EIGHT CHAPTERS
EXPLAINING THE SPIRITUAL BATTLES, PEOPLE, AND EVENTS
OF THE GREAT
TRIBULATION TO THE RETURN OF KING JESUS
TO RULE THIS EARTH:
PART V – THE FIRST
FOUR BOWL JUDGMENTS
OF YAHWEH’S FINAL
WRATH
Revelation 16:1-9
As taught by Dave
Lindstrom
I. The seven angels are commanded by
Yahweh Himself to pour out their seven bowl judgments (Revelation
16:1).
A. The Day of Yahweh has been
prophesied in Scripture for thousands of years
(Joel 2:28 – 3:2; Zeph. 1:14 –
2:3). The Day of Yahweh starts with wrath and ends with King Jesus
bringing peace and restoration (Joel 3:1-21; Zech. 14:1-20; I Thes.
5:1-11; Rev. 6:16 – 22:21). The wrath of Yahweh starts after
the sixth seal judgment (Rev. 6:16) and ends after the
seventh bowl judgment (Rev. 15:1; Rev. 16:17).
B. Yahweh Himself gives the sacred and
holy order to have these bowls poured out which finishes His wrath
that has been delayed until this very moment in time (Deut. 32:35;
Rom. 12:19). He is the only one left in the Heavenly Temple at
this time due to the power of His glory! (Rev. 15:8)
C. At the time of the seven bowl
judgments, the Great Tribulation (last 3 ½ years of Daniel’s
70th week) appears to be over and so these are poured out
between the 30 and 75 days before Christ sets up His earthly
Kingdom (Dan. 12:11, 12; Rev. 11:1 – 14:13).
THOUGHT: Have we
lost the ability in our day and age to be in thankful awe at Yahweh’s
perfect justice and perfect wrath? The messages of sin, evil,
depravity, Christ’s work, the believer’s purchased righteousness
and Yahweh Jesus’ earthly and eternal reigns depend on it.
II. The first four bowl judgments are
poured out upon the beast-marked, image worshipping, blasphemers on
this earth (Revelation 16:2-9).
A. The first bowl judgment brings
harmful and painful sores to the people who refused Yahweh’s
long-suffering warnings. They had been warned by the two witnesses (Rev. 11:3), saints of Jesus (Rev.
12:11, 17, 13:8), and angelic messengers (Rev. 14:6-11) but refused to believe
in truth. This is similar to what happened during the sixth plague
of Egypt in Exodus 9:9-11 (Rev. 16:2).
B. The second bowl judgment brings
complete destruction of all salt water life. This bowl turned the
sea into something like “the blood of a corpse” and, therefore,
it could no longer support life itself. This worldwide plague is
much more extensive than the first plague of Egypt in Exodus
7:14-21 or the second trumpet judgment in Revelation 8:8, 9 (Rev.
16:3).
C. The third bowl judgment turns all
the fresh water areas on the earth into blood
(Rev. 16:4-7)
1. This is similar to the first
plague of Egypt (Exodus 7:14-21) and the third trumpet judgment
(Rev. 8:10, 11) but much more extensive since it is global in scope.
2. The “angel of the waters” is
either the third angel who poured the bowl out or another angel
with some authority over water who was sent to proclaim this
message of Yahweh’s righteous judgment (verses 5-7).
a. Yahweh is perfectly righteous
(acts rightly according to a perfect standard), as the only
eternal being, in His judgment (verse 5; Rev. 1:4, 8, 4:8).
b. The judgment is right and fair
because these unbelievers have shed the blood of Yahweh’s
saints and prophets (verse 6; Rev. 11:18, 12:11, 17). Since they
shed blood, they will drink blood instead of pure water (verse 6;
Rev. 11:18, Rev. 12:11, 17, 13:10, 14:13).
c. The heavenly altar, which has
received every prayer of Old and New Testament saints, adds its
witness as to Yahweh’s true and righteous judgments. This
message has been confirmed by three sets of witnesses: The
saints in heaven (Rev. 11:17, 18, 15:3, 4), an angelic being
(Rev. 16:5, 6), and now the heavenly altar itself (verse 7; Rev.
5:8, 8:3-5).
D. The fourth bowl judgment
intensifies the heat of the sun which scorches with fire. Rather
than repenting and giving Yahweh glory (respecting and acknowledging
His right to rule and reign), they were blaspheming (cursing or
defaming) His name (verses 8, 9; Rev. 9:20, 21; 16:11,
21).
THOUGHT: “Yahweh
has bared His holy arm before the eyes of all the nations, and all
the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.”
Isaiah 52:10
“Seek Yahweh all you humble of
the land… perhaps you may be hidden on the Day of the anger of
Yahweh.” Zeph. 2:3
