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Revelation 16:1-11

Bowls 1-5 of Wrath

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Outline of the Book of Revelation

Introduction (1)
Letters to 7 Churches (2-3)
A Scene in Heaven (4)
The Scroll & the Lamb (5)
The 7 Seals (6-8)

The Sealed People of God (7)

The 7 Trumpets (8-11)

The Angel & Little Scroll (10)
The 2 Witnesses (11)

The Woman & the Dragon (12)
The Beasts (13)
People of God & People of the Beast (14)
Song of Moses & Song of the Lamb (15)
The 7 Bowls of Wrath (16)
Babylon is Fallen (17-18)
A Fourfold Hallelujah (19)
Final Judgment (20)
New Creation (21-22)

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The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, - Revelation 1:1 (ESV)

Written by John near end of 1st century AD while exiled on island of Patmos

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Recap - Revelation 15

I saw another great and marvelous sign in the sky: seven angels having the seven last plagues, for in them God’s wrath is finished. - Revelation 15:1 (WEB)

After these things I looked, and the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened. The seven angels who had the seven plagues came out, clothed with pure, bright linen, and wearing golden sashes around their chests. 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. The temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from his power. No one was able to enter into the temple until the seven plagues of the seven angels would be finished. - Revelation 15:5-8 (WEB)

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Reading

Revelation 16:1-11

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Plague 1 - Painful Sores (Revelation 16:2)

Yahweh said to Moses and to Aaron, “Take handfuls of ashes of the furnace, and let Moses sprinkle it toward the sky in the sight of Pharaoh. It shall become small dust over all the land of Egypt, and shall be boils and blisters breaking out on man and on animal, throughout all the land of Egypt.”

They took ashes of the furnace, and stood before Pharaoh; and Moses sprinkled it up toward the sky; and it became boils and blisters breaking out on man and on animal. The magicians couldn’t stand before Moses because of the boils; for the boils were on the magicians and on all the Egyptians. Yahweh hardened the heart of Pharaoh, and he didn’t listen to them, as Yahweh had spoken to Moses. - Exodus 9:8-12 (WEB)

The first went, and poured out his bowl into the earth, and it became a harmful and painful sore on the people who had the mark of the beast, and who worshiped his image. - Revelation 16:2 (WEB)

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Plague 2 - Sea of Blood (Revelation 16:3)

The second angel poured out his bowl into the sea, and it became blood as of a dead man. Every living thing in the sea died. - Revelation 16:3 (WEB)

The second angel sounded, and something like a great burning mountain was thrown into the sea. One third of the sea became blood, and one third of the living creatures which were in the sea died. One third of the ships were destroyed. - Revelation 8:8-9 (WEB)

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Plague 3 - Rivers & Springs of Blood (Revelation 16:4)

The third poured out his bowl into the rivers and springs of water, and they became blood. I heard the angel of the waters saying, “You are righteous, who are and who were, O Holy One, because you have judged these things. For they poured out the blood of saints and prophets, and you have given them blood to drink. They deserve this.” I heard the altar saying, “Yes, Lord God, the Almighty, true and righteous are your judgments.” - Revelation 16:4-7 (WEB)

Yahweh says, “In this you shall know that I am Yahweh. Behold: I will strike with the rod that is in my hand on the waters which are in the river, and they shall be turned to blood. The fish that are in the river will die and the river will become foul. The Egyptians will loathe to drink water from the river.”’” Yahweh said to Moses, “Tell Aaron, ‘Take your rod, and stretch out your hand over the waters of Egypt, over their rivers, over their streams, and over their pools, and over all their ponds of water, that they may become blood…All the Egyptians dug around the river for water to drink; for they couldn’t drink the river water. Seven days were fulfilled, after Yahweh had struck the river. - Exodus 7:17-25 (WEB)

The 3rd plague here seems to have a similar effect on presumably freshwater (in contrast to saltwater seas), turning them to blood.

Revelation 8:10-11 doesn’t necessarily have bloody freshwater bodies like this, but it does have such freshwater bodies made bitter:

The third angel sounded, and a great star fell from the sky, burning like a torch, and it fell on one third of the rivers, and on the springs of water. The name of the star is “Wormwood.” One third of the waters became wormwood. Many people died from the waters, because they were made bitter. - Revelation 8:10-11 (WEB)

Interestingly, after this plague in Revelation, there is a praise for God’s righteousness and judgment, connecting the blood here to pouring out of the blood of God’s people.

The “altar” speaks here. While the “object” of the altar could theoretically be speaking, it could also be voices of some being(s) near the altar, potentially the martyrs referenced earlier in Revelation 6:

When he opened the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been killed for the Word of God, and for the testimony of the Lamb which they had. They cried with a loud voice, saying, “How long, Master, the holy and true, until you judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” A long white robe was given to each of them. They were told that they should rest yet for a while, until their fellow servants and their brothers, who would also be killed even as they were, should complete their course. - Revelation 6:9-11 (WEB)

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Plague 4 - Sun Scorching Mankind (Revelation 16:8-9)

The fourth poured out his bowl on the sun, and it was given to him to scorch men with fire. People were scorched with great heat, and people blasphemed the name of God who has the power over these plagues. They didn’t repent and give him glory. - Revelation 16:8-9 (WEB)

I saw when he opened the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake. The sun became black as sackcloth made of hair, and the whole moon became as blood. - Revelation 6:12 (WEB)

They will never be hungry or thirsty any more. The sun won’t beat on them, nor any heat; - Revelation 7:16 (WEB)

There’s not really a direct correspondence here to other plagues, though some might see the scorching of the sun similar to lightning in the Exodus 9 plague or the falling of stars similar to various places like Revelation 6:13.

Most of the time the sun has been “touched” in Revelation it’s been darkened:

I saw when he opened the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake. The sun became black as sackcloth made of hair, and the whole moon became as blood. - Revelation 6:12 (WEB)
The fourth angel sounded, and one third of the sun was struck, and one third of the moon, and one third of the stars, so that one third of them would be darkened; and the day wouldn’t shine for one third of it, and the night in the same way. - Revelation 8:12 (WEB)
Isaiah 13:10, Joel 2:31, and Matthew 24:29 are some similar passages.

Though what’s perhaps more interesting here is the contrast with the protection of God’s people (and deliverance from “under the sun” of Ecclesiastes):

I told him, “My lord, you know.” He said to me, “These are those who came out of the great suffering. They washed their robes and made them white in the Lamb’s blood. Therefore they are before the throne of God, and they serve him day and night in his temple. He who sits on the throne will spread his tabernacle over them. They will never be hungry or thirsty any more. The sun won’t beat on them, nor any heat; for the Lamb who is in the middle of the throne shepherds them and leads them to springs of life-giving waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” - Revelation 7:14-17 (WEB)
Isaiah 49:10 and Psalm 121:6 are some similar passages.
Psalm 11:6, Psalm 68:6 also has the idea of “scorching” in God’s judgments.

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Plague 5 - Painful Darkness (Revelation 16:10-11)

The fifth poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom was darkened. They gnawed their tongues because of the pain, and they blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores. They still didn’t repent of their works. - Revelation 16:10-11 (WEB)

Yahweh said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward the sky, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, even darkness which may be felt.” Moses stretched out his hand toward the sky, and there was a thick darkness in all the land of Egypt for three days. - Exodus 10:21-22 (WEB)

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“Calamities” Across Revelation Thus far

	7 Seals (Revelation 6:1-7:6)	7 Trumpets (Revelation 7:2-8:19)	7 Plagues/Bowls of Wrath (Revelation 16:1-21)
1	Conquest	Burning of Earth	Sores
2	Strife	Blood in Sea	Blood in Sea
3	Famine	Bitter Waters	Blood in Rivers
4	Death	Darkened Celestial Bodies	Scorching Sun
5	More Saintly Martyrs*	Locusts from Abyss	Darkness
6	Sky/Earthly Terrors - Wrath to Come	Four Angels Killing Mankind	Drying of Euphrates River*
7	7 Trumpets*	Kingdom of God* (and wrath/judgment)	Sky/Earthly Terrors

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Discussion (Revelation 16)

What do the people on the earth recognize

about these judgments?

What do they do in response?

The people here seem to recognize that these plagues are from God due to the blasphemy toward him (Revelation 16:9, Revelation 16:11). That’s part of their response, though despite that pain, they don’t repent.

We previously saw a lack of repentance after some “lesser” plagues:

The rest of mankind, who were not killed with these plagues, didn’t repent of the works of their hands, that they wouldn’t worship demons, and the idols of gold, and of silver, and of brass, and of stone, and of wood, which can’t see, hear, or walk. They didn’t repent of their murders, their sorceries, their sexual immorality, or their thefts. - Revelation 9:20-21 (WEB)

Why do people respond with blasphemy rather than repentance?

Earlier in this chapter (Revelation 16:2), these people were described as those who had “the mark of the beast and who worshiped his image”. So by default, there’s already some sort of allegiance to this beast, rather than God (revisit Revelation 13).

This is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light, for their works were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the light and doesn’t come to the light, lest his works would be exposed. - John 3:19-20 (WEB)
Even if our Good News is veiled, it is veiled in those who are dying, in whom the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving, that the light of the Good News of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should not dawn on them. - 2 Corinthians 4:3-4 (WEB)
and with all deception of wickedness for those who are being lost, because they didn’t receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. Because of this, God sends them a powerful delusion, that they should believe a lie, that they all might be judged who didn’t believe the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. - 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12 (WEB)

Going back to the Revelation 9:20-21 passage above, we see this notion of not repenting of “the works of their hands” and worship of “idols” (in addition to “demons”). There seems to be a desire of worship for the created order (be it themselves of other things), of works fashioned to be in their image, rather than being willing to seek & worship a true and holy God who is actually worthy of their lives and worship - what would it say to spurn the true God who is worthy by being willing to give your life and self (made in the image of God) to some lesser thing?

Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, and traded the glory of the incorruptible God for the likeness of an image of corruptible man, and of birds, four-footed animals, and creeping things. Therefore God also gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to uncleanness, that their bodies should be dishonored among themselves; who exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. - Romans 1:22-25 (WEB)

The blasphemy here seems to be rooted in pain (from the heat, pains, sores). Sometimes people think “how could a good God do these things?” There can be a lot missing in this kind of understanding, and this chapter (Revelation 16:5-7) and the previous chapter (Revelation 15:3-4) testify to the truth and righteousness of God’s ways and judgments. People also often misunderstand all of the reasons that suffering/pain might occur (see C.S. Lewis’ The Problem of Pain - https://www.amazon.com/Problem-Pain-C-S-Lewis/dp/0060652969), the holiness of God, and the wickedness of sin in them.

May it never be! Yes, let God be found true, but every man a liar. As it is written, “that you might be justified in your words, and might prevail when you come into judgment.” But if our unrighteousness commends the righteousness of God, what will we say? Is God unrighteous who inflicts wrath? I speak like men do. May it never be! For then how will God judge the world? - Romans 3:4-6 (WEB)

We’ve seen various “warnings” in perhaps various calamities in Revelation thus far, and then we obviously know more on what is going on “behind-the-scenes” of such things due to Revelation itself. But as we’ve gotten further in Revelation, we’ve also seen more explicit warnings about these particular kinds of judgments:

The nations were angry, and your wrath came, as did the time for the dead to be judged, and to give your bondservants the prophets, their reward, as well as to the saints and those who fear your name, to the small and the great, and to destroy those who destroy the earth.” - Revelation 11:18 (WEB)
He said with a loud voice, “Fear the Lord, and give him glory, for the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and the springs of waters!” - Revelation 14:7 (WEB)
Another angel, a third, followed them, saying with a great voice, “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, he also will drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is prepared unmixed in the cup of his anger. He will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. The smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever. They have no rest day and night, those who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name. - Revelation 14:9-11 (WEB)

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Discussion (Revelation 16)

Why does God pour out these plagues/wrath?

In Revelation 16, we’re given at least one specific reason:

I heard the angel of the waters saying, “You are righteous, who are and who were, O Holy One, because you have judged these things. For they poured out the blood of saints and prophets, and you have given them blood to drink. They deserve this.” I heard the altar saying, “Yes, Lord God, the Almighty, true and righteous are your judgments.” - Revelation 16:5-7 (WEB)
This potentially connects back some to Revelation 6:9-11.
See also Matthew 23:34-35 also blood for God’s people being brought back upon people of the earth (partly referencing back to 2 Chronicles 24:20-22 regarding Zechariah).

Going back to Revelation 15, we’re told that these are the last plagues, for a finishing of the wrath of God:

I saw another great and marvelous sign in the sky: seven angels having the seven last plagues, for in them God’s wrath is finished. - Revelation 15:1 (WEB)

In Revelation 14:17-20, we have a harvesting of grapes thrown into the wine press of God’s wrath. If this is referring to the same harvesting in a parable in Matthew 13, then this has to do with stumbling/iniquity:

The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will gather out of his Kingdom all things that cause stumbling and those who do iniquity, - Matthew 13:41 (WEB)

In Revelation 14:9-11, those drinking of the wrath of God are connected to those who worship the beast and his image (which connects with Revelation 16:2):

Another angel, a third, followed them, saying with a great voice, “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, he also will drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is prepared unmixed in the cup of his anger. He will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. The smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever. They have no rest day and night, those who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name. - Revelation 14:9-11 (WEB)

In Revelation 14:7, we see a call to fear God, glorify Him, and worship Him (which doesn’t seem to be done by those on who these plagues are poured out):

He said with a loud voice, “Fear the Lord, and give him glory, for the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and the springs of waters!” - Revelation 14:7 (WEB)

Revelation 11:18 potentially gives at least one other reason of those who destroy the earth:

The nations were angry, and your wrath came, as did the time for the dead to be judged, and to give your bondservants the prophets, their reward, as well as to the saints and those who fear your name, to the small and the great, and to destroy those who destroy the earth.” - Revelation 11:18 (WEB)

Romans 1:18-25 discusses how people have moved away from worshipping God:

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because that which is known of God is revealed in them, for God revealed it to them. For the invisible things of him since the creation of the world are clearly seen, being perceived through the things that are made, even his everlasting power and divinity, that they may be without excuse. Because knowing God, they didn’t glorify him as God, and didn’t give thanks, but became vain in their reasoning, and their senseless heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, and traded the glory of the incorruptible God for the likeness of an image of corruptible man, and of birds, four-footed animals, and creeping things. Therefore God also gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to uncleanness, that their bodies should be dishonored among themselves; who exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. - Romans 1:18-25 (WEB)

Note the severity of the action here - denying One who has “everlasting power and divinity” and is “incorruptible” in favor of something lesser. This is essentially what makes not worshipping not an “infinite” offense.

Romans 2:4-5 describes how there’s a patient waiting and kindness by God to hopefully lead to repentance, but stubbornness of unrepentant hearts leads to storing up wrath:

Or do you despise the riches of his goodness, forbearance, and patience, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? But according to your hardness and unrepentant heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath, revelation, and of the righteous judgment of God, - Romans 2:4-5 (WEB)

For the Egyptian plagues, God gives several reasons that are interesting to think about in this context:

But Pharaoh will not listen to you, so I will lay my hand on Egypt, and bring out my armies, my people the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great judgments. The Egyptians shall know that I am Yahweh when I stretch out my hand on Egypt, and bring the children of Israel out from among them.” - Exodus 7:4-5 (WEB)
For this time I will send all my plagues against your heart, against your officials, and against your people; that you may know that there is no one like me in all the earth. For now I would have stretched out my hand, and struck you and your people with pestilence, and you would have been cut off from the earth; but indeed for this cause I have made you stand: to show you my power, and that my name may be declared throughout all the earth, because you still exalt yourself against my people, that you won’t let them go. - Exodus 9:14-17 (WEB)
For I will go through the land of Egypt in that night, and will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and animal. I will execute judgments against all the gods of Egypt. I am Yahweh. - Exodus 12:12 (WEB)
while the Egyptians were burying all their firstborn, whom Yahweh had struck among them. Yahweh also executed judgments on their gods. - Numbers 33:4 (WEB)

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History of God’s Judgments on the Earth (a sampling)

Yahweh said, “My Spirit will not strive with man forever, because he also is flesh; so his days will be one hundred twenty years.”...Yahweh saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of man’s heart was continually only evil. Yahweh was sorry that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him in his heart. Yahweh said, “I will destroy man whom I have created from the surface of the ground—man, along with animals, creeping things, and birds of the sky—for I am sorry that I have made them.” - Genesis 6:3-7 (WEB)

Yahweh said, “Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous, I will go down now, and see whether their deeds are as bad as the reports which have come to me. If not, I will know.” - Genesis 18:20-21 (WBE)

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History of God’s Judgments on the Earth (a sampling)

In the fourth generation they will come here again, for the iniquity of the Amorite is not yet full.” - Genesis 15:16 (WEB)

Yahweh, the God of their fathers, sent to them by his messengers, rising up early and sending, because he had compassion on his people and on his dwelling place; but they mocked the messengers of God, despised his words, and scoffed at his prophets, until Yahweh’s wrath arose against his people, until there was no remedy. - 2 Chronicles 36:15-16 (WEB)

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Discussion (Revelation 16)

What impact should knowing about these plagues/bowls of wrath have on how we share the Gospel?

(See also 2 Peter 3:3-15, 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10)

2 Peter 3 has some interesting “history” lessons and application:

knowing this first, that in the last days mockers will come, walking after their own lusts and saying, “Where is the promise of his coming? For, from the day that the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.” For they willfully forget that there were heavens from of old, and an earth formed out of water and amid water by the word of God, by which means the world that existed then, being overflowed with water, perished. But the heavens that exist now and the earth, by the same word have been stored up for fire, being reserved against the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. But don’t forget this one thing, beloved, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow concerning his promise, as some count slowness; but he is patient with us, not wishing that anyone should perish, but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will be dissolved with fervent heat; and the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. Therefore, since all these things will be destroyed like this, what kind of people ought you to be in holy living and godliness, looking for and earnestly desiring the coming of the day of God, which will cause the burning heavens to be dissolved, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? But, according to his promise, we look for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells. Therefore, beloved, seeing that you look for these things, be diligent to be found in peace, without defect and blameless in his sight. Regard the patience of our Lord as salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also, according to the wisdom given to him, wrote to you, - 2 Peter 3:3-15 (WEB)

2 Thessalonians 1 also articulates again some of the impact of what will ultimately happen to those who don’t obey the Gospel:

For it is a righteous thing with God to repay affliction to those who afflict you, and to give relief to you who are afflicted with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, punishing those who don’t know God, and to those who don’t obey the Good News of our Lord Jesus, who will pay the penalty: eternal destruction from the face of the Lord and from the glory of his might, when he comes in that day to be glorified in his saints and to be admired among all those who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed. - 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10 (WEB)

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God’s Patience & Desire for Repentance and Salvation

Or do you despise the riches of his goodness, forbearance, and patience, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? But according to your hardness and unrepentant heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath, revelation, and of the righteous judgment of God, - Romans 2:4-5 (WEB)

But don’t forget this one thing, beloved, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow concerning his promise, as some count slowness; but he is patient with us, not wishing that anyone should perish, but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will be dissolved with fervent heat; and the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. - 2 Peter 3:8-10 (WEB)

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How Is Anyone Saved from the Wrath to Come

One who believes in the Son has eternal life, but one who disobeys the Son won’t see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.” - John 3:36 (WEB)

Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we will be saved from God’s wrath through him. - Romans 5:9 (WEB)

and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead: Jesus, who delivers us from the wrath to come. - 1 Thessalonians 1:10 (WEB)

For God didn’t appoint us to wrath, but to the obtaining of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, - 1 Thessalonians 5:9 (WEB)

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How Is Anyone Saved from the Wrath to Come

We also all once lived among them in the lusts of our flesh, doing the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest. But God, being rich in mercy, for his great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him, and made us to sit with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus; for by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, that no one would boast. - Ephesians 2:3-9 (WEB)

It’s worth remembering that the only reason we’re spared from this wrath is because of God and His grace in Jesus Christ.

https://www.desiringgod.org/messages/make-your-life-count/excerpts/six-truths-about-gods-wrath

https://www.desiringgod.org/labs/saved-through-the-fire-of-suffering

“If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will happen to the ungodly and the sinner?” - 1 Peter 4:18 (WEB)

I don’t reject the grace of God. For if righteousness is through the law, then Christ died for nothing!” - Galatians 2:21 (WEB)

“The cross of Jesus is robbed of its import and glory when we minimize both our guilt and the fullness of God’s wrath that fell on Jesus when He took upon Himself the judgment we deserve. Until our hearts and tongues are silenced by God’s holy otherness and moral perfection, we will not be able to understand and accept the revelation of His wrath that is to come in full upon the world.” - Unveiled Hope (p. 169) - https://www.amazon.com/Unveiled-Hope-Eternal-Encouragement-Revelation/dp/0785272097