When The World Gets It Just Due

Revelation 16:1-9

In Revelation we find a series of three judgments that are dispensed in seven stages. There are the seven seals, the seven trumpets and the seven bowls or vials. As we move into chapter 16 we come to the seven bowls. We read in verse 7, “And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever.”

In chapter 16 these seven angels are sent on their mission of pouring out the contents of the seven bowls. We read in 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.”

The content of these 7 bowls is the wrath of God that is poured out on the earth. Verse 7 speaks of these bowls as being “full of the wrath of God” The word “full” means “to swell.” It speaks of that which is ready to burst. Now we see it bursting forth like a damn and rushing forth with unprecedented intensity and destruction. In the seven vials (bowls) God wrath is poured out without restraint or restriction.

In chapter 14:10 we saw that, “The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation.” We saw that the words “without mixture” speak of that which is undiluted. Now God’s wrath is being poured out in an undiluted measure. There is no mercy being extended.

As we look at these 7 bowls we will see that they are similar to other expressions of God’s wrath as seen in the Bible.

1) They are similar to the plagues in Egypt

2) They are similar to previous judgments seen in Revelation

The great difference between them is the intensity and measure. There will be no diluting of God’s judgment. We read in chapter 14:1, “And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvellous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God.”  We saw that the “seven last plagues” are the final acts of God’s judgment on the earth.

These final acts of God’s judgments are described as the just due or reward of the earth: “And I heard the angel of the waters say, Thou art righteous, O Lord, which art, and wast, and shalt be, because thou hast judged thus. For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and thou hast given them blood to drink; for they are worthy. And I heard another out of the altar say, Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are thy judgments” (16:5-7).

The angel (called the angel of the waters) declares two things about the wrath of God. First, he states that God is righteous in all His decisions and actions. One might say, “How could a God of love do such a thing?” Yet, we see that He is just in all His actions. He is a holy God and the wrath that He pours out is right.

We read in Psalm 19:9, “The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.”

Secondly, the angel states that the wrath being poured out is deserved (“for they are worthy”). It is what the world deserves! Such is their due! The Scripture says in Hebrews 10:26-27, “For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, ²⁷ But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.” They have rejected God, refused His Son Jesus, therefore they deserve what they are about to receive.

In these finals acts of God’s wrath we see the world, every Christ rejecting nation and person getting their just due. In this study let’s consider the first four as found in verses 1-9. First, notice:

1. THE DISTRESSING SORE

In verse 2 we read of the first bowl being poured out: “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 bowl brought a sore upon people.

Notice:

A) The Pain Inflicted By The Sore

The word “noisome” means “worthless.” The word refers to the effects brought by something. It is translated in other places as “bad” and “evil.” The word “grievous” means “hurtful.” When these words are used together, they stress that the sores will be festering, painful, and incurable.

The Greek word is equivalent of the Latin word from whence we get our word “ulcer.” It describes inflamed, oozing, ulcerous sores, such as those that affected the Egyptians as described in Exodus 9:9-11, “And it shall become small dust in all the land of Egypt, and shall be a boil breaking forth with blains upon man, and upon beast, throughout all the land of Egypt. 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 upon man, and upon beast. ¹¹ And the magicians could not stand before Moses because of the boils; for the boil was upon the magicians, and upon all the Egyptians.”

It is also descriptive of the sores of Job: “So went Satan forth from the presence of the LORD, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown” (Job 2:7).

This first bowl brings ulcerous sores for which no one can find a cure. Notice also:

B) The People Afflicted By The Sore

Who has these sores? Those as vs. 2 states, “which had the mark of the beast, and upon them which worshipped his image.” In Revelation 14:9-10 we saw, “And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, ¹⁰ The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation…” One can’t began to imagine the misery.

Now lets notice the second bowl. In it we see:

2. THE DEADLY SEA

We read in 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 bowl involves the sea or seas of the world. As you look at this bowl you see:

A) The Change of the Sea

We we saw the sounding of the second trumpet we read in Revelation 8:8-9, “And the second angel sounded, and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea: and the third part of the sea became blood; ⁹ And the third part of the creatures which were in the sea, and had life, died; and the third part of the ships were destroyed.” There we saw a third part of the seas being affected. Now we read that when the second bowl is poured out that the sea will completely become as blood.

We read in verse 3, “And the second angel poured out his vial upon the sea; and it became as the blood of a dead man…” When you realize that 70% of the world’s surface is ocean you can imagine this scene. John Phillips writes: “From time to time, off the coast of California and elsewhere, a phenomenon known as "the red tide" occurs. These red tides kill millions of fish and poison those who eat contaminated shellfish. In 1949, one of these red tides hit the coast of Florida. First the water turned yellow, but by midsummer it was thick and viscous with countless billions of dinoflagellates, tiny one-celled organisms. Sixty-mile windrows of stinking fish fouled the beaches. Much marine life was wiped out, even bait used by fishermen died upon the hooks. Eventually the red tide subsided, only to appear again the following year. Eating fish contaminated by the tide produced severe symptoms caused by a potent nerve poison, a few grams of which, distributed aright, could easily kill everyone in the world. An unchecked population explosion of toxic dinoflagellates would kill all the fish in the sea. (Exploring Revelation, rev. ed. [Chicago: Moody, 1987; reprint, Neptune, N.J.: Loizeaux, 1991], 190–91)

John MacArthur writes, “To the amazement, horror, and despair of the world, the oceans will no longer be fluid, but will become thick, dark, and coagulated, like the pool of blood from someone who has been stabbed to death.”

Also notice:

B) The Corruption of the Sea

We read that “every living soul died in the sea.” Henry Morris writes: “In this toxic ocean nothing can survive, and soon all the billions of fishes and marine mammals and marine reptiles and the innumerable varieties of marine invertebrates will perish, thus still further poisoning the oceans and contaminating the sea shores of the world. The oceans will have effectively completed their age-long function in the earth's physical economy, and will die. As God had created every living soul in the waters (Genesis 1:21), so now every living soul died in the sea. (The Revelation Record [Wheaton, Ill.: Tyndale, 1983], 298)

Can you imagine the stench? The amount of death in the sea will no doubt produce a putrefying odor throughout the world.

Now notice the third bowl. In it we see:

3. THE DEFILED STREAMS

Not only will the salt water of the world be affected, but also all the fresh water. We read in 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.” In this third bowl we see:

A) A Defiling of Fresh Water

When the third trumpet sounded we read, “And the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters; ¹¹ And the name of the star is called Wormwood: and the third part of the waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter” (8:10-11). A third part of the fresh water were affected, now all the fresh water.

Similar thing happened in Egypt. We read in Exodus 7:20-24, “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. ²¹ 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. ²² And the magicians of Egypt did so with their enchantments: and Pharaoh's heart was hardened, neither did he hearken unto them; as the LORD had said. ²³ And Pharaoh turned and went into his house, neither did he set his heart to this also. ²⁴ And all the Egyptians digged round about the river for water to drink; for they could not drink of the water of the river.”

As we look closer we see:

B) A Depletion of Fresh Water

Water has already been brought a critical short supply. But now imagine the hardship and suffering seeing there is no water to drink, cook or bathe with. Water is essential, but there will be no water.

Lastly, notice the fourth bowl. In it we see:

4. THE DEVASTATING SUN

The fourth bowl will involve the sun. We read in verse 8-9, “And the fourth angel poured out his vial upon the sun; and power was given unto him to scorch men with fire. And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which hath power over these plagues: and they repented not to give him glory.” As we look at this fourth bowl we see:

A) The Burning of the People

We find the people of the earth being scorched with great heat. There is no pain quite like that of a burn. There is a band of radiation around our earth that is called a magnetosphere. This filters out the rays of the sun. If not for this magnetosphere we will literally burn up. It seems we see this occurring. You can be certain that no sun block powerful enough to prevent being scorched.

Also we see:

B) The Blasphemy of the People

We read that men will “blasphemed the name of God.” They will rail against God. It indicates that their hearts are so hard, they are past redemption.

When I read of these things that are to come upon the earth I AM GLAD THAT I AM READY! How about you?

© 2005 by the Living Word