Daily Bread 2011 - Revelation 16
The Seven Bowls of God’s Wrath
1 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.”2 The first angel went and poured out his bowl on the land, and ugly and painful sores broke out on the people who had the mark of the beast and worshiped his image. 3 The second angel poured out his bowl on the sea, and it turned into blood like that of a dead man, and every living thing in the sea died. 4 The third angel poured out his bowl on the rivers and springs of water, and they became blood. 5 Then I heard the angel in charge of the waters say: “You are just in these judgments, you who are and who were, the Holy One, because you have so judged; 6 for they have shed the blood of your saints and prophets, and you have given them blood to drink as they deserve.” 7 And I heard the altar respond: “Yes, Lord God Almighty, true and just are your judgments.”8 The fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and the sun was given power to scorch people with fire. 9 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. 10 The fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom was plunged into darkness. Men gnawed their tongues in agony 11 and cursed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, but they refused to repent of what they had done.12 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. 13 Then I saw three evil 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. 14 They are spirits of demons performing miraculous 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.15 “Behold, I come like a thief! Blessed is he who stays awake and keeps his clothes with him, so that he may not go naked and be shamefully exposed.”16 Then they gathered the kings together to the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon.17 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!” 18 Then there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder and a severe earthquake. No earthquake like it has ever occurred since man has been on earth, so tremendous was the quake. 19 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. 20 Every island fled away and the mountains could not be found. 21 From the sky huge hailstones of about a hundred pounds each fell upon men. And they cursed God on account of the plague of hail, because the plague was so terrible.
What Does This Mean?
As we survey this final judgment of God, as symbolized by the seven bowls of God’s wrath, we can see similarities to previous judgments and also differences. With the first three bowls, we see that all of Creation is affected: the lands, the seas, and the rivers and springs. Unlike the first series of judgments, these judgments also have effects on humans. I.e. painful sores broke out on the people who had the mark of the beast and worshiped his image. Then, there is a brief interlude where the angels announce that these judgments are just, and in part retribution for the blood shed by the martyrs.
Then, as the four, fifth and sixth angels are brought out, there is scorching fire and also the judgment of the beast begins. From the sixth angel, the Euphrates is dried up, and kings of the earth begin to assemble for a final battle at a place called Armageddon. Though there is not literal place like this found in the bible, it means literally the “mount of Megiddo”. Since this is a plain and not a mountain it is taken to be a figurative place where the final judgment/battle will take place. Note too, when the fifth angel pours out the bowl judging the beast, men curse God in agony and refuse to repent. This would suggest there was still time for repentance.
In Verse 15, we are interrupted by the voice of Jesus who says, “Behold I come like a thief! Blessed is he who stays awake and keeps his clothes on.” This language is reminiscent of other passages regarding the end times, where Jesus warns that He will come like a thief in the night, and the clothes are a reminder of the white robes of righteousness that come for those who are saved by grace.
Finally, there is a voice that calls out, “It is done”, presumably God and/or Jesus announcing the final judgment. This is an enormous earthquake that splits the great city (Jerusalem) into threes, and also pronounces judgment on Babylon, the great power that captured Jerusalem and the Southern Kingdom in 586 B.C.
What Does This Mean?
As God began in Genesis revealing himself through Creation with the sun, moon, stars and seas and rivers, so the judgment ends with these things. And while the crown of God’s creation are human beings made in His image, so too human beings who do not repent and acknowledge God as the Creator and Redeemer are subject to the same judgment.
While the earth was created to hold all of God’s Creation, now it is split into 3 parts and a cause of destruction not life. This, of course, is a precursor to a new heaven and new earth, but for now we only see the severity of the judgment of what God has made and now He is taking away.
It might be easy for us to get bitter at God for judgment, but when you think that He created it all in the beginning it lends itself to the conclusion that God can and will bring it to an end in His time and in His ways. Importantly, throughout this we see that there is hope for those who are in Christ, and even for those who aren’t in Christ, there is time to repent. God is merciful and desires for all to come to a knowledge of the truth, but for those who refuse there will be a day of judgment.
This is sobering and reminds us not only be grateful for God’s grace, but to pray for lost people who matter to God and should matter to us. There are many ways to reach to people with God’s love and share the Gospel not only in words but deeds. You may be the only person who an unbeliever might listen to when it comes to matters of faith. That is why the bible tells us to always be prepared to give an answer for the hope we have within us and to do so with gentleness and respect.
Jesus we know you will come like a thief in the night, help us to be prepared and dressed in the clothes you have put on us. Amen.
1 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.”2 The first angel went and poured out his bowl on the land, and ugly and painful sores broke out on the people who had the mark of the beast and worshiped his image. 3 The second angel poured out his bowl on the sea, and it turned into blood like that of a dead man, and every living thing in the sea died. 4 The third angel poured out his bowl on the rivers and springs of water, and they became blood. 5 Then I heard the angel in charge of the waters say: “You are just in these judgments, you who are and who were, the Holy One, because you have so judged; 6 for they have shed the blood of your saints and prophets, and you have given them blood to drink as they deserve.” 7 And I heard the altar respond: “Yes, Lord God Almighty, true and just are your judgments.”8 The fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and the sun was given power to scorch people with fire. 9 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. 10 The fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom was plunged into darkness. Men gnawed their tongues in agony 11 and cursed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, but they refused to repent of what they had done.12 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. 13 Then I saw three evil 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. 14 They are spirits of demons performing miraculous 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.15 “Behold, I come like a thief! Blessed is he who stays awake and keeps his clothes with him, so that he may not go naked and be shamefully exposed.”16 Then they gathered the kings together to the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon.17 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!” 18 Then there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder and a severe earthquake. No earthquake like it has ever occurred since man has been on earth, so tremendous was the quake. 19 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. 20 Every island fled away and the mountains could not be found. 21 From the sky huge hailstones of about a hundred pounds each fell upon men. And they cursed God on account of the plague of hail, because the plague was so terrible.
What Does This Mean?
As we survey this final judgment of God, as symbolized by the seven bowls of God’s wrath, we can see similarities to previous judgments and also differences. With the first three bowls, we see that all of Creation is affected: the lands, the seas, and the rivers and springs. Unlike the first series of judgments, these judgments also have effects on humans. I.e. painful sores broke out on the people who had the mark of the beast and worshiped his image. Then, there is a brief interlude where the angels announce that these judgments are just, and in part retribution for the blood shed by the martyrs.
Then, as the four, fifth and sixth angels are brought out, there is scorching fire and also the judgment of the beast begins. From the sixth angel, the Euphrates is dried up, and kings of the earth begin to assemble for a final battle at a place called Armageddon. Though there is not literal place like this found in the bible, it means literally the “mount of Megiddo”. Since this is a plain and not a mountain it is taken to be a figurative place where the final judgment/battle will take place. Note too, when the fifth angel pours out the bowl judging the beast, men curse God in agony and refuse to repent. This would suggest there was still time for repentance.
In Verse 15, we are interrupted by the voice of Jesus who says, “Behold I come like a thief! Blessed is he who stays awake and keeps his clothes on.” This language is reminiscent of other passages regarding the end times, where Jesus warns that He will come like a thief in the night, and the clothes are a reminder of the white robes of righteousness that come for those who are saved by grace.
Finally, there is a voice that calls out, “It is done”, presumably God and/or Jesus announcing the final judgment. This is an enormous earthquake that splits the great city (Jerusalem) into threes, and also pronounces judgment on Babylon, the great power that captured Jerusalem and the Southern Kingdom in 586 B.C.
What Does This Mean?
As God began in Genesis revealing himself through Creation with the sun, moon, stars and seas and rivers, so the judgment ends with these things. And while the crown of God’s creation are human beings made in His image, so too human beings who do not repent and acknowledge God as the Creator and Redeemer are subject to the same judgment.
While the earth was created to hold all of God’s Creation, now it is split into 3 parts and a cause of destruction not life. This, of course, is a precursor to a new heaven and new earth, but for now we only see the severity of the judgment of what God has made and now He is taking away.
It might be easy for us to get bitter at God for judgment, but when you think that He created it all in the beginning it lends itself to the conclusion that God can and will bring it to an end in His time and in His ways. Importantly, throughout this we see that there is hope for those who are in Christ, and even for those who aren’t in Christ, there is time to repent. God is merciful and desires for all to come to a knowledge of the truth, but for those who refuse there will be a day of judgment.
This is sobering and reminds us not only be grateful for God’s grace, but to pray for lost people who matter to God and should matter to us. There are many ways to reach to people with God’s love and share the Gospel not only in words but deeds. You may be the only person who an unbeliever might listen to when it comes to matters of faith. That is why the bible tells us to always be prepared to give an answer for the hope we have within us and to do so with gentleness and respect.
Jesus we know you will come like a thief in the night, help us to be prepared and dressed in the clothes you have put on us. Amen.
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