Revelation Study 21. Revelation 16:1-21 (pgs 135-138)

 The seals represent the world as 'it is' in history (present), the trumpets, the warnings of God (present). The bowls are the judgments of God (future).

The seals and trumpets had a 4+3 structure, but the bowls have a 3+2+2 structure. 

 

1. What happens when each of the seven bowls of wrath is poured out? 

16:2 poured on land. sores on worshippers of the beast and his image

16:3 the sea became like blood; sea creatures died

16:4 the rivers and springs becamse blood

16:8-9 the sun burns people

16:10-11 the kingdom of the beast is plunged into darkness

16:12-16 the Euphrates is dried up in preparation for invasion from the east

16:17-21 God speaks, an earthqyate and Babylon is destroyed . Hail.

 

2. The first four trumpet-judgments destroyed a third of the earth (and trees), the sea (and sea creatures), the fresh waters, and the light (8:6-12). How are the bowl judgments different?

They are total.

3. a. How is the first plague appropriate for those who have allowed the mark of the beast on their bodies (16:2)?

It afflicts the skin: where the mark was placed. Those who receive the mark are 'marked'. Hence the sores may be symbolic

 
b. How do the next two plagues fit mankind's crimes (16:4-7)?

Mankind "shed the blood of saints and prophets" and are now "given... blood to drink".

The blood brings death, not life.

The words of the angel and the altar echo those of the victorious saints in 15:3 and the song of Moses.

4. How do the people respond to the seven plagues (16:9,11,21)?

They cursed God for the plagues, they did not repent

 

5. In light of your observations in questions 3 and 4, why are the bowls of wrath, horrible as they are, perfectly just? 

They are a response to serious, unrepentant sin. 

6. What are the "evil spirits that look like frogs" (16:13), and what do they do (16:14,16)?

Demonic spirits, performing signs, going to the whole world, calling them for battle at Armeggedon. God removes restraints on Satan's capacity to mobilize rebellious mankind.

7. The third beatitude is inserted into this brief story (16:15). Why is this blessing so relevant to the context of 16:13-14,16?

"The great day of God the Almighty" is the day of Christ's coming. cf. Rev 3:3 - His coming is unexpected.  cf. the parable of the virgins Mt 25:1-13

8. How is this beatitude relevant to your life?

 We are to "stay awake" (cf. 3:3, Mt 25:1-13) and "keeping our garments on" instead of being "naked and exposed" (cf. 3:18).

There  must be retention of spiritual awareness and anticipation of the Lord's coming. We are not to be unclothed with righteousness, engaging in shameful behaviour, relying on self-sufficient works (Mt 22:11-13)

 

 "...The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light... clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ..." (Rom 13:11-14)

   

 For Further Study: Review the chart in Study 14 (31/7/26)
b. Why do you think God planned the plagues of Egypt to foreshadow those of the last days, or planned the last plagues to Imitate the former? (Consider Revelation 15:3-4.)

God often works by giving us prior models for our 'instruction'. His 'deeds' and His 'ways' are consistent.

 

Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come.(1 Cor 10:11)

 
c. Each of the Egyptian plagues ridiculed an Egyptian god (the Nile god Hopi, the frog goddess Heqt, etc.). How are the bowls directed against the gods of the unbelievers?

health

commerce 

life 

refreshment

power 

security

d. How is mankind's reaction to the last plagues like Pharaoh's reaction to the plagues of Egypt (Exodus 7:22; 8:15,19)?

 Their hearts are hardened, and they hardened their hearts. As with Pharoah, this hardening is decreed by God, is a judicial act, and does not take away from human responsibility.  

 

The Hardening of Pharaoh’s Heart in Exodus

Declarations	Hardenings
I [Yahweh] will harden Pharaoh’s heart.	Yahweh hardened the heart of Pharaoh.	Pharaoh’s heart was hardened.	Pharaoh hardened his heart.
4:21
7:3
		7:13
		7:14
		7:22
			8:15
		8:19
			8:32
		9:7
	9:12
			9:34
		9:35
	10:1
	10:20
	10:27
	11:10
14:4
		14:5
	14:8

 

 

 

Egyptian plagues	Trumpets	Bowls
1. Water to Blood (Ex. 7:14–25)	2nd Trumpet: ⅓ of the sea turns to blood, ⅓ of sea creatures die (Rev. 8:8–9)	2nd  bowl: the sea becomes"like the blood of a corpse"
2. Frogs (Ex. 8:1–15)
3. Gnats / Lice (Ex. 8:16–19)
4. Flies (Ex. 8:20–32)
5. Livestock Pestilence (Ex. 9:1–7)
6. Boils / Sores (Ex. 9:8–12)		1st Bowl: Painful sores afflict those with the mark of the beast (Rev. 16:2)
7. Hail and Fire (Ex. 9:13–35)	1st Trumpet: Hail and fire mixed with blood hurled at earth (Rev. 8:7)	7th Bowl: Heavy hail falls from heaven on people (Rev. 16:21)
8. Locusts (Ex. 10:1–20)	5th Trumpet (1st Woe): Locusts emerge from the Abyss to torment people (Rev. 9:1–11)
9. Darkness (Ex. 10:21–29)	4th Trumpet: ⅓ of the sun, moon, and stars darkened (Rev. 8:12)	5th Bowl: Kingdom of the beast plunged into total darkness (Rev. 16:10)
10. Death of Firstborn (Ex. 11–12)	6th/7th Trumpets: Widespread death and armies killing ⅓ of mankind (Rev. 9:15)	2nd/3rd Bowls: All living things in the sea die; men given blood to drink (Rev. 16:3–6)