"It Is Done"

Introduction

The Trap Is Set (1-12)

First Bowl (2)

The sores described here will be inflamed, oozing, ulcerous sores. They only affect those who bear the mark of the beast and worship his image.

Second Bowl (3)

It is hard to imagine what this judgment will be like, but somehow the oceans die. It could be something like a massive red tide, but the net result will be that the essential oceans become lifeless masses of death and decay. Every living thing in the sea will be dead.

Third Bowl (4-7)

This judgment is the collapse of the hydrological system completely. A third of the fresh water was already destroyed in the third Trumpet Judgment. No rain is falling because the two witnesses who testify during the last half of the Tribulation were given the power to shut up the sky (Revelation 11:6). And a lack of winds to blow the clouds around the earth means that there is little hope of finding fresh water outside of the existing streams and lakes (Revelation 7:1). Now those last remaining sources of fresh water are removed.

It is the angel of the waters that declares the righteousness of this judgment. In the face of the devastation it will cause, it is right to remember that this is justice, not wickedness.

From the heavenly altar comes the antiphonal reply affirming that God’s actions are both true and righteous.

Fourth Bowl (8-9)

The fourth judgment is global warming. This bowl is poured on the sun, not the earth, and the result is that the atmosphere no longer can protect us from the incredibly harmful UV rays assaulting it. This will not only cause unspeakable human suffering, but also likely melt the polar icecaps and bring about all the doomsday scenarios we keep hearing in the news.

Here we also see the first response of the inhabitants of the earth to this last series of judgments. That response is…blasphemy. They refused to repent and acknowledge their wickedness. They wanted to push through, rather than give God glory.

Fifth Bowl (10-11)

Darkness is a sign of judgment, and it will cover all of the Beast’s worldwide kingdom.

Joel 2:2 NASB95

A day of darkness and gloom, A day of clouds and thick darkness. As the dawn is spread over the mountains, So there is a great and mighty people; There has never been anything like it, Nor will there be again after it To the years of many generations.

Joel 3:14–15 NASB95

Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision. The sun and moon grow dark And the stars lose their brightness.

Zephaniah 1:15 NASB95

A day of wrath is that day, A day of trouble and distress, A day of destruction and desolation, A day of darkness and gloom, A day of clouds and thick darkness,

Mark 13:24 NASB95

“But in those days, after that tribulation, THE SUN WILL BE DARKENED AND THE MOON WILL NOT GIVE ITS LIGHT,

Again, the inhabitants of earth respond with a refusal to repent of their wickedness, but blasphemed God. Their sores were so painful that they gnawed on their own tongues, but their hearts were harder still.

Sixth Bowl (12)

The sixth bowl is a tricky one, because it seems like it is actually beneficial to the enemies of God. The Euphrates will be swollen by the melting of mountain snow, and clogged with the bloody judgment affecting all the earth’s waters. It will be almost impossible to travel across and effectively cuts off the northern and eastern countries of the earth from invading Israel. God, however, will cause this river to dry up and provide access to the Holy Land.

The Prey Takes the Bait (13-16)

The unholy trinity (dragon, beast and false prophet) will immediately recognize a strategic opportunity and dispatch demonic messengers to deceive and assemble the armies of the earth one last time.

Joel 3:2 NASB95

I will gather all the nations And bring them down to the valley of Jehoshaphat. Then I will enter into judgment with them there On behalf of My people and My inheritance, Israel, Whom they have scattered among the nations; And they have divided up My land.

Joel 3:9–13 NASB95

Proclaim this among the nations: Prepare a war; rouse the mighty men! Let all the soldiers draw near, let them come up! Beat your plowshares into swords And your pruning hooks into spears; Let the weak say, “I am a mighty man.” Hasten and come, all you surrounding nations, And gather yourselves there. Bring down, O LORD, Your mighty ones. Let the nations be aroused And come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat, For there I will sit to judge All the surrounding nations. Put in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe. Come, tread, for the wine press is full; The vats overflow, for their wickedness is great.

Zechariah 14:2–3 NASB95

For I will gather all the nations against Jerusalem to battle, and the city will be captured, the houses plundered, the women ravished and half of the city exiled, but the rest of the people will not be cut off from the city. Then the LORD will go forth and fight against those nations, as when He fights on a day of battle.

Accompanying this great deception of the demonic messengers is a word of hope. God is coming for his own, so stay alert and be ready. Don’t give up at the last moment!

The Trap Springs (17-21)

This last judgment is poured out on the atmosphere. Accompanying it is the voice of God declaring that the judgment has reached its climax.

The earthquake that comes begins to reshape the earth closer to the pre-flood state.

Jerusalem is split into three. This doesn’t actually destroy the city, but re-shapes it for future glory. In contrast the cities of the nations fall into ruin. One city elevated, the others abased.

A final piece of this judgment is that God will rain down hail upon His enemies, a divine artillery strike before His son returns.

The chapter ends with the response of the inhabitants of earth - more blasphemy.