Seven Bowls of Wrath :1-21

NKJV Notes by Pastor Mike Sasso

Introduction

Chapter 15 introduced us to the seven angels possessing the seven bowls of God’s wrath (15:7). Now in chapter 16 we will read a detailed account of what happens when these seven angels pour out God’s wrath upon the earth. The reader of Revelation is continually challenged by this book to decipher between the literal and the symbolic. Is everything we read in the precise and literal? And if it is, how can men still live under such conditions? On the other hand, are these things merely types and symbols of people or events? If so, what could they possibly be symbols of? And how can we be sure we are accurately decoding these symbols?

David Guzik has written – “Are the plagues described in this chapter symbolic? Perhaps we can’t envision all that these words mean. However, God’s judgment of this world will not be a symbolic judgment. We can remember that the reality behind a symbol is always more real - and in this case therefore more terrifying - than the symbol itself.”

Truths Applied

1. How do you believe we can determine whether something is a “type” or a “literal” picture in this book? Do you have a reliable method for this?

2. Is it possible that many of the things we read are both symbolic and literal such as a double prophecy?

Before beginning these study notes take time as a group to read chapter 16 in its entirety together as a group.

STUDY NOTES: verses 1-6 v. 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." – There is now a “holy lock-down” in heaven (15:8). We are not told whose “loud voice” is speaking. But it is most likely God Himself giving the supreme orders to commence the final judgment upon the earth. The seven bowl judgments to follow are all a part of the seventh trumpet judgment and the third woe of 10:7, 11:14, 15:6-8. v. 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 and those who worshiped his image. – This severe judgment is God’s wrath being poured out, not on all men, or even on “a third part of the earth,” but only upon those who have sold their souls to the devil by taking the mark of the beast and are now destined for eternal punishment (see 14:9-11). These are ones who have chosen the Mark of the Beast over the sufferings of Christ. And they will now suffer a much worse fate. v. 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. – Again we see this judgment is not on “a third of the sea” but effecting the entire sea. The seas of the earth can no longer support any life. What horrible and complete judgment this series of bowls contains! v. 4 Then the third angel poured out his bowl on the rivers and springs of water, and they became blood. – Never has the world seen worse conditions than this. First the sea is completely contaminated, then the fresh waters of rivers and springs. Life cannot be sustained very long without water. The end of all life is unmistakably imminent. v. 5-6 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." – At one time not long ago the entire world was proclaiming, “Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?” (:4b). The answer to that question now becomes clear. The eternal One who is and was and is to be is able to war against the devil and the beast and the and prevail!

Of these cursed men, Adam Clark has appropriately written, “They thirsted after blood and massacred the saints of God; and now they have got blood to drink!” Notice the proper conclusion of this wrath is not that God is “wrathful” or “wicked,” but that He is “righteous.” God is perfectly just in judgment.

TRUTH APPLIED:

1. Review the first three bowl judgments. What do you believe is the significance of striking all the waters of the earth in this way? Look up the following verses and discuss any connection to these three bowl judgments. Jeremiah 2:13, 17:13; John 4:10, 7:38.

2. What is “righteousness” and why would God be proclaimed as “righteous” in the midst of such terrible acts of wrath? (v. 5)

STUDY NOTES: verse 7 v. 7 And I heard another from the altar saying, "Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are Your judgments." – Undoubtedly all who are godly will agree with the angel’s proclamation in verse five. Even in the nightmarish judgments of this book the excellent nature of God is revealed.

TRUTH APPLIED:

1. Discuss as a group the meaning and significance of the following titles of God found in verse seven; what do these titles reveal to us about the nature and character of God?

a. “Lord” -

b. “God Almighty” -

c. “True” -

d. “Righteous” -

STUDY NOTES: verses 8-11 v. 8-9 Then the fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and power was given to him to scorch men with fire. 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. – If God decreed that the sun’s heat would be intensified, not only would the heat scorch humans, but also the ice caps would melt and flooding would destroy the many of the great coastal cities of the world. Cities such as New York, Tokyo, Los Angels, Rome, Amsterdam, etc. would swiftly become a part of the sea of blood.

Once again we see that God’s wrath usually does not bring about repentance of the wicked (Rev. 2:21; 9:20, 21; 16:9,11).

It is the acknowledgment of God’s kindness that properly leads men to repentance.

“Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?” Romans 2:4, NKJV v. 10-11 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. They blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and did not repent of their deeds. – As the bowls of God’s wrath continue to be poured out we now see a more precise attack pinpointing the beast, his throne, and his kingdom.

It is curious here that though the power of the sun’s heat has greatly intensified, the benefit of the sun’s light has been removed as the beast’s kingdom has become full of darkness. This is eerily reminiscent of the ninth plague of Egypt (Exodus 10:21-22). And it is certainly a dreadful preview of the outer darkness of hell itself (Matthew 25:30). Whatever this may mean, one thing is certain, extreme pain will be inflicted upon God’s enemies as a result. But again we see that punishment does not soften the heart of the wicked but hardens it instead.

“The wishful thinking of some that men would repent if they only knew the power and righteous judgment of God is shattered by frequent mention in this chapter of the hardness of the human heart in the face of the most stringent and evident divine discipline.” (Walvoord).

TRUTH APPLIED:

2. Why do you think the wicked refuse to repent in the midst of God’s wrath?

3. What is real repentance?

i. “This is real penitence, when the man gives glory to the justice of God, even though it condemns him. O my hearer, do you thus repent? Is sin really sinful to you? Do you see its desert of hell? If not, your repentance needs to be repented of.” (Spurgeon)

STUDY NOTES: verses 12-14 v. 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. – Though the great heat of the sun would surely have melted the ice caps and raised the sea levels, it would also have evaporated the great Euphrates River. Many great military leaders throughout history have considered the Euphrates River a secure barrier against attacking armies. Now that secure barrier is removed that the kings from the east might cross over.

This reminds us that God is in control of all these things and uses even droughts, floods, famines and plagues for His ultimate purposes (Deut. 32:39; 1 Sam. 2:6-10). v. 13-14 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. 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. – Once more we see a trinity of evil in correlation to the devil, the , and the false prophet. And concerning the appearance of the unclean spirits here, it is interesting that many of the idols and false gods of the heathen are images of dragons, reptiles, and the like. This is a consistent mark of the reprobate mind. “Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man--and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.” - Romans 1:22, 23, NKJV.

This trinity of evil is manipulating all the governments of the world toward a satanic rebellion against the Almighty God. This has always been the devil’s ultimate goal since his fall. He wants to overthrow and take over the government of God.

“Christ expelled unclean spirits, but His enemies send them forth.” (Swete).

TRUTH APPLIED:

1. What are some things that we learn about the devil from this text?

2. With these things in mind, what do you think Satan’s strategy might be against you? …Against your neighbors? …Against the unbeliever of our day?

STUDY NOTES: verse 15 v. 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 is speaking a warning and exhortation to all.

“Garments” are a type in scripture of our spiritual condition and a picture of our practical righteousness.

• We are told by Paul that when we obey the Lord in baptism that we put on Christ as a righteous covering – “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ” (Gal. 3:27, NKJV). • We are also instructed in scripture that just like changing garments we are to put off the old sinful nature and put on the new righteous nature of Christ. “But you have not so learned Christ, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness” (Eph. 4:20-24, NKJV). • And since our own personal righteousness is as filthy rags before God (Is 64:6) the only way to be truly righteous before God is to put on Christ and all that He offers (2 Cor. 5:21).

TRUTH APPLIED: There are two important truths to be grasped in verse 15. Look up the following verses and define and discuss these two truths.

#1 Concerning our watchfulness for the Lord’s coming – 1 Thessalonians 5:2,4; 2 Peter 3:10; :3.

#2 Concerning keeping our garments clean - Matthew 22:1-13. What does this mean and how exactly can we keep our garments clean?

STUDY NOTES: verses 16-21 v. 16 And they gathered them together to the place called in Hebrew, . – This place called Armageddon or Megiddo is an actual place in Israel today. Many who spiritualize this book would place this battle anywhere in the world in association with any war they may wish to mark as that great battle. But it is important to note that Armageddon is an actual place on the world map. For a map of the area click here. v. 17-18 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!" 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. – This seventh and final bowl judgment is now poured into the very air, perhaps because Satan is “the prince and power of the air” (Eph. 2:2). Now Satan’s domain is thoroughly invaded and shaken.

This earthquake was foretold told in Hebrews 12:26f. There has never been and will never be a more severe earthquake than this one.

“See that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if they did not escape who refused Him who spoke on earth, much more shall we not escape if we turn away from Him who speaks from heaven, whose voice then shook the earth; but now He has promised, saying, “Yet once more I shake not only the earth, but also heaven.” Now this, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear” (Hebrews 12:25-28, NKJV). The were followed by the , the seven trumpets were followed by seven bowls, but there will be no more judgments upon the earth after this. And this is why the voice from heaven proclaimed, “It is done”! v. 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. –The fall of Babylon is important enough that John will interrupt the current chronological flow of what we are reading to dedicate chapters 17 and 18 to laying out the details of this event. v. 20 Then every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. – The prophets of old spoke of such events recorded here. And now the time is come (Is. 24:19,20, 40:4-5; Joel 3:16; Hag. 2:6,7). This is God’s final housecleaning on earth in preparation for a new and clean rule of God in the millennial kingdom. v. 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. – These great stones of hail may weigh as much as one hundred pounds! It is quite significant that the punishment for blasphemy in the Old Testament was “stoning”! See 1Kings 21:10.

Divine “stoning by hail” has been employed as a tool of judgment against God’s enemies often in scripture; Examples:

• Egypt (Exodus 9:24) • The Canaanites (Joshua 10:11) • Apostate Israel (Isaiah 28:2) • (Ezekiel 38:22)

Keep in mind that whenever hail rained down from heaven it was a tool of judgment, not a corrective chastisement of God’s own children.

CONCLUSION:

I leave you with a thought from the prince of preachers, Charles Spurgeon. “Despite all their suffering, many still will not repent. “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 helps to salvation. Pain and poverty are not evangelists; disease and despair are not apostles. Look at the lost in hell. Suffering has affected 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 own natural operation, will tend to purification.”

Grateful for God's Grace, Mike Sasso