The Way - Day 226 (Revelation 16)

Pastor Tom's Journal on Today's Reading:
Revelation 15:1-16:21
Although there has been a lengthy interlude since the last judgment (sixth trumpet in Revelation 9:13-21), John's vision has given the reader several descriptions of people who will play a part in this future period of time.

For sake of review, John has detailed the following happenings:

• Two witnesses who will preach repentance (Revelation 11:1-14)
• The kingdom of God is revealed as the seventh trumpet (Revelation 11:15-19)
• Satan persecuting Israel (Revelation 12:1-17)
• The Antichrist persecuting believers on earth (Revelation 13:1-10)
• The false prophet forcing worship of the Antichrist (Revelation 13:11-18)
• The 144,000 Jewish witnesses for Christ (Revelation 14:1-5)
• The three angels who bring judgment to the earth (Revelation 14:6-20)

In Revelation 15 there is a prelude to the next series of judgments. God has already unleashed two sets of judgments upon the earth: 7 seal judgments (6:1-8:6) and 7 trumpet judgments (8:7-9:21; 11:15-19). This final set of judgments is referred to as the bowl or vial judgments.

"I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous: seven angels having the last seven plagues, for in them the wrath of God is complete." (Revelation 15:1)
These seven bowls of wrath would be poured out upon those who have taken the mark of the beast, worshiped the image of the Antichrist, and rejected Jesus Christ. Each judgment is greater than the one before. John sets the stage for what was about to take place.
"the temple [in heaven] was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from His power, and no one was able to enter the temple till the seven plagues of the seven angels were completed." (Revelation 15:8)

John then hears a voice from the temple saying to the seven angels, "Go and pour out the bowls of the wrath of God on the earth" (16:1).

Here are the judgments which follow -

• First Bowl - people covered in painful sores (Revelation 16:2)
• Second Bowl - sea turns to blood and all creatures in it die (Revelation 16:3)
• Third Bowl - fresh water turns to blood (Revelation 16:4-7)
• Fourth Bowl - extreme heat from the sun (Revelation 16:8-9)
• Fifth Bowl - darkness on earth and continued pain from sores (Revelation 16:10-11)
• Sixth Bowl - Euphrates River dries up (Revelation 16:12-16)
• Seventh Bowl - earthquake like no other and hail from heaven (Revelation 16:17-21)

As a result of this earthquake, "…the great city [Jerusalem] was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell" (16:19). This division is a positive thing because it will become the city where God establishes His millennial reign following the tribulation period (Revelation 20:4-6). John goes on to describe the impact of this earthquake on the rest of the world.

"And great Babylon [Antichrist's central empire] was remembered before God, to give her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of His wrath. Then every island fled away, and the mountains were not found" (16:19-20).
Jerusalem appears to be the only city left standing after all the judgments. God’s final judgment will come at the conclusion of the 1,000 year reign of Christ on earth (Revelation 20:7-10).

After the earthquake, God sends hail from heaven. This was not typical hailstone because John describes the weight as being about 75 pounds (16:21). This massive-sized hail will result in incredible destruction and loss of life. So how do men respond to God's judgment upon them? John writes that they "…blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail, since the plague was exceedingly great" (16:21).

This reaction is so unfortunate because they were blaspheming the very God who gave them life. It is hard to understand how men still express their hatred for God, especially since He has offered them salvation through faith in His Son, Jesus Christ. Sometimes men love sin more than they love God.

Dear God, each time I read about the future of those who reject Jesus, I am saddened by their fate. I pray that You would use people all over the world to warn of God's pending judgment upon those who hate You and also offer hope through Jesus Christ. Make us see the urgency in this.