Introduction: Chapter 15 is the smaller of all the chapters in God’s Revelation to man as revealed by His Son, Jesus Christ. It is only 8 verses long. However, it moves quickly into chapter 16 and appears (Ch. 15) to be the introduction to the consummation of God’s eternal purpose. Chapter 16 moves quickly through the “bowls of the wrath of God.” (SRB, Page 1344 & 1345)

I. The Vision Of The Angels Of The Seven Last Plagues

A. Read Revelation 15:1 and note that it is the Angels that become involved in this tapestry once again. In Chapter 14 we studied the three angels messages.

B. To review: An Angel is a messenger and is used by God, of men, and of an order of created spiritual beings whose chief attributes are strength and wisdom. Note Hebrews 1:4 — Jesus Christ is identified as being “so much better than the angels . .”

1) All of God’s angels are identified by their wisdom. Read 2 Sam. 14:20; Psalms 103:20; 104:4.

                           — They excel in strength

                           — Their spirits are “as a flaming fire.”

2) In the O.T., “angel of the Lord (of God) usually implies the presence of Deity in angelic form. See Gen. 16:1-13; 21:17-19; 22:11-16; 31:11-13; Ex. 3:2-4; Judges 2:1 and many other references.

3) One exception may be indicated in Revelation 8:3-5. This angel identity would appear to be Christ.

a) Sometimes an angel is used of the spirit of man. Mat 18:10.

b) Although angels are spirits (Psalms. 104:4), power is given to them to become visible in the image of human beings. (Gen 19:1, compare 19:5)

c) In the Bible the word “angel” is always used in the masculine gender.

d) There appears to be a huge number of them (Matt:26:53; Heb. 12:22; Rev. 5:11).

                           e) Their power is apparently unlimited.

                                    (2 Kings 19:35).

— There is so much more to explore about God’s angels – we will pick that up at a later time.

4) Read Revelation 15:2; 4:6. Again, “a sea of glass”. What is this sea of glass and what is indicated by it?

                           a) Rev. 15:2, “mingled with fire.”

b) And, mingled “with them that had gotten the victory over the beast.” (Rev. 12:11)

— Revelation 15:3 – A hymn is sung in celebration by those who have won the victory. (Rev. 5:8; Exod. 15:1; Psalm 22:22; Compare these with Deut. 32:3,4; Psalm 92:5; Romans 11:33).

5) Read Revelation 11:19; 15:5. The temple of the Tabernacle is seen!

a) Here is where the “ark of his testament” – covenant of God with his people – (Rev. 11:19) is brought forth. What a glorious time! (Hebrews 9:4; Exodus 37:1).

b) Are we looking for the blessed hope of our Savior?

6) A strange turn of events takes place (Rev. 15:7). “One of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, . .”

a) The word used for beasts in this passage simply indicates “living creatures.”

                           b) “Wrath of God”

                                    — Read Revelation 14:10; Jeremiah 25:15.

                           3) “filled with smoke” — The glory of God.

                                    a) Smoke fills the temple.

                                    — Read Ex. 40:34-35; Isa. 6:4; 1 Kings 8:10-1

II. Vials of the wrath of God upon the earth. (Revelation 16:1)

         A. Seven Bowls of the Wrath of God

                  1) The First Bowl pored on the earth.

                            Read Rev. 6:1; 8:7; 16:1.

                           a) Overpowering loud noise &

b) Sores on the people of earth who had accepted the mark of the beast. (Exodus 9:9-11; Isaiah 1:6)

c) And, as well, those who had worshiped the beast’s image.

2) The Second Bowl On The Sea. “blood as of a dead man.” pored upon the sea. Revelation 17:15

3) The Third Bowl On The Rivers and Springs of Waters. And, they became blood. (Exodus 7:17-21)

a) Just some thoughts in passing

— It is interesting to note that God accepted the blood of animals from the tribes of Israel.

— He accepted the blood of Jesus, His Son, as redemption.

— God will cause blood to pore out wrath on those who will accept, worship and follow the anti-christ.

— Some churches and ministers of the day will not dwell or talk about the blood of Christ. One church I know of refused to sing, “There is Power In The Blood.”

b) The angel of the sea approves (Rev. 16:5; Rom. 3:3-6) Those compared references answer any question you might have – vengeance is mine saith the Lord.

c) Why is God’s wrath stirred up? Why is He vengeful? (Rev. 18:24; Matthew 23:35) God does not let-pass all the killing of those who have been true to him. With the angel cheering Him on, God lets it pour-out.

                                    — They are worthy Contrast with Rev. 17:15

                                    — And, there WILL be rewards!

d) “true and righteous” God’s justice is true and righteous! (Rev. 16:7b).

4) The Fourth Bowl (Rev. 6:7-8; 8:12) On The Sun. (Rev. 16:8) Talk about Global Warming!

a) It is all about the conceit of man – the fictitious argument about mankind being able to alter the events of our atmosphere or ecology. God made it – saw it was good – gave dominion to man. He made it for man to use. God also gave mankind a mind to employ in the use of all that God has made. It is NOT what man does with the things God has provided for use. It is man’s devotion, or lack of, to his creator that begins the problems. Review the Genesis creation of Adam and Eve — “Where art thou?” Adam wasn’t where he was supposed to be. God knew that before He inquired. Adam had disobeyed God, not at all destroying the environment. In response to Adams failings, God destroyed Adam’s environment. Power! (Rev. 6:14) Wonder where the environmentalist will be when this happens? According to these scriptures the environment will still be here to destroy when God decides to do the job.

                                             — Felt good to get that off my chest!

b) After all of this — they still refuse to give him the glory! (Rev. 16:9)

5) The Fifth Bowl of Wrath – 5^th angel (Rev. 6:9-11; 9:1-11) Pored out upon the seat ‘Throne’ of the beast.

a) Dark Pain (Rev. 16:10) They will gnaw “their tongues for pain:” The word for darkness used in this verse literally means “became darkened.”

b) It sounds crazy to me — these guys still blasphemed the God (Daniel 2:18) of heaven . .” (Rev 16:11) And, they still will not repent for anything they had done to the saints.

c) Watch what you say to my friend, be careful how you treat my brother – but harm a son of mine — you have a hand-full. We accept Jesus Christ and become sons of God.

6) The Sixth Bowl of God’s Wrath Upon The “Euphrates River?” Revelation 16:12.

a) Why the Euphrates River? — Dried up? Read Rev. 9:14. God never forgets — He tidies up this loose end.

— Considering that we as human beings are envied by the angels in heaven, how much more will God do for you than for them?

b) Euphrates dried up to make a way for Kings from the East. (?) (Isaiah 41:2, 25; 44:27). (Do you have any idea who these Kings are — where they come from?)

(It would seem as though verses 13-16 are off by themselves and therefore deserve separate consideration.)

7) The Seventh and Final Bowl of Wrath Poured Into The Air. Revelation 16:17-21. Talk about pollution! Our SUV’s could only hope to create so much pollution.

         B. IT IS DONE! (Rev. 16:17b)

1) Now, getting back to our parenthetical verses of this chapter, verses 13-16.

a) Understanding verses 13 through 16 becomes more clear once verse 17 is read and you see the words: “It is done.”

                           b) The day of Jehovah has arrived!

                                    — Read (Rev. 16:12-17; 19:11-21).

                                    1) Compare those verses with these:

                                     (Isaiah 2:10-22; Revelation 19:11-21)

2) One needs to read and understand some of the Isaiah reference here to understand fully my agitation with the embracement of man and his lofty thrill with himself thinking he (man) can control . . . say, the ionosphere.

3) Closely read Isaiah the second chapter and you will understand my contempt with our human brazen attitudes, our self-righteous thinking by some that it is our responsibility to look after the planet — while a lost and dying world is unknowingly bowing to the whims of the coming anti-christ. Bow down, Oh foolish man, and worship nature, humanism, or whatever else besides the Creator of Heaven and Earth!

4. A Christian should be troubled by actions, say by PETA — They assume the divine right to stand in defense of animals, yet these same people, as well as some that call themselves Christian, (even a minister or two I’ve known) will stand for the rights of woman over her own body (as if it weren’t God’s). They cleverly use this phraseology somehow making it seem to be OK to kill a child created in the likeness of God.

5. You see? That is the key. The main desire of the anti-christ is to push aside, mimic, take over, be like — to BE Christ, the Son of the Living God. Anytime the anti-christ can destroy a likeness of Jesus Christ (God: Genesis 1:26f) he will do it. And my friend, he is not above enticing us to do it.

6. God said to Jesus Christ (Gen. 1:26), “Let us make man in our image . . .” It does not matter, a fetus or whatever – it was made in the image of Jesus Christ. Everything that happens to you during the time of which our study here speaks will depend much about how you treat the image of God. This includes the fetus or the man or woman you’ve become. There will be a 7 stage battle and the 7 bowls will be pored out. Where will you be?

c) The Devil working miracles! Rev. 16:14 Remember, “Old McDonald Had A Farm?” Well, here we have the old devil making miracles. Hear a miracle, there a miracle — everywhere a miracle. Yes friend, Satan will work miracles — and people will be convinced by him that they are miracles of God. Do not be deceived. In the last days Satan will do whatever it takes to make himself appear to be Jesus Christ.

d) Jesus Christ — The Second Advent Revelation 19:11-21. Read also Deut. 30:3; Acts 1:9-11.

                           e) Read again Revelation 16:16.

1) Armageddon – Mount of Slaughter. What a frightful picture we have here! Yet a glorious one to be sure.

— Prior to this it has been the beast doing all the gathering.

— We are told in this verse that the Lord Christ will now gather all of THEM into the Mount of Slaughter.

                           f) And There Were Voices. Revelation 11:19

                                    – Thunders and Lightning

— A Great Earthquake — The likes of which was never before seen by man! (Rev. 11:19; 6:12; 11:13)

g) Everything here, earth and atmosphere, returns to the condition it was in when the Spirit of God (Genesis 1:2) “moved upon the face of the waters.” Read Rev. 16:20; Gen. 1:2f. It looks as though our study will end nearly as the Bible began. Has this tired old earth been here before?

NOTE: The last verse of chapter 16 ends with men blaspheming God again. God punishes and they continue to curse Him.

CONTINUE --> The Climax of Apocalyptic Expectation: The Blessed Hope.