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.  

 

THE THREE ANGELS

PROCLAMATION

“… If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives its mark on their forehead or their hand, they too will drink the wine of God’s fury ... They will be tormented with burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and The Lamb.”  Revelation 14:9-10 (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 fourteenth chapter of Revelation, while he was still in the spirit (Revelation 4:2), John was shown a vision.  He saw The Lamb standing on Mount Zion and the 144,000 sealed male Jewish virgins were with Him. (Revelation 14:1)  They sang, and it sounded like the playing of harps.  They sang a new song which only they could sing based upon what only they had been through. (Revelation 14:2-5)  Then John saw an angel flying in midair proclaiming the gospel and saying, “Fear God, and give Him glory …” (Revelation 14:6-7)  A second angel followed saying, “Babylon is fallen …” (Revelation 14:8)  A third angel followed them and said, “If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives its mark on their forehead or their hand, they too will drink the wine of God’s fury.” (Revelation 14:9-11)  Then John was told to write: “Blessed are the dead who die in The Lord from now on.” (Revelation 14:13)  Then there were the two great harvests, the wheat and the grapes, the good men and the evil men. (Revelation 14:14-20)

 

APPLICATION

The first time that Christ came to earth was to shed His blood for mankind’s salvation.  His second coming will be to shed their blood in mankind’s judgment. (Revelation 14:17-20)  There will be some souls saved during the Great Tribulation period but most of them will be lost.  Take heed, Christ is coming back.  This time when He comes, He is not coming to suffer but to inflict the suffering on those who reject Him.  People get ready.  Those who give in and worship the dragon and the beast and its image, and accept its mark on their forehead or hand, will suffer.  Resistance will require patient endurance on the part of believers. (Revelation 14:12)

THE MARK OF THE BEAST

PROCLAMATION

“The dragon stood on the shore of the sea.  And I saw a beast coming out of the sea.  It had ten horns and seven heads, with ten crowns on its horns, and on each head a blasphemous name.” … “Then I saw a second beast, coming out of the earth.  It had two horns like a lamb, but it spoke like a dragon.” …  “It also forced all people … to receive a mark on their right hands or on their foreheads …”  Revelation 13:1-18 (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 eleventh chapter of Revelation, while he was still in the spirit (Revelation 4:2), John was shown a vision. (Revelation 5:1, 6:1-17, 7:1, 8:1-2, 9:1, 10:1, and 12:1-3)  After the dragon had harassed the woman, he stood on the shore of the sea.  Then John saw a seven-headed beast with ten horns coming out of the sea. (Revelation 13:1-2)  The beast could speak and it uttered blasphemies against God.  It slandered the name of God, His dwelling place, and all those who live in heaven. (Revelation 13:5-6)  The beast was given the power to wage war against God’s holy people.  All of the people whose name was not written in The Lamb’s book of life worshipped the beast. (Revelation 13:7-8)  Then John saw a second beast, this one coming out of the earth.  It made people worship the first beast.  It had the power to perform signs and it deceived the people. (Revelation 13:11-15)  It forced the people to receive a mark on their right hand or on their forehead in order to buy or sell goods. (Revelation 13:16-18)  The number of the beast is 666.

 

APPLICATION

A lot has been said about the advances in technology with microchips containing information turning up in some unusual places.  Credit cards with microchips are used almost everywhere.  Some businesses now require credit card transactions exclusively.  Not only are microchips  being placed in pets, some employers require their employees to have microchips placed under their skin rather than using time-cards and identification badges.  It sounds like the world is being preconditioned to receiving the mark of the beast in order to transact business.  People used to brand cattle, horses, and other animals to denote ownership.  This mark of the beast, or the microchip, could also denote ownership.  Those whose name is written in The Lamb’s book of life will not worship the dragon or the beast, and we will not wear his mark or microchip.