1Then I heard a mighty voice from the Temple say to the seven angels, “Go your ways and pour out on the earth the seven bowls containing God’s wrath.”
2So the first angel left the Temple and poured out his bowl on the earth, and horrible, malignant sores broke out on everyone who had the mark of the beast and who worshiped his statue.
3Then the second angel poured out his bowl on the sea, and it became like the blood of a corpse. And everything in the sea died.
4Then the third angel poured out his bowl on the rivers and springs, and they became blood.
5And I heard the angel who had authority over all water saying, “You are just, O Holy One, who is and who always was, because you have sent these judgments. 6Since they shed the blood of your holy people and your prophets, you have given them blood to drink. It is their just reward.” 7And I heard a voice from the altar, saying, “Yes, O Lord God, the Almighty, your judgments are true and just.”
8Then the fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, causing it to scorch everyone with its fire. 9Everyone was burned by this blast of heat, and they cursed the name of God, who had control over all these plagues. They did not repent of their sins and turn to God and give him glory.
10Then the fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom was plunged into darkness. His subjects ground their teeth in anguish, 11and they cursed the God of heaven for their pains and sores. But they did not repent of their evil deeds and turn to God.
12Then the sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great Euphrates River, and it dried up so that the kings from the east could march their armies toward the west without hindrance.
13And I saw three evil spirits that looked like frogs leap from the mouths of the dragon, the beast, and the false prophet. 14They are demonic spirits who work miracles and go out to all the rulers of the world to gather them for battle against the Lord on that great judgment day of God the Almighty.
15“Look, I will come as unexpectedly as a thief! Blessed are all who are watching for me, who keep their clothing ready so they will not have to walk around naked and ashamed.” 16And the demonic spirits gathered all the rulers and their armies to a place with the Hebrew name Armageddon.
17Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air. And a mighty shout came from the throne in the Temple, saying, “It is finished!” 18Then the thunder crashed and rolled, and lightning flashed. And a great earthquake struck—the worst since people were placed on the earth. 19The great city of Babylon split into three sections, and the cities of many nations fell into heaps of rubble. So God remembered all of Babylon’s sins, and he made her drink the cup that was filled with the wine of his fierce wrath. 20And every island disappeared, and all the mountains were levelled. 21There was a terrible hailstorm, and hailstones weighing as much as seventy-five pounds fell from the sky onto the people below. They cursed God because of the terrible plague of the hailstorm.
Revelation 16:1-21
I am delighted that a number of you tried dividing the chapter for yourselves and a couple commented on how revealing it was to do that. Hence my reason for suggesting you do it. If you haven’t done so before, give it a go. I have given you my subdivision of the chapter above and have highlighted several elements in a way which I think will lead you to some discoveries. I will add some more of my revelations as I work my way through the text before us.
I am sorry Ross, no one answered your question from the previous Gem, so I will answer it myself, but to you personally because the other readers didn’t get involved. If others had contributed I would share it with everyone; alas no one did but you.
Some of you picked up on the difference between Chapter 15 and Chapter 16. Namely the first is what John saw while the second is about what John heard. At least one new vision was introduced (verse 13) where John tells us “he saw”. Throughout the Revelation, John normally tells us when the revelation was communicated by vision or a spoken word. I am sure you have also detected that there are pauses between the unfolding of the bowl judgements just as there have been between the earlier announcements of God’s judgements. If you look carefully at the divisions I have made, the pauses will be evident. In addition to the pauses I have noticed patterns or progressions in other details John has recorded for us. There are numbers of subtle touches John adds to the text. I have not coloured them all, but prefer to hold some until we get to them.
Lastly, notice that the bowls of judgement are covered methodically by John in a measured way. It is almost like the bowls are being poured out measure by measure in a manner which heightens the tension of each succeeding bowl. But there are also surprises interlaced between the phases of the bowls by virtue of John’s literary skill and measured approach. These little surprises keep us on our toes but also add understanding to what is going on behind the scene at the bigger picture level.
- “What on earth are you talking about Ian?”
- “Wait and see as we work our way through this chapter bowl by bowl.”
Before we start, pay attention to where I have made divisions. See if you {would have} made a division in the same place. There are some elements in the text which are puzzling as well. I will comment on such elements at the appropriate time. One more aspect of complexity we have to keep an eye on is the way these judgements parallel the judgements on Egypt in the time of Moses. Yes, now you are getting the idea, there is a lot packed into Revelation 15 and 16. So let’s begin with the opening verses of the chapter. After one verse of introduction we encounter the first of the bowls of judgement.
1Then I heard a mighty voice from the Temple say to the seven angels, “Go your ways and pour out on the earth the seven bowls containing God’s wrath.”
2So the first angel left the Temple and poured out his bowl on the earth, and horrible, malignant sores broke out on everyone who had the mark of the beast and who worshiped his statue.
Did you notice that I separated these two verses into two sections: an introductory verse followed by the verse which begins the first of the series of bowl judgements? The first verse or utterance of the chapter is an overarching one which covers all seven bowls of judgements. A mighty voice booms out to all seven angels. The mightiness of the voice relates to its loudness. But notice that it comes from the Temple (in heaven) in other words from God. Once again these bowl judgements are from God Himself. It is ‘great’ in that it is shouted or is loud. Notice too that the voice is not addressing John himself, but each of the angels who are being sent forth to pour out the judgements. This first verse is the introduction to the activity soon to take place through all seven angels.
I am sure you have picked up on the fact that the instructions to all seven angels are patterned. Each angel is to target an area or geographic feature of the earth or its environment and pour out the bowl of judgement on the feature in focus. But notice something curious in the succeeding list of targets: earth, earth, sea, the rivers and springs, the sun, the throne of the beast, the great Euphrates River and finally the air. I find this list curious as I will demonstrate as we progress. But allow me to explain the first contrast we encounter. What is interesting is the fact that earth is featured as the target in the introduction and in the first bowl judgement. There is debate among the commentators as to why this is so. I won’t go into all the details or whys and wherefores. Suffice to say I think earth is being used in two different ways. Hence my colour coding and the difference between them.
earth – I suspect the first reference to earth is a generic usage for all seven angels – in other words the sphere of this blue / green planet we inhabit. The target is the same for all seven angels – the earth we live on. Thus I have coloured the first earth blue-green accordingly.
earth – When it comes to the target of the first bowl, the focus is the land as opposed to the sea, hence I have coloured this earth green.
In my mind the distinction between them is logical. The Greek word γῆ (gē) means “earth” as a planet and “land” as a feature on earth as does the Hebrew word [‘arets]. Now allow me to direct our attention to the focus of the first bowl of judgment, having explained the nature of the first verse forming the introduction.
The First Bowl
2So the first angel left the Temple and poured out his bowl on the earth, and horrible, malignant sores broke out on everyone who had the mark of the beast and who worshiped his statue.
Revelation 16:2
The target is the land where the people live. Notice what happens after this bowl has been poured out. Horrible, malignant sores break out on everyone who has the mark of the beast or who worshipped his statue. What is fascinating about this plague resulting from the first bowl judgement is the targeted population. ‘Everyone’ is not universally applied, there is a limitation. The horrible, malignant sores only appear on “the people of the earth” who belong to the satanic trinity. The other noteworthy aspect is the match to the first plague of Egypt in Moses’ era. That which was poured out with the first bowl resulted in [ἕλκος κακὸν καὶ πονηρὸν]. Boils or pistules, weeping and infectious. [Elkos] is the word used in both Revelation 16:2 and Exodus 9:8-11 [in the Greek Septuagint (LXX)] with the same description. They are swelling blisters or pistules, weeping, infectious and highly contagious. The interesting trigger is that in both cases these boils or pistules appear on the body spontaneously, having come from within. They break out as malignant ulcers or running sores which spread through the community. The match between Revelation and Exodus is remarkable, but even more so was the extent of those infected by this plague. In Moses day it covered high born and low class by infecting all levels of Egyptian society, but the Israelites living in Goshen were not affected. As will be the case at the time of the First Bowl plague: the boils, pistules and sores will infect only those who belong to the satanic trinity, not the people of God.
Do you detect the subliminal message coming through this text?
Do you see the parallel? You can’t help but see the connection and the extent of infection with the first plague on Egypt in Moses time.
Notice also that first angel doesn’t return to the throne room of heaven. He is left to ‘go away’, to roam. The same applies to all seven angels. Imagine the ensuing chaos.
Come along with me or go before me and see what you can find for yourself.
I believe I have set the scene and the pattern for what is to follow. Don’t miss what is to come!
We will continue to look at the following bowls in order and highlight the detail which stands out as well as dealing with the patterns and subtleties as we progress.