by Tammy Phillips
November 12, 2021
“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.'” (Revelation 16:1 NKJV)
This is not the easiest read but John saw and described to us what sin would lead to in Revelation 16.
FIRST BOWL: Loathsome Sores (v.2)
A foul and loathsome sore came upon the men who had the mark of the beast and who worshiped his image. This only affected the “marked.”
SECOND BOWL: The Sea Turns to Blood (v.3)
The sea became blood like a dead person (thick; coagulated; very smelly; not flowing) and every living creature in the sea died.
THE THIRD BOWL: The Waters Turn to Blood (v.4-7)
The rivers and springs of water became blood.
“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. For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and You have given them blood to drink. For it is their just due.’ And I heard another from the altar saying, ‘Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous [are] Your judgments.’” (Revelation 16:5-7 NKJV)
The water sources of the earth which had partially been affected by previous plagues become completely affected leaving no water source!
THE FOURTH BOWL: Men Are Scorched (v.8-9)
This bowl was poured on the sun. Men were scorched and burned with great heat and fire from the sun. I would say that you could call this “global warming.” They continued to blaspheme the name of God, not repent, nor give Him glory.
THE FIFTH BOWL: Darkness and Pain (v. 10-11)
The fifth bowl was poured out on the throne of the beast. His kingdom became full of darkness and pain. They blasphemed God because of their pains and their sores. They still did not repent of their deeds. These were some hard-hearted, stubborn peeps. It is hard to believe that anybody would be left that did not have the mark of the beast. Why would scripture say that they did not repent, if they didn’t have the opportunity to repent? The mark takes away their window of opportunity to be saved. They suffered badly and kept blaspheming God.
THE SIXTH BOWL: The Euphrates Dried Up (v.12)
The great Euphrates River was dried up to make a way for the kings of the east and the 200-million-man army mentioned in Revelation 9. The Euphrates is about 1800 miles long and 300 to 1200 yards wide. Its great size was a deterrent for land invasions from the east. I hope you see how each of the woes released in Revelation 9 was a warning and precursor to the wrath of God to be released in chapter 16. Again, time-after- time God gives people the chance to turn to Him.
ARMAGEDDON: The Armies of Satan called to war against Jesus (v. 13-16) Three unclean, evil spirits come out of the mouths of the dragon (Satan), the beast (Antichrist), and the false prophet. The evil spirits call the kings of the earth and the whole world together to “battle on the great dayof God Almighty,” the battle of Armageddon.
Jesus: “’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.’ And they gathered them together to the place called in Hebrew, Armageddon.” (Revelation 16:15-16 NKJV)
SEVENTH BOWL: The Final Judgments (v.17-21)
“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!’”(Revelation 16:17 NKJV)
This bowl follows Jesus’ opening seal six (Rev. 6:12-17) and the blow of the final trumpet (Rev. 11:15-19). The world was rocked by loud noise, thunder, lightning, and the biggest earthquake since man was on earth. Jerusalem was divided into thirds and other cities fell. Islands ran and mountains disappeared. Sounds like earth took a beating and was flattened. And then… hail rained down that was the weight of a talent which is anywhere from 100 to 200 lbs. This was big hail from Big God. Unbelievably, after the great heat, the great river drying up, the great earthquake and the exceedingly great hail, the unrepentant man still blasphemed God.
The picture painted in Revelation 16 is so horrific! Makes me gag. Marked people are tormented by sores and pain. The smell of coagulated blood and burning skin heated by the scorching sun is putrid. There is no water to drink. All left must dodge the great earthquake and humongous hailstones. Men continued to sin as they spoke against God. The only way of escape was and is Jesus.
I enCOURAGE you to rest in the salvation of Jesus knowing that you are not appointed to this wrath if you have turned to Him. Holy Spirit keeps showing me His mercy, grace, and love through all of Revelation. God repeatedly warns mankind of the results of sin. Some turn to Him and some don’t. God could have wiped out His entire creation in one swoop when man first sinned. He chose a different way of redemption, Jesus. Do not fear. I plead with you to choose Jesus! Turn to Him if you have not.
Complete in Him 