The Great Tribulation - Part Three

Understanding the End Times  •  Sermon  •  Submitted
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Seven Bowl Judgments

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Introduction: We are in a series titled: Understanding the End Times. I am trying to help us understand what will take place here on earth after the Church has been raptured and taken to heaven. So far, we have looked at the following six messages:
· The Beginning of the End – Matthew 24:1-8
· The Rapture of the Church – 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Revelation 4:1
· The Judgment Seat of Christ – Romans 14:10; 2 Corinthians 5:10
· The Coming Antichrist – 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12; Revelation 13:1-10
· The Great Tribulation – Parts 1 & 2.
In this seventh message we will be looking at Part 3 of the Great Tribulation. I shared with you that the Tribulation will be broken up into three segments. They are:
1. The Seven Seal Judgments – Revelation 6:1-8:6
2. The Seven Trumpet Judgments – Revelation 8:6 -11:19
3. The Seven Bowl Judgments – Revelation 16:1-21
Today we have reached the third segment of the Great Tribulation. We will be looking at:
The Seven Bowl Judgments – Revelation 16:1-21
Look back for just a moment to Revelation 15:1, we read,
Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous: seven angels having the seven last plagues, for in them the wrath of God is complete.
Now, drop your eyes down to Revelation 15:6-8. We read,
And out of the temple came the seven angels having the seven plagues, clothed in pure bright linen, and having their chests girded with golden bands. 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. The temple 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.
Next, look at Revelation 16:1, we read,
Then I heard a loud voice from the temple saying to the seven angels, “Go and pour out the bowls of the wrath of God on the earth.”
Together, let’s dive in and look at the seven bowl judgments.

· First Bowl – Revelation 16:2

So the first went and poured out his bowl upon the earth, and a foul and loathsome sore came upon the men who had the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image.
The first bowl of God’s wrath are terrible sores that will come upon people who receive the mark of the beast and who worship Him.
· The ESV reads – harmful and painful sores came upon the people who bore the mark of the beast and worshiped its image.
· The HCSB reads – and severely painful sores broke out on the people who had the mark of the beast and who worshiped his image.
· The Message reads – Loathsome, stinking sores erupted on all who had taken the mark of the Beast and worshiped its image.
The NKJV reads – and a foul and loathsome sore came upon the men who had the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image.
Foul and loathsome sores don’t sound pleasant, do they?
Job was a man that experienced a time when he had sores that covered his body (see Job 2:7-8). We are told that he scraped the sores with broken pieces of pottery (see Job 7). It was a miserable experience for Job. I don’t believe that Job would wish anything he experienced on another human being.
This judgment apparently is the result of receiving the mark of the beast. According to Revelation 13:16-18 the mark of the beast is the number 666 that an individual has on their right hand or on their forehead. Speculation abounds as to exactly what these numbers mean. Revelation 16:18 tells us,
Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666
Notice that this judgment comes upon those who receive this identification mark, and upon those who will worship the image of the beast. During the Great Tribulation the Antichrist will set up an image for all mankind to worship. And many will!
The result of receiving the mark of the beast and worshiping his image will be harmful and painful sores.

· Second Bowl – Revelation 16:3

Then the second angel poured out his bowl on the sea, and it became blood as of a dead man; and every living creature in the sea died.
The second bowl of God’s wrath will be poured out on the sea, and it will be turned into blood, and every living creature in the sea will die.
Do you recall when we looked at the Seven Trumpet Judgments that a star fell from heaven and a third of the creatures living in the sea died. Now, we see that every living creature of the sea will die.
In our previous message, I shared with you that 91% of sea creatures are yet to be classified, and that 80% of the ocean is unmapped. Science has no clue as to the number of sea creatures. They believe that there is something like 1.6 million marine species (2021). The point is that a whole of creatures are going to die – every living creature in the sea will die!
The Dead Sea in Israel has no life in it, and during the Tribulation the seas of the world will become lifeless. Nothing will remain alive in the sea.

· Third Bowl – Revelation 16:4-7

Then the third angel poured out his bowl on the rivers and springs of water, and they became blood. And I heard the angel of the waters saying: “You are righteous, O Lord, The One who is and who was and who is to be, Because You have judged these things. For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, And You have given them blood to drink. For it is their just due.” And I heard another from the altar saying, “Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are Your judgments.”
The third bowl of God’s wrath will be poured upon the rivers and springs of water, and they will become blood. The purpose of this plague is to remind those still living that they had shed the blood of saints, and now they are given blood to drink as a reminder – it is their just due. By the way, this is God’s righteous judgments.
Bloody waters were a part of the Trumpet Judgments (8:8-9), and now we see that bloody waters are a part of the Bowl Judgments (16:4-7).
But specifically, here it is to remind the people still alive how they had shed the blood of saints.
The early Puritans believed every word of the Bible and that all humans were born into ''original sin'': the result of Adam's and Eve's eviction from the Garden of Eden. Thus, if a person was found guilty of sin—such as having an adulterous relationship—punishments that included death, fines, whipping, and wearing the letter ''A'' were standard procedures. (Can’t recall where I read this information – it was an online website).
Well, what we have here in this judgment of bloody waters is very similar – it is a reminder of their sin – they shed the blood of the saints.

· Fourth Bowl – Revelation 16:8-9

Then the fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and power was given to him to scorch men with fire. And men were scorched with great heat, and they blasphemed the name of God who has power over these plagues; and they did not repent and give Him glory.
I have read that over a million earths can fit into the sun. That is how big the sun is compared to earth. Isn't that awesome to think about? The sun is a BIG ball of energy, and it provides resources that earth needs to survive – No Sun, No Life!
Dermatologists tell us that the sun is dangerous to human skin. It is responsible for various types of skin cancer. As we look at this fourth plague, I want us to consider the possibility that this angel allows the release of what scientists call solar flares. Solar flares are happening all the time (as I write this there is a very large solar flare happening), but what if this plague allows the solar flares to contact the earth? Mankind would indeed be scorched!
According to verse 7, mankind will be scorched with great heat. What if the angel’s plague was to turn up the thermostat of the sun? Most of us know what 112, 114 degrees is like (Death Valley, California 139 degrees on July 10, 1913). Can you imagine during the Tribulation that it will get so hot that people will be scorched? (Phillip Fourroux knows a little about being scorched by the sun).
You would think that something like this would turn man to God but look at the way this verse concludes. We read,
and they blasphemed the name of God who has power over these plagues; and they did not repent and give Him glory.
Instead of repenting under the judgment of God they continue to harden their heart against Him.
They are NOT quick students.

· Fifth Bowl – Revelation 16:10-11

Then the fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom became full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues because of the pain. They blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and did not repent of their deeds.
The fifth plague is total darkness. Darkness was also the ninth plague that God brought upon Egypt during the days of Moses (Exodus 10:21-29). God will allow the fifth angel to pour out his bowl of darkness upon the kingdom of the beast. It will become full of darkness!
How many of us like the darkness? I know I don't! Many of us have been down inside caves and have had the lights turned out. You can't see your hand in front of your face – there was total darkness. The wrath of God will bring darkness upon the earth.
One author writes, “When we speak of darkness we are speaking of confusion, dismay, and distress.”
I have read that total darkness can cause a sane person to go crazy. I believe that this is what we are seeing here in these verses. Notice that we read,
and they gnawed their tongues because of the pain.
You would think that under these conditions people would call out to God, but that’s not the case. Once again, we see that during the Tribulation these Christ rejecting beast worshipping individuals refuse to repent. We read,
They blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and did not repent of their deeds.
This is totally unimaginable!

· Sixth Bowl – Revelation 16:12-16

Then the sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up, so that the way of the kings from the east might be prepared. And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs coming out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. For they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. “Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame.” And they gathered them together to the place called in Hebrew, Armageddon.
The great river Euphrates lies between Iraq and Jordan, and beyond Jordan lies Israel, and inside the borders of Israel is the Valley of Megiddo. It is within this valley that the battle of Armageddon will be fought.
Notice that the river Euphrates is dried up to make way for the kings from the east. Some 200 million soldiers will cross the dry riverbed of the Euphrates and ride towards the Valley of Megiddo where the last war will be fought (see Revelation 9:13-21).
I don’t want to spend a lot of time on these verses, but I do believe that it is extremely important for us to understand that this battle is a satanically inspired battle. Satan has it as his goal to destroy the woman (Israel) that gave birth to the child (Messiah). Notice if you would in verse 13, that there are three unclean spirits, which come out of the mouth of the dragon, the beast, and the false prophet. Also look at verse 14. Here we read that they are spirits of demons, performing signs before the kings of the earth. It appears that these performing signs are used to draw the entire world into this battle.
I want to make mention of verse 15. In my Bible this verse is in red letters, which means that Jesus Christ is the one speaking. As I look at this verse, and read this verse, I believe that it doesn’t have anything to do with the context, other than to remind the reader that NOW – TODAY is the time to look unto Jesus. In other words, this verse is for us – you and me! You see, Now is the time for us to look for the return of Jesus Christ. Now is the time for us to keep our garments clean. Right now, today! Let us not put off what we KNOW we should be doing today!
According to verse 16, the world shall be gathered to the place in Hebrew called, Armageddon – Mount of Megiddo.

· Seventh Bowl – Revelation 16:17-21

Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, “It is done!” And there were noises and thunderings and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such a mighty and great earthquake as had not occurred since men were on the earth. Now the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. And great Babylon 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. And great hail from heaven fell upon men, each hailstone about the weight of a talent. Men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail, since that plague was exceedingly great.
This is the final bowl judgment that shall be brought upon the earth. Notice that the angel pours this judgment into the air (is it possible that we are looking at nuclear fallout?). In other words, it is a judgment that will be carried by the winds around the earth. As the angel poured out the judgment a voice came out of the temple in heaven saying,
“It is done!”
In the remaining verses we see the destruction that shall come upon the earth from this final plague (are these the effects of nuclear war?). We read the following description:
· noises – 16:18
· thunderings – 16:18
· lightenings – 16:18
· great earthquake – 16:18
This will be the greatest earthquake the earth has ever faced (one of the reasons why I believe this book is prophetic). We have looked at other quakes in Revelation, and they will register on the Richter scale. This earthquake will be so large that it will not register on the Richter scale. Look at how the end of verse 18 describes it,
such a mighty and great earthquake as had not occurred since men were on the earth.
The next three verses tell us some of the effects of the earthquake. We read,
· Revelation 16:19 - The Great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nation fell. And the Great Babylon was remembered before God, to give her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of His wrath.
· Revelation 16:20 - Then every island fled away, and the mountains were not found.
· Revelation 16:21And great hail from heaven fell upon men, each hailstone about the weight of a talent. Men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail, since that plague was exceedingly great.
The final plague upon mankind will include hailstones that weigh a talent. I have read that a talent of silver weighs about 100 pounds, whereas a talent of gold weighs about 200 pounds. From this we can get an idea of the size and the weight of the hail that will fall from the sky (about 125 pounds). Being hit by one of these hailstones would crush a man.
You would think that during such destruction upon mankind that he would cry out to God for deliverance, but it’s just not the case. We read,
Men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail, since that plague was exceedingly great.
Even in all this utter destruction mankind will refuse to repent and acknowledge God.
Conclusion: What are some practical aspects of the Seven Bowl Judgments? I want to mention just a few:
1. God will complete His wrath upon mankind – Revelation 15:1
2. God is sovereign over the events of the Tribulation – Revelation 16:1
3. God has a sequence in pouring out His wrath – Revelation 16:1-21
· Earth – foul and loathsome sores upon people.
· Sea – all the creatures of the sea die.
· Rivers & Springs – become blood.
· Sun – scorch men with fire.
· Throne of the beast – his kingdom became full of darkness.
· Euphrates – make way for the kings of the east (an army of 200 million soldiers).
· Air – It is done. Noises, thunderings, and lightenings.
4. God expects us to be watching for His coming and to keep our garments clean and spotless – Revelation 16:15
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