Revelation 16 The Bowl Judgements

Verse 1.. And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the bowls of the wrath of God upon the earth.

In the previous chapter we learned that 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. Now God himself directs the out pouring of the final judgment upon the earth.

Verse 2.. And the first went, and poured out his bowl upon the earth; and there fell foul and evil sores upon the men who had the mark of the beast, and upon them who worshiped his image. 

Notice that people who have taken the mark of the beast are the ones afflicted with the painful sores. These sores don't go away. They would be similar to skin conditions caused by radiation fallout.

Verse 3.. And the second angel poured out his bowl upon the sea; and it became as the blood of a dead man; and every living thing died in the sea. The blood of a corpse has no life in it. The blood of a living person is full of life. So the oceans of the earth will become polluted and unable to support life.

Verse 4.. And the third angel poured out his bowl upon the rivers and fountains of waters; and they became blood. It doesn't say "blood of a corpse like in the previous verse, but one would draw that conclusion. Life giving water becomes toxic and polluted; unable to sustain and refresh.

Verse 5.. 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. Verse 6.. For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and you have given them blood to drink. It is what they deserve!"  These people that have accepted the mark of the beast are the same ones who approved the slaughter of believers earlier during the tribulation period. So the righteousness of God is declared in that they are given blood to drink.

Verse 7.. And I heard the altar saying, "Yes, Lord God the Almighty, true and just are your judgments!"

Verse 8.. The fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and it was allowed to scorch people with fire. Verse 9.. They were scorched by the fierce heat, and they cursed the name of God who had power over these plagues. 

They did not repent and give God glory. Earlier in the tribulation period, the sun failed to light the earth for a time. Now it is scorching the earth. This cosmic anomaly  does not cause earth dwellers to repent or even give God glory. This judgment has come upon those who have completely abandoned any opportunity for a relationship with the creator!

Verse 10.. And the fifth angel poured out his bowl upon the throne of the beast; and his kingdom was full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues for pain, Verse 11.. And blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and repented not of their deeds. People gnawed their tongues in anguish and cursed the God of heaven for their pain and sores. They did not repent of their deeds. So the sun scorches the earth then goes dark. This resembles a super nova condition where a star heats up for a few days and increases in intensity and then dies out. Whatever it is, it doesn't cause people to repent.

Verse 12.. The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and it's water was dried up, to prepare the way for the kings from the east. Apparently eastern armies will route up this valley in order to do battle against against the Lord.

Research released by NASA and the University of California has shown a major decrease in the volume of ground water reserves in the Tigris and Euphrates river basins. Turkey also has the ability to shut off the water supply downstream. The Ataturk Dam makes it possible to control the flow of the Euphrates. Though an agreement to let the water flow is in place, Turkey could decide to turn off the spigot at any time. This would in effect dry up the flow and allow a crossing for military troops and trucks.

Verse 13.. And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. Verse 14.. For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. Demons performing miracles is a recurring theme during the tribulation period. The people are eager for a miracle and are quick to believe a lie.

Verse 15.. Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame. This seems like a warning and an encouragement interjected here by the Lord. In Luke 21:36 Jesus says watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these thing that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man. So it is like the Lord reaching out to the reader and encouraging him. You don't have to experience this great tribulation.  Others believe that it is a warning not to participate in this final battle. 

Verse 16.. And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon.

Revelation 14:20 says.. And the wine press was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the wine press, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs. From Mageddo to Edom is a thousand and six hundred furlongs or 176 miles. 

Verse 17.. And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done. Verse 18.. And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great.

Verse 19.. And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath.

Verse 20.. And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found.

Verse 21.. And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent; and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof was exceeding great. 

The whole topography of the earth will be changed. Islands will be no more. Mountains will be leveled. This will not be an isolated earthquake like we see in different areas. This great quake will shake the entire earth. These hail stones will weigh in at about 75 to 100 pounds. Hurling through the air at 100 plus miles an hour; you can imagine the damage they will do.