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Revelation 15&16 Revelation 15 Revelation 15:1 And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous, seven angels who had seven plagues, which are the last, because in them the wrath of God is finished. Revelation 15:1 seven angels seven plagues last
Revelation 15:2 And I saw, as it were, a sea of glass mixed with fire, and those who had come off victorious from the beast and from his image and from the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, holding harps of God. Revelation 15:2 sea of glass mixed with fire those who are victorious standing on sea
Revelation 15:3,4 And they sang the song of Moses the bond-servant of God and the song of the Lamb, saying, "Great and marvelous are Thy works, O Lord God, the Almighty; Righteous and true are Thy ways, Thou King of the nations. "Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify Thy name? For Thou alone art holy; For ALL THE NATIONS WILL COME AND WORSHIP BEFORE THEE, FOR THY RIGHTEOUS ACTS HAVE BEEN REVEALED." Revelation 15:3,4 song of Moses and the Lamb great and marvelous
Revelation 15:5-8 After these things I looked, and the temple of the tabernacle of testimony in heaven was opened, and the seven angels who had the seven plagues came out of the temple, clothed in linen, clean and bright, and girded around their breasts with golden girdles. And one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God, who lives forever and ever. And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from His power; and no one was able to enter the temple until the seven plagues of the seven angels were finished. Revelation 15:5-8 temple of tabernacle in heaven seven angels bowls full of wrath of God temple filled with smoke from glory no one was able to enter 2
Revelation 16 Revelation 16 – The Seven Bowls of Wrath
Revelation 16:1,2 And I heard a loud voice from the temple, saying to the seven angels, "Go and pour out the seven bowls of the wrath of God into the earth." And the first angel went and poured out his bowl into the earth; and it became a loathsome and malignant sore upon the men who had the mark of the beast and who worshiped his image. Revelation 16:1,2 “A loud voice from the temple…” The command is given and followed The first bowl: Painful sores on those who bore the mark of the beast The same boils that plagued the Egyptians Symbols of the pain that sin brings upon mankind
Revelation 16:3 And the second angel poured out his bowl into the sea, and it became blood like that of a dead man; and every living thing in the sea died. Revelation 16:3 The second bowl: The sea turned to blood Symbol of the vile nature of sin
Revelation 16:4-7 And the third angel poured out his bowl into the rivers and the springs of waters; and they became blood. And I heard the angel of the waters saying, "Righteous art Thou, who art and who wast, O Holy One, because Thou didst judge these things; for they poured out the blood of saints and prophets, and Thou hast given them blood to drink. They deserve it." And I heard the altar saying, "Yes, O Lord God, the Almighty, true and righteous are Thy judgments." Revelation 16:4-7 The third bowl: Rivers and springs turned to blood The angel of the waters Testifies as to the righteousness of God’s judgment. Because they had spilled the blood of the faithful, they were given blood to drink. The altar speaks: Testifies as to the righteousness of God’s judgment (6:9-10) Symbolizes that the punishment fits the crime.
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Revelation 16:8,9 And the fourth angel poured out his bowl upon the sun; and it was given to it to scorch men with fire. And men were scorched with fierce heat; and they blasphemed the name of God who has the power over these plagues; and they did not repent, so as to give Him glory. Revelation 16:8,9 The fourth bowl: The sun scorches with fire Symbolizes the wicked deeds of men being brought to light Though their deeds are exposed, they refuse to repent and curse God instead.
Revelation 16:10,11 And the fifth angel poured out his bowl upon the throne of the beast; and his kingdom became darkened; and they gnawed their tongues because of pain, and they blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores; and they did not repent of their deeds. Revelation 16:10,11 The fifth bowl: The throne of the beast is darkened Symbolizes the effects of sin upon a nation Again those suffering blaspheme rather than repent They chose the darkness, then cursed God for it
Revelation 16:12-16 And the sixth angel poured out his bowl upon the great river, the Euphrates; and its water was dried up, that the way might be prepared for the kings from the east. And I saw coming out of the mouth of the dragon and out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits like frogs; for they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the whole world, to gather them together for the war of the great day of God, the Almighty. ("Behold, I am coming like a thief. Blessed is the one who stays awake and keeps his garments, lest he walk about naked and men see his shame.") And they gathered them together to the place which in Hebrew is called HarMagedon. Revelation 16:12-16 The sixth bowl The Euphrates is dried up to prepare the way for an invading army Symbolizes the removal of any protection God may provide against the effects of sin The dragon, the beast, and the false prophet cough up three evil spirits Demonic spirits performing counterfeit signs A wide sphere of influence They rally their troops against God God interrupts their scheming “I am coming like a thief” (Matt. 24:43; 1 Thess. 5:1-4; 2 Peter 3:10) “Blessed is the one who stays awake” (Matt. 22:37-38; 25:13)
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A great army is gathered.
Armageddon or Harmageddon? Megiddo is mentioned 11 times in the Old Testament Gideon and his 300 men (Judges 7) Saul defeated by Philistines (1 Sam. 31) King Ahaziah killed by Jehu (2 Kings 9) Barak and Deborah defeat the Canaanites (Judges 5) Josiah wounded against Pharaoh Neco of Egypt (2 Chron. 35)
Anyone who went to battle with God’s blessing won. Anyone who defied God lost.
Revelation 16:17-21 And the seventh angel poured out his bowl upon the air; and a loud voice came out of the temple from the throne, saying, "It is done." And there were flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder; and there was a great earthquake, such as there had not been since man came to be upon the earth, so great an earthquake was it, and so mighty. And the great city was split into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. And Babylon the great was remembered before God, to give her the cup of the wine of His fierce wrath. And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. And huge hailstones, about one hundred pounds each, came down from heaven upon men; and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail, because its plague was extremely severe. Revelation 16:17-21 The seventh bowl: Poured out in the air Symbolizes the scope and finality of God’s judgment A loud voice from the throne in the temple “It is done.” The pronouncement is followed by symbols of God’s power Three = the divine number. Divine judgment pronounced upon Babylon the Great. “The cup of the wine of His fierce wrath” “John leaves us in no doubt that Babylon is to receive the most whole-hearted opposition conceivable from an all-powerful and all-holy God.” 100 pound hailstones Men continue to blaspheme God for their punishment.
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Questions: Why are the seven plagues identified as "the last"? Where are those who are victorious standing? From where does the command come to pour out the bowls? What happens when the first bowl is poured out? What happens when the second bowl is poured out? What happens when the third bowl is poured out? What happens when the fourth bowl is poured out? What happens when the fifth bowl is poured out? What happens when the sixth bowl is poured out? Where do the forces gather for battle? What happens when the seventh bowl is poured out?