Revelation 16:1-7
Just a Thought on Revelation 16
Part 1
Introduction: In Dr. Peter Ruckman’s study bible this chapter is captioned as, “Another account of God’s environmental protection plan.” This is in fact a pretty good description of what is about to be dealt with herein. We are going to see how God deals with man’s “gods” in time to come. This is a reminder to all that we are to worship and serve the Creator not the creation.
- The time dealt with: Second half of Daniel’s 70th week (Revelation 13:5; 12:6)
- “And 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.” (Revelation 16:1)
- “And I heard a great voice out of the temple…”
- John the beloved is the hearer and recorder of the voice.
- “out of the temple…”
- Temple in heaven (Revelation 15:5)
- “Go your ways”
- Command to the 7 angels that were given the 7 vials of the wrath of God (Revelation 15:7)
- “and pour out the vials of the wrath of God”
- What is about to happen: God’s wrath is about to be unleashed on this earth.
- No grace here only judgment.
- “wrath” for rejecting God’s Son (John 3:36)
- “And I heard a great voice out of the temple…”
- “And 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.” (Revelation 16:2)
- “And the first went, and poured out his vial upon the earth”
- The first vial poured out.
- See how God strikes at what man freely worships: “the earth”
- The first vial poured out.
- “and there fell a noisome and grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast”
- “noisome”: old-English word meaning malignant, or grievous; very deep, painful.
- Received for taking “the mark of the beast” (cf. Revelation 13:15-18)
- Leprosy, an Egyptian, North African plague seems to be the disease of the Tribulation (Leviticus 13).
- Repetition of the plague of boils that struck Egypt (Exodus 9:8-12)
- Caused by bad blood; literal.
- Fulfilment of Revelation 14:9-11.
- “and upon them which worshipped his image.”
- Worship the devil and you reap the consequences.
- God uses diseases to judge those that follow the corruption of this world.
- Example: Herod (Acts 12:23)
- Literal sores for a corrupt world.
- Possible baptism will cleanse of the spot in Tribulation (cf. 1 Peter 3:21 “filth of the flesh”)—example: Naaman (2 Kings 5:1-14)
- Elijah and Moses, two witnesses.
- “And the first went, and poured out his vial upon the earth”
- “And 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.” (Revelation 16:3)
- “And the second angel poured out his vial upon the sea”
- Now God strikes out at the “sea” man’s “god.”
- See the identification with both Elijah and Moses in these plagues (cp Revelation 11:6; Exodus 7:17-21)
- “it became as the blood of a dead man”
- Imagine the corruption.
- You want to live a corrupt life; God will give you corruption to live in.
- “and every living soul died in the sea”
- This shows plainly that the wages of sin (cp. Romans 6:23)
- Imagine the loss of food supply.
- “And the second angel poured out his vial upon the sea”
- “And the third angel poured out his vial upon the rivers and fountains of waters; and they became blood.” (Revelation 16:4)
- It’s about to get worse; God strikes at the fresh water supply
- Imagine the terror that will fall on man when all there is to drink is blood!
- Repetition of the first Egyptian plague (see Exodus 7:19-24)
- Imagine the terror that will fall on man when all there is to drink is blood!
- It’s about to get worse; God strikes at the fresh water supply
- “And 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.” (Revelation 16:5)
- “Angel of the waters” declares God, the living God, to be righteous in giving man blood to drink.
- Our Lord is a righteous Judge, and all of his judgments are righteous and just (cf. 2 Timothy 4:8; Revelation 16:7)
- “Angel of the waters” declares God, the living God, to be righteous in giving man blood to drink.
- “For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and thou hast given them blood to drink; for they are worthy.” (Revelation 16:6)
- The world is drunk with the blood of the saints (cf. Revelation 17:6-7; 18:24)
- God avenges the blood of the saints (Revelation 19:2)
- Sowing and reaping (see Galatians 6:7)
- “worthy”: deserving of
- The world is drunk with the blood of the saints (cf. Revelation 17:6-7; 18:24)
- “And I heard another out of the altar say, Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are thy judgments.” (Revelation 16:7)
- Hear the joyous cry for the justice of God exercised upon this world.
- Answer to the prayers of the saints (cp. Revelation 6:10-11 with 19:2).
- No mercy or grace here only justice and judgment. (Revelation 13:10)
Conclusion: Receive the mercy and grace of God in Christ Jesus today, the day of salvation (2 Corinthians 6:2). Or, you will receive of the justice of God in the day of His wrath and judgment (Revelation 14:10).