Screen 1 Screen 2 “The Seven Bowls” Revelation 16:1-21 June 13, 2021 In this chapter of the Revelation, we now come to the final series of numbered plagues. Somebody say, “Amen!” Once again, we encounter the four and three structure in which the first four plagues are closely related, and the final three intensify the entire series. Now thus far we have discussed the seven seals in Revelation 6 thru 8:5; the seven trumpets in Revelation 8:6 thru 11:19. Now we have the seven bowls of God’s wrath. It parallels between this series of judgments and the trumpet plagues are readily apparent. In each series the first four plagues are visited upon the earth (see Island Waters and Heavenly Bodies respectively). The fifth involves darkness and pain (Revelation 16:10; 9:2, 5-6). The sixth involves enemy hordes from the vicinity of Euphrates (cross referenced Chapter 16:12 with Revelation 9:14 ff). Both series draw heavily from the symbolism of the ten Egyptian plagues: 1. The turning of water into blood – Revelation 8:8; 16:3-4 parallels the first Egyptian plague where Moses struck the water of the Nile turning it into blood in Exodus 7:20. 2. The darkening of the sun – Revelation 8:12 (cross reference with 16:10). Its counterpart is in the ninth Egyptian plague in which darkness prevailed over the land for three days in Exodus 10:21-22. In this sermon we will discuss other parallels as well. Now while it is true that while both the seven trumpet plagues and the seven bowl plagues deal with the same crucial period of time just before the end, there are some significant differences in the two series: 1 1. The Trumpet Plagues ae partial in their effect. One third of the earth is burned (8:7); one third of the sea becomes blood (8:8), while the bowls are universal. Every living thing in the sea died (16:3) every island fled away (16:20). 2. The trumpets are to a certain extent are a call to repentance, while the bowls are a pouring out of divine rath. 3. People are affected indirectly by the first four trumpets but are directly attacked from the outset of the bowls. All this being said, I believe Wolvvord, on page 967, explains this best by saying, “The seven bowls are an expansion of the seventh trumpet, just as the seven trumpets are an expansion of the breaking of the seventh seal. The order is climatic, and the judgments become more intensive and extensive as the time of the second coming of Christ approaches. The seven bowl judgments fall a trip-hammer rapidity on a world that is reeling under previous judgments and a gigantic war.” All this to be said, God hates sin. God has already meaded out his judgment against sin in Jesus Christ when he became sin so you and I could become righteous. Anyone outside Christ is headed toward eternal destruction and damnation. It is not all right that we keep quiet about our faith at this time in the world’s history. We must be continually sounding the alarm as we see the day approaching. OPTIONAL: PRAY HERE Revelation 16:1 “Then I heard a loud voice from the temple telling the seven Screen 3 angels, “Go and pour out on the earth the seven bowls of the wrath of God.” 2 The voice of God speaks and says, “Go” just is the voice of the God man, Jesus, who said in: Matthew 28:19-20 “19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost/Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” It is imperative that we go and make disciples, and quickly, because one day we will not get to anymore. “The world as we know it is passing away,” according to John 2:17. The world is coming to judgment and one day the church will be snatched away, and the world will be totally condemned as we have already studied. Time is short! Revelation 16:2 “So the first angel went and poured out his bowl on the earth, Screen 4 and harmful and painful sores came upon the people who bore the mark of the beast and worshiped its image.” This is most likely/definitely occurring in the final three and a half years of the Great Tribulation. Those who once bore the mark of the beast are now visited by the marks of God. This first plague parallels with the sixth Egyptian plague in which sores in the form of boils and abscesses break out on people and beasts throughout the land (Exodus 9:9-11). Job spoke of the pain and irritation of such affliction in Job 2:7-8, 13. Those who had formally accepted the mark for economic and physical protection now discover the beast is unable to provide security for them in the wrath of God. 3 Satan never delivers what he promises in the end. He is a liar from the start. He always over promises and under delivers. Revelation 16:3 "So the first angel went and poured out his bowl on the earth, Screen 5 and harmful and painful sores came upon the people who bore the mark of the beast and worshiped its image.” This parallels the first plague of Exodus 7:19 ff in which the waters of the Nile turn to blood. It also parallels with the second trumpet in which a burning mountain fell into the sea turning it to blood in Revelation 8:8-9. Notice in all these instances it is water, one of humanity’s basic requirements for life. Blood of a corpse that is coagulating and rotting. All of sea life dies. This certainly is an expansion from the second trumpet that we discussed earlier. Nothing to eat ever again from the ocean, and later the rivers, streams and lakes. Revelation 16:4 “The third angel poured out his bowl into the rivers and the Screen 6 springs of water, and they became blood.” This corresponds with the trumpet plague where one third of the rivers and fountains of water were made bitter by a great burning star that fell from Heaven in Revelation 8:10-11. The parallels that exist between the first four trumpets and the first four bowls display an intensification of divine recompense in which the second series share the same imagery. *If all the fresh oceanic waters here on earth are contaminated mankind cannot survive very long, so Jesus must really be at the door in regards to His return.* 4 Revelation 14:5 “And I heard the angel in charge of the waters say, “Just are Screen 7 you, O Holy One, who is and who was, for you brought these judgments.” “the angel in charge of the waters” – the Jewish thought the elements of nature were held to be under the jurisdiction of appropriate angels. “Spiritual powers represented and controlled earthly things.” In Revelation 7:1 angels restrain the four winds of the earth. In Revelation 14:18 an angel was in charge of the fire. The angel says something similar to the Song of Moses in Revelation 15:3-4. Jeremiah 12:1, Isaiah 49:26 and other various New Testament passages are included in this song/saying (verses 5-6). God brings these judgments. God is love and He is just. Revelation 16:6 “For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and you have given them blood to drink. It is what they deserve!” The world rulers/powers who shed the blood of the saints and prophets are now made to drink blood. They have refused The Living Water and will now be given the water of death. “it is what they deserve!” – “deserve” is the same word used to describe the worthiness of the Lamb in Revelation 4:11. Just as wicked Rome 2000 years ago declared war on Christ and His followers, so shall an end time revived, Rome world-wide empire do the same with ferocious intensity and in the end they will get what they deserve. Galatians 6:7 “Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.” 5 The punishment will always fit the crime. Revelation 16:7 “And I heard the altar saying, “Yes, Lord God the Almighty, Screen 8 true and just are your judgments!” “the altar saying” – this represent the corporate testimony of the martyrs in Revelation 6:9 and the prayers of the saints in Revelation 8:3-5. (Prayers all throughout the Revelation are presented as sacrfices.) This altar may also be “God’s altar” – the cross, where his greatest sacrifice was made. This altar is where God in his love offered a way of escape fro their judgments. Revelation 16:8 “The fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and it was allowed to scorch people with fire.” After the blast of the fourth trumpet, one third of the sun, moon and stars were darkened for one third of the day and night (Revelation 8:12). But now, intense heat comes. Global Warming will intensify – but man will never stop it in the end. Fire also, throughout the Revelation corresponds with/to judgment. Revelation 16:9 “They were scorched by the fierce heat, and they cursed the Screen 9 name of God who had power over these plagues.