16:1ffThe bow! judgments are God’s final and complete judgments on the earth. The end has come. There are many similarities between the bow! judgments and the trumpet judgments (8:6-11:19), but there are three main differences: (1) These judgments are complete whereas the trumpet judgments are partial; (2) the trumpet judgments still give unbelievers the opportunity to repent, but the bowl judgments do not; and (3) people are indirectly affected by several of the trumpet judgments but directly attacked by al! the bow! judgments.
Life Application Study BibleRevelationChapter 16
Revelation 16
New Living Translation · Life Application Study Bible · Original pages: 2192, 2193, 2194
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16Revelation 16
1Then 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.” 2So the first ange! left the Temple and poured out his bow! on the earth, and horrible, malignant sores broke out on everyone who had the mark of the beast and who worshiped his statue.
3Then the second angel poured out his bowl on the sea, and it became like the blood of acorpse. And everything in the sea died.‘Then the third angel poured out his bowl on the rivers and springs, and they becameblood.
5And 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.
6Since they shed the bloodof your holy people and your prophets,you have given them blood to drink.It is their just reward.”
7And I heard a voice from the altar,* saying,“Yes, O LORD God, the Almighty,your judgments are true and just.”
8Then the fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, causing it to scorch everyone with its fire. 9Everyone 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. 10Then 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, ‘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. 12Then the sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great Euphrates River, and it dried up so that the kings from the east could march their armies toward the west without hindrance. 13And I saw three evil spirits that looked like frogs leap from the mouths of the dragon, the beast, and the false prophet. 'They are demonic spirits who work miracles and go out to all the rulers of the world to gather them for battle against the LORD on that great judgment day of God the Almighty. 15“Look, I will come as unexpectedly as a thief! Blessed are all who are watching for me, who keep their clothing ready so they will not have to walk around naked and ashamed.” 16And the demonic spirits gathered all the rulers and their armies to a place with the Hebrew name Armageddon.* Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air. And a mighty shout came from the throne in the Temple, saying, “It is finished!” 18Then the thunder crashed and rolled, and lightning flashed. And a great earthquake struck—the worst since people were placed on the earth. 19The great city of Babylon split into three sections, and the cities of many nations fell into heaps of rubble. So God remembered all of Babylon’s sins, and he made her drink the cup that was filled with the wine of his fierce wrath. 20And every island disappeared, and all the mountains were leveled. 21There was a terrible hailstorm, and hailstones weighing seventy-five pounds* fell from the sky onto the people below. They cursed God because of the terrible plague of the hailstorm. 6. Seizing the final victory
Textual footnotes
- read white stone; still others read white {garments} made of linen.
- 16:7 Greek / heard the altar.
Life Application Notes 10 notes
16:6The angel acclaimed God for his justice in dealing with those who had killed the martyrs. God’s wrath may be hard for us to accept. In a moral universe, however, God must ultimately Oppose and destroy evil. Those who join the revolt against God suffer with their leaders. We must avoid the misconception that God must be fair and kind in his dealings with humanity. This view of justice is merely a projection of a human idea. People who believe this notion appeal to tolerance and forgiveness and assume that God must play by our rules. In reality, God sets his own standard of justice. He uses his power according to his own moral perfection. Thus, whatever he chooses or decrees is fair, even if we don’t understand it or like it. Those who rebel and reject God are Not rejecting a “lifestyle option”; they are rejecting truth and justice itself.
16:7The significance of the altar itself responding is that everyone and everything will be praising God. acknowledging his righteousness and perfect justice.
16:9-21We know that the people realize that these judgments come from God because they curse him for sending them. But they still refuse to recognize God's authority and repent of their sins. Christians should not be surprised at the hostility and hardness of heart of unbelievers. Even when the power of God is fully and completely revealed, many will still refuse to repent. Don't wait until “just the right time” before turning to God. Do it now while you still have the chance. If you continually ignore God’s warnings, you will eventually be unable to hear him at afl.
16:12The Euphrates River was a natural protective boundary against the empires to the east (Babylon, Assyria, Persia). If it dried up, nothing could hold back invading armies. The armies from the east symbolize unhindered judgment.
16:13,14These evil spirits performing miraculous signs, who come out of the mouths of the unholy trinity, unite the rulers of the world for battle against God. The imagery of the demons coming out of the mouths of the three evil rulers signifies the verbal enticements and propaganda that will draw many people to their evil cause. For more about demons, see the note on 9:3ff.
16:15Christ will return unexpectedly (1 Thessalonians 5:1-6), So we must be ready when he returns. We can prepare ourselves by standing firm in temptation and by being committed to God's Moral standards. In what ways does your life show either your readiness or your lack of preparation for Christ’s return?
16:16This battlefield called Armageddon is near the city of Megiddo (southeast of the modern port of Haifa), which guarded a large plain in northern Israel. It is a strategic location near a prominent international highway leading north from Egypt through Israel, along the coast, and on to Babylon. Megiddo overlooked the entire plain southward toward Galifee and westward toward the mountains of Gilboa.
16:16Sinful people will unite to fight against God in a final display of rebellion. Many are already united against Christ and his people—those who stand for truth, peace, justice, and morality. Your personal battle with evil foreshadows the great battle pictured here, where God will meet evil and destroy it once and for all. Be strong and courageous as you battle against sin and evil: You are fighting on the winning side.
16:17-21For more information on Babylon and what it represents in Revelation, see the note on 14:8. The city’s division into three sections is a symbol of its complete destruction.
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Study feature · page 2193
BLESSINGS IN REVELATION Seven times in Revelation, God promises blessings upon the believers.
Reference Verse
“God blesses the one who reads the words of this prophecy to the church, and he blesses all who listen to its message and obey what it says.” “Blessed are those who die in the LORD from now on. Yes, says the Spirit, they are blessed indeed, for they will rest from their hard work; for their good deeds follow them!”
“Blessed are all who are watching for me, who keep their clothing ready so they will not have to walk around naked and ashamed.” “Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding feast of the Lamb.” “Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. For them the second death holds no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him a thousand years.” “Blessed are those who obey the words of prophecy written in this book.” “Blessed are those who wash their robes. They will be permitted to enter through the gates of the city and eat the fruit from the tree of life.”
Study feature · page 2194
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