THE SEVEN BOWLS OF GOD'S WRATH

PROCLAMATION

“Then I heard a loud voice from the temple saying to the seven angels, ‘Go, pour out the seven bowls of God’s wrath on the earth.’ ”  Revelation 16:1 (NIV)

 

EXPLANATION

These are the words of prophecy which were revealed to, and written by, the Apostle John, under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  In this sixteenth chapter of Revelation, while he was still in the spirit (Revelation 4:2), John continued to see vision after vision and hear voices.  He heard a loud voice coming from the temple telling the seven angels to pour their bowls of wrath onto the earth. (Revelation 16:1)  The first bowl caused ugly, festering sores to break out on the people who had the mark of the beast and who worshiped its image.  The second bowl caused the sea to turn into blood like that of a dead person and it killed every living thing in the sea.  The third bowl caused the rivers and streams and springs to turn into blood.  The fourth bowl caused sun to scorch the people as if they were burned with fire.  The fifth bowl plunged the earth into darkness.  The people gnawed at their tongues in agony.  They cursed God and they refused to repent. (Revelation 16:2-11)  The sixth bowl caused the great river Euphrates to dry up to prepare the way for the kings of the east.  Then John saw three impure spirits, that looked like frogs, come out of the mouths of the dragon, the beast, and the false prophet. These demonic spirits went out to gather the kings of the world for the battle of Armageddon. (Revelation 16:12-16)  The seventh bowl caused lightning and thunder and a great earthquake.  Islands and mountains disappeared, and one hundred pound hailstones fell from the sky onto the people.

 

APPLICATION

The Great Tribulation period will begin with thunder and lightning (Revelation 4:5) and it will end with thunder and lightning. (Revelation 16:18)  The church will not suffer through this, nor will any believers.  The wrath of God will be felt by the unbelievers who have the mark of the beast on their foreheads, or their hand, and who worship its image. (Revelation 16:2)  Those who refuse to repent will suffer the consequences.