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Summary

Revelation 16:1–7 – First three bowls

What happens: Painful sores strike those with the beast’s mark. The sea and then rivers turn to blood. The angel of the waters and the altar affirm God’s judgments are true and just.

What it means: God answers blood with blood, repaying wickedness with measured justice. Creation bears witness to sin’s consequence under God’s rule. Heaven agrees with God’s judgments, showing His righteousness.


Revelation 16:8–11 – Fourth and fifth bowls

What happens: The sun scorches people with fierce heat, yet they do not repent. Darkness falls on the beast’s kingdom, causing agony and blasphemy instead of turning to God.

What it means: Hard hearts can resist even severe warnings. Judgment exposes rebellion and the need for grace. God remains just when people refuse mercy.


Revelation 16:12–16 – Sixth bowl and gathering for battle

What happens: The Euphrates dries to prepare the way for kings from the east. Three unclean spirit-like frogs go out to deceive the kings of the world and gather them at Armageddon. Jesus warns, “I come like a thief; keep watch.”

What it means: Spiritual deception drives nations to oppose God. Christ’s return calls for vigilance and purity. God controls the stage of history, even enemies’ movements.


Revelation 16:17–21 – Seventh bowl: It is done

What happens: A loud voice from the throne says, “It is done.” The greatest earthquake splits the great city; Babylon receives the cup of wrath. Huge hailstones fall, yet people curse God.

What it means: God finishes what He decrees; His justice falls on proud systems. Refusal to repent underlines human sinfulness. God’s holiness stands, and His word proves true.


Application

  • Repent quickly; do not harden your heart under correction.
  • Stay awake for Christ’s return, guarding your life from compromise.
  • Trust God’s justice when evil seems bold, and keep honoring Him.

Bible

1And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth.

2And the first went, and poured out his vial upon the earth; and there fell a noisome and grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and upon them which worshipped his image.

3And the second angel poured out his vial upon the sea; and it became as the blood of a dead man: and every living soul died in the sea.

4And the third angel poured out his vial upon the rivers and fountains of waters; and they became blood.

5And I heard the angel of the waters say, Thou art righteous, O Lord, which art, and wast, and shalt be, because thou hast judged thus.

6For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and thou hast given them blood to drink; for they are worthy.

7And I heard another out of the altar say, Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are thy judgments.

8And the fourth angel poured out his vial upon the sun; and power was given unto him to scorch men with fire.

9And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which hath power over these plagues: and they repented not to give him glory.

10And the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast; and his kingdom was full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues for pain,

11And blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and repented not of their deeds.

12And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared.

13And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet.

14For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.

15Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.

16And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon.

17And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done.

18And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great.

19And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath.

20And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found.

21And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent: and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof was exceeding great.

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