Revelation - Week 27

Day 1 

Bowls of Wrath

READ

Revelation 16:1

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.”

Seven angels are commanded to pour out their bowls on the earth. The bowls contain God’s wrath. He has worked for centuries to draw people to Himself through His goodness in sending His own Son as a sacrifice for sin. That has been largely rejected by those on earth during the Tribulation so now God’s wrath is being poured out.

REFLECT

If you have trusted in Jesus for your salvation, you have experienced God’s goodness. Think how terrible it will be for those who continue to reject Him.

RESPOND

Do you have a fellow believer to talk with about these matters? Thank God for His goodness and pray for others to see the need to trust in Jesus as Savior.

Day 2

Judgments on Land and Sea

READ

Revelation 16:2-3

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. 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.

This passage tells of the first two angels who pour out their bowls of the wrath of God. The first one brings malignant sores on all who had the mark of the beast and who worshiped his statue. Taking the mark allowed them to buy and sell; now judgment from God is falling on them. The second angel’s bowl of wrath was poured out on the sea, which became like the blood of a dead person. The wrath poured out by the first angel was on those on earth; the second angel’s bowl of wrath was on everything in the sea.

REFLECT

All of this you are reading about is directed by the God of the universe. Be thankful that believers in Jesus will not be part of suffering this wrath of God.

RESPOND

Read Exodus 7:14-18 to see when God predicted what He would do to the river Nile in Egypt, worshiped by the Egyptians. That came about, but Pharaoh did not turn to God. In the end of the Tribulation something worse will occur but people still will not turn to God.

Day 3

The Holy One Is Just

READ

Revelation 16:4-7

4 Then the third angel poured out his bowl on the rivers and springs, and they became blood. 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.” 7 And I heard a voice from the altar, saying, “Yes, O Lord God, the Almighty, your judgments are true and just.”

The bowl of wrath poured out by the second angel was on the sea. The third angel pours out his bowl of wrath on “the rivers and springs.” For those who might think this judgment was too harsh, the angel “who had authority over all water” defends God’s actions. God is not only loving; He is also holy and just. A voice from the altar addresses God as “the Almighty”; that is, He is mighty over all and His “judgments are true and just.”

REFLECT

Consider that the God you serve is almighty over everything and everyone. Thank Him for His power and glory.

RESPOND

Read Genesis 35:9-12 to see the change of Jacob’s name and the Hebrew name for “God Almighty.”

Day 4

Burned by the Sun

READ

Revelation 16:8-9

8 Then the fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, causing it to scorch everyone with its fire. 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.

The fourth angel poured out his bowl of God’s wrath on the sun causing it to scorch everyone on earth. Did this extreme judgment cause people to turn to God? No, they did not repent and turn to Him. Instead they cursed God for this plague. At least they seemed to recognize God was in control of the judgment and that it could not have occurred without Him allowing it.

REFLECT

Even unbelievers sometimes realize that God is in ultimate control. Be thankful you serve such a great God and that as a believer in Jesus you will be blessed and not cursed.

RESPOND

The passage in Revelation tells of future judgment for unbelievers. Read Matthew 11:20-24 to see the judgment Jesus pronounced on unbelievers during His time on earth.

Day 5

Darkness Falls

READ

Revelation 16:10-11

10 Then the fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom was plunged into darkness. His subjects ground their teeth in anguish, 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.

Now judgment is poured out on the throne of the Antichrist. Darkness enveloped his kingdom. God is light, as mentioned in 1 John 1:5. The darkness in the empire of the beast is an indication of the absence of God. As the subjects of the Antichrist were in pain, they cursed God for their pain and sores. Their greatest need was to turn to God, but they did not.

REFLECT

Think how wonderful it is that you can serve the God of light rather than darkness. May you be used of God to tell others of your faith in Jesus so they, too, can turn to the God of light.

RESPOND

For another example of how God brought darkness on unbelievers, read Exodus 10:21-23. This judgment did not cause Pharaoh to turn to God, just as in the Tribulation it will not cause unbelievers to turn to God.