The Bowl Judgments (Part 1)
Revelation, Part 25, Revelation 16:1-11
Introduction
- Last week we saw a pause, angel’s assignments, and worship in heaven
- Today we begin to examine the destruction of this Earth
-- This is done by a just a righteous God to an Earth who won’t repent
- It is important that we understand where John is taking us
-- These are prophetic images of what will take place in the future
- Revelation 16:1 says, “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.”
- John hears the voice of the Lord (that is, God) giving specific orders
-- Remember: These angels are already prepared for this task
- Because these angels are unemotional in this task … have on mission:
-- To be obedient to God
-- This obedience ought to be the same obedience that we demonstrate
-- Should reflect our response when God gives us something to do
- Read Revelation 16:1-11
Ω Point 1 - First Bowl (v2)
- God’s wrath is upon those who choose to reject the warning in Chapter 14
-- Something very important: This is NOT to produce repentance
-- APP: It is to bring suffering to those on this Earth
- Remember, that once you take the Mark, there is no turning back
-- This is the just suffering of those who have disobeyed God
-- Revelation 14:9-10 says, “Then a third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand, he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation. He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb.”
- The sore is an oozing wound tormenting those who choose Satan’s ways
Ω Point 2 - Second Bowl (v3)
- Because of the judgment the sea became blood
-- Water is a key to life: God’s wrath is poured out on all humanity
-- Contrast to the second trumpet judgment (Rev 8:8) where 1/3 of the sea became blood and 1/3 of the creatures died … here all the sea becomes blood and ALL the creatures died
- Both sea water and blood have the same content of salt
-- The sea becoming blood reflects the condition of mankind
-- APP: It is a metaphor we can recognize: man is dead inside
-- IMP: What brings life? JESUS! John 6:35, John 17:3, Romans 6:23
-- This is a judgment of wrath not one to turn men toward repentance
-- It is (again) to punish those who are at war with God
Ω Point 3 - Third Bowl (v4-7)
- In this judgment the rivers and springs become blood
- Like the first plague on Egypt: third trumpet judgment causes blood
-- Whether this is real blood or actual blood is unknown until that day
-- The point God is making with man is not mercy but judgment
-- God is repaying the inhabitants of the earth for their rebellion
- God assigns angels to have specific jobs of protection on the Earth
-- They guard and protect from demonic activity or interference
-- This angel gives his approval to the judgments on fresh water
- IMP: The trumpet judgments were designed to turn man toward God
-- It is to allow humanity to see their dependence on God
-- These judgments serve to turn man AWAY from God
- Those on the earth now are mostly those who worshipped the Beast
-- They are servants of his and have taken/received the mark
- The believers, except for those in hiding, are mostly in heaven now
-- They have been killed by those God is about to pour out his wrath on
Ω Point 4 - Fourth Bowl (v8-9)
- The sun, the source of light and warmth, is magnified
-- Gives man a taste of the coming heat in the lake of fire
- The heat from the Sun brings out true nature of those who worship Satan
-- There is no remorse or contrition in the face of the heat from the Sun.
- APP: Mankind’s reaction will be the same in hell
-- With this judgment and the one to come his heart will not soften
-- For this reason we are twice told in this chapter men did not repent
- Without the supply of the ocean waters and drinking water
-- Situation for the earth’s inhabitants begins to look very bleak
-- Now, they have the scorching heat from the sun
-- APP: God demonstrates the character of those facing judgment
- Rather than seeking mercy, the earth inhabitants rebel further
-- They are verbally assaulting God in heaven
-- God demonstrates the hardness of man’s heart and his own righteousness
-- Judgment falls because of our own heart’s condition (full of sin)
- The heart of remaining humanity has no desire to repent
-- They see God as their enemy; choosing instead god of this Earth
-- Their only hope is for Satan to be victorious (false hope at best)
Ω Point 5 - Fifth Bowl (v10-11)
- The capital of antichrist’s kingdom is filled with darkness
-- Egypt faced a similar plague in the days of Moses
-- The fourth trumpet also brought darkness to 1/3 of the earth
- Purpose of the darkness over the kingdom could be for several reasons:
- 1) The darkness is a foretaste of the eternal darkness ahead
-- Matthew 8:11-12 says, “And I say to you that many will come from east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. But the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
- 2) The darkness could allow any in hiding in the kingdom of the Antichrist to escape the coming destruction of “New Babylon” under the cover of darkness. (false hope, but gives them
-- Jeremiah 51:6-7 says, “Flee from the midst of Babylon, And every one save his life! Do not be cut off in her iniquity, for this is the time of the Lord's vengeance; He shall recompense her. Babylon was a golden cup in the Lord's hand, that made all the earth drunk. The nations drank her wine; therefore the nations are deranged.”
- 3) Shows the future of those who rebel …
-- 2 Peter 2:4, "For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting them in chains of darkness to be held for judgment"
Ω Big Ideas
- The people of this kingdom will not repent or seek forgiveness
-- The judgments demonstrate the hardness of man’s heart
-- APP: Not just during Tribulation, but NOW as well
- They gnawed their tongues
-- The darkness along with oozing sores from the first bowl, lack of water, lack of food and scorching heat are taking their toll
-- The response of man is one of war not repentance
-- In agony, humanity gnaws at their tongues but …
-- APP: They refuse to repent cry out for mercy
- Those on earth respond in blaspheming God
-- The righteousness of God’s wrath demonstrated by its recipients
-- For the second time humanity shakes their fist at heaven
-- And is common even in today’s time: they blasphemes God’s name
- They did not repent … the second time this point is made
-- This point is repeated twice for emphasis, so the reader understands
-- Even if humanity could repent, they will not
- God's judgment shows us who we are
-- Where are we in this?
-- Will we repent?
-- Will we live only for ourselves?
- Pray
