In the book of Revelation, we’ve already seen God’s judgments expressed in the form of…
- Earthquakes.
- Hail and fire mixed with blood.
- Something like a fiery mountain landing in the midst of the sea.
- One-third of the trees and grass wiped out.
- One-third of the earth’s saltwater ruined.
- One-third of the marine life dead and one-third of all seafaring vessels destroyed.
- One-third of all the freshwater supplies poisoned.
- The sun, moon, and stars dimmed, reducing visible light by one-third.
- Demonic locust creatures and murderous angelic beings who wipe out one-third of humanity.
While those judgments were horrific, the events to follow here in Revelation chapter sixteen will exceed them all. As we’ll see here in Revelation sixteen, God’s divine retribution will be swift and severe for those who have forsaken Him…
“Then I heard a loud voice from the temple saying to the seven angels, ‘Go and pour out the bowls of the wrath of God on the earth.’ So the first went and poured out his bowl upon the earth, and a foul and loathsome sore came upon the men who had the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image.
Then the second angel poured out his bowl on the sea, and it became blood as of a dead man; and every living creature in the sea died. Then the third angel poured out his bowl on the rivers and springs of water, and they became blood.
And I heard the angel of the waters saying: ‘You are righteous, O Lord, The One who is and who was and who is to be, Because You have judged these things. For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, And You have given them blood to drink. For it is their just due.’ And I heard another from the altar saying, ‘Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are Your judgments’” (Revelation 16:1-7).
The previous chapter of Revelation concluded with these words: “No one could enter the Temple until the seven angels had completed pouring out the seven plagues” (Revelation 15:8 NLT). Our text from Revelation sixteen now begins by saying, “Then I heard a loud voice speaking from the temple…” (GNT). Taken together, this implies that God will personally initiate these final judgments.
Those judgments began with a command: “Go and empty out on the earth the seven bowls of God’s wrath and indignation” (AMPC). These bowls were broad and shallow, much like a larger version of a modern-day saucer. Each angel received one such bowl along with a target destination. We’ll begin our look at those target acquisitions next.
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“So the first angel went and poured out his bowl on the earth, and harmful and painful sores came upon the people who bore the mark of the beast and worshiped its image” (Revelation 16:2 ESV).
So, those who received the mark of God’s adversary now received another kind of mark: “…ugly and painful sores” (CEV). This condition conveys the image of an ulcer that produces a discharge from the skin. (1) From a medical perspective, it’s possible that this mark (in whatever form it takes), generated some type of disease, infection, or disorder that led to this ulcerous condition.
Revelation 16:3 then continues: “Then the second angel poured out his bowl on the sea. The water became like the blood of a dead person, and every living creature in the sea died” (Revelation 16:3 GNB). This reference to “blood” may be a symbolic way of saying that the sea acquired the same lifeless character as the blood of someone who has departed from this life.
We should also notice that every living thing in the sea perished as a result of this action. This presumably includes all the shellfish, plant life, and microorganisms that live in the sea along with the aquatic life. This passage thus speaks of an ecological disaster of unprecedented magnitude.
A similar judgment follows in verse four: “The third angel poured his bowl over the rivers and the springs. They turned into blood” (GW). Just as an earlier judgment rendered one-third of the world’s freshwater supply undrinkable, the rest of the earth’s waters were now subjected to a similar fate. From a practical standpoint, this judgment foreshadows the close of this era of human civilization, for without an adequate water supply, humanity simply cannot survive.
Nevertheless, the angel who carried out this mission readily admitted, “You are just in these judgments, O Holy One…” (Revelation 16:5 NIV). This reminds us that God does not engage in vigilante justice. Instead, this passage illustrates the grim reality facing those who refuse God’s living water. A similar proclamation regarding these judgments follows in verse seven…
“And I heard another from the altar saying, ‘Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are Your judgments’” (Revelation 16:7).
Since God is true and righteous in His judgments, we would do well to recall the exhortation given to us in Romans 12:19: “Never take vengeance into your own hands, my dear friends: stand back and let God punish if he will. For it is written: ‘Vengeance is mine. I will repay’” (Phillips).
(1) G1668 – helkos – Strong’s Greek Lexicon (kjv). (n.d.). Blue Letter Bible. https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g1668/kjv/tr/0-1/
“The fourth angel poured his bowl on the sun, and it was allowed to burn people with fire. The people were burned by intense heat, and they cursed the name of the God who had power over these plagues” (Revelation 16:8-9 CEB).
Several theories have emerged that seek to explain the events within this passage. Those theories range from an increase in solar flare activity, to a rise in ultra-violet emissions, to a decline in the Earth’s capacity to protect against the harmful effects of solar radiation. While it’s often easy to take the benefits of sunshine for granted, those benefits might easily turn deadly if God should elect to remove His blessing and protection. That’s what we see here in Revelation 16:8-9.
So the scorching intensity of the sun will likely make it difficult to venture outdoors during this period. While that is bad enough, the human response to this development was even worse: “…they blasphemed the name of God, who has ruling authority over these plagues, and they would not repent and give him glory” (NET).
In considering this response, it’s often been said that sunlight affects different materials in various ways. One such comparison involves the contrasting properties of clay and wax on a hot, sunny day. The same sun that hardens the clay will melt the wax, as the saying goes. It all depends on the substance. The same is true of humanity as well.
For instance, we can accept the corrective measures that God allows to enter our lives as painful, but necessary steps on the road to spiritual maturity. The New Testament epistle of 1 Corinthians offers a further explanation…
“But if we evaluated and judged ourselves honestly [recognizing our shortcomings and correcting our behavior], we would not be judged. But when we [fall short and] are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined [by undergoing His correction] so that we will not be condemned [to eternal punishment] along with the world” (1 Corinthians 11:31-32 AMP).
Unfortunately, the people of Revelation chapter sixteen chose an alternate path of rebellion that led to greater suffering…
“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” (Revelation 16:10-11 NIV).
This “bowl judgment” appears to be an assault against the godless political order established by the beast of Revelation. That political order left its supporters with water shortages, painful disfiguring sores, intense heat, and now darkness. The horrific nature of these future events should thus prompt us to seek God’s help in making good spiritual and political choices today.
Image Attribution: Юрий Д.К., CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
“Then the sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up, so that the way of the kings from the east might be prepared. And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs coming out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. For they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.
‘Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame.’
And they gathered them together to the place called in Hebrew, Armageddon” (Revelation 16:12-16).
As mentioned in our earlier study of Revelation chapter nine, the Euphrates River is a lengthy waterway that traverses a significant portion of the Middle East. This body of water flows from the mountains of Turkey through the nations of Syria and Iraq. It later joins the Tigris River before it reaches the Persian Gulf on the Iranian border.
That leads us to the militaristic undertones that are subtly woven into the fabric of these verses. If the Euphrates River ran dry, that would facilitate the movement of ground forces from nations that lay east of the river. However, a look at this passage in the original language offers an intriguing detail. There, we find that this reference to “kings from the east ” is more literally translated, “kings of the rising of the sun.” (1)
When we consider the nations that inhabit that broad geographic area, some noticeable patterns emerge. First, this region is home to some of the most technologically sophisticated nations in the world. It also encompasses several nations that have earned global recognition for their leadership capabilities in the areas of manufacturing and production. Some of those countries rank among the most populous nations in the world, while others are rich in natural resources. If these nations were to form a political alliance at some future point, they would certainly prove to be a formidable adversary.
Finally, we should note that some of these nations possess nuclear armaments and other forms of advanced weaponry. We’ll consider the potential impact of those capabilities when we reach chapter nineteen. However, the information contained within these verses serve to foreshadow the armed conflict that will close this chapter of human history.
(1) See G395 anatole https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g395/kjv/tr/0-1/, and G2246 helios https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g2246/kjv/tr/0-1/, Strong’s Greek Lexicon (kjv). (n.d.). Blue Letter Bible. An interlinear version of this passage is available here.
“And 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” (Revelation 16:13 ESV).
Jesus spent a considerable amount of time expelling evil spirits during His earthly ministry. But here in Revelation 16:13, we see the opposite response from His adversaries. In this instance, the unholy trio that comprised the dragon, the beast, and the false prophet sent forth three evil spirits.
To the author of Revelation, these spirits bore the appearance of frogs. This may be a subtle reference to the cold-blooded nature of frogs, or it may bear some relation to the plague referenced in the Old Testament book of Exodus when the entire nation of Egypt was overrun by them. However, this plague was far more serious than anything the Egyptians experienced, for these frogs possessed the capability to perform miraculous signs…
“These miracle-working demons conferred with all the rulers of the world to gather them for battle against the Lord on that great coming Judgment Day of God Almighty” (Revelation 16:14 TLB).
While these world leaders seemingly acted of their own volition in making this decision, our text from Revelation 16:14 lifts the veil on the demonic influence behind that choice. These rulers presumably mobilized their forces in anticipation of a great military triumph, but will soon discover that they had been led to their own destruction. Such is the case with those who are similarly deceived.
This should prompt us to remember Jesus’ characterization of the devil: “…He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it” (John 8:44). These passages remind us that spiritual deception is a legitimate concern, and especially so for those who foolishly dismiss the possibility of such things.
This might explain why we find an unexpected aside from Jesus in the midst of this passage…
“Look, I will come as unexpectedly as a thief! Blessed are all who are watching for Me, who keep their clothing ready so they will not have to walk around naked and ashamed” (Revelation 16:15 NLT).
Much like a homeowner who happens upon the unexpected presence of a burglar, Jesus is certain to appear unexpectedly in the lives of those who fail to look for Him. In fact, Jesus offered a parable that addressed that very subject, and we’ll consider that parable in our next study.
“Take note: I will come as unexpectedly as a thief! Blessed are all who are awaiting me, who keep their robes in readiness and will not need to walk naked and ashamed” (Revelation 16:15 TLB).
Consider the following parable from Jesus in the context of Revelation 16:15…
“Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, like servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. Truly I tell you, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them. It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the middle of the night or toward daybreak.
But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”
Peter asked, ‘Lord, are you telling this parable to us, or to everyone?’ The Lord answered, ‘Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their food allowance at the proper time? It will be good for that servant whom the master finds doing so when he returns. Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions.
But suppose the servant says to himself, ‘My master is taking a long time in coming,’ and he then begins to beat the other servants, both men and women, and to eat and drink and get drunk. The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers” (Luke 12:35-46 NIV).
The world leaders of Revelation chapter sixteen fell prey to spiritual deception, and as we’ll see, their failure to discern the spiritual influences behind their decisions will ultimately lead to their destruction at the battle of Armageddon. However, Jesus’ interjectory comment here in verse fifteen (along with His parable from Luke chapter twelve) reminds us that we can avoid a similar error by living in expectation of His return.
“Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, ‘It is done!’
And there were noises and thunderings and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such a mighty and great earthquake as had not occurred since men were on the earth. Now the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. And great Babylon was remembered before God, to give her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of His wrath.
Then every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. And great hail from heaven fell upon men, each hailstone about the weight of a talent. Men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail, since that plague was exceedingly great” (Revelation 16:17-21).
The closing verses of Revelation sixteen identify a voice that speaks from the temple in heaven. The triumphant declaration, “It is done“ thus signals the completion of God’s plan in His very own words. While there are several chapters remaining in the book of Revelation, this pronouncement marks the end of God’s seven-fold judgment against a world that has rejected Him.
This final judgment features a series of cataclysmic events that culminate in a devastating earthquake and a torrent of hailstones that weighed approximately one hundred pounds (45 kg) each. Some suggest that a change in the earth’s rotational axis might account for the destruction that accompanied this worldwide change in topography and the catastrophic hail that followed. But whatever the cause, these verses predict an unprecedented level of ecological ruin.
The next three chapters of Revelation will focus on the ramifications of these judgments, with “Babylon” serving as the reference point for the blasphemous political, religious, and economic systems that will define that era. Each of those systems will meet their respective ends in chapters seventeen, eighteen, and nineteen.
These verses thus preview their demise through the use of a highly illustrative word-picture: “…Babylon the Great was remembered before God for the purpose of giving her the cup of the wine of the fury of His wrath” (Wuest). This same type of imagery appears within the Old Testament Scriptures to illustrate God’s wrath and judgment (see Isaiah 51:17, Jeremiah 25:15-17, and Ezekiel 23:28-34 for some examples).
Therefore, these verses (and the chapters that follow) should provide us with a fresh perspective on the message of John 3:36…
“Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on him” (NIV).