The same God who is a loving God is a God who will judge. There is the same message in the Old and New Testament of the Bible. See John 3:36; Matthew 3:11-12 and 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9. In Revelation 16 the wrath of God is poured out in these “bowls of wrath” at the end of the Tribulation period.

1 – Bowl One – The deadly sores (vs. 2)

Those who received the mark of the Beast will be tormented with sores. These are “cancerous” sores that break out over the body and there is no healing. It will affect people throughout the world. In the New Testament Jesus had healed people who were ill. Now he will bring sickness upon people in judgment. This will make AIDS look like chicken pox. Sinners will get deeper into their sins. People will blaspheme the Lord and not repent (vs. 11). People will still continue their sinful lives.

2. Bowl Two – The defiled sea (vs. 3)

Every living creature in the sea died. Whales, dolphins, etc, will all die. There was a great stench with all the dead bodies. It would affect shipping and those who depend on seafood in their diet. E.g. Japan.

3. Bowl Three – The degraded streams (vs. 4-7)

The freshwater supply is now affected by this bowl of judgment. The first time Jesus came he turned wine into water, now he changes water into blood. People will go for a glass of water from the tap and get a glass of blood instead. Is this too hard? Why has this happened? These people had spilled the blood of the saints and spurned the blood of Jesus Christ. It is a heinous crime to reject the blood of Jesus. Without salvation you trample underfoot the blood of Jesus Christ. People still will not repent!

4. Bowl Four – The devastating sun (vs. 8-9)

People are being scorched with fire. Sinners will someday have to take the heat! The sun will become a scorching fire. With all the dead bodies there is a terrible stench. The rays that we get from the sun are dangerous if we didn’t have a magnetic field that protects us. It may be that this field is taken away. The very oceans will begin to boil. People will be miserable with the heat. People still will not repent! They will blaspheme God instead.

5. Bowl Five – The darkened sinners (vs. 10-11)

Those who love darkness are one day going to get it for real. All these bowls remind us the plagues of Egypt. People are gnawing their tongue for pain. They continue to blaspheme God and still won’t repent.

6. Bowl Six – The deceptive spirits (vs. 12-16)

The Devil, the Antichrist and False Prophet will release evil spirits upon the Earth to bring all the people of the world to Armageddon to fight against Israel and the Lord Jesus. This will be the biggest battle that the world has ever seen. The Lord Jesus will deal with all of the people who oppose Him. The saints of God will come with Him!

7. Bowl Seven – The destructive storms (vs. 17-21)

It is over! The retribution is over. The worst is kept for last. The earth will get an earthquake like none that has happened before. The “big one” comes this day! Every mountain and island cannot be found! This earthquake is so tremendous there is nowhere to run or hide. There is a great hail that comes from the heavens. This won’t be marble or golf-sized hail. This will be hail the size of basketballs! They will each weight about 100lb. These are missiles from heaven. They will still blaspheme God rather than repent.

This world will be judged and the bowls of wrath are coming. We all have to give an account to God. If you don’t come to know Jesus now then you may not come to know Jesus in the future. Don’t harden your heart. You don’t want to be judged. It will be terrible. Settle your case out of court. The Lord Jesus wants to save you from this judgment. Repent and trust Jesus today before the judgment comes.

Categories: Revelation