Revelation 15–16

Read: Revelation 15:1–16:1

Introduction

Let me ask you a question: What comes to your mind when you hear the word “judgment”?

Maybe you picture angry preachers with signs. Maybe you think of fire and brimstone. Maybe you feel a little uncomfortable, wishing we could talk about something more uplifting. But here’s the truth: if we ignore what the Bible says about judgment, we will never understand how serious God is about justice—or how amazing His grace really is.

Revelation 15-16 are some of the most sobering chapters in all of Scripture. They show us the moment when God’s patience has run its course. The bowls of His wrath are poured out—not because He’s petty or spiteful, but because evil must be answered. Because every lie, every act of oppression, every idolatry and injustice will not have the last word.

So this morning we’ll look first at four observations about this passage to help us understand God’s judgement. Then, we’ll consider five ways it speaks to our lives today.

But, before we jump into the judgment part—which, let’s be honest, are weighty and sobering—I want us to pause and notice something beautiful in chapter 15.

Right there, before the bowls of wrath are poured out, John shows us a scene that almost feels out of place. It’s a song. God’s people are standing by what looks like a sea of glass mixed with fire, and they’re singing. It’s called the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb.

Why is this important? Because it shows us that worship isn’t something you do once judgment is over. Worship happens right in the middle of it. This song is a declaration that God is good, even when He judges. It’s a reminder that His justice flows from His holiness, His faithfulness, and His love for what is right.

The song of Moses takes us all the way back to the Exodus. Remember when God delivered Israel from Egypt? When He parted the Red Sea and set His people free? After that, Moses and all the Israelites sang a song of victory. They praised God for rescuing them and defeating Pharaoh’s army.

Here in Revelation, John picks up that imagery, but he pairs it with the song of the Lamb, because Jesus is the One who has brought about an even greater Exodus—a deliverance not just from Pharaoh, but from sin and death itself. And so this is a song that celebrates God’s mighty deeds and His final rescue of His people.

I love that before God acts in judgment, He shows us this moment of worship. It’s like He wants us to see that judgment isn’t just about anger—it’s about setting the world right. It’s about fulfilling His promises to save and to restore.

Let’s take a moment to look closely at the lyrics of this song, because they’re packed with meaning.

“Great and amazing are your deeds, O Lord God the Almighty!” This is a declaration that God’s works—everything He does—are beyond compare. His deeds aren’t small or trivial. They are awesome in the truest sense. And remember, John’s audience lived in a world where Rome claimed that its empire was “great and amazing.” But here, God’s people are saying: No, the real power isn’t Caesar’s. It belongs to the Almighty God who acts in history to save His people and judge evil.

“Just and true are your ways, O King of the nations!” In other words, everything God does is right. Everything He decides is faithful and good. Even His judgments. This is so important because, from a human perspective, what’s about to unfold in the bowls of wrath can seem harsh. But this line reminds us: God is not cruel or unfair. He is the true King over every nation and His ways can be trusted.

“Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify your name? For you alone are holy.” This is a rhetorical question: Who wouldn’t stand in awe of God? Who wouldn’t honor Him when they see who He truly is? And the answer is: no one. Because in the end, when God fully reveals Himself, all pretenders to power will be exposed, and everyone will see that He alone is holy—set apart, pure, and worthy of all worship.

“All nations will come and worship you, for your righteous acts have been revealed.” This points forward to the promise that one day, the whole world will bow before the Lord—not just Israel, but people from every tribe, language, and nation. God’s righteous acts—His acts of saving His people and judging evil—will be seen clearly. And in response, all nations will finally recognize His glory and come to worship Him.

This song is a preview of the end of the story. It’s a reminder that even as judgment unfolds, God’s purpose is to bring about the day when the nations no longer bow to idols but gather around His throne in awe, declaring: “You alone are holy.”

So when we read these chapters, don’t think God is losing His temper or lashing out in spite. No—He is answering the prayers of the saints, keeping His covenant, and removing everything that stands in the way of His kingdom.

This song is here to anchor us. To remind us that even in the middle of hard truths, God is worthy of praise. Even in judgment, His ways are just and true. And even when the world shakes, His people can stand by the sea of glass and sing.

That’s the heart posture Revelation invites us into: not fear, but faith. Not despair, but worship. And with that in mind, we’re ready to look honestly at the judgments in chapters 15-16.

Part 1: Understanding the Vision—Four Observations

Observation One: This is an audio-visual presentation.

Revelation is not a series of journalistic mail from the future. It’s not a newspaper report. It’s more like a drama—or better yet, a full-length animated film created by Jesus Himself to capture John’s imagination.

Bruce Metzger, a great scholar of Revelation, put it this way: “The descriptions are descriptions of the symbols, not the reality conveyed by the symbols.”

We’re not meant to think there are literal angels in heaven holding glass bowls full of liquid judgment. These are images—symbols—pointing to something deeper.

Think about how Jesus is pictured in Revelation 5. He appears as a Lamb with seven horns and seven eyes. Does Jesus literally look like that in heaven? No—He is fully human, risen in glory, yet bearing the scars of His sacrifice. But the horns and eyes tell us something profound: He is perfectly strong and perfectly wise.

And in the same way, these bowls show us the horror of sin’s consequences. They are designed to bypass our intellectual defenses and go straight to our hearts, to help us feel what is at stake.

When you see oceans turned to blood or cities split in three, it’s not a prediction of a future weather forecast. It’s a revelation of the seriousness of evil and the seriousness of God’s holiness.

Observation Two: The setting of the scene is the Temple of the Tabernacle of Testimony.

In Revelation 15:5, John says, “After these things I looked, and the temple of the tabernacle of testimony in heaven was opened.”

That phrase is very important—the temple of the tabernacle of testimony.

In the Old Testament, the tabernacle of testimony was the tent where the stone tablets of the Ten Commandments were kept. It was the place where God’s moral law was displayed, reminding Israel of who He is and how life was meant to be lived.

God’s law is not an arbitrary list of rules. It is an exposition, not an imposition—it shows us how reality is wired. If we violate it, we don’t just break a rule; we break ourselves against the grain of the universe.

And the temple was also called the tent of meeting—the place where God’s presence came down, where the glory of the Lord filled the space.

So when John sees the bowls of wrath coming out of this temple, he is saying something crucial: these judgments flow out of God’s own character—His holiness, His burning commitment to all that is good, His perfect hatred of all that is evil.

As T. F. Torrance wrote, “The wrath which the angels are about to pour out is a pure and sinless wrath. No spite, no hate, no anger of sin at all in it.” It is holiness in action.

Observation Three: The seven bowls parallel the seven seals and seven trumpets.

If you’ve been tracking with us through Revelation, you’ll remember we saw the seven seals opened in chapters 6–8, and the seven trumpets sounded in chapters 8–11.

Now, with the bowls, we are not seeing something that happens later in history, as if there are 21 different events in a strict timeline. Rather, these are three overlapping perspectives on the same reality.

The seven seals show history from the vantage point of the suffering church.

The seven trumpets show history as God’s warnings to the world, calling it to repentance.

And the seven bowls show the final, total consequences of rejecting God—from the perspective of His heavenly throne.

That’s why when you line up the trumpets and the bowls, the imagery overlaps:

Trumpet 1 and Bowl 1 affect the earth.

Trumpet 2 and Bowl 2 affect the sea.

Trumpet 3 and Bowl 3 affect the rivers.

Trumpet 4 and Bowl 4 affect the sun.

Trumpet 5 and Bowl 5 target the seat of evil itself.

Trumpet 6 and Bowl 6 involve the Euphrates.

The seven bowls, then, are like God’s final word—His ultimate “no” to all that opposes His reign.

Observation Four: The content of each bowl reveals the horror of unrepented evil.

Let’s look carefully at each bowl to see how John’s vision draws back the curtain on the consequences of a world that will not repent.

First bowl (16:2): Painful sores break out on everyone who has the mark of the beast. The mark represents allegiance—loyalty to a counterfeit power opposed to God’s rule. In other words, these sores are not random. They are the visible consequences of a choice to worship what is false. Just as in Exodus, when Pharaoh’s hardness of heart led to plagues, so here humanity’s defiance brings misery.

Second bowl (16:3): The sea turns into something “like the blood of a dead man,” so that every living creature in the ocean dies. This is a picture of creation itself unraveling under human rebellion. The sea, so often a symbol of life and abundance, becomes a toxic graveyard. In the ancient world, the sea was also a symbol of chaos and evil—so here it is shown reaching its fullest corruption.

Third bowl (16:4-7): Rivers and springs become blood. This intensifies the second bowl: not only the salt water but the fresh water is ruined. And an angel proclaims, “They poured out the blood of saints and prophets, and You have given them blood to drink.” This is divine retribution perfectly measured—judgment fits the crime. Those who shed innocent blood are forced to taste its consequences. The angel underlines that God’s judgments are righteous, not arbitrary. This is not cruelty; this is justice.

Fourth bowl (16:8-9): The sun scorches people with fierce heat. Notice that even under this torment, John says, “They did not repent or give God glory.” Instead, they curse God’s name. This shows us how hard the human heart can become. Even in pain, some will refuse to turn back. It is a sobering reminder that suffering alone does not produce repentance—only grace can soften a heart.

Fifth bowl (16:10-11): Darkness descends on the throne of the beast—on the center of the empire of rebellion. It is a symbolic act showing the collapse of evil’s power. The kingdom of darkness is plunged into literal darkness. Yet again, instead of turning to God, people gnaw their tongues in anguish and blaspheme. The mark of the beast has become a mark on the soul, shaping their character into the image of what they worship.

Sixth bowl (16:12-16): The great river Euphrates dries up to prepare the way for the kings from the East. John sees demonic spirits—frogs—emerging from the mouths of the dragon, the beast, and the false prophet. They perform signs to gather the nations for a final confrontation at “Armageddon.” This is not about a literal military campaign but a symbolic gathering of all powers in defiance of God’s kingdom. The irony is that the battle is never actually fought—Jesus’ arrival will end the resistance instantly.

Seventh bowl (16:17): A loud voice declares, “It is done.” A final, cataclysmic earthquake topples cities across the world, and hundred-pound hailstones fall. Even then, human hearts remain hardened, cursing God rather than turning to Him.

All of this is meant to answer one question: What happens when humanity persists in stubborn rebellion against its Creator? John’s vision gives us unforgettable images so that we will never again treat sin as trivial. It shows us that the consequences of rejecting God are catastrophic, both for individuals and for creation itself.

Part Two: What This Means for Us—Five Observations

So what does this vision mean for us here, today, in our ordinary lives?

Let’s walk through five realities:

1. Judgment Is Horrible

One of the most striking things about Revelation 15–16 is how relentlessly graphic the images are. Oceans turn to blood. The sun blisters human skin. People gnaw their tongues in agony. Even if we remind ourselves that these are symbols, the symbolism itself is terrifying. And that’s exactly the point—God wants us to feel the weight of judgment.

We live in a culture that tends to downplay sin. We say things like, “I made a mistake,” or “I’m only human.” But the vision John gives us shows that sin is not a harmless slip-up. It is a deep revolt against God’s goodness, a refusal to bow before our Maker, and it leads to unimaginable consequences.

It also reminds us that God is not indifferent to evil. He does not shrug His shoulders when injustice happens. He doesn’t wave it away like it’s no big deal. He is patient, but He is also perfectly holy. One day He will set everything right—and that means confronting all that is wrong.

For us, this truth should instill a holy fear—not the terror of a slave, but the deep reverence of people who recognize the seriousness of living before a holy God.

And if you ever wonder whether evil will go unanswered—if you ever look at the suffering in the world and feel despair—remember the bowls. God will not ignore sin. Judgment is real, and it is awful, because God is not tame. He is good—and that means He will deal with evil fully.

2. Judgment Is Justified

It is very common to read Revelation 16 and recoil: Is this really fair? Some people think these visions make God seem harsh or cruel. But John goes out of his way to show that every act of judgment is absolutely deserved.

Twice the angel says, “They are worthy.” In other words, this is not overreaction. This is not random divine rage. This is perfect justice. Those who receive these judgments are people who have persistently poured out the blood of the innocent. They have aligned themselves with the beast, chosen idolatry over worship, and used their power to trample others.

And even in the midst of judgment, John shows us how resistant the human heart can be. Despite the plagues, people still blaspheme God’s name. They do not repent. The picture is of people doubling down in their defiance.

This matters deeply for how we see the world. Sometimes, when we see evil flourish—corruption, violence, exploitation—we feel powerless and think nothing will ever be done. But Revelation insists that no sin is hidden from God’s sight, and no injustice will go unaddressed.

It also matters for how we think about ourselves. If God’s judgment is justified, then all of us need to take seriously our own sin. The gospel tells us that apart from Christ, every one of us is worthy of judgment. That’s humbling. But it also magnifies God’s grace: He does not treat us as our sins deserve when we hide ourselves in Christ.

The bowls are a picture of the end result of rejecting mercy. And that leads to our next observation.

3. Judgment Comes Only After Time for Repentance

Twice in chapter 16, John highlights the tragic refrain: “They did not repent.” Even when creation itself is unraveling—even when God’s power is unmistakable—people harden their hearts.

This shows us that God does not judge in a hurry. The bowls come only after the trumpets. The trumpets were warnings—partial judgments designed to awaken the world to reality and offer a chance to turn back. Even here, God’s patience shines through.

You’ve probably heard that verse where Peter says, “With the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.” (2 Peter 3:8). A lot of people take that phrase and try to use it to talk about the days of creation in Genesis, as if Peter is saying God needed millions of years to create the world. But that’s not what Peter is talking about at all. If you look at the context in 2 Peter 3, he’s addressing people who were scoffing, saying, “Where is this ‘coming’ He promised? Everything keeps going on like it always has.” They were impatient, thinking God was never going to act in judgment or keep His word.

In the next verse (verse 9) Peter responds by reminding them that God doesn’t experience time the way we do. To Him, a thousand years is like a single day. He isn’t slow or forgetful. Rather, He is patient. He is giving people time to repent. “The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9).

So Peter’s point isn’t about how long creation took. It’s about the heart of God. He delays judgment, not because He’s weak or indecisive, but because He’s merciful. He wants to give as many people as possible the chance to turn from sin and receive His grace before it’s too late.

If final judgment has not yet come, it’s not because God is indifferent. It’s because He is mercifully giving more time.

For us, this is a call to urgency and gratitude. Urgency, because every day we wait is another day God’s patience holds back the end. We don’t know how long that patience will last. And gratitude, because if we have turned to Christ, it is only because He patiently pursued us and softened our hearts.

This also challenges the assumption that people will automatically repent if they just see enough evidence or experience enough suffering. The truth is, without the Holy Spirit’s work, the human heart remains closed. That’s why our witness matters so much. People need not just signs and warnings—they need the good news of the gospel and the power of the Spirit to change hearts.

4. Judgment Fits the Crime

One of the most powerful moments in this passage comes when the angel says, “They poured out the blood of saints and prophets, and You have given them blood to drink.” It is a vivid picture of how God’s judgment is proportionate. It is never arbitrary. It matches the sin.

In the ancient world, vengeance was often excessive—one insult could start a cycle of retaliation that spiraled out of control. But here, God’s response is measured and perfectly fitting. Those who destroyed life find their own sources of life poisoned. Those who worshiped false powers are shown the emptiness of their allegiance.

This should comfort us. We can trust that God will never punish unjustly. He sees every detail and weighs every motive. He is never rash, never capricious.

It should also humble us. Because if judgment fits the crime, then we have to admit we are not innocent. Our own sins deserve judgment, too. Whether our sins are visible to the world or hidden in our hearts, God sees.

But here’s the miracle of the gospel: Jesus stepped into history to bear the judgment that fits our crimes. He drank the cup of wrath so we could drink the cup of blessing. On the cross, the punishment perfectly fit the sin—but He took it for us.

That means we don’t have to fear condemnation if we are in Him. Judgment is real, but mercy is just as real. The same God who measures sin with perfect justice measures out grace with perfect generosity.

5. Judgment Is Just—and Mercy Is Offered

The final scene of Revelation 16 is almost unbearable. A voice from the throne cries out, “It is done!” Earthquakes rip through the cities. Hailstones pound the land. And still, people refuse to turn.

Yet this final word, “It is done,” (Rev. 16:17) is meant to echo another word John records in his Gospel: “It is finished.” (John 19:30)

At the cross, Jesus bore the full weight of divine wrath—not a symbolic wrath, but real judgment for real sin. He drank the cup we deserved so that we could be forgiven. That means every person who belongs to Jesus is shielded from the wrath to come.

This is why there is no refuge from God—but there is refuge in God. There is no safe place to hide from His holiness—but there is a place to hide in His mercy.

For us, this is the heart of our hope. Yes, the bowls are terrible. Yes, judgment is coming. But there is an invitation here: Come to the cross. Come to the One who said, “It is finished.” In Him, justice is satisfied and grace is freely given.

So our response must be to repent of everything in us that is out of step with Jesus—and throw ourselves on His mercy. If you belong to Him, you have nothing to fear. The wrath of God has been poured out, and it will never fall on you again. That is the gospel, and it is the only hope strong enough to face a world under judgment.

Conclusion: Our Response

So what do we do with all of this?

First, we let it sober us. Revelation 15–16 is meant to shake us awake. It is a vivid reminder that sin is not a trivial matter. The consequences of aligning our lives with anything other than Jesus are catastrophic. So we ask ourselves honestly: Where am I giving my allegiance? Where am I compromising with the beast?

Second, we let this passage humble us. We remember that apart from the grace of God, we would be no different from those who refused to repent. If there is anything in us that longs to worship and obey, it is because God has already been merciful to us, opening our eyes and softening our hearts.

Third, we let this passage move us to gratitude. The bowls of wrath show us what Jesus saved us from. He did not merely die to give us a fresh start or a spiritual boost. He died to absorb every drop of judgment that we deserve. The same voice that declared “It is done” over a world in rebellion also declared “It is finished” over a cross stained with His own blood. In Him, justice is satisfied and sinners are forgiven.

Finally, we let this text lead us to worship and witness. If God is holy and just and patient and merciful, how can we keep that to ourselves? How can we not tell others that there is a refuge in the judging God Himself?

So today, repent of anything that does not square with Jesus. Turn to the One who loved you enough to take your place. And hide yourself in Him.

As the old hymn says:

Rock of Ages, cleft for me,

Let me hide myself in Thee;

Let the water and the blood,

From Thy wounded side which flowed,

Be of sin the double cure,

Save from wrath and make me pure.

Friends, there is no other place to stand when the wrath of God is poured out. But in Jesus, the One who cried, “It is finished,” you are safe.

And this, brothers and sisters, is the hope that steadies us in a world that feels so often like it’s teetering on the edge of collapse. Yes, judgment is real, and it is coming. Yes, evil will be exposed and undone. But don’t miss the picture that Revelation paints for us—right in the middle of all that turmoil, the saints of God are standing firm. They are not cowering or despairing. The beginning of chapter 15 says that they are singing. They have passed through the waters of trial, and now they stand beside the sea of glass, lifting up the song of Moses and the song of the Lamb. They worship the God who judges wickedness and the Savior who delivers His people forever.

This is where your story is heading if you belong to Jesus—not to condemnation, but to redemption. Not to fear, but to unshakable joy. Not to defeat, but to triumph in Christ. If you carry the mark of the Lamb—if you have staked your life on His sacrifice and His victory—then you will stand with that great company. You will sing with them. You will see with your own eyes that no act of faithfulness was wasted, no sacrifice forgotten. 

Transition to the Lord’s Supper

As we come now to the Lord’s Table, this meal becomes all the more precious in light of what we have heard.

We’ve been reminded today that the wrath of God is real, that judgment is certain, and that sin leads to devastation. But here, at this table, we remember that Jesus stepped into history to bear that judgment in our place.

When He took the bread and the cup, He was preparing His disciples—and us—to understand that His body would be broken, His blood poured out, so that we would never have to drink the cup of wrath. Instead, we drink the cup of grace.

This table is not for those who think they are righteous. It is for those who know they are sinners and have fled to Christ as their refuge. It is for all who have put their trust in Him alone for salvation.

So if you belong to Jesus—if you have turned from your sin and are clinging to Him in faith—come and be nourished. Come and remember that the One who will one day say, “It is done,” has already said, “It is finished.”

Let’s prepare our hearts now to receive these gifts with a moment of quiet reflection and prayer.

Prayer (Call the elders)

Gracious God,

We bow before You in awe. We have heard Your Word today—a Word that reveals both Your holiness and Your mercy. We confess that we are not worthy in ourselves to stand before You. Our sin runs deeper than we admit, and our hearts are often slow to repent.

Yet we thank You that in Jesus Christ, judgment and grace meet. Thank You that He drank the cup of wrath so that we could drink the cup of blessing. Thank You that when He cried, “It is finished,” every barrier between us and Your love was removed forever.

As we come now to this table, quiet our hearts. Help us to lay down our pride, our self-reliance, our hidden sins. Fill us instead with humble gratitude and deep trust. May these simple gifts of bread and cup strengthen our faith, remind us of Your faithfulness, and seal to us again the promise that nothing can separate us from Your love in Christ Jesus.

Lord, by Your Spirit, set apart these elements from their common use, that in eating and drinking we might commune with our risen Savior. Make this meal a foretaste of that great feast to come, when all sin and sorrow will be done forever, and we will see You face to face.

We ask this in the name of Jesus, our Redeemer and our refuge. Amen.