The First Bowl (16:1-2)

The command is given to pour out these seven bowls of God’s wrath, which contain the seven last plagues on the earth. I think it is important to make a couple of points before we look at these plagues. The seven bowls have many parallels to the events that have already occurred in Revelation as well as events found in the Old Testament. As we look at each bowl it is not wise to assign a particular, specific event unless it is clearly revealed by the scripture. The description given to each bowl is short, seeming to signify general pictures of judgment. The bowls are not intending to give great detail. The details concerning these plagues will be described in chapter 17. These bowls are general images of judgment against Babylon the Great just as the seven seals indicated general pictures of judgment against Jerusalem. There is also a strong relationship, I believe, between the plagues in Revelation and the plagues in Egypt. The plagues in Egypt had many purposes that we must keep in mind. Not only were the plagues judgment upon the nation of Egypt, but they were a sign to the children of Israel and people of Egypt that God is the true one and there is no other. The ten plagues of Egypt were direct attacks upon many of the gods that Egyptians revered and worshipped. I believe that the seven bowls symbolize the same effect. While the main purpose will be to bring judgment upon Babylon the Great, it will also show that God is the true one and the Roman gods are nothing. Remember as we read these bowls that these are signs and symbols of God’s wrath (15:1).

The first bowl is poured on the earth and severe painful sores broke out upon the people who worshipped the image of the beast. This is a parallel to Exodus 9:10, “Then they took ashes from the furnace and stood before Pharaoh, and Moses scattered them toward heaven. And they caused boils that break out in sores on man and beast.” People who participate in the paganism and emperor worship will be judged. They will not escape God’s wrath. We immediately see judgment pronounced upon the evil people of the nation. It is also interesting to note that the Romans believed that Salus was the God of health, yet the God Almighty would shatter them with severely painful sores.

The Second Bowl (16:3)

The second bowl is poured out into the sea and the waters are turned to blood. Water is considered the life blood of any nation, thus life is endangered when it is polluted. Death is coming upon those associated with the empire. There is a parallel to Exodus 7:20-21- “He raised his staff in the presence of Pharaoh and his officials and struck the water of the Nile, and all the water was changed to blood. The fish in the Nile died, and the river smelled so bad that the Egyptians could not drink its water. Blood was everywhere in Egypt.� Neptune was the Roman god of the sea and would offer the people no protection. This is a picture of all-encompassing judgment and God is showing who is the true Almighty God.

The Third Bowl (16:4-7)

The third bowl is poured into the rivers and the springs of water and they become blood. To pollute the rivers and the waterways was an image of harm to the commerce of the nation (Revelation 18). Both the second and third bowls of wrath relate to the plague in Egypt where Moses turned the water to blood in Exodus 7:19. The Romans also had a God of commerce, Mercury. Thus God sends his judgment against the Romans in such a way as to ruin the Roman gods. In this wrath that is found in the third bowl, the reasoning for the wrath is given. Notice verse 6, “they deserve it!” Why did they deserve it? Because they poured out the blood of the saints and the prophets. So who are the “they” in the phrases “they deserve it” and “they poured out the blood of the saints and the prophets?” We must look back to Revelation 16:2: “those who had the mark of the beast and who worshiped his image.” We were informed in Revelation 13:15 where we read about the saints who did not worship the image of the beast would be killed. The people who are worshipping the beast, participating in emperor worship, and compelling others to worship or die are responsible for the blood of the saints. This was prophesied by Daniel in Daniel 7:21-25. We read in Daniel about the fourth kingdom, the Roman empire, making war with the saints of the Most High and wearing out the saints of the Most High. It has come to pass and God’s wrath has come because the saints are being persecuted and killed by the empire.

The Fourth Bowl (16:8-9)

The fourth bowl is poured out on the sun. With the judgment on the sun, we are beginning to see the “lights out” symbol for the nation and the people. The people are burned with fire, showing the full judgment God would bring upon the people. This same imagery is found in the Old Testament. Psalm 97:3, “A fire goes before Him, And burns up His enemies round about.” Also, in his prophecy against the world power Babylon, Isaiah said in Isaiah 47:14-15, “Behold, they shall be as stubble, The fire shall burn them; They shall not deliver themselves From the power of the flame; It shall not be a coal to be warmed by, Nor a fire to sit before! Thus shall they be to you With whom you have labored, Your merchants from your youth; They shall wander each one to his quarter. No one shall save you.” Similarly, Isaiah 24:6 says, “Therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men are left.â€?

This is recompense for the evil ways of the people. Remember the deception that the beast is practicing in Revelation 13:13, “He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men.” So now God will judge them by fire. Instead of recognizing their sins and repenting, they compound their sins by blaspheming God. This blasphemy is the nature of the beast (Revelation 13:1,6). It is also important to note that the Roman god of the sun is Apollo and the god of fire is Vulcan. In these symbols God is showing He is the true God.

The Fifth Bowl (16:10-11)

The fifth bowl is poured on the throne of the beast and his kingdom was plunged into darkness. This image further validates that we have moved away from talking about Jerusalem and are talking about the Roman empire. Remember that Revelation 13 has clearly described the Roman empire (see chapter 13 notes), and now judgment is poured out on the throne of the empire. Judgment will not escape the kings and emperors of Rome.

Furthermore, the kingdom is plunged into darkness. This continues the symbol of lights out for the nation. This is a similar occurrence as what happened to Egypt in Exodus 10:20 where darkness was used as judgment. Yet, despite these judgments and the suffering of the people, they still will not repent of their actions.

These signs are also used in the Old Testament to symbolize of judgment. Zechariah 14:12 says, “This shall be the plague with which the LORD will strike all the peoples that wage war against Jerusalem: their flesh shall rot while they are still on their feet; their eyes shall rot in their sockets, and their tongues shall rot in their mouths.� Also Isaiah 47:5 says, “Sit in silence, go into darkness, Daughter of the Babylonians; no more will you be called queen (mistress) of kingdoms.�

It is also interest to notice that the Romans had gods of protection. Juno was considered the god who protected Rome and Mars was the god of war. Both of these gods are pictured as failing in this bowl of wrath.

The Sixth Bowl (16:12-16)

The sixth bowl is poured out upon the great river Euphrates and its water is dried up to prepare the way for the kings of the east. Let us first understand the symbol of drying up the river Euphrates.

Let us notice some Old Testament passages. Isaiah 11:15-16, “The LORD will utterly destroy the tongue of the Sea of Egypt; With His mighty wind He will shake His fist over the River, And strike it in the seven streams, And make men cross over dry-shod. There will be a highway for the remnant of His people Who will be left from Assyria, As it was for Israel In the day that he came up from the land of Egypt.” Jeremiah 50:38, “A drought is against her waters, and they will be dried up. For it is the land of carved images, And they are insane with their idols.” Also Jeremiah 51:36, “Therefore thus says the LORD: “Behold, I will plead your case and take vengeance for you. I will dry up her sea and make her springs dry.”

The sixth bowl is using historical symbolism. The literal city of Babylon fell to the Persians in 538 BC by “drying upâ€? the Euphrates river and conquering it in one night. Babylon was built on the Euphrates River. To get past the impregnable city, the Persians rerouted the Euphrates River till the water was low enough for the armies to enter the city under the walls. Therefore, to use the symbol of drying up the river is to prepare the way for invasion. The city’s protection is lost and it is “goodbye Babylon!â€? Babylon is being used as a symbol for the fall of Rome, which we will more clearly see in Revelation 17.

Armageddon

Along with this, we see that there is a great assembling for battle. The devil, the Roman empire, and the false religions are gathering the kings of the whole world to assemble for battle. The use of the frogs shows the unclean nature of the events that are taking place. Satan is making preparations on the earth because he is not done with his efforts against the Christians and the Lord. In the meantime, the Lord says that he is coming like a thief. The judgment that will strike the Roman empire will be unexpected, which is the way the empire fell. Its destruction and upheaval was unexpected (Revelation 13:4). So another word of encouragement was given to the Christians to be alert and not follow the beast.

Armageddon literally means “mount of Megiddo. There were many decisive battles took place at the “mount of Megiddoâ€? in the scriptures:

Deborah against Sisera (Judges 4 & 5)
Gideon’s defeat of the Midianites with 300 men (Judges 7)
Saul & Jonathan slain at eastern part of the plan (1 Samuel 31)
Ahaziah, king of Judah died in battle there (2 Kings 9)
King Josiah fought and died there (2 Kings 23)

To have a gathering at Armageddon looks for a battle with a decisive victory to be determined. Please notice that there is nothing else said in this text. There is no mention of a war with nuclear arms or with the nation of Russia. The image simply communicates that there will be a showdown between God the Almighty and Satan. What will be the outcome? The next bowl and chapters 17-20 give the answer.

The Seventh Bowl (16:17-21)

The seventh bowl is poured into the air, thus encompassing every person and everything of the earth. From the sanctuary a loud voice is heard, “It is done!” The seven bowls have brought God’s wrath upon the Roman empire.

The imagery found in this bowl can also be found in the Old Testament prophecies. Isaiah 29:6 says, “The Lord Almighty will come with thunder and earthquake and great noise, with windstorm and tempest and flames of a devouring fire.�
Ezekiel 5:2 says, “You shall burn with fire one-third in the midst of the city, when the days of the siege are finished; then you shall take one-third and strike around it with the sword, and one-third you shall scatter in the wind: I will draw out a sword after them.â€? Further, Ezekiel 26:18 records, “Now the coastlands tremble on the day of your fall; the islands in the sea are terrified at your collapse.â€?

In verse 18 we see the judgments coming from the Lord in the symbols of lightnings, thunders, rumblings, and earthquakes. We have seen these images previously in Revelation depicting the judgments of God (Revelation 4:5; 8:5; 11:19). This imagery also corresponds to Daniel 12:1, “At that time Michael shall stand up, The great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people; And there shall be a time of trouble, Such as never was since there was a nation, Even to that time. And at that time your people shall be delivered, Every one who is found written in the book.” Great destruction comes upon the fourth kingdom, the Roman empire.

The great city is described as splitting into three parts. This same image is found in Ezekiel 5:2, “You shall burn with fire one-third in the midst of the city, when the days of the siege are finished; then you shall take one-third and strike around it with the sword, and one-third you shall scatter in the wind: I will draw out a sword after them.” This is a symbol of the complete and total destruction of Rome and the other cities of the empire. The fall of the empire will be a complete and total fall. We then see the fall of the great world power in the images that follow with the statements that Babylon the Great is given the “cup filled with the wine of His fierce anger.” Nothing can stand against the anger and wrath of the Lord. We also see enormous hailstones falling and yet the people still blaspheme God. This reminds us of Exodus 9:18-26 where Egypt was judged by hail. Now hail is used in judgment against the peoples of the earth.

A complete destruction has been described against Babylon the Great. It is “lights out” for the empire as God’s wrath is poured out. If we have been unsure about who Babylon the Great is up to this point, chapter 17 will reveal the symbol clearly.