Understanding the Book of Revelation: The Seven Bowls

                   Chapter 16 tells us what the seven bowls of God’s wrath are. The seven bowls are the same as the seven plagues mentioned in chapter 15. The first plague is a direction reaction to the followers of the Antichrist. They will receive sores all over their bodies. The second bowl corresponds to the third trumpet. During the second trumpet, in Revelation 8:8, only 1/3 of the creatures in the sea died. During the second bowl, however, every living creature dies. The third bowl corresponds to the third trumpet as well. Here, however, the rivers turn to blood. The water is undrinkable like the first plague on Egypt in Exodus 7:17-19 where the fish in the water die and the third trumpet when the water became bitter. In verse 5 notice how it no longer says and who is to come. That indicates that Jesus has already come to the earth. Verse 6 explains the reason behind the plague. These people allowed the blood of saints and prophets to be shed. This is similar to the Levitical code “life for a life” in Leviticus 24:17-18.

                The eighth bowl is a counterpart to the fourth trumpet. Here, the sun will scorch man and cause them to burn. Compare with Deuteronomy 28:22:

“The Lord will strike you with wasting disease, with fever and inflammation, with scorching heat and

drought, with blight and mildew, which will plague you until you perish.”

                Even after this punishment, the unbelievers that are left still do not want to repent to God. They still curse him. The fifth bowl is actual judgment is against the Antichrist. Not only will the Antichrist be judged but so will his kingdom and territory. No light will shine upon his kingdom, just as the earth was before God said let there be light. The sixth bowl involves the Euphrates River. The Euphrates River is where the four angels were sent out from during the sixth trumpet. Here, the kings of the east will have a travel route to Armageddon.

                There is a vision inserted between the sixth and seventh bowls. Satan, Antichrist, and the false prophet are in the form of frogs. The frogs are like the second plague on Egypt in Exodus 8:6. This trinity is the counterfeit of God’s holy trinity. They perform miraculous signs that counterfeit God to cause people to stand in awe of them. In verse 16 Armageddon is mentioned. So, what does Armageddon mean? It is two Hebrew words. Har means mountain and Megiddon (Megiddo) means slaughter. Therefore, it means mountain of slaughter, although there really is no mountain here.

                Everything in God’s plan is happening. The earthquake in verse 18 is the same as the one mentioned in Revelation 11:19. The great city divided into three parts is Jerusalem. Babylon the Great is the material Babylon, which is Rome. Rome gave the wine of her fornication to the nations so therefore God will give the wine of the fury of His wrath in vengeance. The hail will weigh about 100 pounds.