REVELATION SIMPLIFIED

 

CHAPTER 16.1

Gleanings from the Book of Revelation:

A Weekly Verse-by-Verse Bible Study Series

 

The

REVELATION TO JOHN

(The Apocalypse)

                                                                           

Chapter Sixteen

The Great Tribulation

The Seven Trumpets

Judgment Resumed

Trumpet Number 7 (Woe Number 3)

 

Trumpet Number 7 (Woe Number 3)

 

 

Introduction

Chapter 16 is a continuation of Chapter 15 and verse 8 where the Temple of God is viewed by John the Apostle.  Once full of grace, love, mercy, forgiveness, sacrifice, and atonement is now a home of raging indignation, vengeance, and judgment. As the Temple is engulfed with fire and smoke, no one is permitted entrance until the seven priestly angels take holy fire from the altar and completely discharge their final descending curses on a Christ-rejecting world. The first four vials affect the environment, and the last three are spiritual.

 

The seventh trumpet will bring an end to judgments on men who have persecuted Israel throughout the ages. In comparison to the plagues of Egypt, these plagues are speedily executed. They are decanted in rapid-fire succession, one after another, like the firing of an automatic rifle. Pouring six vials befalls throughout the first half of Chapter 16 paving the way for the battle of Armageddon. The sixth vial dries up the Euphrates River to permit the eastern armies to battle at Armageddon, thus necessitating the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.

 

Spiritual forces are actively engaged in the conflict of Armageddon. The prior vial circumstances have more impact on the world than the final battle itself. The war is quick. The battle cry “It is done” is elicited with the seventh vial emptied. Yet, the remainder of mankind continues their rejection and blasphemy against God.

 

Comparisons

A. The Trumpet Judgments are partial

B. The Bowl Judgments are complete

 

A. The Trumpet Judgments allow repenting

B. The Bowl Judgments allow no opportunity for repentance

 

A. The Trumpet Judgments: Mankind is indirectly affected

B. The Bowl Judgments: Mankind is directly attacked

 

Outline

1. The First Bowl – Boils afflict followers of the beast (v. 2)

2. The Second Bowl – Oceans become a sea of blood (v.3)

3. The Third Bowl – Rivers and springs turn to blood (Vv. 4-7)

4. The Fourth Bowl – Oppressive heat from the sun (Vv. 8-9)

5. The Fifth Bowl – Darkness engulfs the earth (Vv. 10-11)

6. The Sixth Bowl – The River Euphrates dries up (Vv. 12-16)

7. The Seventh Bowl – Hail crumbles the cities (Vv. 17-21)

 

 

(Verse 1)

 

And I heard a great Voice out of the Temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth.

 

Continuing the thought of Revelation 15:8, the voice heard by John coming from the Temple is that of the Lord God Almighty Himself. He speaks with an exceedingly great (megas) fearfully loud voice commanding the seven angels. Each angel has a specific set of orders, i.e., to go their separate ways and empty the final seven vials of wrath upon the earth.

 

Some call the chapter the Great Chapter, namely because the word great occurs eleven times [Revelation 16:1, 3, 9, 12, 14, 17, 18 (2 times), 19 (2 times), 21]. Great also has the connotation of something being loud (megalēs), huge, outstanding, or awesome, i.e., to think here in terms of something more outstanding than anything that has ever occurred.

 

 

(Verse 2)

 

And the first went, and poured out his vial upon the earth, and there fell a noisome and grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and upon them which worshipped his image.

 

The First Vial

Traveling around the globe, the first angel went, (literally, went away), obeyed the command, and did pour the contents of the first vial upon all beast worshippers and those who received the mark of the beast. The effects leave noisome and grievous sores upon the unrepentant.

 

A noisome and grievous sore

Noisome defined is as evil, injurious, ugly, horrible, or loathsome. Grievous, on the other hand, aligns with an oozing, festering, and painful boil or ulcer. Speculating the outbreaks, as it were, is a result of radiation or cancer. And interestingly, those who have the mark of the beast now receive another mark - The mark of God. Whatever infection it is, they break out in ugly open ulcerated sores. Someone has rightly said, “Sores are an outward symbol of an inward work of corruption.”

 

 A Sore (Hebrew, sh^echîyn: Greek, helkos) or ulcer is essentially the same word used in the sixth plague of Egypt.

Exodus 9:10 - And they took ashes of the furnace, and stood before Pharaoh; and Moses sprinkled it up toward heaven; and it became a boil breaking forth with blains (an eruptive enflamed burning ulcer) upon man, and upon beast.

 

This is also equivalent to the same sore that covered Lazarus the beggar:

Luke 16:20 - And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate (porch), full of sores (helkoō).

 

 

(Verse 3)

 

And the second angel poured out his vial upon the sea; and it became as the blood of a dead man: and every living soul died in the sea.

 

The Second Vial

 

As the second bowl is emptied upon (Greek, into) all oceans of the earth’s saltwater is transformed to blood (Greek, like that of a dead man), i.e., thick, coagulated, and putrid. The scenario thus becomes indicative of a person wallowing in blood. Of course, the aftermath of such stench and disease is unimaginable and unbearable.

 

And every living soul (psuchē) died in the sea

Soul

Now, here is where the text becomes provocatively interesting. Living soul in King James is translated as "the very soul of life." The Hebrew is nephesh (a soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, passion, appetite, or emotion), whereas the Greek is psuchē (breath and the soul). In both instances, they also pertain to animals. Since there is no word in Scripture for an animal, the words instead correspond to every living soul and creature. Other nuances appear in Hebrew and Greek for plants, whales, and other living things.

 

Inclusive are humans on or in the sea at the time. Explained at creation:

Genesis 1:21 – And God created great whales, and every living creature (nephesh) that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly…after his kind: and God saw that it was good.

 

Blood

Blood is the token of life.

Leviticus 17:11 - For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.

 

So blood, once the symbol of life and salvation, now becomes emblematic of condemnation and death.

 

In perspective, entity, bipartite, and tripartite lives are simply stated:

1.  Plant life – Body

2.  Animal life – Body and soul

3.  Human life – Body, soul, and spirit (consciousness)

 

 

Consequently, every living thing having blood dies in the sea. A few namely include:

1. Whales

2. Manatees

3. Sharks

4. Dolphins

5. Reptiles

6. Sea Turtles

7. Fish

 

Animals in Heaven

Numerous passages in Scripture show animals will indeed be inhabitants of Heaven. Although animals are mostly mentioned appearing in the Millennium, the consensus is the new Heaven and Earth will mirror the conditions of the original Garden of Eden.

 

Isaiah 65:25 – The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock (cow, ox): and dust shall be the serpent's meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain, saith the LORD.

 

 

Isaiah 11:6-7 - The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid (young goat); and the calf and the young lion and the fatling (fattened calf) together; and a little child shall lead them. And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.

 

Creatures in Heaven will give a universal ascription of praise to God along with sea animals:

Revelation 5:13 – And every creature which is in Heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.   

 

 

(Verse 4)

 

And the third angel poured out his vial upon the rivers and fountains of waters; and they became blood.

 

The Third Vial

 

Resembling the second vial, angel number three, who presides over freshwater, pours the contents of his vial and contaminates rivers, streams, brooks, fountains, and spring waters. They too turn to blood (literally, the blood of men and animals). Hence, people will try to dig wells to no avail. Pitchers in refrigerators will not contain tomato juice, but blood. Ice cubes will be of frozen blood. Thermoses in lunchboxes will be filled with blood. And, snow too will be dark red blood.

 

History’s first Egyptian plague affecting the Nile River is a very similar precursor. Notice the documentation: 

Exodus 7:20-21 - And Moses and Aaron did so, as the LORD commanded; and he lifted up the rod, and smote the waters that were in the river, in the sight of Pharaoh, and in the sight of his servants; and all the waters that were in the river were turned to blood. And the fish that was in the river died; and the river stank, and the Egyptians could not drink of the water of the river; and there was blood throughout all the land of Egypt.

 

While the first plague locally affected the Nile River, the third bowl is a worldwide catastrophe.

 

The succeeding study continues the seven bowl judgments. Tribulation is rapidly reaching its culmination.

 

 

QUESTIONS:

1.   Describe the Throne’s appearance at the beginning of 16.

2.   Explain why these judgments are prompt.

3.   What effect does the first vial have upon mankind?

4.   What effect does the second vial have upon Earth?

5.   What is an all-inclusive meaning of a living soul?

6.   What is unique about the third bowl judgment?

7.   Compare the first Egyptian plague to the third vial.

 

 

 

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