The Seven Bowls Of Wrath (16:1-21)

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                       "THE BOOK OF REVELATION"

                  The Seven Bowls Of Wrath (16:1-21)

INTRODUCTION

1. In chapter fifteen, the stage was set leading to the vision of the
   outpouring of God's wrath...
   a. Those who overcame the beast, his image, his mark, and the number of
      his name are seen in heaven praising God for His righteous judgments
      - Re 15:1-4
   b. Also seen are seven angels with seven golden bowls containing the last
      seven plagues - Re 15:5-8

2. Now in chapter sixteen, the full outpouring of wrath upon the enemies of
   God is depicted...
   a. Notice that these are not partial judgments, as with the seven trumpets
      described earlier (chs. 8-11)
   b. In the pouring out of these plagues "the wrath of God is complete"
      - Re 15:1

[Upon whom these bowls of wrath were to be poured out we shall see as we
examine the text, beginning with...]

I. THE PRONOUNCEMENT (1)

   A. BY A LOUD VOICE FROM THE TEMPLE (1a)
  
   B. TO THE SEVEN ANGELS TO POUR OUT THE BOWLS OF WRATH (1b) 

[With the pronouncement, one by one the seven angels pour out...]

II. THE SEVEN BOWLS OF WRATH (2-21)

   A.  AS DESCRIBED IN THE TEXT...
      1. First bowl:  Terrible sores - Re 16:2  
         a. The bowl is poured out upon the earth
         b. Loathsome and foul sores came upon those who had the mark of the
            beast and who worshipped his image
      2. Second bowl:  Sea of blood - Re 16:3
         a. The bowl is poured out on the sea, turning it into the blood of
            a dead man        
         b. Every living creature in the sea died
      3. Third bowl:  Rivers and springs of blood - Re 16:4-7
         a. The bowl is poured out on the rivers and springs, turning them
            to blood
         b. The angel of the waters declares God's justice
            1) His judgments are righteous
            2) For it is just due upon those who shed the blood of saints
               and prophets
         c. Another voice from the altar also proclaims God's judgments as
            true and righteous
      4. Fourth bowl:  Men scorched - Re 16:8-9
         a. The bowl is poured out on the sun, giving the fourth angel power
            to scorch men with fire
         b. Men were scorched with great heat
            1) They blasphemed the name of God who had power over these
               plagues
            2) They did not repent or give glory to Him
      5. Fifth bowl:  Pain and darkness - Re 16:10-11
         a. The bowl is poured out on the throne of the beast, his kingdom
            became full of darkness
         b. Men gnawed their tongues because of the pain
            1) They blasphemed God
            2) They did not repent
      6. Sixth bowl:  Kingdoms gathered at Armageddon - Re 16:12-16
         a. The bowl is poured out on the great river Euphrates
            1) Its water was dried up
            2) Preparing the way for the kings of the east
         b. Three unclean spirits like frogs appear
            1) Out of the mouths of the dragon, the beast, and the false
               prophet
            2) Which are spirits of demons, performing signs
            3) Who gather the kings of the earth to the battle of that great
               day of God Almighty
         c. Jesus offers both a warning and a blessing
            1) He is coming as a thief
            2) Blessed is he who watches and keeps his garments, lest he
               walks naked and others see his shame
         d. The unclean spirits gather the kings of the earth to the place
            called Armageddon
      7. Seventh bowl:  Great earthquake; the great city divided and Babylon
         remembered; cataclysmic events - Re 16:17-21
         a. The bowl is poured out on the air
            1) Followed by a loud voice out of the temple of heaven, from
               the throne, declaring, "It is done!"
            2) There were noises, thunderings, lightnings, and a mighty
               earthquake unlike any before
         b. The great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of
            the nations fell
         c. Great Babylon was remembered, to receive the cup of the wine
            of the fierceness of God's wrath
         d. Great cataclysmic events occur
            1) Every island fled away and the mountains were not found
            2) Great hail fell upon men, and they blasphemed God because of
               the hail
      -- The description of these seven bowls as they are poured out certainly
         indicate the fierceness of God's wrath!

   B. OBSERVATION AND INTERPRETATION...   
      1. Affected by these plagues are those who had the mark of the beast
         and worshiped his image - Re 16:2
      2. God's judgment upon them is righteous and just, because they had
         been guilty of shedding the blood of saints and prophets - Re 16:5-6
      3. Amazingly, their response was to blaspheme God, refuse to repent
         and give Him glory! - Re 16:9,11,21
      4. I believe the seven bowls of wrath depict a judgment upon pagan
         Rome
         a. One that was more final than the judgment depicted earlier with the
            seven seals and seven trumpets against unbelieving Jerusalem (Re 6-11)
         b. While God would not destroy unbelieving Jerusalem completely, the
            judgment against pagan Rome as a world empire would be total
         c. "Jay Adams joins David S. Clark in understanding the Babylon of 
            Revelation to be pagan Rome and this bowl judgment to be the
            preparation for the downfall of the Roman Empire in the fifth
            century A.D." - Steve Gregg, Revelation: Four Views
      5. Regarding Armageddon: "It is a place famous for battle and slaughter
         ...It would mean in those days what Waterloo means to us, and would
         be used in the same way...Any great disaster to a warring nation is
         an Armageddon. The Confederacy met its Armageddon at Gettysburg, and
         the Germans met their Armageddon at the Marne...Its use here would
         indicate a place or scene of great slaughter. I take it that it is
         used here in the symbolical sense, but meant that Rome was coming to
         her Armageddon where she would go down in battle and slaughter." 
         - David S. Clark, ibid.
      -- Chapters 17-19 will elaborate upon the judgments upon the beast, the
         false prophet, and Babylon, identifying them in more detail and 
         describing their ultimate downfall

CONCLUSION

1. While many view the bowls of wrath depicting events related to the coming
   of Jesus yet to occur, it is important to remember...
   a. The Book of Revelation is mostly about things that were soon to take
      place in the days of John
   b. Don't forget these key verses that place the setting of what this book
      is about - Re 1:1,3; 22:6,10

2. Nonetheless, we should carefully study passages like this chapter lest we
   fail to take seriously the lessons of not remaining faithful to God and His
   Son Jesus Christ, for the great day of judgment is yet to come! - Ac 17:30-31
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