Read Revelation 16
The Seven Bowls of God’s Wrath
16 Then I heard a loud voice from the temple saying to the seven angels,“Go, pour out the seven bowls of God’s wrath on the earth.”
2 The first angel went and poured out his bowl on the land, and ugly, festering sores broke out on the people who had the mark of the beast and worshiped its image.
3 The second angel poured out his bowl on the sea, and it turned into blood like that of a dead person, and every living thing in the sea died.
4 The third angel poured out his bowl on the rivers and springs of water, and they became blood. 5 Then I heard the angel in charge of the waters say:
“You are just in these judgments, O Holy One,
you who are and who were;
6 for they have shed the blood of your holy people and your prophets,
and you have given them blood to drink as they deserve.”
7 And I heard the altar respond:
“Yes, Lord God Almighty,
true and just are your judgments.”
8 The fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and the sun was allowed to scorch people with fire. 9 They were seared by the intense heat and they cursed the name of God, who had control over these plagues, but they refused to repent and glorify him.
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 agony11 and cursed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, but they refused to repent of what they had done.
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 Then I saw three impure spirits that looked like frogs; they came out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet. 14 They are demonic spirits that perform signs, and they go out to the kings of the whole world, to gather them for the battle on the great day of God Almighty.
15 “Look, I come like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake and remains clothed, so as not to go naked and be shamefully exposed.”
16 Then they gathered the kings together to the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon.
17 The seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and out of the templecame a loud voice from the throne, saying, “It is done!” 18 Then there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder and a severe earthquake.No earthquake like it has ever occurred since mankind has been on earth, so tremendous was the quake. 19 The great city split into three parts, and the cities of the nations collapsed. God remembered Babylon the Great and gave her the cup filled with the wine of the fury of his wrath. 20 Every island fled away and the mountains could not be found. 21 From the sky huge hailstones, each weighing about a hundred pounds, fell on people. And they cursed God on account of the plague of hail, because the plague was so terrible.
Go Deeper
In Revelation 16, John heard a voice come and send out the seven angels to pour out their bowl of the wrath of God. The first pours out his bowl on the earth and the result is harmful and painful sores that came upon those who bore the mark of the beast and worshiped its image. The second pours out his bowl on the sea and the result is it becomes like a bloody corpse and every living thing in it dies. The third pours his bowl into the rivers and springs of water; the result is blood. At this, the angels praise God for his faithful love and justice.
The fourth bowl is poured out on the sun and the result is it was allowed to scorch the people with fire and it did. Even then, they did not repent. The fifth bowl is poured on the throne of the beast and the result is its kingdom was plunged into darkness yet they did not repent. The sixth bowl was poured out into the great river of the Euphrates; the water was dried up to prepare the way for the king of the east.
Then, John sees three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, beast, and false prophet. They were demonic spirits performing signs. In the midst of this, there is a warning to stay ready for Christ’s return (v. 15). The seventh and final bowl is poured out into the air and a loud voice from the temple throne says, “It is done”. There is a great earthquake unlike any before (which was prophesied about in Hebrews 12:26).
So, what do we make of everything in this chapter? Depending on your view of Revelation (preterist, historicist, futurist, or spiritual) will lead you to different interpretations of the specifics of the seven bowls. However, John is clear about two eternal truths that are sobering and comforting. He refers to “The great day of God” (v. 14). This is all about God’s justice being served; ultimately He wins. Lastly, he says two times that despite God’s judgment, the people did not repent. Make no mistake, apart from God’s kindness to save us, we are lost and without hope (Ephesians 2:1-10).
Questions
- In what ways can you see parallels between the plagues in Revelation 16 and those in Exodus?
- How are you living watchfully for Christ’s return?
- What do you need to repent of and seek God’s grace?
A Quote
“I have known people say, ‘Well, if I were afflicted I might be converted. If I lay sick I might be saved.’ Oh, do not think so. Sickness and sorrow of themselves are no help to salvation. Pain and poverty are not evangelists; disease and despair are not apostles. Look at the lost in hell. Suffering has effected no good in them. He that was filthy here is filthy there. He that was unjust in this life is unjust in the life to come. There is nothing in pain and suffering that, by their natural operation, will tend to purification.” — Charles Spurgeon
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5 thoughts on “Revelation 16”
Are you prepared if Jesus Christ should come back today? Are you complacent? Are you compromising the little or big things, thinking I can repent later? What if it is this afternoon? God hates and can NOT be with sin. For every action there is a reaction. For every act there is a consequence. Jesus Christ is coming, whenever that may be. I am certain it is so and these consequences do not sound good. God has given us tools and a handbook to help us through life. Ephesians 6:10-20 helps with what is happeninng with the spiritual warfare going on, now, today, constantly. There are tools all through the books. Vs 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. God has extended His grace, unabounding, over and over but when these happenings take place, He is saying enough is enough. It is finished. How are you preparing yourself and your household for the return of Christ?
God thank You for giving me the picture of what is to come. Thank You for guiding me in truth and rightousness. Matthew 5:37 says Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil. Thank You that I do not make excuses or compromises. God when I do stumble show me Your truth. Guide me in this crazy world. Thank You for guiding me with my armour on so that I can stand. Give me ears to hear You, eyes to see what You need and want me to see, love goggles to see Your people through, and a voice that speaks about You so that a seed is planted or a heart turns to You. God I thank You for these minutes of this day to be used and to glorify You in all, in Jesus name amen.
Amen 🙏
Beautiful Amy
Psalm 51:10-12 is my earnest prayer in response to this chapter, “Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me from your presence
or take your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation
and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.”
Rather than get wrapped up in the various tribulation-related interpretations in this chapter, I think I will instead meditate on this today:
“but they refused to repent”
Lord, please let me not be so stiff-necked that I refuse to repent!
Yes, and Amen!