Chapter Sixteen
OBJECTIVES IN STUDYING THIS CHAPTER
1) To observe what happens when the seven bowls of wrath are poured out
2) To note upon whom these bowls are poured, and why
SUMMARY
In this chapter the full outpouring of wrath upon the enemies of God is
depicted. The seven angels with the seven bowls pour out "the seven
last plagues" (15:1). Notice that these are not partial judgments, as
with the seven trumpets described earlier (chs. 8-11). In the pouring
out of these plagues "the wrath of God is complete" (15:1).
In the first four bowls, God's wrath is poured out on the earth, the
sea, the rivers and springs, and the sun. Affected by these plagues
are those who had the mark of the beast and who worshiped his image.
God's judgment upon them is proclaimed righteous and just, because they
had been guilty of shedding the blood of saints and prophets.
Amazingly, their response is to blaspheme God, and refuse to repent and
give Him glory (1-9).
The fifth bowl is poured out on the throne of the beast and his
kingdom, resulting in darkness. The painful suffering of the wicked
continue, as does their blasphemy and refusal to repent of their deeds
(10-11). The sixth bowl is poured out on the river Euphrates,
preparing the way for the kings from the east. John then saw three
unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, the
beast, and the false prophet. Described as the spirits of demons, they
perform signs and gather the kings of the earth to the place called
Armageddon, for the battle of the great day of God. At this point
Jesus speaks both a warning and blessing, for those who watch and keep
their garments will be blessed, as He is coming as a thief (12-16).
The seventh bowl is poured out and a loud voice from the temple in
heaven cries out, "It is done!" The declaration is followed by
thunderings, lightnings, and a great earthquake. The great city was
divided into three parts, and cities of the nations fell. Great
Babylon was remembered by God, to give her the cup of the wine of His
wrath. Every island fled away, the mountains were not found, and great
hail from heaven fell upon men. The latter caused men to blaspheme God
(17-21).
Chapters 17-19 will elaborate upon the judgments upon the beast, the
false prophet, and Babylon, identifying them in more detail, and
describing their ultimate downfall. The import of chapter 16 appears
to be that the judgments upon them will be final and just, for even
with these outpourings of wrath there is no willingness on the part of
the beast and those who worship him to repent of their evil deeds!
OUTLINE
I. THE PRONOUNCEMENT (1)
A. BY A LOUD VOICE FROM THE TEMPLE (1a)
B. TO THE SEVEN ANGELS TO POUR OUT THE BOWLS OF WRATH (1b)
II. THE SEVEN BOWLS OF WRATH (2-21)
A. FIRST BOWL: TERRIBLE SORES (2)
1. The bowl is poured out upon the earth
2. Loathsome and foul sores came upon those who had the mark of
the beast and who worshipped his image
B. SECOND BOWL: SEA OF BLOOD (3)
1. The bowl is poured out on the sea, turning it to the blood of
a dead man
2. Every living creature in the sea died
C. THIRD BOWL: RIVERS AND SPRINGS OF BLOOD (4-7)
1. The bowl is poured out on the rivers and springs, turning them
to blood
2. The angel of the waters declares God's justice
a. His judgments are righteous
b. For it is just due upon those who shed the blood of saints
and prophets
3. Another voice from the altar also proclaims God's judgments as
true and righteous
D. FOURTH BOWL: MEN SCORCHED (8-9)
1. The bowl is poured out on the sun, giving the fourth angel
power to scorch men with fire
2. Men were scorched with great heat
a. They blasphemed the name of God who had power over these
plagues
b. They did not repent or give glory to Him
E. FIFTH BOWL: PAIN AND DARKNESS (10-11)
1. The bowl is poured out on the throne of the beast, his kingdom
became full of darkness
2. Men gnawed their tongues because of the pain
a. They blasphemed God
b. They did not repent
F. SIXTH BOWL: KINGDOMS GATHERED AT ARMAGEDDON (12-16)
1. The bowl is poured out on the great river Euphrates
a. Its water was dried up
b. Preparing the way for the kings of the east
2. Three unclean spirits like frogs appear
a. Out of the mouths of the dragon, the beast, and the false
prophet
b. Which are spirits of demons, performing signs
c. Who gather the kings of the earth to the battle of that
great day of God Almighty
3. Jesus offers both a warning and a blessing
a. He is coming as a thief
b. Blessed is he who watches and keeps his garments, lest he
walks naked and others see his shame
4. The unclean spirits gather the kings of the earth to the place
called Armageddon
G. SEVENTH BOWL: GREAT EARTHQUAKE; THE GREAT CITY DIVIDED AND
BABYLON REMEMBERED; CATACLYSMIC EVENTS (17-21)
1. The bowl is poured out on the air
a. Followed by a loud voice out of the temple of heaven, from
the throne, declaring, "It is done!"
b. There were noises, thunderings, lightnings, and a mighty
earthquake unlike any before
2. The great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of
the nations fell
3. Great Babylon was remembered, to receive the cup of the wine
of the fierceness of God's wrath
4. Great cataclysmic events occur
a. Every island fled away and the mountains were not found
b. Great hail fell upon men, and they blasphemed God because
of the hail
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