True And Just Judgment
Revelation 16:1-21
Message #30
We are in Revelation Chapter 16, which is considered to be the hardest chapter in Revelation to teach, and we are doing the entire chapter. In our last message, Revelation 15, we were put on high alert for what we were going to see today. In Chapter 15, the seven angels are given the final seven bowl judgments that will be poured out on the earth. And we saw those who had overcome the Beast (and been martyred) standing on a Red Sea of Glass around the throne of God. The glass was red with fire, seemingly implying judgment is coming. And they were praising God for his justice and his righteousness.
Have you noticed that the Book of Revelation is more focused on God’s justice, righteousness, and holiness than it is focused on all the details that we would be curious about? Supermarket tabloid details – someone has to make that stuff up. They’re reading it, but they’re like, “Let me add a little drama to this. Maybe this. Maybe that. Maybe this. Maybe that.” But when you really stick to the Word of God, Revelation is about the revealing of Jesus Christ and specifically the revelation of the divine justice, righteousness and holiness, and judgment of God as he completes the story of salvation. That’s what Revelation is about.
Here’s why. Speculation on what the details might be will NOT save you. But looking in the face of God’s righteous judgment that must fall upon sin – prayerfully will save you.
Today, as we see all seven of the Final Bowl Judgments, one right after another all poured out on the sin of this world and the enemies of hell. We have to remember the quote we read in our last message.
H.A. Ironside God has given us these revelations out of the kindness to us, that we may be warned thereby to avoid what lies ahead for this guilty world
These final seven Bowl Judgments are clearly “setting up” the Second Coming of Christ. It moves really fast from Chapters 16 to 19. There’s some cool stuff that happens, but this is the setup for the return of Jesus Christ. This is the final set of judgments upon the sin of the world, and when we get to Revelation 16, verse 17, we will read, “IT IS OVER (Done).”
Remember, Revelation is not exactly chronological, so there’s still part of the story. But, as far as revealing the judgments, it’s done, right here.
We ended Chapter 15 with the seven angels standing “At the ready” just outside the Temple in Heaven. Here’s how Revelation 16, verse 1 starts off with John saying this.
Revelation 16:1 (NLT)
1 Then I heard a mighty voice from the Temple say to the seven angels, “Go your ways and pour out on the earth the seven bowls containing God’s wrath.”
This “Mighty Voice” is most probably the voice of God Himself. And God tells the seven angels we met in the last message, “Go your ways and pour out on the earth the seven bowls containing God’s wrath.” And so begins the final judgment on sin and on the enemies of God on earth.
And as God’s final judgment on this earth begins, we see a very clear distinction of judgment in the very first Bowl.
Revelation 16:2 (NLT)
2 So the first angel left the Temple and poured out his bowl on the earth, and horrible, malignant sores broke out on everyone who had the mark of the beast and who worshiped his statue.
The first Bowl Judgment is specifically poured out on those who have chosen to take the Mark of the Antichrist and chosen to worship his image that is now set up in the Temple as the Abomination of Desolation. (We saw that back in Chapter 14, the False Prophet forcing the world to worship this image or statue that was given the ability to speak.)
horrible, malignant sores that broke out on everyone who had the mark of the beast and worshipped him
They will ultimately wish that this was the full extent of the consequences of their decision (but Chapter 14 makes it clear this is not the full extent).
And then, the second Bowl.
Revelation 16:3 (NLT)
3 Then the second angel poured out his bowl on the sea, and it became like the blood of a corpse. And everything in the sea died.
In the second Trumpet Judgment, God turned one-third of the sea into blood. God turns the entire sea into blood. For those who think it may be just the Mediterranean Sea, that’s not what it says. It’s the entire sea. That’s the whole ocean around the world. So now, God turns the entire sea into blood, which turns the entire world into a cesspool of death. (Three-quarters of the world is ocean – that’s a lot of blood – like the blood of a corpse. So probably not blood, but maybe with the stench of blood, right?)
And the third Bowl extends the water-into-blood judgment to include the fresh water of the world.
Revelation 16:4 (NLT)
4 Then the third angel poured out his bowl on the rivers and springs, and they became blood.
This will clearly be a divine judgment. There will be no other explanation. BUT we do NOT see anyone turning to the Lord in repentance and seeking his forgiveness. We know that there are people on earth who are saved because they will go into the Millennium alive, and they are sealed by God. But we see no new salvations. In fact, we will see the people of the world get harder and harder in their complete rejection of God. (I have seen this in my own life.)
The Bible says in a number of places that at some point – you harden your heart, you harden your heart, you harden your heart – and then finally, God allows you to harden your heart permanently. God finishes the job for you. The first place we see it is with the Pharaoh in Exodus. So, be careful letting your heart get hard towards God.
I’ve known a lot of people (and here’s the sad thing, if it applies to you, please hear it). Every single person that I know whose heart has been turned hard toward God has done so because of the Church. I mean, we’re supposed to be used by God, but so often, we are used by the enemy. Be careful representing Christ because of your actions, because of my actions, people will turn their heart against God. It’s like, did you confuse me with God? Did I have a nametag on? I’m just a sinner – don’t blame God because I’m an idiot. But people can’t make that distinction. It’s a heavy burden. It should be for all of us.
So, that’s what we see here. More and more rejection. More hardening of hearts.
The Good news is there are two angels in Heaven who know the correct response to God’s judgment. No one on earth knows the correct response to this judgment, but these two angels do. They are at the altar of God in Heaven, and they turn toward God and affirm for all of Heaven that God’s judgments are just and true.
Listen, it’s kind of what we do when we read scripture back to God or when we pray scripture to God. We’re affirming or re-affirming WHO GOD IS, and it does us great good.
Here it is – the first angel in Revelation 16, verses 5-6.
Revelation 16:5–6 (NLT)
5 And I heard the angel who had authority over all water saying, “You are just, O Holy One, who is and who always was, because you have sent these judgments.
6 Since they shed the blood of your holy people and your prophets, you have given them blood to drink. It is their just reward.”
So let me just say something. Salvation is not by works. Salvation is by faith in Jesus Christ alone. But the wages of sin is death. So, our salvation is a free gift. It’s not something we can earn, but without that salvation, then we do justly earn the consequences of sin. We have to.
Back in Revelation Chapter 6, we saw the believers who had been martyred in the Tribulation.
Revelation 6:10 (NLT)
10 They shouted to the Lord and said, “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you judge the people who belong to this world and avenge our blood for what they have done to us?”
Some people ask me if that means somehow these martyrs know what’s going on on earth. And I say, “I don’t know. Maybe. I don’t really know.”
God’s answer to that question is here in Chapter 16, and the answer is this long!! So now, all the waters of the earth are running red like the blood of a corpse as a worldwide testimony that God will avenge his martyred saints as they prayed he would.
And it is what they deserve. But you and I deserve the same judgment for our sin. God must be God, and he must judge sin. But the Bible is clear: if you have received Jesus Christ by faith AS your Savior today, that judgment has already been poured out and paid in full on your behalf when it was poured out on Jesus Christ in your place. God himself has become the Just and the Justifier. He is just, and he justifies us through faith in Christ, Romans says. The judgment of God is still poured out for your sins, and the full penalty for your sins is still paid. It’s just that God pays it in your place in the Person of Jesus Christ. (How do people say no to that?)
On THIS day, God’s judgment is being poured out on those who have rejected God’s offer of the free gift of salvation through faith in Christ and chosen instead to war against God.
Remember, there were two angels that were proclaiming God’s righteousness. And then the righteousness of God’s judgment upon sin is proclaimed from the very altar in Heaven.
Revelation 16:7 (NLT)
7 And I heard a voice from the altar, saying, “Yes, O Lord God, the Almighty, your judgments are true and just.”
Like the first angel, a voice from the altar in Heaven confirms that the judgments of God are true and just and perfect.
If we’d be honest, we might not really like that the judgments of God are true and just. A lot of people have come to believe that judgment is based on what they think and not on who God IS. We might prefer for God to judge more like us (as in): “I’m a pretty good guy. I think I should be forgiven.” But our judgment is NOT true and just. God’s judgment IS true and just. I don’t know how people can say, “I know that’s what the Bible says. But here’s what I think.” So, we see God’s final true and just judgment here in Revelation.
The fourth Bowl is here in verse 8.
Revelation 16:8 (NLT)
8 Then the fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, causing it to scorch everyone with its fire.
This makes me think of solar flares, which create such incredible force and heat that we have a hard time even measuring them. They are several hundred million degrees, and they leave the sun at up to seven million miles an hour. And just like water, the sun is life for this planet. But in these final days, God will use what he created to bring his final judgment on the sin of this earth.
Revelation 16:9 (NLT)
9 Everyone was burned by this blast of heat, and they cursed the name of God, who had control over all these plagues. They did not repent of their sins and turn to God and give him glory.
Three times in this Chapter, we see that those under God’s judgment continue to curse God and blaspheme, and we see no signs of repentance and salvation.
As One Commentator said, “If a man rejects the kindness and love of God, then what makes us think that the judgment of God will change his heart?”
Romans 2:4–5 (NLT)
4 Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?
5 But because you are stubborn and refuse to turn from your sin, you are storing up terrible punishment for yourself. For a day of anger is coming, when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed.
THAT day is HERE in Revelation Chapter 16.
If the kindness of God doesn’t turn you from sin, then be afraid because, through your stubbornness and refusal to turn to God, you’re storing up terrible punishment for yourself on that day of God’s wrath.
Back in Revelation 16. The fifth Bowl is here in verse 10.
Revelation 16:10 (NLT)
10 Then the fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom (remember I said there were two specific judgments that have kind of a line – this is the second one. I don’t understand it. If you ask me “What about the whole world?” I would say, “It seems to be the whole world.”)
. . . and his kingdom was plunged into darkness. His subjects ground their teeth in anguish,
From being burned by the sun, God then plunges the enemy’s kingdom (and probably the whole world) into darkness. In Matthew 25:30, Jesus described God’s eternal judgment as “Outer Darkness,” where there will be “Weeping and Gnashing of Teeth.”
And we have to remember this is the judgment that Jesus Christ took on our behalf. During the final three hours on the Cross, Jesus experienced this darkness and torment on our behalf so that we could escape it through faith in him. God turned his back on him and allowed Jesus to experience the outer darkness for us in our place, for all of those who would put their faith in him so that we could escape this judgment and be clothed in the righteousness of Christ and stand before God – justified. (Just as if I’d never sinned.)
But those on the earth only increase their cursing and blaspheme of God.
Revelation 16:11 (NLT)
11 and they cursed the God of heaven for their pains and sores. But they did not repent of their evil deeds and turn to God.
Over and over again, we see this is the response of those who have rejected God. They’re just getting harder and harder and harder until the Antichrist is enabled (demonically – we’ll see that in a minute) to gather the whole world together to go to war with Jesus Christ himself.
And now, in the sixth Bowl Judgment, we have the preparation for the final battle of this world.
Revelation 16:12 (NLT)
12 Then the sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great Euphrates River, and it dried up so that the kings from the east could march their armies toward the west without hindrance.
The Euphrates River (a MASSIVE river) originally flowed out of the Garden of Eden. Still today, it forms a natural boundary between Israel and the nations of the East. Israel is a land bridge from the east up into Europe. And around Mesopotamia and that whole area. In order for the Kings of the East to get to Israel, they have to cross the Euphrates River.
Back in Revelation Chapter 9, we saw a demonically driven army of 200 million, and we said the only way for a 200 million man army to get from the east to Israel would be for the Euphrates River to be dried up.
And now, here in Revelation 16, we are about to see a massive worldwide army gathered together for the final battle against Jesus Christ and to prepare the way for that battle, the Great Euphrates River is dried up by God in order to draw the world’s armies into the valley where God is going to meet them.
Here’s how it happens.
Revelation 16:13–14 (NLT)
13 And I saw three evil spirits that looked like frogs leap from the mouths of the dragon, the beast, and the false prophet.
14 They are demonic spirits who work miracles and go out to all the rulers of the world to gather them for battle against the Lord on that great judgment day of God the Almighty.
Satan, Antichrist, and False Prophet send out demonic spirits to gather the armies of the world together for one final battle against God. Satan is going to “demonically” gather the nations of the whole world to fight against God.
Now, we’re going to hold off on verse 15 and come back to it.
So, the demonic spirits go out to gather the armies of the world, and God dries up the Euphrates River to draw them in. Here, in verse 16, we see where they are going.
Revelation 16:16 (NLT)
16 And the demonic spirits gathered all the rulers and their armies to a place with the Hebrew name Armageddon.
This is the site of the final battle between the armies of the world and Jesus Christ at his Second Coming. The word Armageddon comes from two Hebrew words. HAR meaning mount (hill) and MEGIDDO which is the name of this valley (Jezreel Valley).
HAR- MEGIDDO, the Hill of Megiddo, is one of the most fought-over hills in all history. It’s at a major crossroads of trade routes, and it’s a natural divide between the North and the South. A dozen battles were fought here just in Biblical times. When Napoleon saw this exact place, he said it was the greatest and most natural battlefield on earth.
And it’s here in Revelation 19 that Jesus Christ, with us in tow, will conquer the armies of the world once and for all. This is one of the most awesome places to stand in all of Israel because of what is going to happen here.
And finally, we reach the seventh Bowl Judgment, where God says the judgments on earth are finished.
Revelation 16:17 (NLT)
17 Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air. And a mighty shout came from the throne in the Temple, saying, “It is finished!”(more literally - it is OVER, DONE)
And I like that the Holy Spirit uses a different Greek word here than is used for the famous word of Jesus on the Cross. On the Cross, Jesus cried TETELESTAI – It is FINISHED because he had finished the work of salvation for all who would believe. And here, God calls out from the throne room in Heaven GINOMAI – It is OVER (done), meaning God’s judgment on the sin and rebellion of this earth is over.
And this final judgment poured into the air brings some final and complete devastation to the earth.
Revelation 16:18–21 (NLT)
18 Then the thunder crashed and rolled, and lightning flashed. And a great earthquake struck—the worst since people were placed on the earth.
19 The great city of Babylon split into three sections, and the cities of many nations fell into heaps of rubble. So God remembered all of Babylon’s sins, and he made her drink the cup that was filled with the wine of his fierce wrath.
20 And every island disappeared, and all the mountains were leveled.
21 There was a terrible hailstorm, and hailstones weighing as much as seventy-five pounds fell from the sky onto the people below. They cursed God because of the terrible plague of the hailstorm.
Unprecedented judgments poured out on a world that is at war with God!
A worldwide earthquake like the earth has never seen
The Great City of Babylon splits into three parts
The cities of many nations (Gentile nations) fall in heaps
Islands disappear, and mountains are leveled
And great seventy-five-pound hailstones fall onto the people of the earth
(It’s interesting) In the Law of Moses, the judgment for blaspheming God was stoning, and here, the blaspheming world is literally judged by stoning as seventy-five-pound hailstones fall from Heaven. And still, those who are set against God continue to curse God – hardened beyond repentance.
And so, we have one verse to finish. It’s the verse we skipped. Revelation 16, verse 15. Jesus speaking right in the middle of these final judgments coming upon the earth.
Revelation 16:15 (NLT)
15 “Look, I will come as unexpectedly as a thief! Blessed are all who are watching for me, who keep their clothing ready so they will not have to walk around naked and ashamed.”
It feels to me like this verse is written more for those who are reading Revelation than for those who are living in it. Can you imagine the letter of Revelation being read in New Testament churches and in the middle of us reading about these unimaginable, overwhelming judgments Jesus calls out to a world that is heading over the cliff of eternal judgment, just like Jesus calls out to each one of us a warning that sin must be judged. And Jesus says, “Look, I will come as unexpectedly as a thief!” When you least expect it, you will suddenly be face-to-face with Jesus Christ as the judge of this earth, and blessed are all who are watching and waiting for me, and blessed are those who have put on the righteousness of Christ, which is often referred to as clothing.
Jesus is calling out to a world that is under the just and required judgment of God, and Jesus says LOOK TO ME. Put your faith in me. Clothe yourself in the righteousness of God that comes only through your faith in Jesus Christ.
YOU can put on that righteousness of Jesus Christ today, and Jesus will save you from the wrath that must come upon the sin of this world. Watch for Jesus. Be looking for him as your Savior. And by faith be clothed in his righteousness, knowing that the time of his return could be very near.
Have you noticed that the Book of Revelation is more focused on God’s justice, righteousness, and holiness than it is focused on all the details that we would be curious about? Supermarket tabloid details – someone has to make that stuff up. They’re reading it, but they’re like, “Let me add a little drama to this. Maybe this. Maybe that. Maybe this. Maybe that.” But when you really stick to the Word of God, Revelation is about the revealing of Jesus Christ and specifically the revelation of the divine justice, righteousness and holiness, and judgment of God as he completes the story of salvation. That’s what Revelation is about.
Here’s why. Speculation on what the details might be will NOT save you. But looking in the face of God’s righteous judgment that must fall upon sin – prayerfully will save you.
Today, as we see all seven of the Final Bowl Judgments, one right after another all poured out on the sin of this world and the enemies of hell. We have to remember the quote we read in our last message.
H.A. Ironside God has given us these revelations out of the kindness to us, that we may be warned thereby to avoid what lies ahead for this guilty world
These final seven Bowl Judgments are clearly “setting up” the Second Coming of Christ. It moves really fast from Chapters 16 to 19. There’s some cool stuff that happens, but this is the setup for the return of Jesus Christ. This is the final set of judgments upon the sin of the world, and when we get to Revelation 16, verse 17, we will read, “IT IS OVER (Done).”
Remember, Revelation is not exactly chronological, so there’s still part of the story. But, as far as revealing the judgments, it’s done, right here.
We ended Chapter 15 with the seven angels standing “At the ready” just outside the Temple in Heaven. Here’s how Revelation 16, verse 1 starts off with John saying this.
Revelation 16:1 (NLT)
1 Then I heard a mighty voice from the Temple say to the seven angels, “Go your ways and pour out on the earth the seven bowls containing God’s wrath.”
This “Mighty Voice” is most probably the voice of God Himself. And God tells the seven angels we met in the last message, “Go your ways and pour out on the earth the seven bowls containing God’s wrath.” And so begins the final judgment on sin and on the enemies of God on earth.
And as God’s final judgment on this earth begins, we see a very clear distinction of judgment in the very first Bowl.
Revelation 16:2 (NLT)
2 So the first angel left the Temple and poured out his bowl on the earth, and horrible, malignant sores broke out on everyone who had the mark of the beast and who worshiped his statue.
The first Bowl Judgment is specifically poured out on those who have chosen to take the Mark of the Antichrist and chosen to worship his image that is now set up in the Temple as the Abomination of Desolation. (We saw that back in Chapter 14, the False Prophet forcing the world to worship this image or statue that was given the ability to speak.)
horrible, malignant sores that broke out on everyone who had the mark of the beast and worshipped him
They will ultimately wish that this was the full extent of the consequences of their decision (but Chapter 14 makes it clear this is not the full extent).
And then, the second Bowl.
Revelation 16:3 (NLT)
3 Then the second angel poured out his bowl on the sea, and it became like the blood of a corpse. And everything in the sea died.
In the second Trumpet Judgment, God turned one-third of the sea into blood. God turns the entire sea into blood. For those who think it may be just the Mediterranean Sea, that’s not what it says. It’s the entire sea. That’s the whole ocean around the world. So now, God turns the entire sea into blood, which turns the entire world into a cesspool of death. (Three-quarters of the world is ocean – that’s a lot of blood – like the blood of a corpse. So probably not blood, but maybe with the stench of blood, right?)
And the third Bowl extends the water-into-blood judgment to include the fresh water of the world.
Revelation 16:4 (NLT)
4 Then the third angel poured out his bowl on the rivers and springs, and they became blood.
This will clearly be a divine judgment. There will be no other explanation. BUT we do NOT see anyone turning to the Lord in repentance and seeking his forgiveness. We know that there are people on earth who are saved because they will go into the Millennium alive, and they are sealed by God. But we see no new salvations. In fact, we will see the people of the world get harder and harder in their complete rejection of God. (I have seen this in my own life.)
The Bible says in a number of places that at some point – you harden your heart, you harden your heart, you harden your heart – and then finally, God allows you to harden your heart permanently. God finishes the job for you. The first place we see it is with the Pharaoh in Exodus. So, be careful letting your heart get hard towards God.
I’ve known a lot of people (and here’s the sad thing, if it applies to you, please hear it). Every single person that I know whose heart has been turned hard toward God has done so because of the Church. I mean, we’re supposed to be used by God, but so often, we are used by the enemy. Be careful representing Christ because of your actions, because of my actions, people will turn their heart against God. It’s like, did you confuse me with God? Did I have a nametag on? I’m just a sinner – don’t blame God because I’m an idiot. But people can’t make that distinction. It’s a heavy burden. It should be for all of us.
So, that’s what we see here. More and more rejection. More hardening of hearts.
The Good news is there are two angels in Heaven who know the correct response to God’s judgment. No one on earth knows the correct response to this judgment, but these two angels do. They are at the altar of God in Heaven, and they turn toward God and affirm for all of Heaven that God’s judgments are just and true.
Listen, it’s kind of what we do when we read scripture back to God or when we pray scripture to God. We’re affirming or re-affirming WHO GOD IS, and it does us great good.
Here it is – the first angel in Revelation 16, verses 5-6.
Revelation 16:5–6 (NLT)
5 And I heard the angel who had authority over all water saying, “You are just, O Holy One, who is and who always was, because you have sent these judgments.
6 Since they shed the blood of your holy people and your prophets, you have given them blood to drink. It is their just reward.”
So let me just say something. Salvation is not by works. Salvation is by faith in Jesus Christ alone. But the wages of sin is death. So, our salvation is a free gift. It’s not something we can earn, but without that salvation, then we do justly earn the consequences of sin. We have to.
Back in Revelation Chapter 6, we saw the believers who had been martyred in the Tribulation.
Revelation 6:10 (NLT)
10 They shouted to the Lord and said, “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you judge the people who belong to this world and avenge our blood for what they have done to us?”
Some people ask me if that means somehow these martyrs know what’s going on on earth. And I say, “I don’t know. Maybe. I don’t really know.”
God’s answer to that question is here in Chapter 16, and the answer is this long!! So now, all the waters of the earth are running red like the blood of a corpse as a worldwide testimony that God will avenge his martyred saints as they prayed he would.
And it is what they deserve. But you and I deserve the same judgment for our sin. God must be God, and he must judge sin. But the Bible is clear: if you have received Jesus Christ by faith AS your Savior today, that judgment has already been poured out and paid in full on your behalf when it was poured out on Jesus Christ in your place. God himself has become the Just and the Justifier. He is just, and he justifies us through faith in Christ, Romans says. The judgment of God is still poured out for your sins, and the full penalty for your sins is still paid. It’s just that God pays it in your place in the Person of Jesus Christ. (How do people say no to that?)
On THIS day, God’s judgment is being poured out on those who have rejected God’s offer of the free gift of salvation through faith in Christ and chosen instead to war against God.
Remember, there were two angels that were proclaiming God’s righteousness. And then the righteousness of God’s judgment upon sin is proclaimed from the very altar in Heaven.
Revelation 16:7 (NLT)
7 And I heard a voice from the altar, saying, “Yes, O Lord God, the Almighty, your judgments are true and just.”
Like the first angel, a voice from the altar in Heaven confirms that the judgments of God are true and just and perfect.
If we’d be honest, we might not really like that the judgments of God are true and just. A lot of people have come to believe that judgment is based on what they think and not on who God IS. We might prefer for God to judge more like us (as in): “I’m a pretty good guy. I think I should be forgiven.” But our judgment is NOT true and just. God’s judgment IS true and just. I don’t know how people can say, “I know that’s what the Bible says. But here’s what I think.” So, we see God’s final true and just judgment here in Revelation.
The fourth Bowl is here in verse 8.
Revelation 16:8 (NLT)
8 Then the fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, causing it to scorch everyone with its fire.
This makes me think of solar flares, which create such incredible force and heat that we have a hard time even measuring them. They are several hundred million degrees, and they leave the sun at up to seven million miles an hour. And just like water, the sun is life for this planet. But in these final days, God will use what he created to bring his final judgment on the sin of this earth.
Revelation 16:9 (NLT)
9 Everyone was burned by this blast of heat, and they cursed the name of God, who had control over all these plagues. They did not repent of their sins and turn to God and give him glory.
Three times in this Chapter, we see that those under God’s judgment continue to curse God and blaspheme, and we see no signs of repentance and salvation.
As One Commentator said, “If a man rejects the kindness and love of God, then what makes us think that the judgment of God will change his heart?”
Romans 2:4–5 (NLT)
4 Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?
5 But because you are stubborn and refuse to turn from your sin, you are storing up terrible punishment for yourself. For a day of anger is coming, when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed.
THAT day is HERE in Revelation Chapter 16.
If the kindness of God doesn’t turn you from sin, then be afraid because, through your stubbornness and refusal to turn to God, you’re storing up terrible punishment for yourself on that day of God’s wrath.
Back in Revelation 16. The fifth Bowl is here in verse 10.
Revelation 16:10 (NLT)
10 Then the fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom (remember I said there were two specific judgments that have kind of a line – this is the second one. I don’t understand it. If you ask me “What about the whole world?” I would say, “It seems to be the whole world.”)
. . . and his kingdom was plunged into darkness. His subjects ground their teeth in anguish,
From being burned by the sun, God then plunges the enemy’s kingdom (and probably the whole world) into darkness. In Matthew 25:30, Jesus described God’s eternal judgment as “Outer Darkness,” where there will be “Weeping and Gnashing of Teeth.”
And we have to remember this is the judgment that Jesus Christ took on our behalf. During the final three hours on the Cross, Jesus experienced this darkness and torment on our behalf so that we could escape it through faith in him. God turned his back on him and allowed Jesus to experience the outer darkness for us in our place, for all of those who would put their faith in him so that we could escape this judgment and be clothed in the righteousness of Christ and stand before God – justified. (Just as if I’d never sinned.)
But those on the earth only increase their cursing and blaspheme of God.
Revelation 16:11 (NLT)
11 and they cursed the God of heaven for their pains and sores. But they did not repent of their evil deeds and turn to God.
Over and over again, we see this is the response of those who have rejected God. They’re just getting harder and harder and harder until the Antichrist is enabled (demonically – we’ll see that in a minute) to gather the whole world together to go to war with Jesus Christ himself.
And now, in the sixth Bowl Judgment, we have the preparation for the final battle of this world.
Revelation 16:12 (NLT)
12 Then the sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great Euphrates River, and it dried up so that the kings from the east could march their armies toward the west without hindrance.
The Euphrates River (a MASSIVE river) originally flowed out of the Garden of Eden. Still today, it forms a natural boundary between Israel and the nations of the East. Israel is a land bridge from the east up into Europe. And around Mesopotamia and that whole area. In order for the Kings of the East to get to Israel, they have to cross the Euphrates River.
Back in Revelation Chapter 9, we saw a demonically driven army of 200 million, and we said the only way for a 200 million man army to get from the east to Israel would be for the Euphrates River to be dried up.
And now, here in Revelation 16, we are about to see a massive worldwide army gathered together for the final battle against Jesus Christ and to prepare the way for that battle, the Great Euphrates River is dried up by God in order to draw the world’s armies into the valley where God is going to meet them.
Here’s how it happens.
Revelation 16:13–14 (NLT)
13 And I saw three evil spirits that looked like frogs leap from the mouths of the dragon, the beast, and the false prophet.
14 They are demonic spirits who work miracles and go out to all the rulers of the world to gather them for battle against the Lord on that great judgment day of God the Almighty.
Satan, Antichrist, and False Prophet send out demonic spirits to gather the armies of the world together for one final battle against God. Satan is going to “demonically” gather the nations of the whole world to fight against God.
Now, we’re going to hold off on verse 15 and come back to it.
So, the demonic spirits go out to gather the armies of the world, and God dries up the Euphrates River to draw them in. Here, in verse 16, we see where they are going.
Revelation 16:16 (NLT)
16 And the demonic spirits gathered all the rulers and their armies to a place with the Hebrew name Armageddon.
This is the site of the final battle between the armies of the world and Jesus Christ at his Second Coming. The word Armageddon comes from two Hebrew words. HAR meaning mount (hill) and MEGIDDO which is the name of this valley (Jezreel Valley).
HAR- MEGIDDO, the Hill of Megiddo, is one of the most fought-over hills in all history. It’s at a major crossroads of trade routes, and it’s a natural divide between the North and the South. A dozen battles were fought here just in Biblical times. When Napoleon saw this exact place, he said it was the greatest and most natural battlefield on earth.
And it’s here in Revelation 19 that Jesus Christ, with us in tow, will conquer the armies of the world once and for all. This is one of the most awesome places to stand in all of Israel because of what is going to happen here.
And finally, we reach the seventh Bowl Judgment, where God says the judgments on earth are finished.
Revelation 16:17 (NLT)
17 Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air. And a mighty shout came from the throne in the Temple, saying, “It is finished!”(more literally - it is OVER, DONE)
And I like that the Holy Spirit uses a different Greek word here than is used for the famous word of Jesus on the Cross. On the Cross, Jesus cried TETELESTAI – It is FINISHED because he had finished the work of salvation for all who would believe. And here, God calls out from the throne room in Heaven GINOMAI – It is OVER (done), meaning God’s judgment on the sin and rebellion of this earth is over.
And this final judgment poured into the air brings some final and complete devastation to the earth.
Revelation 16:18–21 (NLT)
18 Then the thunder crashed and rolled, and lightning flashed. And a great earthquake struck—the worst since people were placed on the earth.
19 The great city of Babylon split into three sections, and the cities of many nations fell into heaps of rubble. So God remembered all of Babylon’s sins, and he made her drink the cup that was filled with the wine of his fierce wrath.
20 And every island disappeared, and all the mountains were leveled.
21 There was a terrible hailstorm, and hailstones weighing as much as seventy-five pounds fell from the sky onto the people below. They cursed God because of the terrible plague of the hailstorm.
Unprecedented judgments poured out on a world that is at war with God!
A worldwide earthquake like the earth has never seen
The Great City of Babylon splits into three parts
The cities of many nations (Gentile nations) fall in heaps
Islands disappear, and mountains are leveled
And great seventy-five-pound hailstones fall onto the people of the earth
(It’s interesting) In the Law of Moses, the judgment for blaspheming God was stoning, and here, the blaspheming world is literally judged by stoning as seventy-five-pound hailstones fall from Heaven. And still, those who are set against God continue to curse God – hardened beyond repentance.
And so, we have one verse to finish. It’s the verse we skipped. Revelation 16, verse 15. Jesus speaking right in the middle of these final judgments coming upon the earth.
Revelation 16:15 (NLT)
15 “Look, I will come as unexpectedly as a thief! Blessed are all who are watching for me, who keep their clothing ready so they will not have to walk around naked and ashamed.”
It feels to me like this verse is written more for those who are reading Revelation than for those who are living in it. Can you imagine the letter of Revelation being read in New Testament churches and in the middle of us reading about these unimaginable, overwhelming judgments Jesus calls out to a world that is heading over the cliff of eternal judgment, just like Jesus calls out to each one of us a warning that sin must be judged. And Jesus says, “Look, I will come as unexpectedly as a thief!” When you least expect it, you will suddenly be face-to-face with Jesus Christ as the judge of this earth, and blessed are all who are watching and waiting for me, and blessed are those who have put on the righteousness of Christ, which is often referred to as clothing.
Jesus is calling out to a world that is under the just and required judgment of God, and Jesus says LOOK TO ME. Put your faith in me. Clothe yourself in the righteousness of God that comes only through your faith in Jesus Christ.
YOU can put on that righteousness of Jesus Christ today, and Jesus will save you from the wrath that must come upon the sin of this world. Watch for Jesus. Be looking for him as your Savior. And by faith be clothed in his righteousness, knowing that the time of his return could be very near.