Tag: bowls of wrath
“It is Done!”
Scripture reading for December 22: Revelation 16
“The seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple, from the throne, saying, “It is done!” And there were flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, and a great earthquake such as there had never been on earth, so great was that earthquake. The great city was split into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell, and God remembered Babylon the great, to make her drain the cup of the wine of the fury of His wrath. And every island fled away, and no mountains were to be found. And great hailstones, about one hundred pounds each, fell from heaven on people; and they cursed God for the plague of the hail, because the plague was so severe.” Revelation 16:17-21
John observed as the seven angels poured out their golden bowls of God’s wrath on the earth. As the seventh angel poured out his bowl on the air of earth, a loud voice from God’s throne announced, “It is done!” This announcement reminds us of Jesus’ last loud cry from the cross, as He gave up His spirit. (John 19:30)(Matthew 27:50) This final bowl produced amazing judgments on the earth. There was a tremendous earthquake that leveled all mountains and submersed all islands. The great city, Jerusalem, was split into three parts and the cities of the nations fell. The world system of antichrist, Babylon the great, was made to drink the final cup of God’s wrath. John saw hailstones weighing about one hundred pounds falling on people of the earth. Instead of repentance, they cursed the God of Creation.
God desires that no man would be lost so He provided His Son to take His wrath against sin. He invites all mankind to receive this mercy and has sent His believing children to share the Gospel. John is allowed to witness the final wrath poured out on those refusing His Son. He sent three angels to invite and warn mankind one last time. But those on the earth refuse repentance and curse God for their hopeless plight. They have believed the lie and are damned.
Have you considered God’s just and true judgments outlined here for us to receive warning and escape? Have you considered your own appointment with death and judgment? What are you doing to help others escape these judgments?
Prayer: Father, thank You that “It is finished!” I receive the finished work of Jesus Christ as my gift of mercy and forgiveness. I don’t want justice, but need mercy. Help me to live by faith and share the Gospel of grace with a world in darkness. Amen.
Seven golden bowls of wrath!
Scripture reading for December 21st: Job 18-20, Psalm 141, Revelation 15
Revelation 15:3-8 “After this I looked, and the sanctuary of the tent of witness in heaven was opened, and out of the sanctuary came the seven angels with the seven plagues, clothed in pure, bright linen, with golden sashes around their chests. And one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God Who lives forever and ever, and the sanctuary was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from His power, and no one could enter the sanctuary until the seven plagues of the seven angels were finished.”
As John beheld the unfolding the events of the final judgments of the earth, he saw the tent of witness, the tabernacle, of heaven opened. From God’s presence came seven angels clothed in purity and nobility. One of the four living creatures around God’s throne gave them each a bowl filled with the wrath of God. From the sanctuary, smoke and the glory of God filled the atmosphere such that no one could enter the sanctuary until the bowls of wrath were emptied and finished. These judgments were part of heaven’s response to the prayers of God’s people ascending to God’s throne room in Revelation 8:2-5. God’s people praying and standing in faith in the blood of the Lamb and their testimony brings victory!
Psalm 141:1-2 “O Lord, I call upon You; hasten to me! Give ear to my voice when I call to You! Let my prayer be counted as incense before You, and the lifting of my hands as the evening sacrifice.”
Prayer: Father God, Thank You that my Redeemer lives and is even now interceding for me and all God’s people on the earth. Thank You for Your righteous judgments and the promise of cleansing the earth of all evil and injustice. How I long to see You with my own eyes and worship You forever and ever! Have mercy on all mankind and use me in whatever way will further Your kingdom and rule on earth!
Job 19:25-27 “For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last He will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has bee thus destroyed, yet in my flesh I shall see God, Whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another. My heart faints within me!”
Blessed is He who stays Awake!
Scripture reading for December 22nd: Revelation 16
In quick succession, the seven angels with the seven last plagues pour out the bowls of God’s wrath on the earth. These plagues bring to remembrance the plagues that God brought through Moses upon Pharaoh’s kingdom. Sores broke out on the people with the beast’s mark and the sea turned to blood, killing all living creatures. The rivers and springs became blood as well. “Then I heard an angel in charge of the waters say: “You are just in these judgments, You who are and Who were, the Holy One, because You have so judged; for they have shed the blood of Your saints and prophets, and You have given them blood to drink as they deserve.” (Revelation 16:5-6) Surely God is just and true in His judgments! (Revelation 15:3)
The fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and gave it scorching power and the fifth poured his bowl on the throne of the beast and turned his kingdom into darkness. The sixth angel poured his bowl on the Euphrates River and dried up it’s waters. Evil spirits came out of the mouths of the dragon, the beast, and the false prophet and they sent spirits of demons to draw the kings of the whole world to gather them for the final battle on the “great Day of God Almighty.” (See Joel 3:1-3,9-16) In spite of these judgment, the people of the earth curse God and blaspheme His Name! Sin is surely deceptive!
“Behold, I come like a thief! Blessed is he who stays awake and keeps his clothes with him, so that he may not go naked and be shamefully exposed.” (Revelation 16:15) The words of Jesus bring encouragement to His people to stay awake! This will happen suddenly and only those ready will make it! (See Matthew 24:42-44, 25:1-13)
“It is done!”
Scripture reading for December 25th: Revelation 16:1-21
John heard a loud voice from the temple commanding the angels: “Go, pour out the seven bowls of God’s wrath on the earth.” At this command, each of these seven angels obeyed in sequence. The first angel brought ugly sores on all who worshiped the beast. The second angel’s bowl turned the sea to blood and brought death to every living creature in the sea. The third angel’s bowl turned all the rivers and springs of water to blood.
John heard an angel proclaim: “You are just in these judgments, You who are and who were, the Holy One, because You have so judged; for they have shed the blood of Your saints and prophets, and You have given them blood to drink as they deserve.” (Revelation 16:5-6) God is the only one who can repay justly, because He is the only One who is Holy and omniscient! God commands His people not to take vengeance because it belongs to Him alone. (Romans 12:17-20; Deuteronomy 32:35) His judgment is poured out on those who have shed blood: they are given blood to drink!
The fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun and people on earth are scorched by fire. Global warming was taking place in this instance and it was caused by God’s wrath against sin on earth! The fifth angel poured his bowl on the throne of the beast and plunged his kingdom into darkness. John notes: “Men gnawed their tongues in agony and cursed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, but they refused to repent of what they had done.” (Revelation 16:10-11)
The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the River Euphrates, and its water dried up to make way for the kings of the East. Three evil spirits come from the dragon, beast, and false prophet to draw them to battle with God. The seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air and a voice from the throne shouted, “It is done!” There was a great earthquake that shook the great city (Rome or Babylon) splitting it into three parts and collapsed the cities of the nations. It also leveled the mountains and sunk the islands of the sea! Hailstones of a hundred pounds fell on men and they cursed God! The warning: “Behold I come like a thief! Blessed is he who stays awake . .” (Revelation 16:15a)
Bowls of Wrath!
Scripture reading for December 29th: Revelation 14-16
God is love and He is kind and loving towards all He has made. Some people focus just on this fact and believe that because God is loving, that all men will be saved and none will perish. However, God is also just and punishes sin and rebellion. “I saw in heaven another great and marvelous sign: seven angels with the seven last plagues–last, because with them God’s wrath is completed.” (Revelation 15:1) John’s attention was again captured by this sign. He had written about the seven seals opened by the Lamb, the seven trumpets blown by seven angels, and now seven angels with seven bowls of the wrath of God.
He then saw a company of people in heaven, playing harps and singing the song of Moses. Moses and Miriam led the Israelites in a song of worship because of God’s deliverance from their enemies characterized by Pharaoh and his army. In John’s vision these overcomers were singing of God’s ultimate triumph over their enemies and the wonder of God’s marvelous deeds that would bring all nations to worship Him. As they worshiped, the tabernacle of testimony was opened and the seven angels appeared with their golden bowls of God’s wrath. The tabernacle was God’s dwelling place among men. God wanted to be close to His people and mark them with His presence. Worship opens our hearts to experience God’s presence and understand His will.
As the bowls are poured out on the earth at the command from the temple, plagues struck the people of the earth as in the days of Moses. Despite the signature of God’s great power, people refused to repent but instead cursed God and gnawed their own tongues in agony. (Revelation 16:8-9) The sixth bowl released three evil demon spirits that looked like frogs and they came out of the mouth of the satanic trinity of beast, dragon, and false prophet. These spirits enabled miraculous signs that would deceive the kings of the whole world and bring them to the final battle. (Revelation 16:12-14)
Another warning by Jesus: “Behold, I come like a thief! Blessed is he who stays awake and keeps his clothes with him, so that he may not go naked and be shamefully exposed.” (Revelation 16:15) Believers must be ready and clothed in Christ’s righteousness to avoid judgment. Check your own heart and life today. Jesus is coming!