First 3 Judgement Bowls Poured Out

Revelation 16:1-7

I heard a loud voice from the temple telling the seven angels, “Go and pour out on the earth the seven bowls of the wrath of God.”

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.

The second angel poured out his bowl into the sea, and it became like the blood of a corpse, and every living thing died that was in the sea.

The third angel poured out his bowl into the rivers and the springs of water, and they became blood.  And I heard the angel in charge of the waters say,

“Just are you, O Holy One, who is and who was,
for you brought these judgments.
For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets,
and you have given them blood to drink.
It is what they deserve!”

And I heard the altar saying,
“Yes, Lord God the Almighty, true and just are your judgments!”

As Moses pleaded with Pharaoh to let the Israelites leave Egypt, as captured in the book of Exodus, Pharaoh hardened his heart and refused to let them go.  Moses asks him one last time, “Let my people go,” and Pharaoh refuses, setting off a series of 10 plagues to fall upon the Pharaoh and the people of Egypt.  His attempt to demonstrate His power and authority to Pharaoh fell upon an unwilling recipient.  Plagues of blood in seas and rivers, frogs, gnats, flies, livestock death, boils, hail, locusts, darkness, and even the death of the firstborn in every family in Egypt, God’s message was evidence; but to the hard-hearted, it meant nothing.  Finally, Pharaoh, after losing his only son, relents to Moses’ request.  Yet, even then, Pharaoh and his army pursue Moses into the desert our of his hatred and vengeance toward God.  This results in the complete loss of his army, chariots, and horses at the bottom of the Red Sea.  God will not be challenged, and despite our anger and denial, His way will always come to be.

So it is in the coming end days.  John’s vision of the bowls being poured out upon mankind will once again demonstrate God’s sovereignty and omnipotence.  He has all authority, and His plan will come to fruition.  Those who will oppose Him will fall to their demise at His hand in one way or another.  

Those who remain defiant toward the Lord in those days will suffer greatly as the end draws near.  Boils and sores will cover their bodies.  No salves will release the pain.  No Tylenol, no compress, no ice bath, nor bandage will ease their pain.  Following this, the living creatures in the seas will die, as the second angel pours out his bowl into the sea.  The waters will turn to blood such that none shall live.  Imagine every ocean turning crimson red, and washing dead creatures from the depths up onto the shores.  The third angel pours his bowl out into the rivers, springs, and lakes.  The fresh water turns to blood, around the globe.  Mankind requires water for survival.  67% of the human body is comprised of water, while 70% of the earth is comprised of water.  It is the life-sustaining force within each of us, and without it for an extended period of time, we will perish.

Do you see the similarities to the mercies from God on those in Egypt to the wrath of God in Revelation 16.  The plagues on Egypt were temporary and local focused to Pharaoh and his people only.  The plagues were progressively worse in an attempt to encourage the changing of their hearts.  Similarly, God’s wrath poured out at the end of days will become progressively worse in an attempt to persuade mankind to come back to Him.  When these bowls are poured out, though, it is the final judgement.  Mankind will have had its chance to repent, leading up to this point.  Those who are left will suffer greatly from every bowl that is poured out.  The angel comments that this is deservedly so because they have refused and defied Him through every progressive warning.  Woe to those who must endure these plagues, for they will not find God’s mercy.

And then there were Plagues

Revelation 15:1, 5-8

(1)Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and amazing, seven angels with seven plagues, which are the last, for with them the wrath of God is finished….

(5)After this I looked, and the sanctuary of the tent of witness in heaven was opened, and out of the sanctuary came the seven angels with the seven plagues, clothed in pure, bright linen, with golden sashes around their chests.  And one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God who lives forever and ever, and the sanctuary was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from his power, and no one could enter the sanctuary until the seven plagues of the seven angels were finished

Up to this point, we have discussed the seven seals broken by the Lamb of God, the seven trumpets blown by the seven angels, and now we are introduced to seven angels with seven plagues for the end of the great tribulation and seven bowls full of wrath.  The temple of God then becomes off-limits until the end is complete.

His glory filled the temple to the point no other being could enter in.  In the final stages of tribulation, God’s wrath will demonstrate His unmatched omnipotence and power.  He alone has the authority to give these angels the ability to pour out the coming wrath upon mankind.  Every element of His wrath and judgment to this point has demonstrated His authority over all creatures, even Satan.  Despite Satan’s attempt to usurp God’s authority, this ending scenario makes it very clear that Satan is fully beholden to God’s authority.

The angels bring the bowls of wrath upon those who have denied and refused His mercies and grace.  Those who have decided to follow Satan, the Antichrist, and False Prophet will feel this wrath completely.  Do not let the world tell you that this shows that inherently God is evil.  This is 100% based on mankind’s decision to reject Him, and not based on God’s decision to reject mankind.  

Let us not forget that God sent them Jesus Christ as the propitiation of sin, redemption, and salvation.  God in the last days will send them 144,000 Saints to share His word and testimony, to help them repent and turn from their evil ways.  God will send them plagues to demonstrate His authority and omnipotence.  God will send them two witnesses to prophecy and share His mercy and grace with them.  Despite His attempts to bring them back into His love and eternal rest, there will be those who maintain their self-centered, self-righteous denial even to the point of death.  

Pray and share His love with those you meet today.  Help them understand and see His loving mercy and grace.  Each day, our path crosses the path of others struggling in life; help them find God.