Revelation 16

Chapter 16 THE LORD OF THE EARTH THE BOWLS OF THE WRATH OF GOD. 16:2-21

1st bowl and angel. 16:2 2nd bowl and angel. 16:3 3rd bowl and angel. 16:4-7 4th bowl and angel. 16:8-9 5th bowl and angel. 16:10-11 6th bowl and angel. 16:12-16 7th bowl and angel. 16:17-21

The 7 angels now leave the place of the mercy seat in heaven to pour out judgment on man. Whenever man leave God’ s mercy, the judgment of God begins.

Revelation 16:1-7

V.1 h) Seven angels commanded -

The former judgments in Revelation were severe, but now they will increase for the full wrath of God will be poured out on the earth.

1st bowl and angel. 16:2 V.2 a) Skin cursed -

I. The followers of Antichrist are cursed with infectious and painful wounds.

The whole population of the earth suffers from a painful disease that no one can cure.

II. The 6th plague of God on the Egyptians was painful and infectious wounds. Ex.9:10 III. The pleasure of man is struck.

2nd bowl and angel. 16:3 V.3 b) Sea cursed -

I. The sea becomes blood and all creatures in it dies.

II. During the 2nd trumpet 1/3 of all creatures in the sea died 8:8-9, but now all creatures dies.

III. The sea becomes a graveyard instead of a womb of life.

IV. The 1st plague of God on the Egyptians was turning their waters to blood. Ex.7:19-21 V. The provision of food is struck. 3rd bowl and angel. 16:4-7 V.4 c) Springs and rivers cursed -

I. The drinking water is cursed, all the fresh water is polluted.

II. The 1st plague of God on the Egyptians was turning their waters to blood. Ex.7:19-21 III. The provision of drinking water is struck.

V.5-7 d) Sayings of Sowing and reaping -

I. The angel in charge of the waters on the earth declares God’ s justice in judging man in this manner - They caused blood to flow and now they shall drink blood (there is nothing else to drink), what a man sows he shall also reap. Gal.6:7; Ezek.16:38 II. The angel in charge of the altar in heaven declares also the judgments of God to be true and righteous.

III. Heaven and earth agrees on the judgments of God.

Revelation 16:8-11

4th bowl and angel. 16:8-9 V.8 c) Sun cursed -

I. The sun is cursed, the protective layers of the atmosphere can no longer protect man, it burns them. Isaiah 24:6; Mal.4:1 II. The sun burns more powerful.

III. During the 4th trumpet 1/3 of the light of heaven were decreased 8:12-13, but now the light increases.

IV. The enjoyment of man is struck.

V.9 d) Statement of man -

I. It’ s hard to be outside, the world becomes like a hot oven and water to cool their tongues is struck with a curse too. II. These plagues ought to have caused man to look inward and repent, but instead they Blame God by Blaspheming Him. III. The Purpose of the Plague:

A. Reveal God’ s Power.

B. Reveal men’ s heart Problem

5th bowl and angel. 16:10-11 V.10 e) Severe darkness curse -

I. The throne and kingdom of Antichrist is struck with full darkness that causes pain. Isaiah 60:2; Joel 2:1-2, 31 II. During the 4th trumpet 1/3 of the light of heaven were decreased 8:12-13, but now there is no light at all.

III. The 9th plague of God on the Egyptians was causing darkness over Egypt. Ex.10:21-23 IV. The vision and work of man is struck.

V.11 f) Statement of the kingdom of the beast -

I. These plagues ought to have caused man to look inward and repent, but instead they Blame God by Blaspheming Him.

II. Man still has the sores from the bowl judgment, the bowls judgments are chronological and happens quickly after one another.

III. Man should had come to Christ for:

A. Spiritual healing - “ Christ the Saviour” but didn’ t so they are struck with sickness. John 3:17; 4:42; 5:34; 10:9; 12:47 B. Spiritual food - “ Christ the bread of life” but didn’ t so their provision of food is struck. John 6:27, 32-35, 47-58 C. Spiritual drink - “ Christ the fountain of water” but didn’ t so their drinking water is struck. John 4:10-14 D. Spiritual light - “ Christ the light of the world” but didn’ t so their light is struck. John 1:4-5; 8:12; 12:46 IV. The first 5 bowls is a foretaste of hell and the lake of fire:

A. 1st bowl courses pain. 16:2 (Luke 16:23)

B. 2nd bowl causes weakness (less food). 16:3

C. 3rd bowl causes lack of water. 16:4-7 (Luke 16:24)

D. 4th bowl causes the sun to burn with fire. 16:8-9 (Luke 16:24)

E. 5th bowl causes thick darkness. 16:10-11 (Jude 13)

Revelation 16:12-16

6th bowl and angel. 16:12-16 V.12 g) Soldiers from the east curse -

I. The 6th angel pours his judgment on the River Euphrates that became blood in verse 4; this bowl causes the River to dry up so the kings of the East can pass over to Israel.

II. The River Euphrates is a river that begins in the Armenian mountains and ends in the Persian Gulf; it has a course of about 1,700 miles.

III. The River Euphrates were the cradle of Civilisation Gen.2:14 and will also be the grave of the Civilisation.

IV. In the Old Testament the Lord prophesied that the River Euphrates would dry up in the last days. Isaiah 11:15-16; Zech.10:11 V. Now a dry way is prepared for the army of the East, they will rise up against and attack Israel. Dan.11:44-45 VI. A great dam is built in Syria across the River Euphrates that could dry up the river at any time.

V.13 h) Spirits of deception -

I. 3 unclean spirits come out of the triune evil unity. II. The spirits look like frogs, perhaps because of their long tongues of deception. V.14 i) Signs of deception -

I. The task of the 3 demons is to convince through deception the whole world, why they should join in the war against Israel. 1.Kings 22:21-23 II. They will use even signs to convict the world, because these demons are spirits their signs might be of spiritual nature.

III. The Devil is using these 3 demons to gather the world in war against the Jews, but God is actually allowing it to bring judgment upon this ungodly world system. Zeph.3:8; Joel 3:2 IV. It’ s not only the kings of the east that goes into battle against Israel v.12 but also the kings of the earth. v.14

V. As the Spirit of God is sent into all the earth to bring man to Christ 5:6, so these 3 demon spirits are sent into all the world to gather man to join the war of Satan.

V.15 j) Stand Strong -

I. The 2nd Coming is coming as a thief in the night for the unbelievers. 1.Thess. 5:2, 4 II. Judgement comes suddenly during His Coming. Matt.24:36-44

III. 2 things to do as they await His 2nd Coming:

A. Anticipation - Watching is to be spiritual awake and expect His soon return. Matt.25:1-30 B. Action - Keeping the garments is to continue believing in Christ.

IV. Falling away from Christ will cause nakedness and shame before God and man.

V. It could also be a word to believers in the Church age to remain faithful until He comes in the Rapture.

V.16 k) Soldiers at the Armageddon -

I. This is the only reference to Armageddon in the New Testament.

II. Armageddon means: Mountain of Megiddo.

III. Megiddo means: Place of troops or place of slaughter.

IV. Megiddo is a high place in the Carmel mountain range; it was a walled city that was difficult to conquer.

V. The valley of Jezreel or plain of Esdraelon lays beside Megiddo and the valley is about 14 by 20 mile.

VI. In the south of this valley of Jezreel the high place of Megiddo stand and at the east end Mount Tabor stand.

VII. Many important battles where fought here during the Old Testament. Judges Ch.4-5; 7; 2.Chron.35:20-27 VIII. In this region of Megiddo there will be a great future battle. Psalms 2:1-3; Joel 3:2; Zech.12:2-9, 11; 14:1-3 IX. Not all the armies of the world can be in this valley so they probably face Israel from many other borders.

X. Christ will appear during this great battle and destroy all man in this army.

The elaboration of this verse can be found in Rev.19:11-21.

Revelation 16:17-21

7th bowl and angel. 16:17-21 V.17 l) Sphere cursed -

I. The last bowl judgment is being poured out.

II. What it contains is revealed in v.18-21 and elaborated in chapter 17 and 18.

III. The air is now being cursed by the 7th and last judgment.

IV. With these 7 seals the judgment on the world is done, verse 21 is the last judgment on the world. V. If man would not receive the finished work on Calvary John 19:30 they will receive of the finished work of judgment. V.18 m) Shaking of the earth - Dimensions of the earthquake.

I. Perhaps these noises, thunderings and lightnings is worldwide.

II. The world’ s greatest earthquake shakes the world with possible after-quakes and tsunamis.

III. The 7th seal, the 7th trumpet and the 7th bowl all have noises, thunderings, lightnings and an earthquake in them. 8:6; 11:19; 16:18

V.19 n) Severity on the nations - Destruction of cities.

I. The earthquake causes Jerusalem (The great city) to be parted into 3 parts. 11:8, Zech.14:4 II. The cities around the world is crushing down, they are being levelled to the ground.

III. During this time Babylon the great (A city in Iraq) is also receiving her judgment, which is elaborated in chapter 17 and 18. Isaiah Ch.13-14; Jer. Ch.50-51 IV. Now comes the fulfilment of the angel’ s word of Babylon’ s fall. 14:8

V.20 o) Seize of the earthquake - Disappearance of mountains and islands.

I. The earthquake causes such a shaking that all island and mountains is being destroyed or covered with water. Jer.4:23-27; Hag.2:6,7 II. In chapter 6 verse 14 during the 6th seal every mountain and island was moved out of their place, but during the 7th bowl they are destroyed or covered with water. III. The earthquake will prepare the earth for conditions in the Millennium that where in Eden.

V.21 p) Stoning of man - Dropping of hailstones.

I. Huge hail stones falls on the world that weighs 1 talent, about 34 kilograms

II. God is now stoning men in judgment. Josh.10:11; Job 38:22-23; Isaiah 28:2, 17; Ezek.13:11-13; 38:22-23 III. Consider the worldwide damage these hailstones will do on all things, as it comes down from heaven with the speed faster than a vehicle.

IV. This judgment is similar to the 7th plague on Egypt. Ex.9:13-34

V. The hailstorm ends the great tribulation period; it’ s the last judgment before the everlasting judgment of man, which happens in chapter 20

A. Chapters 17 and 18 elaborates 16:19

B. Chapter 19 elaborates 16:16

C. Chapters 17-19 are elaborations chapters.