The Seven Bowls of God’s Wrath
Review
The four traditional interpretations of the Book of Revelation
The preterist view – The book has already been fulfilled in the first century.
The historicist view – The book is an account of the entire history of the church (A. D. 33-2020+).
The allegorical view – The book is about the church struggling with evil in this world at all times.
The futurists view – While recognizing the frequent use of figurative (or symbolic) language in Revelation, this view sees the book as an account mostly about future events. This view is based on Revelation 1:19 which gives the outline of the book.
The interpretation I prefer and will be using is the futurist’s view.
Revelation is primarily about a future time known as the 7-year tribulation period. The last 3 ½ years are actually the “great tribulation” when the antichrist’s rule will commence intense persecution of the Jews on the earth. This whole period will be a time of God’s wrath, getting more intense as time progresses. After the sixth seal is opened (6:12), there will be natural disasters, dread, and despair among men on the earth. Note the following:
Rev. 6:15 -16 “Then the kings of the earth, the very important people, the generals, the rich, the powerful, and everyone, slave and free, hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains. They said to the mountains and to the rocks, ‘Fall on us and hide us from the face of the one who is seated on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb, 17 because the great day of their wrath has come, and who is able to withstand it?’”
As we come to Rev. 16, the seal judgments (Rev. 6:1-8:1) and the trumpet judgments (Rev. 8:6-15:8) are past. The seven bowls of God’s wrath will then be poured out upon the earth. All three sets are God’s judgments yet to come upon the earth for its wickedness. Since God is holy, his judgments against wickedness is inevitable. Otherwise, He would not be a just God, and His holiness could not be vindicated.
Since the tribulation is a time of God’s wrath, it will not be experienced by the church. While there are many supportive passages, only two will be used for this lesson:
First, Rom. 5:8-9 reads, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him,” and secondly, 1 Thess. 1:9-10 tells us, “For they (the Macedonians) themselves report about us what kind of a reception we had with you (the Thessalonians), and how you turned to God from idols to serve a [1] living and true God, and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, that is Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath to come.”
After chapter three, the church is no longer mentioned in the Book of Revelation. After the heavenly scene of worshipping God the Father in chapter 4 and worshipping the Lamb (Christ) in chapter 5, the spotlight of the prophecy shifts back and forth between heaven from where God’s wrathful judgment is sent and earth where that judgment will be carried out. In heaven, God initiates His judgments; on earth, God’s judgments are executed.
The only ethnic group on earth mentioned by name in Revelation during the time of the tribulation period is Israel (7:4-8). Also, Israel is portrayed as an expectant mother in chapter 12:1-2. By strong implication, the two witnesses in chapter 11:3-12 (also called “prophets” [v. 10]), are Israelites. Therefore, this is evidence that Israel, not the church, will go through the tribulation (called “Jacob’s distress” in Jer. 30:7). However, God will protect Israel from annihilation by Satan (12:13-17) and his Antichrist and from the judgments God himself will send upon the earth. The worse time of the tribulation period will be the last three and a half years which is properly called the “Great Tribulation.”
The seven angels are given the bowls of wrath in chapter 15:5-8
“After these things I looked, and the temple of the tabernacle of testimony in heaven was opened, and the seven angels who had the seven plagues came out of the temple, clothed in linen, clean and bright, and girded around their chests with golden sashes. Then one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God, who lives forever and ever. And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from His power; and no one was able to enter the temple until the seven plagues of the seven angels were finished.” This is reminiscent of the time after the wilderness tabernacle was completed, Moses could not enter it because of God’s powerful presence in it.
In chapter 16, the bowls of judgments are enumerated. These judgments are called “bowls of the wrath of God,” and they are more severe than the seal and trumpets judgments.
God’s command and the pouring out from the bowls of wrath on the earth.
v. 1 – The “loud (Gk. μεγάλης) voice” out of the temple is apparently that of God’s. Therefore, it is the voice of authority and will be obeyed by the seven angels, pouring out most bowls on the earth.
v. 2 – the first pouring resulted in “a loathsome and malignant sore (or ulcer, Gk. ἕλκος) on the people who had the mark of the beast and who worshiped his image. These people had been warned by the third angel about receiving the mark of the beast in chapter 14:9-10 – “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, he also will drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is mixed in full strength in the cup of His anger; and he will be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb.” Therefore, the consequences of their disobedience will be inevitable.
V.3 – the second pouring is similar to the second trumpet in 8:8, by which “a third of the sea became blood (real blood), and a third of the creatures which were in the sea and had life, died; and a third of the ships were destroyed.” It also recalls the first plague in Egypt when the water of the Nile River was turned into blood (Ex. 7:0-25). Here in verse 16:3, the whole sea “became blood like that of a dead man; and every living thing in the sea died.” The “sea” is probably the Mediterranean Sea, as there is no legitimate reason to view it as a symbol (“masses of humanity”).
vss. 4 thru 7 – It was not until “the third angel poured out his bowl into the rivers and the springs of waters” that they too “became blood.” These blood judgments are universal and apparently the les talionis (punishment equal to the crime) for the bloodshed by the Antichrist. Verses 5-7 says, “And I heard the angel of the waters[2] saying, ‘Righteous are You, who are and who were, O Holy One, because You judged these things; for they poured out the blood of saints and prophets, and You have given them blood to drink. They deserve it.’ And I heard the altar saying, ‘Yes, O Lord God, the Almighty, true and righteous are Your judgments.’” A similar idea is expressed in Rev. 17:6 – “And I saw the woman drunk with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the witnesses of Jesus. When I saw her, I wondered greatly.” Therefore, the bloodbath perpetrated by the Antichrist will be retaliated, with blood flowing “up to the horses’ bridles, for a distance of two hundred miles” (14:20).
v. 8 thru 9 – the fourth bowl affected the sun. With the fourth trumpet, one third of the sun was darkened (8:12), whereas here its heat will be intensified and “Men were scorched with fierce heat.” Instead of repenting, these miserable men “blasphemed the name of God who has the power over these plagues, and they did not repent so as to give Him glory.” John Walvoord wrote, “the wishful thinking of some that men would repent if they only knew the power and righteous judgment of God is shattered by frequent mention in this chapter of the hardness of the human heart in the face of the most stringent and evident divine discipline.”[3] Robert L. Thomas wrote, ““This is the only chapter in the visional portion of the book that speaks of widespread human blasphemy, the other references being to blasphemy from the beast (13:1, 5-6; 17:3). These men have now taken on the character of the god whom they serve . . . They blame God for the first four plagues, rather than blaming their own sinfulness.”[4]
v. 10 thru 11 – the fifth bowl judgment affects the “the throne of the beast, and his kingdom.” The result will be darkness and perpetual pain, causing the beast and his cronies to gnaw their tongues while in agony. This may be God’s way to further hamper the Antichrist’s rule and harsh treatment of the tribulation saints. For the second time, it is sadly mentioned that “they blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores; and they did not repent of their deeds.” It may be that these earth-dwellers will have been judicially “given over” by God according to Romans 1,
(vss. 24-25) – “in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them. 25For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.”
(vss. 26-27) – “to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural, 27and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error.”
(v. 28) “to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper.”
v. 12 thru 16 – the sixth bowl judgment was poured on the Euphrates River, called “the great river.”[5] This river is specifically mentioned for a reason. It is because the drying of the river is to make it “prepared for the kings from the east,” (Gk. ἀνατολῆς). Thomas Constable wrote, “The drying up of the Euphrates will be an immediate help to these advancing (Oriental) armies, but it will set them up for defeat, as was true of Pharaoh’s army.”[6] In verse 13, John sees more in this sixth bowl judgment that recalls the same three characters seen in chapter 13.
They are the dragon, the beast, and the false prophet. Out of their mouths will come frogs (unclean and deceptive speech) which will be demonic in nature (v. 14). Thomas Constable wrote, “The dragon, beast, and false prophet will evidently join in making a proclamation that will mobilize the armies of the world to converge on Palestine. Something proceeding from the mouth suggests a proclamation. The demons go out to the kings of the earth deceiving them to assemble their armies in Palestine for the battle of Armageddon…They will do this under the influence of Satan, the beast, and the false prophet. The demons persuade them, but their decision is something that God, the ultimate cause, puts in their hearts (17:17).”[7]
“For God has put it in their hearts to execute His purpose by having a common purpose, and by giving their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God will be fulfilled” (Rev. 17:17).
v. 17 thru 18 – the seventh bowl judgment is poured in the air, not on earth, but will have catastrophic effects on the earth. After the pouring, “a loud voice came out of the temple from the throne, saying, “It is done.” The voice is that of God’s who declares that the final judgment is complete. It is reminiscent of the words of Christ on the cross in reference to the finished work of salvation for sinners, “It is finished” (John 19:30). The final judgment of Satan, the Antichrist, and the false prophet mentioned in verse 17 is proleptic or anticipatory. The account of its complete fulfillment is in chapters 17-18.
Following the proclamation (“It is done”), John wrote, “And there were flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder; and there was a great earthquake, such as there had not been since man came to be upon the earth, so great an earthquake was it, and so mighty.” These words are reminiscent of what Jesus said in Matthew 24:21 –
“For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will.”
Vss. 19 thru 21 – the unparalleled earthquake caused the splitting of the “great city” into three parts. The “great city” could refer to Jerusalem (11:8). There is no clear significant reason to interpret it as a symbol of another city. While Jerusalem will be split into three parts, “the cities of the nations fell.” That is, all the cities of the gentiles will be destroyed by the earthquake (v. 19). That would include Babylon, which, as John Walvoord wrote, “is the special object of the judgment of God, expressed graphically in the statement ‘to give her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath.’” While Bible students still debate over the true identity of Babylon, it still seems best to understand it as a codeword for Rome. It had no global significance in John’s day, but what it stood for in the days of Nebuchadnezzar was not forgotten. V. 20 – because of the earthquake “every island fled away, and the mountains were not found.” This indicates major shifts in the world’s topography. Therefore, God’s judgment will affect the entire earth, making daily life difficult for humanity. V. 21 – as if the devastating earthquake wasn’t enough, there will be “huge hailstones, about one hundred pounds (or talents, the measurement in John’s day) each,” coming “down from heaven upon men.” John Walvoord wrote, “Such a hail from heaven falling upon men would have a devastating effect and would destroy much that was still left standing by the earthquake.”[8] Although God’s judgment upon men intensified, “men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail, because its plague was extremely severe.” Thomas Constable wrote,
“In spite of all these judgments the hearts of earth-dwellers will remain hard, as Pharaoh’s did during the plague of hail in Egypt (cf. Exod. 9:24). They will know that God sent this calamity, but rather than repenting they will shake their fists in God’s face. God will stone these blasphemers with these huge hailstones.”[9]
These events are yet future. Today, God is extending his grace to all who call upon him. Romans 10:13 says, “FOR WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED.” Ephesians 2:8-9 reads, “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.”
If you believe that Jesus, the Messiah, died for your sins and rose again, you won’t have to worry about going through the great tribulation. You won’t have to worry about eventually going to the place of eternal torment, hell. God will forgive you, wash away of all your sins, and secure you in His love. Believe on Christ now.
Footnotes:
[1] There is no article here in the Greek. The indefinite article (“a”) is used in the NASB but not in the KJV, NKJV, NIV, HCSB, and NET. Whenever the indefinite article or no article is used with a noun which the context proves to be definite (e.g., “living and true God), the qualitative aspect of the noun is emphatic, not just its simple identity.
[2] This angel is apparently authorized to oversee the world’s water supply.
[3] John Walvoord The Revelation of Jesus Christ (Moody Press), pp. 234-235.
[4] Robert L. Thomas The Glorified Christ on Patmos. Bibliotheca Sacra 122:487 (July-September 1965):241-47, p. 257.
[5]. This is in contrast to the “Great Sea,” which is the Mediterranean Sea.
[6] Thomas Constable Net.Biblr.org
[7] Ibid.
[8] Ibid., p. 241.
[9] Constable Net.Bible.org.
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