Revelation #26

Review

Going back to chapter 6 we have the seal judgments. Starting with Antichrist, and followed by war, famine, 1/4 of the earth’s population dying, curses, an massive earthquake and the seventh seal is the seven trumpets

The seven trumpets (chapters 8-9) begin with a storm of hail and fire that destroyed 1/3 of the vegetation. There was then a meteor the size of mountain cast into the sea and 1/3 of the sea became blood. The third trumpet brings a star from heaven and it affects a third of the waters making them bitter and killing many. The fourth brings the destruction of light. 1/3 of the sun, and stars so that 1/3 of the day is darkness. The final three trumpets bring the three woes. The fifth is the locusts from the bottomless pit who had the sting like scorpions, harming only those without the seal of God on their foreheads. The sixth trumpet brings about the four horseman. Yet through all these plagues Rev. 9:20-21 “20 The rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands nor give up worshiping demons and idols of gold and silver and bronze and stone and wood, which cannot see or hear or walk, 21 nor did they repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts.”

This brings us to tonight’s study in Revelation 16 where the seventh trumpet which includes the seven vials or bowl judgments is described.

Revelation 16

Revelation 16 NKJV

1 Then I heard a loud voice from the temple saying to the seven angels, “Go and pour out the bowls of the wrath of God on the earth.” 2 So the first went and poured out his bowl upon the earth, and a foul and loathsome sore came upon the men who had the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. 3 Then the second angel poured out his bowl on the sea, and it became blood as of a dead man; and every living creature in the sea died. 4 Then the third angel poured out his bowl on the rivers and springs of water, and they became blood. 5 And I heard the angel of the waters saying: “You are righteous, O Lord, The One who is and who was and who is to be, Because You have judged these things. 6 For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, And You have given them blood to drink. For it is their just due.” 7 And I heard another from the altar saying, “Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are Your judgments.” 8 Then the fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and power was given to him to scorch men with fire. 9 And men were scorched with great heat, and they blasphemed the name of God who has power over these plagues; and they did not repent and give Him glory. 10 Then the fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom became full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues because of the pain. 11 They blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and did not repent of their deeds. 12 Then the sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up, so that the way of the kings from the east might be prepared. 13 And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs coming out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. 14 For they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to 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 am coming as a thief. Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame.” 16 And they gathered them together to the place called in Hebrew, Armageddon. 17 Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, “It is done!” 18 And there were noises and thunderings and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such a mighty and great earthquake as had not occurred since men were on the earth. 19 Now the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. And great Babylon was remembered before God, to give her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of His wrath. 20 Then every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. 21 And great hail from heaven fell upon men, each hailstone about the weight of a talent. Men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail, since that plague was exceedingly great.

7 Bowl Judgments or 7 Vials

Voice from the temple in heaven vs. 1

As previously has happened the great voice from heaven, actually the temple in heaven , speaks to the 7 angels who are ready to pour out their bowls. These bowls are full of the wrath of God. John 3:36 “36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.” Unbelievers though oblivious to it are living under the wrath of God that in His mercy He has withheld to a great degree. At this point God’s wrath will be poured out.

If we try to put this in time frame we are near the end of the tribulation. These bowls seem to be poured out in rapid succession and they likely carry on rather than one ending before the next begins. Previous judgments during the seals and trumpets seemed to end before another began. The intensity and completeness of these judgments would require that they are quick or none would survive.

Ist Bowl - Painful Sores vs. 2

This bowl is poured out on all who bear the mark of the beast and worship his image. Just as God protected the Israelites in Egypt. God will protect the faithful during these judgments. Yet, those affected make up nearly the entire population of the earth.

The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Nine: Voices of Victory (Revelation 14–16)

Revelation 16:10–11 suggests that these sores do not disappear; for by the time of the fifth vial, people are still in pain from the first judgment. Yet their pain will not cause them to repent (see Rev. 9:20–21). William R. Newell used to say, “If men are not won by grace, they will never be won.”

As noted by some when people are in pain they do not have good dispositions. This ongoing pain in all would likely bring about more conflict and problems among mankind.

2nd and 3rd Bowls - Water Turned into Blood. VS. 3-6

The first plague in Egypt was the turning of water to blood. Here we have in the second bowl judgment the whole sea turning to blood and killing all of the life within the oceans. It is all polluted. Some have said that it could be something like the red tide. Perhaps, but if it is the entirety of the ocean we have seen the affects locally of red tide on just limited area beaches, imagine the carnage of the entire ocean. When this plague brings destruction of all sea life the smell, the affect on our air quality will be affected, commerce, life...

The 3rd bowl is poured out on the rivers and springs of water. This leaves limited to no water sources for man to use.

For those who question whether God can be a loving God and bring about these plagues. Note the word of the angel in verse 5, “You are righteous, O Lord, The One who is and who was and who is to be, because you have judged these things.”

God’s justice is explained in Rev. 16:6 “6 For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, And You have given them blood to drink. For it is their just due.””

Though God is love, He is also just. If he does not deal with sin, He is not righteous but He does and He will!

4th Bowl - Scorching of Men vs. 8-9

The fourth angel is given the opportunity to pour out his bowl on the sun. This brings the scorching of men with fire. Not sure to what extent this is we know that there are placed on the earth that are 110-115 degrees and people still live and function there. I assume this will be more intense. Yet, rather than bringing people to the point of repentance because they see the judgment of God as was prophesied they blaspheme God refusing to repent and they will not give Him glory!

cf. Isa. 24:4-6 “4 The earth mourns and fades away, The world languishes and fades away; The haughty people of the earth languish. 5 The earth is also defiled under its inhabitants, Because they have transgressed the laws, Changed the ordinance, Broken the everlasting covenant. 6 Therefore the curse has devoured the earth, And those who dwell in it are desolate. Therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned, And few men are left.”

5th Bowl - Darkness and Pain vs. 10-11

This bowl is poured out on the throne of the beast and his kingdom becomes full of darkness. The people gnawed their tongues because of the pain. Yet, they would not repent. These sores from the first bowl , perhaps the dehydration from no water and the scorching of the heat causing swelling of the tongue.

Some have reasoned that this scorching heat would cause the polar ice caps to melt. It is estimated that the oceans would rise 200 feet. We have seen the damage a 20 foot raise in the water can bring. Imagine the cities and property that would be under water if this takes place. The elevation of our church is about 175 feet above sea level…

6th Bowl - Drying of Euphrates and Spirit Frogs vs. 12-16

The Euphrates is dried up so the kings of the east could invade. The Euphrates is a large river. Very long, 1800 miles. It begins in the mountains all the way up near Mt. Ararat where the ark rested. There is plenty of icepack on these mountains that would melt during the scorching heat. Perhaps this provides fresh water after the rivers are turned to blood and poisonous??? But now the Euphrates is being dried up so that the kings could invade.

Three spirits that are like frogs come out of the mouths of each of the Satanic trinity. They are “demon, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the earth.” These spirits compel all mankind to gather to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.

Jesus speaks with a promise,. Rev. 16:15 “15 “Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame.””

This gathering of armies from around the world seem to be simply the conflict of man, yet in this passage we understand that this is the plan of God in bringing about final punishment on sinful mankind. Cf. Zechariah 12, 14 .

Revelation 12–22: The MacArthur New Testament Commentary The Sixth Bowl

God’s drying up of the Euphrates is not an act of kindness toward the kings from the east, but one of judgment. They and their armies will be entering a deadly trap. The evaporation of the Euphrates will lead them to their doom, just as the parting of the Red Sea led to the destruction of the Egyptian army. Why they will make the daunting journey that will take them to their doom, through the drought, scorching heat, darkness, and their painful sores, is stated in vv. 13–14.

vs. 16 and the nations gathered at Armageddon. This is known as Mt. Megiddo. this is a great valley, the valley of Jezreel.

The name Armageddon comes from two Hebrew words, har Megiddo, the hill of Megiddo. The word Megiddo means “place of troops” or “place of slaughter.” It is also called the Plain of Esdraelon and the Valley of Jezreel. The area is about fourteen miles wide and twenty miles long, and forms what Napoleon called “the most natural battlefield of the whole earth.” Standing on Mount Carmel and overlooking that great plain, you can well understand why it would be used for gathering the armies of the nations.

Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 610.

In Judges, Barak defeated the Canaanites, Gideon met the Midianites and later in I Samuel King Saul died. This valley was used by Titus leading the Roman army and the Crusaders came through here in the middle ages. “British General Allenby used it when he defeated the Turkish armies in 1917.”

Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 610.

Revelation 12–22: The MacArthur New Testament Commentary (The Sixth Bowl)

Joel prophesied of this time in Joel 3:2, 9–13:“I will gather all the nationsAnd bring them down to the valley of Jehoshaphat.Then I will enter into judgment with them thereOn behalf of My people and My inheritance, Israel,Whom they have scattered among the nations;And they have divided up My land.” …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 swordsAnd 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 arousedAnd come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat,For there I will sit to judgeAll 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.

cf. Zech 14:2-3; Psalm 2:1-3

Psalm 2:1–3 (NKJV)

1 Why do the nations rage, And the people plot a vain thing?

2 The kings of the earth set themselves, And the rulers take counsel together, Against the Lord and against His Anointed, saying,

3 “Let us break Their bonds in pieces And cast away Their cords from us.”

The war appears to be quick cf. Rev. 17:14 “14 These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful.”” and Rev. 19:11-21

7th Bowl - Great Earthquake and hail vs. 17-21

The pouring of the bowl brings a loud voice from heaven saying, “It is done”. The end is arriving when the 7 seals, 7 trumpets, and 7 bowls all come to a climax. As Christ’s “It is finished” brought salvation to those who repent. This, “It is done” brings judgment to all who have refused to repent.

As the bowl is poured into the air there is great lightning and thunder, but this bowl judgment also brings an earthquake that is greater than any that has ever been experienced. vs. 18

Revelation 12–22: The MacArthur New Testament Commentary The Seventh Bowl

The first effect of this great and mighty earthquake was that the great city was split into three parts. The great city cannot be Babylon, as some think, because it is distinguished from “Babylon the great” mentioned later in verse 19. A comparison with 11:8 clearly identifies the great city as Jerusalem, “the great city … where also [the] Lord was crucified.” That the great city is distinct from the cities of the nations offers further evidence that Jerusalem is in view. The massive earthquake will split Jerusalem into three parts, beginning a series of geophysical alterations to the city and its surrounding region that will conclude when the Lord Jesus Christ returns. Zechariah 14:4–10 describes these changes in detail. The Mount of Olives will split in two, and a new valley running east and west will be created (Zech. 14:4). A spring of water will flow year-round from Jerusalem to the Mediterranean and Dead Seas (Zech. 14:8), causing the desert to blossom like a rose (cf. Isa. 35:1). Jerusalem will be elevated, and the surrounding region flattened into a plain (Zech. 14:10). Thus, the purpose of the earthquake as it relates to Jerusalem is not to judge the city, but to enhance it. Jerusalem was judged earlier in the Tribulation by an earthquake, which led to the salvation of those who were not killed (11:13). Thus, there is no need for further judgment on that city. The physical changes will prepare Jerusalem for the central role it will play during the millennial kingdom, when Christ will reign there as King (Ps. 110:2; Isa. 2:3; 24:23; Mic. 4:7).

Babylon is made to drink the cup of wine of God’s fierce wrath. This downfall will be further explained in the following two chapters of Revelation.

Vs. 20 brings about a change in the topography of the earth. Mountains and valleys are flattened. This was foretold as well in Isa. 40:4 “4 Every valley shall be exalted And every mountain and hill brought low; The crooked places shall be made straight And the rough places smooth;” It seems that God in preparing for His Millennial rule is returning the earth topography to what it was before the flood. “That may leave Jerusalem as the highest point on earth, making it a fitting throne for the Great King who will rule there during the Millennium (Jer. 3:17).” (John F. MacArthur Jr., Revelation 12–22, MacArthur New Testament Commentary (Chicago: Moody Press, 2000), 153.)

vs. 21 brings more devastation to those who have survived. Hailstones that are between 90-135 lbs. I have seen the devastation of baseball size hail. These chunks will bring destruction to all that they hit. Though the surviviors recognize that these judgments are from God, they blaspheme his name and continue to refuse to repent.

Revelation 12–22: The MacArthur New Testament Commentary The Seventh Bowl

God’s eschatological and eternal wrath is inevitable; no one can prevent or hinder it from coming (Isa. 43:13). But there is a way to escape it, because “there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 8:1). Those who by faith trust in Christ alone for salvation will escape both God’s eschatological wrath (3:10) and His eternal wrath (1 Thess. 1:10). They will not face judgment, because their sins were judged when Jesus died in their place on the cross (2 Cor. 5:21; 1 Pet. 2:24). In light of the inevitable judgment to come, the warning to all unrepentant sinners is “Today if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts” (Heb. 4:7).