Revelation 16

Welwyn Commentary by Richard Brooks used for much of this material...

In this Book of Revelation we have seen 7 seals and 7 trumpets in which God’s wrath is poured out on the earth. Then, in chapter 15 we saw 7 angels being given 7 BOWLS to pour out the final plagues of judgment on the earth.

As we have said many times before...what John records in Revelation is not a linear timeline with each new vision being completely new events (ie, the seals and trumpets and bowls are all separate events), but rather a repetition of the what will happen during the end times (the times in which we live and the church has been living since Christ’s ascension). However, each repetition of the last days scenario adds details and intensity.

So in Revelation 16 we will hear and see the seven angels pouring out bowls of God’s judgments...judgments that have been happening, but also that intensify because the very end of time and end of God’s judgment on the earth comes.

So let’s read and comment as we go through the chapter...

Revelation 16

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.”

In v1 we again see that these judgments are sovereignly controlled and planned by God...a loud voice from the temple (the voice of Christ in ch 1) gives the command for the bowls to be poured out...on the earth...for judgment to take place...judgment cannot take place, otherwise. The catastrophes and calamities of planet earth are divinely orchestrated...judgment for the wicked and working for the good of those called by God.

The first four bowls all relate to spheres of nature:

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.

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. 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!”

7 And I heard the altar saying,

“Yes, Lord God the Almighty,

true and just are your judgments!”

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.

FIRST angel & bowl: harmful & painful sores: reminding us of the plagues of Egypt...perhaps all kinds of diseases...for some warning and others...death...but these sores “came upon the people who bore the mark of the Beast & worshiped its image...

SECOND angel & bowl: into the sea...became like BLOOD of a corpse...death to all in the sea? And many on the sea...commerce and trade ended?

NOTE: seals: 1/4 of things affected

Trumpets: 1/3 of things affected

Bowls: no fraction: everything affected!

THIRD: into the rivers and springs of water & they became blood...inland waterways, reservoirs and water supplies...

NOW: look at vv5-6: angel says: (see vv above)...God is JUST in these judgments. Why? Those being judged have shed the blood of saints and prophets (again, through the centuries)

...and God has given them what they wanted...BLOOD...to drink...it is what they DESERVE.

Then, v7: the altar says (ie the saints under the altar, ie Revelation 6:9): a confirmation of what the angel has said: “Yes, Lord God the Almighty,

true and just are your judgments!”

FOURTH: bowl poured on the sun...scorches people (not just the land) with fire...their reaction (which also shows the justice of God’s judgments) they CURSED the name of God who had power over these plagues. They DID NOT REPENT and give Him glory.

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.

FIFTH: on the throne of the beast...human government worldwide and religion (think of Islam, Roman Catholicism, and others)...used by Satan to oppose Christ and His saints...

Plunged into darkness...gnaw their tongues in anguish...extreme pain...now they are plunged into what has been their lives spiritually...they, too, curse God for their pain and sores...and do not repent of their deeds...

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.

SIXTH: Armageddon (only time this word occurs in the Bible)...we will see this again in Revelation 19...see Judges 4 & 5: Deborah & Barak on the battlefield of Megiddo...God gives great victory over the Canaanites...(remember Sisera’s death!)...

Richard Brooks: What this Armageddon of the book of Revelation symbolizes is God's final mighty clash with all evil governments and powers, with all the forces that are hostile to Him, His Christ and His people.

NOTE: v15...very important!

His coming: like a thief

His Blessing: to the one who stays awake, keeping his garments on, that he may not go about naked and be seen exposed...

Ie...we must stay awake and alert (Matthew 24:36ff), clothed in the righteousness of Christ, and NEVER giving up our confidence in that great and free salvation...not believing Satan’s lies

The Seventh Bowl

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.

SEVENTH: the final judgment...bowl of judgment poured into the air...and Christ says out of the temple, IT IS DONE!

It was finished on the cross (John 19:30) in terms of the payment for the sin of His elect...ie He had fully taken the judgment our sins deserved!

It is now finished in terms of the just judgment deserved by rebel, blaspheming sinners...ie the judgment that is deserved BEFORE death...in time...on the earth...but not the great eternal judgment still to come in hell...

NOTE the devastation: worst earthquake since creation...things are cracking up, falling apart...and 100 lb hailstones (take 10lb bag of ice...make solid...then 10x as big!)...judgment from heaven that is totally destroying...their reaction: they CURSED GOD for the plague of the hail, because of its severity (still NOT acknowledging they deserve it in any measure!)...

NOTE: nowhere to go, nowhere to hide from God’s judgment

-As catastrophic as the judgments are: no change of heart...only God can change a heart and give repentance...He does it through His Word...and prayer

-WE are those who are/will be RESCUED! 1 Thessalonians 1:10 HE TOOK OUR WRATH...

Augustus Toplady

From Whence This Fear & Unbelief?

From whence this fear and unbelief?

Hath not the Father put to grief

His spotless Son for me?

And will the righteous Judge of men

Condemn me for that debt of sin

Which, Lord, was charged on thee?

Complete atonement thou hast made,

And to the utmost farthing paid

Whate’er thy people owed;

How then can wrath on me take place

If sheltered in thy righteousness,

And sprinkled with thy blood?

If thou hast my discharge procured,

And freely in my room endured

The whole of wrath divine,

Payment God cannot twice demand—

First at my bleeding Surety’s hand,

And then again at mine.

Turn then, my soul, unto thy rest!

The merits of thy great High Priest

Have bought thy liberty;

Trust in his efficacious blood,

Nor fear thy banishment from God,

Since Jesus died for thee!