We will be reviewing this chapter which is chapter 16 1:21 very careful because of the magnitude of the signs and symbols it contains, so we all need to pay close attention to what they all mean.

The tops of the Wrath of God    

The seven angels bowls of wrath    

I. First Cup
I heard a loud voice from the temple saying to the seven angels, Go and pour out on the earth the seven bowls of the wrath of God. 2 So 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 worshiped his image.

It should be noted here in this great chapter that there is similarity with the eighth chapter . As we remember the similarity of the trumpet judgments and the glasses or the bowls of the wrath of God are very tight even though it appears that the judgment of the glasses are more severe than many of trumpets , but in fact the two judgments affect the same things.

It says here that a great voice , who do you think who’s this voice is ? of course we all imagine the  ( voice of Christ) He  tells the seven angels  to pour on the earth the seven bowls of the wrath of God. These bowls full of the wrath of God brought malignant ulcer and pestilence upon men who had the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These  cups seems that these sores greatly afflicted men, but still will not surrender to God, nor humble themselves and repent .

II . second cup

3 The second angel poured out his bowl on the sea , and it became blood as of a dead man: and every living thing died that was in the sea.

The second angel poured out his bowl on the sea making the sea all its water  in blood . The similarity of this passage we can see it in chapter 8:8 where we see the second angel when playing second trumpet and as a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea . , And look what it says ” the third part of the sea became blood “.  At this time we see only the third part of it turned into blood while the second shed vial upon the sea which became all blood,  and every living thing died that was in the sea.

Third Cup

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

This verse clearly shows us that even more blood was to be shed because it  got the rivers and the fountains of waters which the third cup took place. In other words it’s like all the waters of the earth were to become blood.  I believe because of much blood   that has been shed on earth is the reason why man on earth will drink blood himself. Likewise commanded by Pharaoh to drown all Hebrew children is why all his army drowned in the sea. Another example is that as we read the story of Esther, we see  that Haman built a gallows to hang Mordecai and we all  know how Haman and his sons finished hanged with his own rope . This is called the righteous judgment of God .

5 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 things .6 For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and you have given them blood to drink as they deserve.7 and I heard another voice  out of the altar say, Even so , Lord God Almighty , your judgments are true and just .

We see here in verse seven souls under the altar are now satisfied because God avenge their blood.

III . fourth Cup

8 And the fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and power was given unto him to scorch men with fire. 9 And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which hath power over these plagues: and they repented not neither gave him glory.

In these next two trials of verse eight and nine is where we see the fourth and fifth heavenly angel involving with the order that was given.  When the fourth Angel poured out his vial upon the sun, he makes  heaven fire and there was given unto him to scorch men with fire. Once again we see the similarity there in chapter 8:12 where part of the sun is obscured. So , we see that the sun will burned men because God will allowed this to be so .

Fifth Cup

10 And the fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast , and his kingdom was full of darkness , and they gnawed their tongues for pain , 11 And blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores , and repented not of their works.

This fifth Angel brings darkness to the land , but we do not know for sure if this darkness goes throughout the world,  or  only covers the land in darkness where the kingdom or the throne of the beast is at . We’re not sure of this darkness on how would covered the earth, but what we do know is that Satan is the prince of darkness, which we believe is the reason and cause of this darkness invading his kingdom.

IV. sixth Cup

12 And the sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up to prepare the way for the kings from the east . 13 And I saw from the dragon’s mouth , and the mouth of the beast , and the mouth of the false prophet , three unclean spirits like frogs ; 14 For they are the spirits of devils , working miracles, which go forth unto the kings land around the world , to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.

These have a huge similarity on the book of Exodus when God dried the Red Sea to save his nation from the Egyptians. And now we see that the new dry waters of the great river Euphrates will allows armies battle at Armageddon. ” The mountain of Menguido ” is what the word of Armageddon means . This large dry river is one of the largest fields in the world battle and is precisely here where the battle between Christ and the anti – Christ was fought .

On verses 12-16 it well describes the three unclean spirits that come out of the mouth of the “dragon” of the “beast ” and ” false prophet” a it says they are like frogs , this does not mean they are literal frogs. Frogs which in shown here are actually demonic spirits that Satan will use to deal with a large army , large numerous army most likely largest in the history of the world and this will take place to combat the Lord. Read (1 Kings 22:20-28 , Ex 8:5-7 , 1 Tim 4:1). But no matter,  the outcome of this great battle is in chapter 19 : 11-21 . Read : Zephaniah 3:8 Joel 3; 9-14, Zachary Isaiah 24:1-8 12 e .

Promise to the saints on earth at this time :

15 Behold , I come as a thief . Blessed is he who stays awake and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.

Christ asks us to keep us from the world and satanic system contamination . ( Rev. 18: 4) as also tells us to keep our ( 2 Cor 7:1 ) clean clothes

V. Mystery of God given 

16 And they assembled them at the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon. 17 The seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven , from the throne , saying, It is done. 18 And there were voices and thunders and lightnings and a great earthquake , such a great earthquake, such as had never been since men were upon the earth. 19 And 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 the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath. 20 And every island fled away and the mountains were not found. 21 And from heaven fell upon men a great hail, like a talent: and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail , since that plague was exceedingly great.

If we go back to chapter 10:6 -7 God promised that ” the mystery of God ” would end when the seventh angel emptied the cup, and now here we see this fulfilled . So far we have seen judgments touching nature and humanity, but not the ” mastermind ” behind all the evil who is Satan himself. But now we see that from here on it and own Christ fights the religious, political and financial system and the Armageddon Satan .

When bowls were all emptied, the throne in heaven came together to say ” Is all Made ! the mystery is over, and now the souls under the altar would not ask again ” how much longer ”

We see a major earthquake  “great”  earthquake   which divides into three parts the land of Israel . read ( 11:8 ) so we read in Zechariah 14:4 , this will not be the only city destroyed  because other great cities fall as the great Babylon comes to its end trial. This is the apostate church of the last days of Babylon (Rev 18) which is the new political-economic system of the beast.

Now we also see hail with grains of 125 lb , this was what was a talent of silver in the NT. In the same way we see in Lev 24:6 that the blasphemer is stoned to death and also apply for the judgment day of the hailstones .