The Seven Bowls of Wrath

["Click here for scripure"]

The First Bowl

["Click here for Revelation 16:1-2"]

Here we see the first of the 7 Angels pouring out his bowl and the plague that follows. Notice that even though all is ready, the judgment could not start until God ordered it. As soon as the order was given, the work began. This is true with Angels but unfortunately it is not true with men. Even men the likes of Moses and Jeremiah did not immediately or completely comply with God's orders.

Here we see the horrible results of prayer. It should fill us with fear and caution as we daily pray to God and seek His intervention into our lives.

We have here a parallel to the avenging work of God in Egypt when Moses returned to bring the people of Israel out of bondage. Plagues fell upon Pharaoh and Egypt as God avenged His people. In all cases we need to have some understanding of God's timetable. It took 400 years plus for God to avenge His people in Egypt. It took 2,000 years plus for God to deliver His people from the bondage of the Law. This avenging of the Anti-christ, which seems so long in coming, will also come in God's own time.

Now lets look at what took place as the first bowl of God's wrath was poured out. "Foul and evil sores came upon those who bore the mark of the Beast and worshipped it's image." Like the "Angel of Death" in Egypt, destruction fell on all who did not have the blood of the Lamb on their threshold.

Notice it produced "foul and evil sores" symbolic of one or all of the following:

1. Visible sores upon the flesh, the kind caused by sin and disease.
2. The first blow of conscience in the hearts of those who bear the mark of the beast.
3. Most believe it will be the first awareness of God's judgment in the hearts of the Anti-christ.

The Second Bowl

["Click here for Revelation 16:3"]

"The second Angel poured out his bowl into the sea and it became like the blood of a dead man, and everything died that was in the sea". Most believe this symbolically foretells of the judgment of God upon the false church. The "Holy See" is a term used for the top organization of church government. Most of the Earth's surface is covered by the sea. This judgment then is symbolic of world judgment upon the leadership of the church that have, by heresies, led God's people astray. The sad thing here is that the souls of men were poisoned by the very thing that was to bring them salvation.

The Third Bowl

"The third Angel poured his bowl in to the rivers and springs and they became blood." The second bowl hit the leadership of the Anti-christ, this bowl hits the second in command, those responsible for carrying out the false doctrines and ministry of Satan.

Notice the effect of this bowl of wrath, "It turned them into blood". The Crusades are an example of improperly motivated religious efforts that led to the shedding of much blood. John sees and understands the judgment, "They, the Antichrist, have shed the blood of the Saints and you have given them blood to drink and they deserve it." And John heard a great "Amen" to this coming from the Alter.

The Fourth Bowl

"The fourth Angel poured out his bowl upon the sun and it was allowed to scorch men with fire". The sun sustains life on this earth. This represents the destruction of that which sustains life. This is symbolic of a leader or government who, up to this time, has had the power and the provision to support a great multitude of people. But notice the consequence of this bowl of wrath, that which had sustained them by its warmth will now scorch them by its heat. But in spite of this, it will not bring them to repentance. They will curse the name of God.

Many ecologists believe that this prophesies the ultimate destruction of the ozone layer around the earth and the resulting scorching heat from the sun.

The Fifth Bowl

"The fifth Angel poured out his bowl upon the throne of the Beast and its kingdom was in darkness". The source of all evil and perverse teachings will be turned into darkness. That which fed the Anti-christ was suddenly turned off. Lets see what Affect this had on the Anti-christ.

1. The very source of their evil and false existence was "turned off".
2. As the result, they "chewed their tongues" and cursed God whom they realized had brought this plague upon them.
3. They still refused to repent.

Partial darkness was one of the plagues in Egypt and also earlier in this book when the seven seals were being opened, one third of the stars, moon and sun was removed symbolizing the removal of one third of mans understanding, knowledge and ability to learn. Darkness always represents this.

The Sixth Bowl

Here we see the preparation for the great battle of Armageddon. "The sixth Angel poured his bowl on the great river Euphrates and its water was dried up." This was done to prepare for the great battle. The source of the Euphrates River has always been considered as the birthplace of humanity, the place of original sin, so Most believe that John literally meant this location.

What is being envisioned here is the preparation to destroy that which feeds the Anti-christ. The location of the original sin is the obvious place to destroy it. The Anti-christ has been from the beginning anything and everything that Satan has put as a stumbling block in the way of Christ. Many of these efforts will be originated within the church. It was necessary for God to identify these efforts and destroy them. The "instrument" of God's destruction is here called the "Kings from the East".

But notice the Anti-christ, the Beast, the Dragon, the false prophet, had to make one last stand. To fight their battle they call forth 3 foul spirits. one from each mouth.

Notice the battle will not be carried on with guns but rather it will be a battle of "wits". The Devil will use his old weapon, pretended miracles.

The place, Armageddon, is the Greek for Megiddo, the location of the destruction of Josiah and the people of Israel around 600 B.C. This battle will require much time, therefore, we will hear no more about this until the 19th. Chapter. It might better be called the "War of Armageddon".

Notice the work of this bowl of wrath is to dry up the Euphrates River, allowing the kings from the east to came and participate in this final world war. Isaiah in 11:15, prophesied the drying up of this river. In this present century. dams have been built that diverts the water of this river for irrigation during the growing season, drying up completely the bed of the river.

Notice who will oppose the kings from the east, three evil spirits, like frogs, appear from the mouths of the Dragon, the Beast and the false prophet. Their task is to go throughout the world seeking aid from the world kingdoms to assemble their armies for the great battle of Armageddon. Satins purpose will be to try to delay or resist the third coming of Christ by a great show of strength. Zechariah 14 contends that the war will continue right up to the third coming of Christ.

To be "forewarned" is to be "forearmed". John warns us to be "clothed in the robe of righteousness", "armed with the word of God" and when the battle comes we will be prepared.

The Seventh Bowl

"The seventh Angel poured his bowl into the air." This was another blow against the Anti-christ, Satan, always symbolized by Babylon. Satan, being the "prince of the air", has the wrath of God poured upon his kingdom. Notice what happened when the bowl was poured out.

1. There were flashes of lightening.
2. There were peals of thunder.
3. There were earthquakes, such as had never been seen on earth before.

What was this symbolic of?

1. Satan's powers being restrained.
2. His policies being made confusing.
3. His activities being confined.

He had used all the means at his disposal to preserve his false doctrine.

1. He had influenced their minds.
2. He had perverted their judgments.
3. He had hardened their hearts.
4. He had created enmity toward the Gospel.

But all this had failed. Here the bowl is poured out upon his kingdom and he cannot support his heresy any longer.

How was this received?

1. There was thankfulness in heaven. A voice there pronounced it done.
2. The Church in heaven rejoiced, for the evil kingdom had been broken into 3 parts. It was made to drink of the cup of God's wrath. Mighty Babylon, the invincible mountain, was destroyed

But notice it was not done without some damage to others.

1. Every Island.... independent churches, watered down doctrines, dis-associated Christians will be affected by His wrath.
2. Every mountain.... mainline churches, basic beliefs, all that is considered immovable, will be affected by His wrath.

His wrath will fall as huge hail stones upon the Anti-christ yet they will not repent but will continue to blaspheme God. It will be a terrible plague of the heart, mind and spirit. The removal of God's Spirit and thus the removal of God's salvation. To be hardened in sin against God and unable to repent in the face of total destruction, must be like the people of Noah's age as the waters rose and no place could be found to escape them.

This ends the Seven Visions of the Bowls of God's Wrath.

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