The Seven Bowl Judgements

Revelation 16

In chapter 15, we were able to see a glimpse of the scene in Heaven during the last half of the tribulation, but we learn that the scene on earth will be quite different during that same period of time.

You will recall in chapter 15, there was worship and rejoicing in Heaven from the tribulation saints who had been martyred and now stood before the Lord.

Toward the end of chapter 15, however, the scene is quite different.

We saw that during the last half of the tribulation the heavenly temple will be inaccessible.

There are two temples at this time of the Tribulation, there is one on earth where at this time the Antichrist has set his image in the temple and defiled it.

And there is a temple in heaven.

This is what we see in Revelation 16:1

1 And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth.

We saw the seven angels with the seven plagues.

These plagues represent the wrath of God toward the Antichrist and his followers.

These last plagues are the final judgments of the tribulation.

When they are done, the tribulation period will come to an end.

The world by this time has already experienced the seal judgments of chapter six, and the trumpet judgments of chapters eight and nine.

Now, the seven angels of chapter 16 are each holding a “bowl of judgment.”

These bowls constitute what the Lord Jesus referred to as the “Great Tribulation.”

Matthew 24:21 KJV

21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.

We are discussing the last 42 months of the Great Tribulation period.

This is the darkest moment of the tribulation, but also the darkest moment in human history.

As we study these final judgments to be poured out upon the earth, let’s bear in mind that four of these seven judgments have already occurred once in human history when the plagues came down upon Egypt.

There is no sense trying to “symbolize” these events.

They are truly literal events that will take place upon the earth.

We were introduced to the seven angels last week in chapter 15.

Revelation 15:7 KJV

7 And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever.

And now the voice from out the temple speaks to the seven angels.

1 And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth.

There is a key phrase in this chapter that we need to pay attention to.

The phrase is “the wrath of God.”

God has key attributes that show us who He is.

God is Love

God is Just

God is Gracious

God is Merciful

God is Righteous

God is Holy

Because God is Holy and Righteous, he must deal with sin.

He cannot just overlook it, or sweep it under the rug.

It must be dealt with.

And sin was dealt with on the cross of Calvary.

Every person if they will believe will have that sin debt dealt with.

But for those who choose to reject Christ, they will face the Holiness and Righteousness of God through the Wrath of God.

Because of this, they will face this Tribulation Judgement though these seven bowls judgments.

I. The Reality of Tribulation Judgment

There does not seem to be any pause between these seven bowl judgments.

They come as rapid fire judgments from God, culminating with the Second Coming of Christ and the Battle of Armageddon.

Notice in verse two -

A. The First Bowl - Sores upon Men

2 And the first went, and poured out his vial upon the earth; and there fell a noisome and grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and upon them which worshipped his image.

These sores, perhaps boils, are placed upon all men who took the mark of the beast.

The Antichrist will not be established as an object of worship until the middle of the tribulation.

Thus, this judgment will fall on men who worship Antichrist.

This also reminds us of the fact that the three sets of judgments:

the seal judgments,

the trumpet judgments

and the bowl or vial judgments take place sequentially.

See who receive this judgment...they who have the mark of the beast and they worshipped his image.

Believers will be exempt from this judgment.

These horrible, grievous sores over their bodies.

In Exodus one of the plagues is the boils that covered their bodies and the animals bodies.

In the Septuagint, the same Greek word is used to describe these boils as is used here to describe these sores.

then in verse 3 we see ...

B. The Second Bowl - Sea Turns Like Blood

3 And the second angel poured out his vial upon the sea; and it became as the blood of a dead man: and every living soul died in the sea.

It doesn’t say it became blood, but as the blood of dead men.

The word translated as (hōs) means in like manner.

So it may not be actual blood.

This took place partially during the second trumpet judgment, but this judgment includes the entire sea.

Undoubtedly, everything in the seas will die.

When we were in Florida as we got closer to the ocean we began to smell the ocean.

It has a unique smell - the salt water is a part of that smell, but it is also the decaying sea life that wash up on shore.

At times it can be quite strong.

Back in 1970 there was a whale that washed up on shore in a small beach town in Oregon and they had to decide what to do with the body because it was so big.

They decided to pack it with dynamite and explode it, unfortunately pieces of the whale flew as far as 800 feet into the air.

One piece crushed a car nearby.

They had hoped it would be divided into small pieces and scavenging birds would clean it up, but the explosion scared all the birds away.

The whole town smelled very bad for a while, during the clean up.

But imagine if everything in the sea dies at once.

I definitely do not want to be around, with my weak stomach!

In verses 4-7 we see...

C. The Third Bowl - Fresh Water to Blood

4 And the third angel poured out his vial upon the rivers and fountains of waters; and they became blood.

5 And I heard the angel of the waters say, Thou art righteous, O Lord, which art, and wast, and shalt be, because thou hast judged thus.

6 For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and thou hast given them blood to drink; for they are worthy.

7 And I heard another out of the altar say, Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are thy judgments.

This is total destruction of the remaining water sources.

This time the Bible does not say “as blood” it says that it became blood.

The “angel of the waters” declares this judgment to be just because the Antichrist had taken the lives of so many Tribulation Christians.

His quest for the blood of the Christians will result in the loss of his water supply.

In Egypt the Nile river turned to blood.

That was one of the judgments against the Egyptians.

5 And I heard the angel of the waters say, Thou art righteous, O Lord, which art, and wast, and shalt be, because thou hast judged thus.

6 For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and thou hast given them blood to drink; for they are worthy.

Galatians 6:7 KJV

7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

Egyptians threw the Jewish babies into the Nile, Pharoah and his army were drowned into the Red Sea.

Haman built a gallows for Mordecai, Haman was hung on those very gallows.

whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap!

Then in verses 8-9 we see...

D. The Fourth Bowl - Heat of the Sun

8 And the fourth angel poured out his vial upon the sun; and power was given unto him to scorch men with fire.

9 And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which hath power over these plagues: and they repented not to give him glory.

Even during the minor heat waves like we experience these days, there is often loss of life.

Imagine this type of heat with no water supply!

Malachi 4:1–2 KJV

1 For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; And all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: And the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of hosts, That it shall leave them neither root nor branch. 2 But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise With healing in his wings; And ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.

One would think that during a time like these men would repent, yet these verses indicate that men will blaspheme God.

It’s hard to imagine, isn’t it?!

But this is their heart condition, once they have taken this mark, and worshiped the Antichrist’s image their heart is sealed against God.

Then in verses 10-11 we see...

E. The Fifth Bowl - Darkness

10 And the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast; and his kingdom was full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues for pain,

11 And blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and repented not of their deeds.

This special judgment is poured out on the “throne of the beast.”

Many believe the seat of the beast will be Babylon.

Christ predicted this time of darkness.

Mark 13:24 KJV

24 But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light,

With the water supply depleted, man's ability to produce electricity is significantly hindered.

Despite the tragic events on earth, man did not repent.

Darkness was also one of the plagues of Egypt as well.

They are still suffering form these boils and sores, and they blaspheme God because of these sores, and they do not repent.

If the goodness of God does not lead you to repentance, what will lead them to repentance?

Romans 2:4 KJV

4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?

They have crossed the point of no return.

Then in verses 12-16 we see...

F. The Sixth Bowl - Two Parts

12 And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared.

13 And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet.

14 For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.

15 Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.

16 And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon.

Part One —

1. The drying of the river Euphrates

This was the eastern border of the land God gave to Abraham.

It is interesting The Euphrates and the Tigris Rivers come together between Iraq and Iran and flow into the Persian Gulf.

They originate in Turkey by Mount Arat where Noah’s Ark came to rest.

The Euphrates river is about 1,800 miles, about 1,200 yards in width and about 30 feet in depth.

But God dries this river up.

The drying up of this river makes way for the kings of the East.

Israel is a natural land bridge for the continent of Europe, Asia and Africa.

There is what we call the valley of Jezreel, it has a mountain known as Megiddo, and so we get our word hill of Megiddo, Armagedon.

Central area of Israel, inland from Haifa, Inland from Dead Sea (south of) miles and miles surrounded by mountains.

This picture is taken from the Hill of Megiddo.

Napoleon stood on this hill and looked over the valley and said, “All the armies of the world could maneuver their forces on this vast plain. . . . There is no place in the whole world more suited for war than this. . . . [It is] the most natural battleground of the whole earth”

Barak fought his battle here

Gideon fought his battle here

King Saul on Mount Gilboa was killed

Many battles have been fought here.

So these demons come out of the mouths of the unholy trinity and gather the forces of the whole world.

A massive confederacy of troops will gather in the valley of Megiddo to fight against the Lord at the end of the tribulation period.

Is this China and Russia, maybe North Korea?

We don’t know but a massive army of the kings of the East are going to come to battle.

At first, they appear to be lined up against the Antichrist, but evil spirits turn them against Christ.

And this is what we see in Part Two

2. Three unclean, frog-like spirits

Somehow, through the working of miracles, they will lure the eastern armies to Armageddon.

Verse 16 indicates the gathering for the Battle of Armageddon.

The word means hill of Meggedo - Harmagedon in the Greek.

The Battle of Armageddon is the term used to describe the final battle of world history between the Antichrist and his forces and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Revelation 19 tells us about the outcome of this battle.

Revelation 19:11–16 KJV

11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. 12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. 13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. 14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. 15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.

The Valley of Megiddo is located at the middle of Palestine.

Many other battles have been fought at this location in world history, but for this battle, Satan will lure much of the world's remaining military might.

II. The Reminder to the Saint

The voice of the Lord, I believe, speaks out with a reminder to the Saints.

15 Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.

This is a reminder to the tribulation saints.

A. To the Wicked He Will Come as a Thief

the ungodly will not be prepared for Him

The fact that there are any believers left at this point of the tribulation is attributable only to the grace of God.

B. To the Believers they are to Watch

Ours is the same responsibility today.

1 Peter 4:7 KJV

7 But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.

Jude 21 KJV

21 keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

III. The Releasing of Final Judgment

The greatest earthquake there ever has been.

Revelation 16:17–21 KJV

17 And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done. 18 And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great. 19 And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath. 20 And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. 21 And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent: and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof was exceeding great.

A. The Announcement

“It is done!”

This verb is mid. deponent intrans. primarily meaning to begin to be

The end is starting right now and right here!~

B. The Manifestation

Thunders and lightnings

Earthquake — unlike the world has ever seen.

The great city was divided into three parts - I believe this talking about Jerusalem where Jesus will step onto the Mount of Olives in these last days.

Zechariah 14:4–9 KJV

4 And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, Which is before Jerusalem on the east, And the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, And there shall be a very great valley; And half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, And half of it toward the south. 5 And ye shall flee to the valley of the mountains; For the valley of the mountains shall reach unto Azal: Yea, ye shall flee, like as ye fled from before the earthquake In the days of Uzziah king of Judah: And the Lord my God shall come, And all the saints with thee. 6 And it shall come to pass in that day, That the light shall not be clear, nor dark: 7 But it shall be one day which shall be known to the Lord, Not day, nor night: But it shall come to pass, that at evening time it shall be light. 8 And it shall be in that day, That living waters shall go out from Jerusalem; Half of them toward the former sea, And half of them toward the hinder sea: In summer and in winter shall it be. 9 And the Lord shall be king over all the earth: In that day shall there be one Lord, and his name one.

There will be a kind of reforming of the earth at that time.

Some say this will be the fulfillment of the prophecy in II Peter 3:10

2 Peter 3:10 KJV

10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

Every island fled away

the mountains were not found.

Hailstones a talent is 75 pounds.

Someone said that is equivalent to

Average Alaskan Husky Dog

100 cans of Coke

25 average-size ferrets

300 apples

2 1/2 cinder blocks

300 Sticks of Butter

1,200 Parakeets

240 Baseballs

Grandmother sending my cousin Christ out to get a softball sized hail from the yard.

Conclusion:

How did men respond?

The Bible is clear that they responded in anger and blasphemy.

Man's rebellion is seen in every dispensation of time on planet earth, from the beginning to the end.

God will judge the world because of their choice to worship the Antichrist.

My friends, God has a plan for this world, and He is right on schedule.

2 Peter 3:11–14 KJV

11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, 12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? 13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. 14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.

Let’s get our focus on working while we have days to work.

Get the gospel to every one we can.