The Seven Bowls

INTRO

After the seven seals and the seven trumpets, John saw seven bowls that were held by seven angels. This period of time was all about God’s wrath. God’s wrath was against unbelievers, specifically those individuals who followed the Antichrist.

TEACHING

Revelation 16:1-21: John heard a loud voice come from the sanctuary. The sanctuary was in the throne room of heaven. John used multiple senses to totally grasp and understand the images and actions he experienced. Seven angels were commanded to pour out the seven bowls of God’s wrath upon the earth.

In verse 2, the first angel poured out a bowl that caused painful sores to break out upon all those who worshipped the image of the beast and wore his mark. Earlier, we saw that those who had the mark of the beast were given access to buying and selling things the believers did not have access to. Now, the mark on their hands or heads meant they would suffer the wrath of God.

MacArthur explains the significance of these specific bowls of wrath: “The Septuagint (LXX) uses the same Greek word to describe the boils that plagued the Egyptians (Exodus 9:9–11) and afflicted Job (Job 2:7). In the New Testament, it describes the open sores that covered the beggar Lazarus (Luke 16:21). All over the world, people will be afflicted with incurable, open, oozing sores.”¹ MacArthur adds, “Only the worshippers of the Antichrist will be afflicted (see notes on 13:16; cf. 14:9–11).”² The first bowl of wrath was poured out before Christ had come again.

Another angel emptied the second bowl out on the sea. The sea turned into blood, and all the creatures of the sea died. This bowl was similar to the second trumpet. In the sequence of the seals, the trumpets, and now the bowls, the wrath of God seems to have progressively gotten worse. MacArthur explains, “This is reminiscent of the second trumpet (8:8, 9), and of the first plague against Egypt (Exodus 7:20–25).”³

In verse 4, the third angel poured out the third bowl. The result of the third bowl being poured was that fresh water rivers and springs turned to blood. All fresh water was turned to blood. There was nothing to drink. The angel of the waters could have been the same angel that poured out the third bowl.

God was described as “who is and who was” from beginning to the end. Verse 6 states the only thing to drink was the blood. The reason was because they brought about the death and destruction of the martyrs.

MacArthur explains, “Verse 6 says that the eternal God will judge justly because they have killed the believers and preachers of the gospel (6:9–11; 7:9–17; 11:18; 17:6; 18:20). This slaughter will have no parallel in history (Matthew 24:21) and neither will the vengeance of God (cf. Romans 12:19–21).”⁴ The believers had no water to clean themselves. God’s judgment was explained as being fair and proper.

In verse 7, a voice came from the altar and said that the bowls of wrath were justified because God had warned everyone repeatedly that judgment would come. All were given the opportunity to accept Jesus Christ.

The fourth angel poured out the fourth bowl in verse 8. The bowl was poured out on the sun. People were burned. Their flesh was scorched and burned by the fire and the heat. At the end of verse 9, John stated that the people would not repent. These accounts and the people’s refusal to repent were similar to Pharaoh’s response. The people refused to give God His glory. The people spoke against God. They refused to recognize that God was in control.

Verse 10 gives the account of the fifth bowl. This bowl was poured out on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom was put in darkness. People still blasphemed God even when they realized who the God of heaven was. The result was worldwide darkness.

Bowl six is explained in verse 12. It was poured out on the Euphrates River, and the river was dried up for the kings to be able to cross. MacArthur explains, “Called ‘the great river’ five times in Scripture, it flows some 1,800 miles from its source on the slopes of Mount Ararat to the Persian Gulf. It forms the eastern boundary of the land God promised to Israel (Genesis 15:18; Deuteronomy 1:7, 11:24; Joshua 1:4; Revelation 9:14).”⁵

MacArthur goes on to explain: “With its flow already reduced by the prolonged drought and intensified heat, God supernaturally will dry it up to make way for the eastern confederacy to reach Israel (Isaiah 11:15).”⁶ God cleared a way for all the armies to get to this place so that they would be there for the battle of Armageddon for their own destruction. “The reason for coming may be to rebel against Antichrist; whose failure to alleviate the world’s suffering will no doubt erode his popularity. Or, this may be a final act of rabid anti-Semitism intent on destroying Israel, perhaps in retaliation for the plagues sent by her God.”⁷

In verse 13, three unclean spirits came from the mouth of the dragon. The three images were of the Antichrist, Satan, and the false prophet. They represent spirits of demons. MacArthur states the language of the “unholy trinity” was to gather the people together for the final battle of Armageddon.⁸

The bowls of wrath were still in the process of coming. But, in verse 15, God emphasized the need to be ready for Christ’s return. The image was that of a soldier ready for battle.

The seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air. According to MacArthur, “The voice from the temple in heaven is undoubtedly that of God Himself. ‘It is done!’ is best translated, ‘It has been and will remain done’ (cf. John 19:30). God will punctuate the completion of His wrath with a devasting earthquake—the most powerful in earth’s history (cf. vv. 18–21).”⁹ This reflected a comparison between Jerusalem and Babylon.

CLOSING

Christ has still not come back yet. The way to avoid being at this end time occurrence is to accept Christ as Savior and Lord.