Lesson 48
Revelation - Study of Things to Come
Revelation 16 The Bowls of Wrath
16:3 Bowl #2 Sea become blood! Judgment upon marine life!
- One of the things that
Scripture uses to describe some figures or symbols is called "language of
appearance." what that means is this;
If something looks like something, here blood, call
it blood.
- the
seas, oceans will becomes pools of blood;
in that death will be complete for all marine life.
- The resultant stench
and disease that this will cause along the shores of the seas and oceans is
unimaginable.
16:4-7 Bowl #3 Judgment on the fresh water supply 16:4-7
- 3 things here;
statement of contamination; 16:4
justification is given; 16:5-6
affirmation of it. 16:7
a. statement of
contamination; 16:4
- the implications of this
on the living conditions for man are enormous.
* What is the human
viewpoint response to what is here in these judgments? How vindictive God is! Look how vicious He
is!
b. Justification is given; 16:5-6
- First: It is justified by the Holiness of
God! 16:5
- A second justification of the retribution is the
sinfulness of man!
c. Affirmation of the judgment 16:7
- Why can't the longsuffering of God be one of His
eternal attributes?
It cannot be because God is just and at some point
must execute justice. If longsuffering
were an eternal attribute it would be impossible for Him to execute justice.
6. 16:8-9 Bowl #4 A Celestial Judgment!
- The sun, a life
enhancer, now becomes a scourge of man causing fierce heat; like the thermostat is cranked
up; undoubtedly increasing the UV
rays;
- Couple this judgment
with the previous ones and by now the existing living conditions which are
rapidly becoming unbearable; unlivable.
- But man continues to
demonstrate his blind arrogance and rebellion against God. (total
negative volition)
He will not bow the knee to God! He will not repent.
He would rather bite his tongue in pain then change
his mind.
He would rather suffer than align with the will of
God and give Him glory.
- The implication from
the passage is that the saints of this period, those who have believed in Jesus
Christ will not suffer from these plagues.
- Passage in OT that
speaks to this time; Mal 4:1-2
7.
16:10-11 Bowl #5
Darkness; Focus is on the
throne of the Beast!
- The main focus of this judgment is the Beast and
his throne.
- We find here a vivid
picture of the intensity of their suffering, they
gnawed their own tongues in pain;
- As we read vs:9 and 11 does it appear that they will know where the
judgments come from?
- And when confronted by
the righteous judgments of God; their blasphemy intensifies and their
evil purpose is accentuated.
- This judgment is similar
to the 9th plague of
- This part of the
judgment of the day of the Lord was predicted by several of the Prophets. Amos 5:18,20; Zeph 1:15;
8.
16:12-16 6th
Bowl; Focus is the
- The
- Even more significant
is that it is the eastern boundary of the land that is promised to
This barrier between East and West is to be
removed!
- That the way (odoj road, path) might be
prepared for the kings (rulers, leaders) the ones from the east,
(from the rising of the sun).
Vs:13-16
presents for us an additional vision that John is given;
It is parenthetical in nature but is related to
this 6th bowl and what follows.
In this vision we will find out just who are the
promoters and the ones who motivate the leaders of the nations to gather their
armies in the place called Har-Magedon vs:16.
What we have in vs:13-14,
is the prelude to the great and final war that reaches its maturation in
These demon emissaries are the ones used by the
unholy, counterfeit
trinity to motivate the leaders of the "whole world," the inhabited world; to bring their armies
for this great campaign.
Can you see a scenario
for these signs?
What has been happening? Those who are beast
worshipers, all over the earth, have
been the recipient of the wrath of God, they know the source as we have seen,
the waters have been contaminated, the sun has been scorching those who
ventured outside; world wide conditions then for the majority of mankind is at
best, gross to unlivable;