Monday, December 22, 2025

One Year Journey Through the New Testament

Revelation 16

Welcome to our journey through the New Testament!

The Bowls

1 Then I heard a loud voice from the temple saying to the seven angels, “Go and pour out the bowls of the wrath of God on the earth.” 

(Revelation 16:1, NKJV)

Points to Ponder:

• After the scene of the fiery sea and the seven angels coming out of the temple, John’s attention turns to the first two angels, and the specific wrath that is poured out from their bowls.
• The command is given to the angels to move to the earth and pour out God’s wrath. The brief descriptions of the angels’ actions and the resulting plagues seem to suggest that these bowls were not necessarily poured out in succession, but perhaps simultaneously instead. It was as if John was seeing them all poured out at once, and was catching glimpses of each of them. These plagues are similar, as previously stated, to the plagues associated with the seals and the trumpets. However, these plagues are complete and part of a final judgment, whereas those previously measured out were partial, and meant to elicit repentance instead of utter destruction.

First Bowl: Loathsome Sores

2 So the first went and poured out his bowl upon the earth, and a foul and loathsome sore came upon the men who had the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. 

(Revelation 16:2, NKJV)

Points to Ponder:

• The first bowl was poured out with the result of “a foul and loathsome sore.” This is very similar to the sixth plague against Egypt in the book of Exodus, All who had the mark of the beast received this sore. It is not specified as to where this sore showed up on the human body, but it could be something that surfaced at the location of the mark, perhaps a sign that the mark was the cause and source of such a judgment. The description goes on to say that those who worshipped the beast received this same judgment. Therefore, it is not just a judgment against the political, commercial, or social affiliation with the beast, but also the spiritual and religious affiliation, which is an absolute affront to the role and place of God in the spiritual realm.

Second Bowl: The Sea Turns to Blood

3 Then the second angel poured out his bowl on the sea, and it became blood as of a dead man; and every living creature in the sea died. 

(Revelation 16:3, NKJV)

Points to Ponder:

• The second angel also pours out his bowl, and the judgment it delivers is directed at the sea, much like the first plague against Egypt. The blood poured from the cup is poured into the sea. Blood carries many significant meanings in Scripture. Blood is considered the life force of all living beings, and shedding blood in violence was prohibited. Blood was considered unclean if it came from another source. For instance, no meat was to be eaten with the animals blood still in it. The blood was to be drained. A man was prohibited from sexual relationships when his wife was observing her menstrual period, and she and anything she touched was considered unclean during that time. However, the blood of Jesus, pure and clean, was considered efficacious in cleansing the soul from sin. In the case of this blood being poured out from the bowl in judgment, the blood is impure and brings death to the sea in which it was poured. Every living creature in the sea died once the blood entered the waters. This is complete annihilation rather than the partial attack on the sea earlier in Revelation.
• As the judgment of God is poured out on the earth, absolute and complete destruction begins. Everyone with the mark of the beast has a foul sore arise on their person. Every creature in the sea dies as a result of the blood being poured out. Complete destruction and annihilation falls on the earth at the pouring out of the bowls. The first two bowls bring worldwide damage to the nth degree. This is the beginning of the final chapter in the story of God’s wrath being poured out on the earth for their apostasy and idolatry during the Great Tribulation.revelation 16

Third Bowl: The Waters Turn to Blood

⁴ Then the third angel poured out his bowl on the rivers and springs of water, and they became blood. ⁵ And I heard the angel of the waters saying:

“You are righteous, O Lord,

The One who is and who was and who is to be,

Because You have judged these things.

⁶ For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets,

And You have given them blood to drink.

For it is their just due.”

⁷ And I heard another from the altar saying, “Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are Your judgments.” 

(Revelation 16:4–7, NKJV)

Points to Ponder:

• The third bowl appears to continue the action of the second bowl, only extending from the sea to the fresh water sources, like the sequence of the plagues associated with the breaking of the seven seals. In this case, the rivers and springs of water were also turned to blood. In this occurrence, though, the explanation is given that the reason for this plague is the bloodthirsty killing of those faithful to Christ. Since they had shed the blood of saints and prophets, they would drink blood from their normal sources of fresh water as well. There is also a statement that the judgments of the Lord God Almighty are true and righteous. This bowl seems to necessitate an explanation of God’s actions, supporting them as right and appropriate.

Fourth Bowl: Men are Scorched

⁸ Then the fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and power was given to him to scorch men with fire. ⁹ And men were scorched with great heat, and they blasphemed the name of God who has power over these plagues; and they did not repent and give Him glory. 

(Revelation 16:8–9, NKJV)

Points to Ponder:

• The fourth angel pours out his bowl on the sun, and it became hotter or closer than before. The earlier plague from the seals seemed to point to some cosmic disturbances, even causing some of the cosmic objects like the sun and stars to move out of their normal orbits. This plague, from the fourth bowl, seems to move them even further, and the sun proceeds to scorch the people on the earth with fire and heat. Those who were burned blasphemed the name of God. They did not repent, nor give God glory. Therefore, the judgment was severe and painful.

Fifth Bowl: Darkness and Pain

¹⁰ Then the fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom became full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues because of the pain. ¹¹ They blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and did not repent of their deeds. 

(Revelation 16:10–11, NKJV)

Points to Ponder:

• The fifth angel’s bowl was poured out on the throne of the beast, a darkness covered all of his kingdom. The people of the antichrist’s kingdom gnawed their tongues in agony. They now had sores, were scorched by the sun, had not water to fish from or to drink, and wandered around in darkness, searching for their way. These five bowls were enough to make the people miserable. They blasphemed the God of heaven, and refused to repent, and were thus being judged and punished by the wrath of God. Two more bowls await description. We will see how the judgment of God is completed on the earth. This is a period of time when the church should be with Christ and out of the flow of these bowls. Be sure you are ready when Jesus comes. No one wants to be present when the bowls are poured out!

Sixth Bowl: Euphrates Dried Up

¹² Then the sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up, so that the way of the kings from the east might be prepared. ¹³ And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs coming out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. ¹⁴ For they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.

¹⁵ “Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame.”

¹⁶ And they gathered them together to the place called in Hebrew, Armageddon. 

(Revelation 16:12–16, NKJV)

Points to Ponder:

• Five bowls have been poured out, the first four attacking the people of the earth who took the mark of the beast and worshipped him. The fifth bowl attacked the antichrist’s throne. In this passage, the attack on the antichrist continues with bowls six and seven.
• The sixth bowl was poured out on the river Euphrates. It was dried up, making way for the kings of the east to come through. The Parthians, from the east, symbolize the future military invasions that would come destroy the antichrist’s kingdom. The response of the antichrist’s unholy triumvirate was the emergence of three unclean spirits in the form of frogs coming out of the mouth of the dragon, the beast, and the false prophet. These frogs are demonic spirits that perform signs to deceive the world and gather the kingdoms of the earth to the battle of Armageddon. The battle will be the culmination of God’s judgment upon the earth for its sin and deception by the antichrist. The coming of the Lord for the battle will be sudden and unpredictable for those who will be judged. While this statement may have a double meaning, referring to the rapture and to the battle of Armageddon, it seems to be related to the battle in this particular instance. He warns those who are not prepared to face the judgment that will come.

Seventh Bowl: The Earth Utterly Shaken

¹⁷ Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, “It is done!” ¹⁸ And there were noises and thunderings and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such a mighty and great earthquake as had not occurred since men were on the earth. ¹⁹ Now the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. And great Babylon was remembered before God, to give her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of His wrath. ²⁰ Then every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. ²¹ And great hail from heaven fell upon men, each hailstone about the weight of a talent. Men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail, since that plague was exceedingly great. 

(Revelation 16:17–21, NKJV)

Points to Ponder:

• The seventh bowl is poured out into the air, and a mighty voice cries out “It is done!” Thunder, lightning, and an earthquake follow this declaration. The earthquake was so intense that no one had ever experienced the intensity before. The great city, Babylon, is divided into thirds, and all greater cities of the world fell. The greatest city, Babylon, received the right recompense for her sin, and the cup of the wine of the fierceness of God’s wrath was poured out on her fully. Every island disappeared into the sea, and the mountains were leveled. Great hail fell from heaven, each one weighing about 75 pounds. They could not die as of yet, so they cursed God and blasphemed His name because of the hail and the pain it caused.
• These two bowls, five and six, were the culmination of the judgment of God on the kingdom of the antichrist. These judgments were severe and overwhelming, and showed where the true power resided. God re-established His almighty power and preeminence over all the earth, and executed judgment on the antichrist. The following chapter will further describe the destruction of Babylon, but for now this passage shows us that the judgment is coming, and will not be denied. This is the way the great kingdom of the antichrist will fall. His hold on the earth will be loosed, and his kingdom will fall.

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All Scriptures from New King James Version unless otherwise noted.

Join us this afternoon at 5:00 pm for a discussion of this chapter live online. Live@5 with Dr. Greg Sloop can be found on Facebook on the Dr. Greg Sloop page or on the Kannapolis Church of God Facebook page or Youtube page. Another blog will be posted each weekday at 6:00 a.m.