Introduction:
These are the seven last plagues. (Exodus
flashback)
Same pattern as the other judgments, but
more succinct!
First 4 relate to nature.
Interlude between 6th and 7th
(not distinctly marked)
Plagues resemble exodus but are also somewhat
unique.
Also similar to the trumpet judgments.
The first five plagues of Exodus and four
trumpet judgments did not affect human lives (personal suffering) not so with the bowls.
Man is attacked right from the start.
Trumpets inflicted wrath on 1/3 of nature
and humanity.
Bowls: no limitations – punitive
and final judgments.
v.
1 - John Hears… “A loud voice” (adjective/noun placement
for emphasis - not the normal Greek construct - loud is emphasized here).. a command to release final plagues – a voice
came “from the temple” originated with God!
(15:8) no one could enter the sanctuary
until this is completed.
Command must come from God himself or the
lamb?
v.
2 - The First Bowl - “The first angel went and poured
out his bowl on the earth”
Went – poured out his bowl of wrath
– and disappeared completely.
Result? Boils like plague of boils on Egypt
(Ex. 9:10-11 on Egyptians).
True believers are not effected there.
Not Israelites (in Exodus) – same
here - only on those who yielded to the mark of the beast – allegiance
to evil – worshipped the image.
They will be known by God and afflicted!
No Escape!
v.
3 - The Second Bowl – on the
sea – it turned to blood (Ex. 7:17-21)
Trumpets (8:8-9) 1/3 sea and contents –
here = widespread.
Finality…everything died in the sea
“every living thing or soul”
v.
4-7 – The Third Bowl – on rivers and springs – fresh water
supply poisoned
- trumpets – one third of fresh water is made bitter – here, all water is blood – undrinkable
- Humanity cannot survive long without fresh water
- judgments are executed quickly
5 – John – “Heard”
--- “angel in charge of the waters”
- “just are You” – this is just judgment from a just God!
- humanity “deserves” what is happening now
- the punishment fits the crime
- God – the Holy Judge
– eternal “who was and is” – commanded the pouring out of this wrath.
6 – The punishment exactly fits the
crime ---
- They shed the blood of innocent believers – they are given blood to drink
- A word of encouragement – it all works out! - in God!
“it is what they deserve!” - - Punishment is proportionate!
7 – “The altar speaks”
- - connection – to prayers of the saints that kicked off the judgments of God initially…
- “yes” – agreement with God
- “Lord God Almighty” – divine power revealed in judgments
- “true and just are Your judgments” – it is right and good!
v.
8-9 – The Forth Bowl – poured on the sun – “it was
given” – The sun can scorch because God gave it power to do so – it was allowed of it.
- scorched people (unrepentant) with great heat – like fire
- still they do no repent – they still don’t get it – or care!
“The only way to flee from God is to flee to God.” (Colcasure)
“God had control over these plagues” - - God is sovereign!
God is over the whole process right to the end!
The first four bowls are against nature:
land, sea, sun – The next are political – against evil.
v. 10-11 – The Fifth Bowl –
10 - Poured out “on the throne
of the beast (directly) and its kingdom” – “plunged into darkness” – (Ex. 10:21-23).
- beast’s followers
“gnawed their tongues” in pain – no cause mentioned.
- John is highlighting here (no details)
– similar to the fifth trumpet (9:1-6)
- darkening – the waning power of
the beast (compared to power of the 5th trumpet)
11 – sinners react the wrong way
to God’s judgment! (no repentance).
- John calls Him – the God of Heaven
– sinners do not recognize this
- Preoccupied with their physical
pains – they curse God
- even pain did not awaken them to the
situation – No Repentance!
v.
12-16 – The Sixth Bowl – more told about this bowl than the others – it prepared the way for the
END
12 – “poured out on the Great
River Euphrates” – dried up the river!
- providing access and removing the last
obstacle to enter the land
- God dries up the waters – (Ex.
14:21; Jos. 3:16-17; Is. 11:15; Jer. 51:35; Zech. 10:11).
- Euphrates – boundary to the Roman Empire! What lurked beyond it?
- At the end of time, the divided forces
of evil will engage in conflict.
- “to prepare a way for the kings
from the east” – then – never mentions this again.
13 – The evil trinity again is mentioned
– Dragon, beast, false prophet.
- evil – unclean spirits come out
of their mouths (communication)
- like frogs – evil associations
– ugly, slimy, night croakers
- 1 Kg. 22:21 ff – Frog enticed Ahab
to battle - here the whole world is enticed to battle against the Lamb
14 – demonic spirits – performing
miraculous signs – convincing, meaningful, real, tangible - what unrepentent people want to see
- they influence rulers of the nations
- one goal – bring all nations together
for one final battle
- the Great day of Almighty God –
Not of man, spirits, demons, or antichrist.
15 – interlude – interjection by Jesus Himself.
- All evil is poised – gathered against
God – a word of reality
- Jesus is coming “like a thief”
(1 Thess. 5:2) – unexpectedly
- blessed are – those who are ready
– with “garments on” – righteousness
- true, ready, believers –
fringe believers will be caught off-guard
- many or some will be embarrassed – shamed – naked – caught unprepared
- garment of Justification was not on them – they were not clothed in Christ
- Are you ready? – clothed in Christ continually? (24/7/365)?
- if not – treated like the outsiders who receive God’s wrath.
16 – Flip back to demon spirits,
gathered rulers, unbelievers, and followers to Armageddon
- symbolic term – no such place exists
in reality
- “mountain or city of Megiddo” – a battle place – gathering of final war
- here in battle array against the Lord’s
followers
- all evil power and strength of all the nations of the world
- no match for the power of our sovereign God who fights this battle – not us
- deliverance under Deborah against Sisera (Ju. 4:13; 5:8; 4:15)
v.
17-21 – The Seventh Bowl – poured into the air – utter destruction – not all are killed –
BUT – complete fragmentation of earthly life
17 – AIR – scripturally, the
abode of demons and the “prince of the power of the air” – demons are attacked in their own element and
environment
- another unidentified – loud voice
from the throne – within the temple
- divine sanction of the climax –
“It is Done (finished)” – one word in Greek.
18 – Announcement causes great excitement
– like the trumpet (11:19)
- thunder – lightening – etc.
– severe earthquake – unprecedented!
- negative – none lke it –
2 positive – so tremendous – so Great …
- megas – used 7 times with the 7th
bowl (the greatness of this final act).
19 – “The great city”
- - civilized man – man in organized community – BUT – man ordering his own affairs apart from God!
- human achievement – human pride,
etc. – Godlessness!
- the city destroyed – into 3
parts (complete destruction) or break up - - shattered
This causes the cities of the nations to collapse.
-
“Babylon the Great” – focus back to the Great City
-
God’s wrath in full – “the cup filled with the wine of the fury of His wrath”
-
No doubt left by John – all-powerful, all-Holy God – Full Wrath.
20 – Islands
flee away – no mountains remain – seen this before (6:14 & Zech. 14:10)
A leveling devastation
21 – The Great Hailstorm –
up to 100 lbs. or so each – crushing people
- Certainly, a Great Sign by God –
supernatural – a super bowl
- The Effect? - - repentance and acknowledgement of God? --- NO!
- They curse God for sending the plague
that should have changed their hearts - - they are totally hardened!
This is the most deliberately severe act
of God so far!
