The Seven Bowl of God’s Wrath
In the previous chapters, we read how the blood of the Martyrs in Heaven, who have been killed since the time of Christ, will be avenged through the plagues of the Fifth and Sixth Trumpets. Before the sounding of the Seventh Trumpet, God will pour out Seven Last Plagues that will avenge the blood of the Martyrs of the Great Tribulation itself. The Seven Last Plagues are also known as the Seven Bowls of God’s Wrath because seven bowls will be used to pour out the plagues, beginning with the pouring out of the First Bowl.
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.” 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. Rev. 16:1-2
When the First Bowl was poured out, John saw festering sores break out on those who received the Mark of the Beast. This event will be followed by the pouring out of the Second and Third Bowls when the waters will turn to blood.
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. The third angel poured out his bowl on the rivers and springs of water, and they became blood. Rev. 16:3-4
Unlike the previous plagues of the Two Witnesses when a third of the sea will be turned into blood as a warning to the Inhabitants of the Earth, when the Seven Last Plagues are poured out, the entire sea will be turned into blood and every living creature in the sea will die.[1] The pouring out of the above plagues will cause the angel in charge of the waters to declare that God is just.
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; for they have shed the blood of your holy people and your prophets, and you have given them blood to drink as they deserve.” And I heard the altar respond: “Yes, Lord God Almighty, true and just are your judgments.” Rev. 16:5-7
When the angel over the waters declares that God is just, it will be in acknowledgement of the blood of the holy people that will be shed by the Inhabitants of the Earth, who will be given blood to drink as they deserve. Additionally, when the martyrs in heaven see the suffering that the Inhabitants of the Earth will experience during the events of the Seven Last Plagues, they will consider it just payment for the shedding of their own blood. Accordingly, the proclamation of the angel will be followed by a response from the martyrs, who will also declare that God is true and just.
The turning of the waters into blood will be followed by the plagues of the Fourth and Fifth Bowls when the Inhabitants of the Earth will be scorched by the sun and plunged into darkness.
The fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and the sun was allowed to scorch people with fire. 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. 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 agony and cursed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, but they refused to repent of what they had done. Rev. 16:8-11
As we read in these passages, the Inhabitants of the Earth will not humble themselves before God during the pouring out of the Seven Bowls of God’s Wrath and, instead, they will curse God and refuse to repent for what they had done. The unrepentant nature of the those on earth will lead to the next events of the Sixth Bowl when the armies will be gathered at Armageddon.
The Battle of Armageddon
Following the events of the Fifth Bowl, which will cause darkness to fall over the kingdom of the beast, the Sixth Bowl will be poured and the nations will be gathered for battle.
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. 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. 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. “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.” Then they gathered the kings together to the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon. Rev. 16:12-16
Throughout history, the way that nations and individuals have fought against God has been to fight against God’s people. Accordingly, when the armies of the nations are gathered at Armageddon, their objective will be to attack the Remnant from Israel, who will escape from the city during the Attack on Jerusalem and who will be kept safe in the wilderness during the Great Tribulation. Due to the devastations of the earlier plagues, the Dragon, the Beast, and the False Prophet will be forced to send out demonic spirits, who will perform signs in order to entice the kings from the whole world to gather for battle. When the kings of the earth advance from Armageddon to attack the hidden Remnant from Israel, the Seventh Bowl will be poured out and a tremendous earthquake will destroy their cities, and a severe hailstorm containing hailstones weighing a hundred pounds each will destroy their armies.
The seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and out of the temple came a loud voice from the throne, saying, “It is done!” 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. 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. Every island fled away and the mountains could not be found. 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. Rev. 16:17-21
The above events of the Seventh Bowl are the same events that were originally shown to John through the opening of the Sixth Seal when the generals and everyone else will hide in caves from the same Great Earthquake and Severe Hailstorm.
I watched as he opened the sixth seal. There was a great earthquake. The sun turned black like sackcloth made of goat hair, the whole moon turned blood red, and the stars in the sky fell to earth, as figs drop from a fig tree when shaken by a strong wind. The heavens receded like a scroll being rolled up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place. Then the kings of the earth, the princes, the generals, the rich, the mighty, and everyone else, both slave and free, hid in caves and among the rocks of the mountains. They called to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can withstand it?” Rev. 6:12-16
These are also the same events that are described in the sounding of the Seventh Trumpet, which will announce the Reign of Christ on earth and the same Great Earthquake and Severe Hailstorm.
The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said: “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah, and he will reign for ever and ever.” Rev. 11:15
Then God’s temple in heaven was opened, and within his temple was seen the ark of his covenant. And there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake and a severe hailstorm. Rev. 11:19
In each of the above accounts, we read of the Great Earthquake and Severe Hailstorm, which will destroy the armies of the beast at the Battle of Armageddon and that will cause everyone to hide in caves. In the description of the pouring out of the Seventh Bowl, we learn the additional information that the Great Earthquake will be larger than any earthquake that has ever occurred on earth, and the Severe Hailstorm will contain hailstones that weigh about a hundred pounds. In this way, the events of the Seven Seals, the Seven Trumpets and the Seven Bowls will all conclude with the Battle of Armageddon.[2]
Babylon the Great
The destruction of the armies of the Beast at the Battle of Armageddon will also lead to the destruction of the city from which he will rule known as Babylon the Great, as repeated below.
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. Rev. 16:19
When the Severe Hailstorm destroys the armies of the beast at the Battle of Armageddon, the Great Earthquake will strike the great city known as Babylon the Great, which will serve as the center of his rule. The use of the title, the great city, to describe Babylon the Great is the same title is used to describe Jerusalem in the events of the Two Witnesses.
Their (the Two Witnesses) bodies will lie in the public square of the great city—which is figuratively called Sodom and Egypt—where also their Lord was crucified (Jerusalem). Rev. 11:8
When the Revelation calls both Babylon and Jerusalem the great city, it tells us that Babylon the Great is the descriptive name used to identify Jerusalem once it falls under the rule of the beast. Accordingly, when the beast conquers Jerusalem, he will rule his kingdom from the fallen city, which will, then, lead the rebellion against God just as the ancient city of Babylon once did. When Jerusalem is further described as Sodom and Egypt, it is a reference to how under the dominion of the beast, the city will become a slave to sin (Egypt) and will lead the world in rebellion against God (Babylon), before she is destroyed at the Battle of Armageddon for her wickedness (Sodom).
The future rule of the beast over Jerusalem can also be seen in the following prophecy by Daniel that describes how the beast will invade Israel and pitch his royal tents at the beautiful holy mountain.
“The king (the Beast) will do as he pleases. He will exalt and magnify himself above every god and will say unheard-of things against the God of gods. He will be successful until the time of wrath is completed, for what has been determined must take place Dan. 11:36
He will also invade the Beautiful Land(Israel). Many countries will fall, but Edom, Moab and the leaders of Ammon will be delivered from his hand. He will extend his power over many countries; Egypt will not escape. He will gain control of the treasures of gold and silver and all the riches of Egypt, with the Libyans and Cushites in submission. But reports from the east and the north will alarm him, and he will set out in a great rage to destroy and annihilate many. He will pitch his royal tents between the seas at the beautiful holy mountain (Mount Zion). Yet he will come to his end, and no one will help him.” Dan. 11:41-45
In these verses, the king is identified as the beast by how he is described as subduing the three nation of Egypt, Libya, and Cush, which corresponds with how earlier we read that the beast will subdue three of the ten kings in his coalition.[3] The beast is further identified by how he will annihilate many, which refers to the events of the Sixth Trumpet when the beast will fight a war against the nations from the north and east and a third of mankind will be killed. Having identified the king as the beast, we are then told that he will set up his tents at the beautiful, holy mountain (Mount Zion), which is to say the beast will establish his seat of power in Jerusalem after attacking the city. When the beast establishes his rule on Mount Zion, the fallen city of Jerusalem will lead the world in the rebellion against God as Babylon the Great just as the ancient city of Babylon once did.
Order of Events of the Last Days
Wars, Rumors of Wars, Earthquakes, and Famines (Seals 1-4)
The Martyrs Pray for Judgment and Revenge (5th. Seal)
– 1/3 of earth is burned up in world-wide drought ( 1st.Trumpet)
– 1/3 of sea turns to blood, Satan’s kingdom defeated (2nd. Trumpet)
– 1/3 of waters are poisoned, Satan cast out (3rd. Trumpet)
– 1/3 of Israel is struck, the Attack on Jerusalem (4th. Trumpet)
The Great Tribulation
The Wrath of God is Poured Out (6th. Seal)*
– The Plague of Locusts (5th. Trumpet)
– The Plague of Fire, Smoke, and Sulfur (6th. Trumpet)
– The Plague of Festering Sores (1st. Bowl)
– The Plague of Blood on the Sea (2nd. Bowl)
– The Plague of Blood on the Rivers and Springs of Water (3rd. Bowl)
– The Plague of the Scorching Sun (4th. Bowl)
– The Plague of Darkness (5th. Bowl)
– The Plague of Armies (6th. Bowl)
– The Plague of the Great Earthquake and Severe Hailstorm (7th. Bowl)*
– The Great Earthquake and Severe Hailstorm (7th. Trumpet)*
Silence in Heaven (7th. Seal)
* The Great Earthquake and Severe Hailstorm are described in the events of the 6th. Seal, the 7th. Trumpet, and 7th. Bowl and will be followed by the Silence in Heaven of the Seventh Seal, which will mark the defeat of God’s enemies.
Footnotes:
[1] The sea that will turn to blood is most likely the Mediterranean Sea, which is encircled by the nations that make up the future kingdom of the beast.
[2] NOTE: The Revelation is divided up into Three Sections, which take place in consecutive order. The First Section consists of the first three chapters of the Revelation, which describe John’s vision of Christ and the Letters to the Seven Churches. The Second Section contains John’s account of the opening of the Seven Seals, the sounding of Seven Trumpets, and the pouring out of the Seven Bowls. The Third Section includes the final three chapters that reveal the events that will follow the Battle of Armageddon, including the Reign of Christ on Earth and the Day of Judgment. In this way, the Revelation is written in consecutive order, with the events of the First Section being followed by the events of the Second Section, which, in turn, are followed by the events of the Third Section. Within this order, the events that are described in the Second Section, including the Seven Seals, Seven Trumpets, and Seven Bowls, overlap one another and conclude with the Battle of Armageddon.
[3] Dan. 7:23-25
Revelation Chapter 15
Revelation Chapter 17
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