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Pastor Scott L. Harris
Grace Bible Church, NY
November 9, 2025
* The Seven Bowls of God’s Wrath
Revelation 16:1-21
Introduction
*The Apocalypse follows a pattern of narrative story telling in which a summary of events are given followed by details of actions taking place in one or more of those events, or explanation is given of details of events which will take place which will then be summarized in a presentation of the sequence of those events. That pattern is first seen in Genesis 1 & 2 in which a sequential summary is given in recounting each day of creation in chapter 1, and then chapter 2 gives details about the sixth day concerning the creation of man. We have seen this literary structure throughout the book of Revelation.
* Chapters 4 & 5 describes the origin of the seven sealed scroll and the worthiness of only the Lamb to open those seals with chapter 6 giving the narrative sequence of God’s wrath that comes with the breaking of each of the first six seals. *This is followed in chapter 7 with an intercalation – an explanatory insertion – which gives details about the 144,000 Jewish slaves of God that will be active during the seal and trumpet judgments as well as the innumerable martyrs from the tribulation period. *Chapters 8 & 9 give the sequence of God’s wrath that comes when the seventh seal is broken and the first six trumpets are sounded. Another intercalation follows in chapters 10 & 11 which give details about John’s commission to continue to prophesy and explains the 1,260 day ministry of the two witnesses. *The sequential narrative picks back up in Revelation 11:15-19 with the blowing of the seventh trumpet and the scene in heaven giving the proleptic announcement of the victory of the kingdom of Christ over the kingdom of the world and the coming of God’s wrath. *Revelation 12-14 is another intercalation explaining the background, characters and plot of what will come in the final stages of God’s judgments. These chapters use a lot of symbolism to point to both past and future history ranging from the fall of Satan to the beginning of Messiah’s millennial reign. *Last week we examined Revelation 15 which picks up the sequential narrative again from Revelation 11:15-19 in describing the scene in heaven after the seventh trumpet is sounded with an emphasis on the origin of the seven angels with the seven bowls of God’s wrath coming from out of the sanctuary of the tabernacle of testimony in heaven. (See: Worship & Preparation in Heaven)
*This morning we will continue in that narrative in Revelation 16 which gives the blow by blow of the pouring out of the seven bowls of God’s wrath in rapid succession and the ensuing destruction that comes from each one. Revelation 17-19 will examine details of the nature and character of Babylon and then her destruction during the period of time the bowls of wrath are poured out which culminate in Christ’s physical return and conquest of the earth which destroys all of the wicked on the earth at that time.
* As we look at each of these bowls of wrath being poured out keep in mind what was pointed out last week from Revelation 15:1 that these seven bowls bring the last plagues which brings the wrath of God to its finish. There will be no more plagues after them, and the wrath of God upon the wicked who dwell upon the earth will come to its end. *These are not recapitulations of the earlier plagues of God’s wrath. They are not retelling earlier events of the seal and trumpet judgments from a different perspective. They do not follow the same sequence. They include different types of judgment. They are far worse than anything that has occurred before. *I will emphasize again that those schemes that try to interpret these events of Revelation as somehow fulfilled in history are practicing eisegesis instead of exegesis. They are reading into the text the musings of man in the attempt to force it into their preconceived theological framework instead of examining the text for what it actually states and having that shape their theology. I for one have become tired of pompous people castigating pre-millennial dispensational theology when they cannot seem to come to grips with the fact that last, e[scatoV / eschatos, refers to what is final in a sequence, and that finished, televw / tele , means it has come to its end. And as we shall see as we examine each of these final plagues, the plain text describes events that very obviously have not yet occurred – allegorical attempts to make them historical not withstanding.
*The Command – Revelation 16:1
Revelation 16 begins where Revelation 15 ends. The scene is heaven in which John has just seen the seven angels coming out from the sanctuary of the tabernacle of testimony. They are coming from the very presence of God. One of the four living creatures gives each of the angels a bowl which is full of the wrath of God. The temple was then “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.”
*John next recounts what happened next. 1 Then I heard a loud voice from the sanctuary, saying to the seven angels, “Go and pour out on the earth the seven bowls of the wrath of God.”
John does not specifically identify the voice he hears, *but it is obvious that it is God speaking since the seven angels had just departed from the sanctuary and no one else was able to enter due to the smoke coming from God’s glory and power. This voice is loud, actually, great (mevgaV / megas), and it will occur again in verse 17.The command is given to each of the seven angels who will comply in sequence without further direction. They are told to depart from where they were in heaven in order to pour out upon the earth the contents of each bowl containing the wrath of God. The grammar used for the command (aorist imperative) expresses an urgency to the command. The time has come for these last plagues to be poured out and there should be no delay.
*The First Bowl: Malignant Sores – Revelation 16:2
There is immediate obedience to the command. 2 So the first angel went and poured out his bowl on the earth; and it became a loathsome and malignant sore on the people who have the mark of the beast and who worship his image.
*Only the first angel is described as “and he went” (kai; ajph:qen / kai ap lthen) with that aspect of obedience to the command implied to the remaining six either in sequence with each command or all following the first angel standing at ready to pour out their particular bowl in sequence once the previous bowl had been poured out and brought its consequences.
*The bowl is poured out on the earth since that is the dwelling location of the wicked who continue in their rebellion against God. The contents permeate every location people would be and selectively affects only those that have taken the mark of the beast which is a sign that they have worshiped the beast. This should be viewed as one group and not two separate groups. Those who willingly worship the beast will obviously take his mark because they will want to identify with him. Those coerced to take the mark of the beast by the threat of being shut out from commerce and avoid the threat of execution are still paying homage to the beast and therefore worshipers of him by definition. By way of analogy, a person who receives the tattoo of a gang will be identified with that gang and will bear the consequences of that, positive or negative, with other gang members, rival gangs and law enforcement.
*This plague will cause sores to break out on every single person who has the mark of the beast. That is part of the reason for the strong warning by the third angel in Revelation 14:9-12.The word for sore here, e”lkoV / helkos, is used in Luke 16:20-21 for the sores covering the body of the poor man, Lazarus, that were being licked by the dogs. It is used in the Septuagint (LXX) for the boils that broke out on the Egyptians in the sixth plague in Exodus 9 which is the precedent for this future plague. It is used in Deuteronomy 28:27 to describe ulcerative boils that scab over and itch and do not heal. These sores are further described here as loathsome and malignant. Loathsome, kakovV / kakos, can also be translated in reference to a physical condition as bad, harmful, injurious. Malignant, ponhrovV / pon ros, can also be translated in reference to a physical condition as bad (as in bad fruit), unsound (as in non-functioning), harmful (as in causes injury). These ulcerative sores are grievous, burdensome, dangerous and abominable in character since they become putrid. They stink from the puss and decay in them. As will be noted in the fifth bowl judgment, these sores are painful and they will not heal.
*Much like the plague of boils on the Egyptians, men will not be able to prevent or cure them. There will be a sharp distinction between God’s people and the ungodly just as there was between the Egyptians and the children of Israel in Exodus 9, and between those with or without the mark of God that were tormented for five months by the creatures from the abyss in the fifth trumpet judgment in Revelation 9. There will not be any sores on those who refuse to take the mark of the beast.
*The Second Bowl: Sea becomes Blood – Revelation 16:3
The second angel takes action in verse 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.” This is much, much worse than the second plague on the Egyptians in Exodus 7 which only affected the Nile river, its tributaries, reservoirs, and containers of the Egyptians, or the second trumpet judgment which only affects a third of the sea, its creatures and shipping. This affects the whole sea.
*Some try to limit this to the Aegean sea or the Mediterranean sea because John is exiled on the island of Patmos and would only be able to observe those areas. They forget that John’s perspective is from heaven, not Patmos, so he can observe the whole earth. This is also set in contrast to the fifth trumpet judgment which only turned a third of the sea into blood. John does not use a qualifier here to limit its extent, so like the other bowl judgments, it affects the whole earth. John is also very specific that it kills all life in the sea whereas the fifth trumpet judgment only killed a third of the sea creatures. The devastation caused by this stretches the imagination to its limits and perhaps beyond. So much of life on earth is tied to the sea including the water cycle that the ramifications of it will cause cataclysmic catastrophes far beyond the oceans.
*John is also specific that it becomes not just blood, but blood like that of a dead man. Blood is fairly fluid due to the serum in it, but after death, that separates from the platelets leaving a viscous liquid that would block sunlight. No longer being alive, the blood will also begin to decay quickly and stink. Such a substance will not support life of any sea creature and so they will die as a result. There is no reason to disbelieve what John states. Neither this text nor the similar ones claim the water became “like blood,” they state the water source “became blood.” Speculation that this is a massive “red tide” caused by plankton is just that – speculation without textual support. But even if that were so, it would have to be a direct miracle of God for that to be accomplished, so the speculation cannot remove the miraculous nature of these judgments. If Jesus can turn the water in to wine, why would it be hard to believe He can turn the sea into blood?
*The Third Bowl: Rivers & Streams become Blood – Rev. 16:4-7
The third bowl is similar to the second but with a different target. This will be followed by an angelic commentary. 4 “Then the third angel poured out his bowl into the rivers and the springs of waters, and they became blood.” *This supernatural plague is also similar to the second plague on Egypt and is the same as the second bowl of wrath except its target is the fresh waters in the rivers and springs. It is similar to the fourth trumpet judgment but far larger in scope since instead of just a third of the rivers and springs that were turned into wormwood and became bitter, there will be no limitation on the rivers and springs becoming blood. It will become very difficult for people to find or process water to drink much less have for every other use for which water is needed.
*The angel of the waters appears to be similar to other angels introduced earlier that have specific responsibilities over different elements. In Revelation 7:1 four angels have authority over the winds, and in 14:18 there is an angel with power over fire.
* After the third angel pours out his bowl and the rivers and springs become blood, the angel of the waters proclaims the righteousness of God in doing so which is then affirmed by a voice from the altar. 5 And I heard the angel of the waters saying, “Righteous are You, who is and who was, O Holy One, because You judged these things; 6 for they poured out the blood of saints and prophets, and You have given them blood to drink. They deserve it.” 7 And I heard the altar saying, “Yes, O Lord God, the Almighty, true and righteous are Your judgments.”
*The angel uses the title, Holy One, for God in declaring His character be righteousness because that is a quality that comes from holiness. The one who is and always has been absolutely pure will always do what is in keeping with that holiness. Righteousness is conformity to the laws of God which He has decreed according to His own holy nature. *The angel further explains the righteousness of this judgment on the basis of lex talionis. The punishment is equal to the crime they have committed. Those who poured out the blood of the saints and prophets will only have blood to drink. It is the punishment they are worthy of for they have earned it.
*A voice from the altar then responds in affirmation of this declaration of God’s righteous judgment. The altar is personified here and presented as the one that is speaking. It is unusual, but not unknown for inanimate objects to speak in the Scriptures (blood – Gen. 4:10; Rocks – Luke 19:40; Mountains – Isa. 55:12). There was also a voice from the four horns of the golden alar in Revelation 9:13 after the sixth trumpet was sounded. Some point to the angel at the altar in Revelation 8:3 as the source of the voice, but this personification has a better association with the prayer of the martyrs for God to avenge them in Revelation 6:9-10 and 8:3-4. That prayer is being answered. The voice affirms that “Yes, O Lord God, the Almighty, true and righteous are Your judgments.”
*The Fourth Bowl: Sun Becomes Scorching – Revelation 16:8-9
Like the sixth seal and the fourth trumpet judgments, the fourth bowl affects the sun, but in a very different way.8 “And the fourth angel poured out his bowl upon the sun, and it was given to it to scorch men with fire. 9 And men were scorched with fierce heat, and they blasphemed the name of God who has the authority over these plagues, and they did not repent so as to give Him glory.”
*The earlier judgments darkened the Sun which reduced the radiation the earth would receive and make it cooler. This plague does the opposite in increasing the intensity of its heat resulting in the men being scorched with fire. Since they remain alive to blaspheme God, they are not burned up. *The word scorched and heat have the same root, so this is being burned with a great burning. Their misery is made worse by the fact that it will be difficult to get water to either cool down or hydrate.
*Since in both verses 8 & 9 the article is used with men – it should be the men – it appears the scorching is limited to those with the mark of the beast. We would expect God to protect those that belong to Him just as he did with the sores in the first bowl plague. This is not a judgment that properly applies to those heeding the gospel.
*Note as well that in this plague the sun is given this ability to scorch men with fire which goes beyond its natural actions. It will be easily discerned that this is a judgment from God, yet the men so affected blaspheme God instead of repent. They fail to follow the command of the angel with the eternal gospel or heed the warning of the other angels (Rev. 14:6-12). They blame God for their suffering instead of their own sinful rebellion which is the reason for the judgment that comes upon them.
*Those that commit crimes cannot blame the policeman, the judge or the jailer for the punishment they receive. They are receiving the righteous justice they deserve. Sinners who blame God for their troubles fail to see they are receiving righteous judgment. God’s mercy is seen in that they are still alive being given more time to repent and receive God’s forgiveness through faith in Christ. Blaspheming God only adds greater condemnation.
*The Fifth Bowl: Beast’s Kingdom Darkened – Rev. 16:10-11
The fifth bowl plague is similar to the ninth plague on Egypt (Exodus 10:21-23). 10 “Then the fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom became darkened; and they gnawed their tongues because of pain, 11 and they blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and they did not repent of their deeds.”
*Like the plague of darkness on Egypt, this darkness is more than just an absence of light, for it will be felt in causing pain severe enough that they “gnawed their tongues.” It is unknown how darkness can cause pain since that is still outside recorded human experience, but that is what will happen with this plague. There will be additional pains related to the ramifications of this darkness as mentioned in verse 11, but there is some specific pain that comes from this darkness.
*Note that this bowl is specifically poured out on the throne of the beast and it causes his kingdom to become darkened. The throne of the beast refers to the seat of his power. It is the location from which he rules. The beast in this context is the antichrist. Like the other plagues, this will be out of his control, and he will have no means to alleviate it.
*The darkness is stated to darken his kingdom, and that is a limiting factor. Though the antichrist will be a world political and military dictator, there will be areas in which his kingdom does not extend or is recognized such as the area in the wilderness where God protects and provides for the remnant of Jews that fled there after the abomination of desolation. *There was a distinction between the Egyptians and the children of Israel in the ninth plague. The Egyptians had thick darkness and no light forcing them to remain in place for three days while the children of Israel had light in their dwellings (Exodus 10:22-23). A similar distinction between the followers of the beast and those that refuse to worship him or take his mark can be expected in this plague.
*The response of those suffering under this plague is the same as in the previous one. They blasphemed the God of heaven instead of repenting from their deeds. The title God of heaven is only found in Revelation here and 11:13 in which the great earthquake in Jerusalem that was part of the sixth trumpet judgment resulted a tenth of the city falling, seven thousand people killed and the rest who were terrified “gave glory to the God of heaven.” *In contrast, the reaction here is only blasphemy because of their pains (plural) and sores (plural). The sores from the first plague have continued even as the additional plagues and their consequences have added more pain from more sources of suffering.
*The Sixth Bowl: Preparation for Armageddon – Rev. 16:12-16
Unlike the previous ones, the sixth bowl does not bring any immediate plague on mankind. Instead, it prepares the way for a battle that will take place after the seventh bowl is poured out. 12 And the sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river, the Euphrates, and its water was dried up, so that the way would be prepared for the kings from the east. 13 Then 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; 14 for they are spirits of demons, doing 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. 15 (“Behold, I am coming like a thief. Blessed is the one who stays awake and keeps his garments, so that he will not walk about naked and men will not see his shame.”) 16 And they gathered them together to the place which in Hebrew is called Har-Magedon.
*The first consequence of this bowl being poured out is the drying up of the Euphrates, the great river that marked the border of the territory promised to Abraham in Genesis 15:18 and was the eastern border of the ancient Roman empire. In current geography, it is the river running from the mountains in Turkey and Syria through the middle of Iraq. Rivers have always been natural boundaries for they form a natural barrier and defensive position against attacking armies, and the specific purpose of the Euphrates being dried up is to prepare the way for the kings of the east.
*The question arises that if the antichrist is the world dictator, how could there be kings of the east? The answer is that antichrist’s kingdom will be an empire with vassal kingdoms under its authority. In ancient Rome the Caesar had authority over the kings of the nations that had been conquered by Rome. The kings of the east are vassal kings under the antichrist.
*The identity of these kings is not given here other than that they are from the east, literally, “the ones from the rising sun.” That could refer to any kingdom that would have to cross the Euphrates river to get to the plains of Megiddo in northern Israel where they will gather. That would include the nations from Iran eastward and to its north including Russia, the “stans” and all of Asia.
*There is no political or military reason given for them to cross the Euphrates. Instead, there are two spiritual reasons given. The first is the actions of demons. Out of the mouth of the dragon, the beast, and the false prophet – the unholy trinity of Satan, Antichrist and the false prophet – come “three unclean spirits like frogs.” *These are specifically identified to be spirits of demons. John notes that they appear to be like frogs, a fitting appearance since frogs were unclean and detestable animals (Lev. 11:10-11). Interesting enough, frogs were also loathsome to the Persians and Egyptians, and frogs were part of the third plague on Egypt in Exodus 8.*By means of signs, which based on earlier actions of the false prophet it is safe to assume include both deceptions and things that are miraculous to humans, they go out to the kings of the whole world with the purpose to gather them together for war. This is a worldwide mustering of armies to wage a war instigated by Satan and his demons. *Revelation 12 reveals they lose the war in heaven. This will be a war Satan waged on earth against the remnant of the godly and against Christ as we shall see in Revelation 17 and 19.
*However, as much as Satan will be the one fomenting this war, he will not be the one actually causing it to happen as pointed out at the end of verse 14. The kings of whole world are gathered together for “the war of the great day of God, the Almighty.” God is always in control. It will be the great day of God, not the great day of Satan. God is the Almighty, not Satan. While Satan has his own purposes in getting the armies of the world to gather, God preempts those purposes with His own. *This will be the day that will fulfill multiple prophecies of the ancient Hebrew prophets. Joel 3:2 and Zechariah 14:2-3 predict that Israel’s enemies will gather against her in the last days, and Psalm 2:1-3 that the nations of the world will rage and take their stand against Yahweh and His Anointed. This will be part of the culmination of the great and terrible day of the Lord (Joel 2).
*That this war will be brought about to fulfill God’s purposes is supported by the interruption to the narrative in verse 15 of Christ declaring His promise and warning. “Behold, I am coming like a thief. Blessed is the one who stays awake and keeps his garments, so that he will not walk about naked and men will not see his shame.” That Christ is coming is the often repeated promise of Scripture (Matt. 24:30;John 14:3, 28; Acts 1:11; 1 Cor. 11:26; Phil. 1:26; 1 Thess. 4:16; 2 Thess. 2:1; Titus 2:1; Heb. 9:28; 1 John 3:2). That He is coming like a thief without warning describe His return as sudden and when not expected (Matt. 24:42-43; 1 Thess. 5:2-4; 2 Peter 3:10). That was His warning to the church in Sardis in Rev. 3:3. The blessing and warning to be ready and clothed properly so you will not be caught unprepared naked and be shamed is similar to the one given to the church in Laodicea in Rev. 3:18. It is an encouragement to hold fast and be faithful for when these armies are gathering it is a sure sign that the end is coming quickly.
*Verse 16 concludes this section with the location that these armies will gather. In Hebrew it is Har-Magedon, the mount or hill country of Megiddo. In English, this is often translated as Armageddon. Megiddo was a Canaanite city on the southwest hillside overlooking the valley or plains of Jezreel and it controlled the road coming into it through the Megiddo pass. It is roughly 20 miles long and 6-13 miles wide. It was conquered by Joshua and allotted to the tribe of Manasseh. The broad valley has been the site of many battles including the victory of Deborah and Barack over Sisera and later Gideon over the Midianites. The area was controlled by Judean kings and various kings of Israel, but also Egypt and Assyria. King Ahaziah died in battle there as did King Josiah over 200 years later.
*The plain of Megiddo is not large enough to hold the armies of the world, and other prophecies concerning this final war clearly indicate this will be a wide ranging conflict affecting most of Israel. Recall from the description in Revelation 15:19-20 of the wicked thrown into the wine press of God’s wrath that their blood flows for about 200 miles, which is about the distance from Megiddo to the Red Sea. Zechariah 14:1-3 places Jerusalem as a primary target in this war, and Jesus’ physical return will be first to the Mount of Olives.
We will look at more of the details about this future war in Revelation 17 and 19. The sixth bowl judgment is only concerned about preparing the way for this war.
*The Seventh Bowl: “It is Done” & Cataclysms – Rev. 16:17-21
The seventh bowl is a declaration of the finality of God’s judgments that come with the plagues of this bowl. The descriptions of the cataclysms that come with this bowl are far beyond any of the prior plagues. I am only going to read these verses this morning. We will examine the passage in detail next week.
17 “Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl upon the air, and a loud voice came out of the sanctuary from the throne, saying, “It is done.” 18 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. 19 And the great city was split into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. Babylon the great was remembered before God, to give her the cup of the wine of the wrath of His rage. 20 And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. 21 And huge hailstones, about one talent each, came down from heaven upon men; and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail, because its plague was extremely severe.”
*No wonder Jesus said in Matthew 24:21-25 of this time period, 21 “For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will. 22 “And unless those days had been cut short, no life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short.”
*Conclusions
These final plagues of God’s wrath poured out on the wicked prove several things. First, God is sovereign in all things for even when Satan’s schemes seem to be working to accomplish his goals, they will in the end fulfill God’s plans. (Sixth bowl)
*Second, those who are blind to the cause of their own troubles will remain unrepentant, for when the consequences of their own sin falls upon themselves in righteous justice, they blame others, especially God, instead of themselves for their own sinfulness, and therefore will not repent. (Fourth & Fifth bowls)
*Third, God’s longsuffering mercy will come to an end followed by actions of just and righteous judgment. (Third bowl)
Fourth, God is not bound by the laws of physics or nature. He created everything supernaturally in six days, and He can just as easily destroy things supernaturally at will. (Second bowl)
Fifth, God hates idolatry and will severely punish those who worship false gods (First bowl)
*Rejoice Christian. You are not subject to any of this. Non-Christian, God’s wrath abides on you, so repent and believe in Christ.
Sermon Notes- 11/9/2025
The Seven Bowls of God’s Wrath – Revelation 16:1-21
Introduction
A general literary ____________in the Apocalypse is summary sequential narrative with parenthetical detail
Rev. 4-6 gives the origin of the seven sealed scroll & the breaking of the first six ___________
Rev. 7 is an insertion explaining details of the 144,000 _________slaves of God & the innumerable martyrs
Rev. 8-9 is a sequential narrative of the first 6 _______judgments followed in 10-11 with explanatory detail
Rev. 11:15-19 is the blowing of the 7th trumpet and description of the scene & proclamations in __________
Rev. 12-14 is a _________________explanation of the background, characters & plot of what will come
Rev. 15 picks up the sequential ____________again describing the origin of the 7 angels & 7 bowls of wrath
Rev. 16 is the sequential narrative of the 7 _____of wrath & 17-19 give details of events within the narrative
The 7 bowls are the _________plagues & bring God’s wrath to its finish. They do not retell earlier plagues
These are still _______events and not events fulfilled in history – allegorical interpretation not withstanding
The Command – Revelation 16:1
The narrative continues with the ________to “Go & pour out on the earth the 7 bowls of the wrath of God”
The great / loud voice from the sanctuary would be that of God, & there is _________in the command given
The First Bowl: Malignant Sores – Revelation 16:2
The first angel goes & pours out his bowl with the remaining six following in ____________& ready to act
The contents flow to every place on earth people would be & affects ______those with the mark of the beast
The plague ulcerative _____that are bad, injurious, painful & unhealing- Luke 16:20-21; Ex. 9; Deut. 28:27
Like the plague on the Egyptians, men cannot prevent or ______them, & only effect worshipers of the beast
The Second Bowl: Sea becomes Blood – Revelation 16:3
John’s observation point is _____________- this affects the whole sea and kills all life in it
The water turns to ___________like that of a dead man – thick, viscous, decaying.
The Third Bowl: Rivers & Streams become Blood – Revelation 16:4-7
Similar to the 2nd bowl in turning water into blood, & 2nd plague on Egypt in affecting ____________sources
Angel of the waters is similar to other angels having authority over elements (Wind, Fire – Rev. 7:1; 14:18)
The angel proclaims the _____________of God in this judgment which is affirmed by a voice from the altar
God is the Holy One, and righteousness – conformity to God’s _____- is a quality that extends from holiness
The righteous judgment is based on lex talionis, the punishment is _________to the crime committed
The altar speaks – it not unknown for inanimate objects to ____________- Gen. 4:10, Luke 19:40; Isa 55:12
The Fourth Bowl: Sun Becomes Scorching – Revelation 16:8-9
Unlike earlier judgments which darkened the Sun (which would cause cooling), this intensifies Sun’s _____
Being __________with a great burning, their misery made worse by difficulty in getting water
The article is used – the men – indicating the scorching is ___________to those with the mark of the beast
The sun is _______this ability – it is beyond its natural actions – it comes from God, but men will not repent
Suffering the consequences of sins committed is __________- blaming God only adds greater condemnation
The Fifth Bowl: Beast’s Kingdom Darkened – Revelation 16:10-11
Like the 9th plague on Egypt, this darkness is more than the absence of light, it can be ______- it causes pain
It is poured out on the throne of the beast – his seat of power / ________from which he rules. He can’t stop it
It darkens the beast’s kingdom – a ________factor. There will be a distinction between those in it or out of it
Unlike those in Rev. 11:13 that responded in giving glory to the God of heaven, there is ___repentance here
They blaspheme God because of their ____& sores (both plural). Their suffering increases with each plague
The Sixth Bowl: Preparation for Armageddon – Revelation 16:12-16
The 1st consequence is the _______up of the Euphrates river, a natural barrier, to make way for kings of east
The antichrist will be the dictator of an _________- he will have vassal kings over nations he has conquered
Kings from the east – all armies that would have to cross the _____________to get to Israel
The first reason given for armies to cross the Euphrates to gather in Israel for war is ___________influence
The 3 unclean spirits appear as frogs because frogs are __________& detestable animals (Lev. 11:10-11)
The 3 demons use __________to deceive kings of the whole world to gather for war
Satan loses the war in heaven (Rev. 12), this war will be against the ___________& Christ (Rev. 17 & 19)
Satan foments this war, but it is God _________it for it will be “the war of the great day of God,” not Satan
This day will ____________multiple prophecies – Joel 3:2; Zechariah 14:2-3; Psalm 2:1-3, etc.
This war culminates in the fulfillment of Christ’s promise & warning that He is coming like a _________
The location this armies will gather is _____________ (Armageddon) – the plain of Jezreel in northern Israel
The plain is not large enough to hold all the armies, it will be a _________ranging war throughout Israel
The Seventh Bowl: “It is Done” & Cataclysms – Revelation 16:17-21
It brings the ______of God’s wrath. The tribulation of that time will beyond anything prior or after (Mt. 24)
Conclusions
God is _________in all things – using even Satan’s schemes to fulfill His own plans (6th Bowl)
Those blind to the cause of their own troubles will remain unrepentant (4th & 5th bowl)
God’s longsuffering mercy will come to an end followed by just & righteous ___________(3rdbowl)
God is not bound by the laws of physics or nature (2nd bowl)
God hates ____________and will severely punish those that worship false gods (1st bowl)
KIDS KORNER
Parents, you are responsible to apply God’s Word to your children’s lives. Here is some help. Young Children – draw a picture about something you hear during the sermon. Explain your picture(s) to your parents at lunch. Older Children – Do one or more of the following: 1) Count how many times the word “bowl” is said. 2) Discuss with your parents why God will punish those that sin and will not repent.
THINK ABOUT IT!
Questions to consider in discussing the sermon with others. What is the literary structure of the Apocalypse? Are the events of Revelation 15 & 16 future or historical? Explain. Who gives the command to pour out the 7 bowls of God’s wrath? The 1st bowl produces sores – what are they & who receives them? The 2nd bowl turns the sea into blood – is that literal or figurative? Explain. The 3rd bowl turns the rivers, streams & springs into blood – why does the angel proclaim that to be a righteous judgment? The 4th bowl causes the Sun to scorch men – how is that different from previous plagues? Does that affect everyone? How do they respond? The 5th bowl darkens the kingdom of the beast – what is that darkness like and what are its consequences? The 6th bowl prepares the way for Armageddon – why is the Euphrates dried up? Why do demons instigate the kings of the world to gather for war? Why does God have them gather for war? What conclusions can you make from the bowls of wrath?
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