgment of the earth dwellers

2 - to graphically demonstrate the unrepentant nature of the earth dwellers who are already doomed by the mark they have taken (Rev. 14:9-11+).

The trumpet judgments were partial and intended to produce repentance, the bowl judgments are completely punitive, the earth dwellers having passed the point of possible return.

These judgments are part the God’s pattern we have discussed before

Passover, Unleavened, Bread - Fulfilled by Jesus on His 1st appearance

Pentecost - Being fulfilled currently by Holy Spirit

Trumpets, Yom Kipper, Tabernacles - Future fulfillment

These final judgments should remind you of the Exodus events

After Moses - Joshua - Enter the Promise Land

Remember the song of Moses from chapter 15?

What comes next?

Bowl One

Revelation 16:1–2 “1 Then I heard a loud voice from the temple telling the seven angels, “Go and pour out on the earth the seven bowls of the wrath of God.” 2 So the first angel went and poured out his bowl on the earth, and harmful and painful sores came upon the people who bore the mark of the beast and worshiped its image.”

The first Judgment is on the people, the land

Who specifically is the target?

Like previous judgments in the series of seals, trumpets, bowls, these target those living upon the earth at the time of the end, the earth dwellers. “Behold, the day of the Lord comes, Cruel, with both wrath and fierce anger, To lay the land desolate; And He will destroy its sinners from it” (Isa. 13:9).

Does this type of judgment sound familiar?

Exodus 9:11–12 “11 And the magicians could not stand before Moses because of the boils, for the boils came upon the magicians and upon all the Egyptians. 12 But the Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh, and he did not listen to them, as the Lord had spoken to Moses.”

Bowls 2 & 3

Revelation 16:3–4 “3 The second angel poured out his bowl into the sea, and it became like the blood of a corpse, and every living thing died that was in the sea. 4 The third angel poured out his bowl into the rivers and the springs of water, and they became blood.”

The 2nd & 3rd judgments are on the seas and rivers

Recall the Trumpet Judgments 2 & 3 affected 1/3 of the seas and rivers

Does this sound familiar?

Exodus 7:20–21 “20 Moses and Aaron did as the Lord commanded. In the sight of Pharaoh and in the sight of his servants he lifted up the staff and struck the water in the Nile, and all the water in the Nile turned into blood. 21 And the fish in the Nile died, and the Nile stank, so that the Egyptians could not drink water from the Nile. There was blood throughout all the land of Egypt.”

A Message from the Angel of the Waters

Revelation 16:5–6 “5 And I heard the angel in charge of the waters say, “Just are you, O Holy One, who is and who was, for you brought these judgments. 6 For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and you have given them blood to drink. It is what they deserve!””

The God of Heaven and Earth is Just

He has returned blood for blood - an eye for an eye

Revelation 16:7 “7 And I heard the altar saying, “Yes, Lord God the Almighty, true and just are your judgments!””

The from the alter comes a second witness of the justice of Yahweh

Bowl 4

Revelation 16:8–9 “8 The fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and it was allowed to scorch people with fire. 9 They were scorched by the fierce heat, and they cursed the name of God who had power over these plagues. They did not repent and give him glory.”

What environmental effects will this have on the Earth?

The 4th Trumpet Judgement targeted 1/3 of the sun - this judgment like those above targets with full intensity

See Isaiah 24:1–13“1 Behold, the Lord will empty the earth and make it desolate, and he will twist its surface and scatter its inhabitants… 6 Therefore a curse devours the earth, and its inhabitants suffer for their guilt; therefore the inhabitants of the earth are scorched, and few men are left…. 13  For thus it shall be in the midst of the earth among the nations, as when an olive tree is beaten, as at the gleaning when the grape harvest is done.”

Bowl 5

Revelation 16:10–11 “10 The fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and its kingdom was plunged into darkness. People gnawed their tongues in anguish 11 and cursed the God of heaven for their pain and sores. They did not repent of their deeds.”

Does this sound familiar?

Exodus 10:21–23 “21 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, a darkness to be felt.” 22 So Moses stretched out his hand toward heaven, and there was pitch darkness in all the land of Egypt three days. 23 They did not see one another, nor did anyone rise from his place for three days, but all the people of Israel had light where they lived.”

This physical darkness is symbolic of spiritual darkness

Lets look at some contrasting Scriptures

1 Thessalonians 5:4–5 “4 But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. 5 For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness.”

John 3:19 “19 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.”

Daniel 12:9–10 “9 He said, “Go your way, Daniel, for the words are shut up and sealed until the time of the end. 10 Many shall purify themselves and make themselves white and be refined, but the wicked shall act wickedly. And none of the wicked shall understand, but those who are wise shall understand.”

Bowl 6

Revelation 16:12–16 “12 The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up, to prepare the way for the kings from the east. 13 And I saw, coming out of the mouth of the dragon and out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits like frogs. 14 For they are demonic spirits, performing signs, who go abroad to the kings of the whole world, to assemble them for battle on the great day of God the Almighty. 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!”) 16 And they assembled them at the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon.”

Yahweh is opening the door for the Nations to come to the place of their demise

All the Nations will gather against Israel at the urging of the false trinity

Why does Jesus add this familiar statement here?

Did you know most prophecies concerning Jesus where fulfilled in the last week of his life?

Did you know most biblical prophecy points to the time of His second coming and will be fulfilled in the last week of earth’s life?

Zech 12:1-3, 9-11 Israel & the Nations - Him whom they have pierced

Jer 30:1-9 The time of Jacob’s trouble - King David and King Jesus

Joel 3:1-2, 12-17 All the Nations gathered, judged - Darkness

Zech 14:1-9 All the Nations gathered, judged - 1 King ruling in Jerusalem

Is 10:21-23 The remnant of Israel return

Dan 12:1, 7 Distress and deliverance in the last 3.5 years

Zech 13:8-9 Two thirds will parish but one third will be refined by fire

Bowl 7

Revelation 16:17–21 “17 The seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple, from the throne, saying, “It is done!” 18 And there were flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, and a great earthquake such as there had never been since man was on the earth, so great was that earthquake. 19 The great city was split into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell, and God remembered Babylon the great, to make her drain the cup of the wine of the fury of his wrath. 20 And every island fled away, and no mountains were to be found. 21 And great hailstones, about one hundred pounds each, fell from heaven on people; and they cursed God for the plague of the hail, because the plague was so severe.”

This is the very end of the battle - the judgements are complete

What is the penalty for blasphemy?

Leviticus 24:16 “16 Whoever blasphemes the name of the Lord shall surely be put to death. All the congregation shall stone him. The sojourner as well as the native, when he blasphemes the Name, shall be put to death.”

Joshua 10:11–14 “11 And as they fled before Israel, while they were going down the ascent of Beth-horon, the Lord threw down large stones from heaven on them as far as Azekah, and they died. There were more who died because of the hailstones than the sons of Israel killed with the sword. 12 At that time Joshua spoke to the Lord in the day when the Lord gave the Amorites over to the sons of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, “Sun, stand still at Gibeon, and moon, in the Valley of Aijalon.” 13 And the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, until the nation took vengeance on their enemies. Is this not written in the Book of Jashar? The sun stopped in the midst of heaven and did not hurry to set for about a whole day. 14 There has been no day like it before or since, when the Lord heeded the voice of a man, for the Lord fought for Israel.”