Sermon Tone Analysis

Seven Bowls of Wrath Dispensed

In Chapter 15, we again are being told of a terrible time coming upon the earth in the end time.

We are told of the seven seals, the seven trumpets, and now the seven bowls of wrath.

What is the purpose of God’s judgment of those on earth?

It is simply to convince anyone who would repent to do so before their eternity is secured in hell.

God has decided enough is enough, and He will no longer tolerate rebellion, denial, immorality, and evil will be destroyed completely.

Remember now, we are in the last three and one half years of the seven year tribulation - things are moving forward quickly, and once again God sends seven signs to touch the peoples heart - literally giving them their last chance at repentance.

Prelude

The temple is the dwelling place of God, so it can be assumed the voice John hears is that of God Himself.

The time is setting itself for the second coming of Jesus, and that end is rapidly approaching as the last of the three levels of judgment is poured out.

These seven bowls represent God’s final judgments, His last attempts at trying to convince those remaining on earth to repent and turn back to Him in the last three and one half years of the tribulation.

What do these bowls of wrath represent?

God’s last attempts at repentance.

First Four Bowls

What do the first four bowls focus on?

These first four bowls are focused on the earth and its inhabitants.

Notice, also how quickly these last seven bowls come - not like the others where there was a seal broken and a description of what had occurred, but these are literally “dished/poured out” one after the other, then another.

The first bowl is a bowl of judgment - ulcerative sores - literally festering wounds covered those who have taken the mark of the beast.

We find a similar scene in Egypt

The second judgment bowl is poured out upon the sea.

While we know the Antichrist's center of power is in the Middle East, or some nation that was part of the old Roman Empire, many theologians believe this sea refers to the Mediterranean.

Otherwise, little human life would be able to survive - especially when we look at the third bowl.

Regardless, the sea becomes infested / infected with some blood red contamination and all sea life within it will be killed.

Today, we know of red algae blooms - “red tides”, which refers to harmful algae colonies growing out of control polluting the water and producing harmful effects and even death for fish, shellfish, marine animals, and birds.

The third judgment bowl is poured out on the fresh waters where the antichrist and his followers are located.

Again, if it were fresh water throughout the whole world there would be none that could survive on the earth.

Fresh water contamination would be much more critical than even the salt water sea - it will directly impact the antichrist and his followers by having little to no water for drinking, washing, or bathing.

Think of the humanitarian effort that will have to be undertaken just to transport water to the Middle East and other areas this will affect!

Without water, they will only be able to survive a few days.

We find a similar account also in Egypt:

Many of us have heard the argument that God is too loving and kind to do such a thing as pour out His wrath on the earth.

But notice why God will destroy the earth and punish these people.

1) They will be the master mind behind the worst slaughter of Christians known to man.

They will kill millions of people killed, slaughtered, simply because they follow God and would not take the mark of the beast.

2) Because God is true and righteous, He is JUST.

He will no longer be able to tolerate the ungodly behavior and evil nature of people.

God will reach a point that He will no longer tolerate rejection, and He will punish the evil doers and end the world.

The fourth judgment bowl pours out on the sun.

Severe heat and radiation from the sun are going to scorch the ungodly and evil of this earth.

There will be a heat wave unlike anything the earth has ever known.

The sun will burn and scorch people with a blazing, fierce heat.

They will be in misery and tormented and will fret and groan and be miserable.

The idea is that the weather will be so hot that it will be like burning in a hot oven.

What is the result of the first four bowls of wrath?

Note: the ungodly will still not repent.

What is the response of the ungodly?

They will do what unbelievers have usually done when things go bad: curse and blaspheme the name of God.

Preparing for Armageddon

What does the fifth bowl target?

The fifth bowl of judgment is poured out upon the seat or throne of the Antichrist.

The whole kingdom of the antichrist and his followers will be full of darkness.

This is not referring to spiritual darkness, but to some phenomena that blots out the light and heat of the day.

Note: this is a drastic change from the scorching light and heat of the fourth judgment.

Some darkness, some thick, heavy pitch black darkness will fall upon the whole kingdom of the antichrist, upon him and all who follow him.

Note: this judgment seems to exclude the nations who are not actively included in the Antichrist's kingdom.

Remember: there will be many nations cooperating with the antichrist but who are not actively included in his kingdom, not in the plotting of his murderous evil.

They are, of course, guilty by association, guilty because they have formed an alliance with the antichrist.

But they are apparently spared some of the judgments because they are not quite as guilty.

However, their armies will be destroyed and their governments and cities utterly destroyed at Armageddon—all because they are ungodly and evil in so many other ways.

(However, please note: again, this judgment—in fact, all the bowl judgments—could be worldwide.

All the world to some degree will be cooperating with the antichrist.

He will be sitting at the head of some world organization like the United Nations or the European Common Market.

Therefore, the seat and kingdom of the antichrist could refer to the whole world.)

The suffering will be excruciating and gnawing.

The suffering of the sores, thirst, filth, and smell of water pollution, scorching heat, and now pitch black darkness will cause the antichrist and his followers to curse and blaspheme more and more.

Note that the torment will be so painful and unbearable that they will be gnawing their tongue (v.10).

But they will still not repent of their ungodly and evil deeds.

They will only become more and more stubborn and hardened in their wickedness and rebellion against God.

Where do the unclean spirits come from?

The mouths of the dragon (Satan), beast (Antichrist), and the false prophet.

(Unholy trinity)

The sixth bowl dries up the Euphrates River.

The Euphrates is the longest and by far the most important river of western Asia.

It is 1780 miles long and ranges from 300 to 1200 yards wide.

Its depth ranges from about 10 to 30 feet.

From the Persian Gulf inland it can be navigated by small vessels for about 1200 miles.

How could a river of such enormous size ever be dried up?

Today, of course, man can build huge lakes, rivers, and canals such as the Panama Canal.

Man can also divert huge lakes and rivers.

Remember this: in the end time natural disasters will be increasingly striking the earth.

Whole areas of the world will be devastated by the forces of nature going wild.

Just how the great Euphrates River will be dried up—by man or by some devastation of nature—is not known.

But Scripture clearly says that the waters of the river will be dried up.

The reason for the drying up of the Euphrates is to allow a great armed confederation of nations to form and march against Israel and to exterminate the Jews.

Atomic weapons would only destroy the land and make it unusable for decades.

In the end time the nations or kings of the east will want to preserve Palestine for its land and enormous wealth.

Therefore, they will march against it with foot soldiers and weapons that will preserve the land itself.

God will apparently help the advancement of the troops by seeing that the great Euphrates River is dried up when the march begins.

The point is this: when the antichrist and the confederation of nations under his power begin to march against Israel, the other nations of the world apparently become edgy and nervous.

There is the source or spirit behind the confederation of nations.

Note: this verse says that all the nations of the earth are going to be involved in the great battle of Armageddon.

The kings of the east of Palestine - including the Arabs and China

The kings of the north - including Russia

The kings of the south - Africa

The kings of the west - European nations and probably the Americas and Canada

Armies will gather from every nation with each taking sides to protect its own interest.

Note what is behind the whole scene: evil spirits.

Evil spirits are giving power to the mouth of the antichrist and his false prophet.

This means the power to influence and deceive the leaders of other nations.

The evil spirits will give the two leaders supernatural power to inspire their confederation to march and conquer Palestine.