SoR 16 Bowls of Wrath

Like a Surgeon General or Health Department Director warning of the dire consequences of destructive physical habits, God in love repeatedly warns of international and individual chaos ahead. Although God takes the blame for plagues, bloodshed, and final fire it is obvious that unrepentant humanity reaps what it has sown, just as a toxic substance or virus can destroy vital body organs and life itself.

As always though, God encourages you with a scene of the glories of heaven, which are available to all who accept the beautiful gift of eternal life. Revelation 15 rings with the sounds of victory and triumph, while Revelation 16 shudders with vicious conflict and the terrors of the plagues. The warnings of the third angel of Revelation 14 now come to fruition in Revelation 16 while the wonderful fruitage of the everlasting gospel of the first angel is exalted in Revelation 15 along with the proclamation of the justice of God.

If you could personally thank God for one characteristic He has, what would it be and why would you choose it?

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"Armageddon and the Seven Last Plagues" -- these words have struck fear and dread into the minds of millions as they have contemplated the final destruction of civilization on planet Earth. With each epidemic that sweeps the world the question is asked, Is this one of the seven last plagues? When a major military conflict begins people wonder, is this Armageddon? God has waited in love and mercy to give every person a chance to accept Him and the wonderful salvation made possible by the sacrifice of Jesus, but soon He will not be able to wait any longer and still be a God of justice and love. As in ancient times He will state, 'My Spirit shall not always strive with man.'

Armageddon is mentioned only once in the Bible (Revelation 16:16) and is of uncertain meaning. Some have suggested it means 'Mountain of Megiddo' or 'place of slaughter.' Ancient Megiddo was an Israelite fortress city at one end of the Carmel range. It was from this city that the great plain of Jezreel or Esdraelon was controlled. On this triangular plain (each side of the triangle is 18 to 20 miles) a number of crucial battles were fought in the history of ancient Israel. For instance, it was here that God had given Israel the victory over nine hundred chariots of the Canaanites under Sisera in about 1300 B.C. (Judges 4:15). Also Gideon and 300 men fought the Midianites. When the trumpets were blown, the Midianites slew one another (Judges 7). It was down at Mt. Carmel, right on the edge of this plain, that Elijah had been given his great triumph over the priests and prophets of Baal (1 Kings 18). These events typify things that will happen in the final conflict of earth's history. So John called it 'Armageddon.'

Bible students have seen a number of possible interpretations as they have searched for the meaning of this graphic prophecy.

Literalistic speculations vary greatly, with the most common views seeing the actual river of Euphrates drying up halfway through what some call the tribulation period. This drying up of the river, it is said, will allow vast armies from the east, possibly 200 million Asian soldiers, to enter a conflict on the actual plain of Megiddo in Israel. It is on this plain, some theories state, that Russia and Israel meet in conflict with the USA and other nations joining the slaughter. Finally Antichrist is defeated and the people, who in this view are called tribulation saints, are saved.

Clearly the prophecy is very symbolic (as is the rest of Revelation) and, in the final conflict, the forces of evil are pictured as trying to overthrow the kingdom of God. As Armageddon is understood symbolically, the final overthrow of spiritual Babylon is preceded by the drying up of the Euphrates, the river of Babylon. The Euphrates represents multitudes (Revelation 17:15) who turn against the false system of religion that has deceived them. The whole world is united in spiritual and then physical conflict to try and stop the second coming of Jesus (Revelation 7:14; 19:11-15, 19). Just as the drying of Euphrates in ancient times allowed Cyrus to come from the east to conquer Babylon and allow national Israel to go back to the promised land (Isaiah 44:28; 45:1, 2; 41:2), so the ripening of the harvest of evil amongst the nations will allow Jesus to return with armies of angels. As the unsaved realize they are lost, there will be terrible bloodshed as they turn on each other (Revelation 17:16; 14:20).

Although it may be exciting, if not frightening, to be able to work out every detail of the future Armageddon conflict, prophecy has not been given as a curiosity satisfier for those who want to know all about tomorrow today. The prophecy has been given to warn you that the conflict between good and evil is deadly serious and the necessity to heed the everlasting gospel and to shun the beast and his mark is all important. God wants you to share with Him in the glories of heaven.

There will be a 'time of trouble on Earth such as never was' (Daniel 12:1), but at that time God's faithful people will be delivered. God wants you to rejoice today in the prospect of deliverance, no matter what plagues threaten you, or what conflict rages around you now. As has happened in all the Megiddo scenes in the Bible, God will miraculously deliver you from the forces of evil although you may be outnumbered by a thousand or million to one. One with Jesus is a victorious majority. You can trust Him today.

Seven Angels With Seven Plagues "15:1) I saw in heaven another great and marvelous sign: seven angels with the seven last plagues -- last, because with them God's wrath is completed."	What does John's emphasis on 'last' and 'completed' suggest to you? What have others said?
"2) And I saw what looked like a sea of glass mixed with fire and, sanding beside the sea, those who had been victorious over the beast and his image and over the number of his name. They held harps given them by God"	Before John sees the plagues, he is taken further into the future and is shown those who have not been hurt by these terrible calamities. What does God's presentation of harps suggest to you? What have others said?
"3) and sang the song of Moses the servant of God and the song of the Lamb,"	Cross Reference: There is a close parallel between the final plagues and the plagues on Egypt before the Exodus. Look through Exodus 7-14 and then read the song of Moses in Exodus 15:1-18. Can you find anything in Moses' song that could be similar to the song of your own experience? What have others said?
"'Great and marvelous are you deeds, Lord God Almighty. Just and true are you ways, King of the ages. 4) Who will not fear you, O Lord, and bring glory to your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before you, for your righteous acts have been revealed.'"	What in Revelation 15:3, 4 indicates God's people have examined the evidence and are satisfied with the justice of God? What have others said?
"5) After this I looked and in heaven the temple, that is, the tabernacle of the Testimony, was opened. 6) Out of the temple came the seven angels with the seven plagues. They were dressed in clean, shining linen and wore golden sashes around their chests."	Now John is returned to his original vision of the plagues. The angels come out of the temple of the Ten Commandments. This is the day of atonement, judgment scene. If you have good and bad news, which would do you share first? Why? What have others said? Cross Reference: Until this time what ministry has Jesus carried out in the temple? Hebrews 4:14-16; 7:25 What have others said?
"7) Then one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls filled with the wrath of God, who lives for ever and ever. 8) And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from his power, and no one could enter the temple until the seven plagues of the seven angels were completed."	Do you see God as angry against sinners or sin? Why? What have others said? What difference is there between righteous anger and bad temper? What have others said? Cross Reference: What does 'anger' suggest to you in Mark 3:5 and Ephesians 4:25, 26? What have others said? What are some things a Christian could be angry about today? What have others said?
The Seven Bowls of God's Wrath "16:1) Then I heard a loud voice from the temple saying to the seven angels, 'Go, pour out the seven bowls of God's wrath on the earth.'" "2) The first angel went and poured out his bowl on the land, and ugly and painful sores broke out on the people who had the mark of the beast and worshiped his image." "3) The second angel poured out his bowl on the sea, and it turned into blood like that of a dead man, and every living thing in the sea died." "4) The third angel poured out his bowl on the rivers and springs of water, and they became blood. 5) Then I heard the angel in charge of the waters say: "'You are just in these judgments, You who are and who were, the Holy One, because you have so judged; 6) for they have shed the blood of your saints and prophets, and you have given them blood to drink as they deserve.'"	Even the first three plagues are sufficient reason for any person to avoid the mark of the beast. (Mini Study)
"7) And I heard the altar respond: "'Yes, Lord God Almighty, true and just are your judgments.'"	If God had blotted out Satan the moment sin entered the universe, do you think the angels would have doubted God's justice? Why? What have others said? Why, would you say, at the end of earth's history are the angels so convinced of God's truth and fairness? What have others said?
"8) The fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and the sun was given power to scorch people with fire. 9) They were seared by the intense heat and they cursed the name of God, who had control over these plagues, but they refused to repent and glorify him. "10) The fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom was plunged into darkness. Men gnawed their tongues in agony 11) and cursed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, but refused to repent of what they had done."	What suggestions do you see, in the first five plagues, of humanity bringing about these terrible disaster by natural means? What have others said? The plagues are cumulative upon the kingdom of the beast and those who are deceived. Why do they refuse to repent? What have others said?
"12) The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up to prepare the way for the kings from the East."	In Revelation 17 spiritual corruption is pictured as a woman named Babylon. What are waters used to symbolize? Revelation 17:15 What have others said? Cross Reference: How is the direction east used at times in the Bible? Revelation 7:2, Matthew 2:2, 9; 24:27 What have others said?
"13) Then I saw three evil spirits that looked like frogs; they came out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet."	"Mouth" represents teachings. How do frogs catch their prey? What have others said?
"14) They are spirits of demons performing miraculous signs, and they go out to the kings of the whole world, to gather them for the battle on the great day of God Almighty."	The unholy trinity, previously seen in Revelation 13, performs miraculous signs to deceive the nations. What sort of 'miracle' would you find most impressive? What have others said?
"15) Behold, I come like a thief! Blessed is he who stays awake and keeps his clothes with him, so that he may not go naked and be shamefully exposed."	Cross Reverence: "Thief" does not mean "secret" but "sudden." Think of some noises thieves make and compare with 1 Thessalonians 4:16 - 5:5. What have others said?
"16) Then they gathered the kings together to the place in Hebrew is called Armageddon."	The whole world is finally united in a condition that the prophet called "Armageddon."
"17) The seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and out of the temple came a loud voice from the throne, saying, 'It is done!'"	Cross Reference: At what momentous times in the history of the world are the words 'It is done' used? John 19:30; Revelation 21:6 What have others said?
"18) Then there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, and peals of thunder and a severe earthquake. No earthquake like it has ever occurred since man has been on earth, so tremendous was the quake."	Notice: John had seen this same scene with lightening, thunder, earthquake and hail. Revelation 11:19.
"19) The great city split into three parts, and the cities of the nations collapsed. God remembered Babylon the Great and gave her the cup filled with the wine of the fury of wrath."	Babylon will be studied in Revelation 17 and 18.
"20) Every island fled away and the mountains could not be found. 21) From the sky huge hailstones of about a hundred pounds each fell upon men. And they cursed God on account of the plague of hail, because the plague was so terrible.	Cross Reference: How is hail used in the Bible picture of Armageddon? Job 38:22, 23; Isaiah 28:17; Ezekiel 38:22 What have others said? What is the worst hail storm you have experienced or heard about? What happened? What have others said?

How can Bible study actually strengthen your faith and trust in God?

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When pressed by trouble, are you inclined to blame God or Satan? Why?

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In the midst of a revival of spiritism and occult manifestations, how could you remain undeceived?

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Psalm 91 seems to be especially written for God's people who will pass through the seven last plagues. Take time to read the words of this beautiful song, and list the promises that are especially meaningful for you now.

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