Lesson #41

REVELATION AND THE SECOND COMING
LESSON #41
THE SEVEN BOWL JUDGMENTS – REV 16

• MEMORY VERSE: REV 16:15

• READ REV 16:1-21 THE BOWL JUDGMENTS
• A GREAT VOICE SPEAKS TO THE ANGELS AND TELLS THEM TO DELIVER THE 7 LAST PLAGUES TO THE EARTH.. (1)
• THIS GREAT VOICE IS THE VOICE OF GOD.
• THE FIRST BOWL JUDGMENT: (2)
• MALIGNANT SORES APPEAR ON THE BODY.
• A FOUL AND PAINFUL SORE THAT IS MALIGNANT.
• WHO IS AFFECTED BY THE FIRST BOWL PLAGUE?
• ONLY UNBELIEVERS WHO HAVE TAKEN THE MARK OF THE BEAST.
• THIS PLAGUE IS OBVIOUSLY IN THE LAST HALF OF THE TRIBULATION BECAUSE IT IS IN LAST 3 ½ YEARS THAT THE MARK OF THE BEAST IS ENFORCED BY THE ANTI-CHRIST.
• THIS COULD BE SOME NATURAL CONSEQUENCE TO THE WAY THE MARK WAS GIVEN THAT WAS PREVIOUSLY AND SCIENTIFICALLY UNFORESEEN. IN OTHER WORDS, SOME KIND OF INFECTION OR CONTAMINATION FROM THE IMPLANTATION OF AN OBJECT IN THE BODY.
• OR THIS COULD BE SOME SUPERNATURAL JUDGMENT PRONOUNCED DIRECTLY BY GOD.
• THE SECOND BOWL JUDGMENT: (3)
• ALL THE OCEANS IN THE WORLD ARE POLLUTED BY BLOOD.
• WHO IS AFFECTED BY THE SECOND BOWL PLAGUE?
• ALL OF THE MARINE LIFE IN THE WORLD’S OCEANS ARE AFFECTED.
• THIS PLAGUE WOULD EVENTUALLY AFFECT THE FOOD CHAIN OF ALL THE WORLD.
• NOTICE THE DIFFERENCE HERE IN REV 16:3 FROM THE PLAGUE IN REV 8:8 WHERE 1/3 OF THE SEA WAS AFFECTED.
• THE THIRD BOWL JUDGMENT: (4-6)
• ALL RIVERS IN THE WORLD ARE POLLUTED BY BLOOD.
• WITH THE WORLD’S FRESH WATER SUPPLY AND THE WORLD’S SALT WATER SUPPLY POLLUTED BY BLOOD, THE WORLD’S FOOD CHAIN WOULD BE SEVERELY AFFECTED.
• THIS ASPECT WOULD MAKE THE TAKING OF THE MARK OF THE BEAST ESPECIALLY ATTRACTIVE IN A FOOD SHORTAGE. THIS WOULD QUICKLY CONSOLIDATE WORLD POWER IN THE HANDS OF THE ANTICHRIST WHO CONTROLS ALL BUYING AND SELLING AT THIS POINT IN THE TRIBULATION PERIOD.
• WHO IS AFFECTED BY THE THIRD BOWL PLAGUE?
• EVERYONE IS AFFECTED INDIRECTLY BECAUSE OF THE EFFECT ON THE FOOD CHAIN.
• NOTICE THAT IN THE TRUMPET JUDGMENTS IT WAS 1/3 OF THE RIVERS AFFECTED. NOW IT IS ALL OF THEM.
• NOTICE THE EXPLANATION OF GOD. HE TURNS WATERS TO BLOOD BECAUSE MAN HAS SHED THE BLOOD OF BELIEVERS IN CHRIST. THIS PLAGUE IS IN RESPONSE TO THEIR PRAYERS IN REV 6:9-11, AND IT IS A CONSEQUENCE OF THE PERSECUTION OF GOD’S PEOPLE.
• THE FOURTH BOWL JUDGMENT: (8-9)
• OPPRESSIVE HEAT
• WHO IS AFFECTED BY THE FOURTH BOWL PLAGUE?
• ALL NON-BELIEVERS ARE SCORCHED BY HEAT.
• WE CAN TELL THEY ARE NOT BELIEVERS BECAUSE THEY CURSE GOD AND DO NOT REPENT
• SOMEHOW GOD WILL PROTECT BELIEVERS FROM THIS PLAGUE. UNFORTUNATELY THE BIBLE DOES NOT SAY HOW GOD WILL PROTECT THEM.
• NOTICE THE CONTRAST BETWEEN THIS PLAGUE IN REV 16:8-9 AND THE FOURTH TRUMPET PLAGUE WHERE LIGHT WAS REDUCED BY 1/3.
• BECAUSE THE FOURTH BOWL JUDGMENT AND THE FOURTH TRUMPET JUDGMENT SEEM TO BE OPPOSITES OF EACH OTHER, IT IS A PROBLEM TRYING TO ALIGN THESE TWO GROUPS OF JUDGMENTS AS OCCURRING BOTH AT THE SAME TIME IN THE TRIBULATION PERIOD.
• WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE FOURTH BOWL PLAGUE?
• GOD DEMONSTRATES HIS POWER OVER THE UNIVERSE. THIS SHOULD BRING PEOPLE TO REPENTANCE AND SAVING FAITH, BUT THEY WON’T REPENT. THEY KNOW THIS JUDGMENT IS FROM GOD BECAUSE THAT IS WHO THEY CURSE.
• THE FIFTH BOWL JUDGMENT: (10-11)
• A PLAGUE OF DARKNESS OVER THE ANTI-CHRIST’S KINGDOM:
• IS THIS JUST PHYSICAL DARKNESS? NO.
• BECAUSE OF THE DESCRIPTION OF THIS PLAGUE, IT SEEMS TO BE BOTH PHYSICAL AND SPIRITUAL.
• THERE IS A PAINFUL TORMENT WITH THIS PLAGUE.
• GNAWED THEIR TONGUES FOR PAIN BECAUSE OF TREMENDOUS THIRST.
• THIS IS A PREVIEW OF HELL ITSELF. WE SEE A SIMILARITY IN THE DESCRIPTION WITH WHAT JESUS SAID ABOUT ETERNAL SEPARATION FROM GOD.
• READ MAT 22:13
• WHO IS AFFECTED BY THE FIFTH BOWL PLAGUE ?
• ALL THE NON-BELIEVERS OVER ALL THE EARTH ARE AFFECTED.
• AGAIN, BELIEVERS ARE NOT MENTIONED AS BEING AFFECTED BY THIS PLAGUE. HOWEVER, SCRIPTURE SPECIFICALLY REFERS TO THE KINGDOM OF THE ANTI-CHRIST. THEREFORE, IN SOME WAY, GOD WILL PROTECT BELIEVERS FROM GOD’S WRATH.
• WHAT IS THE RESULT OF THE FIFTH PLAGUE?
• THIS PLAGUE IS DESIGNED TO BRING PEOPLE TO REPENTANCE AND SAVING FAITH, BUT THEY WILL NOT REPENT. OF COURSE, ONCE THE MARK OF THE BEAST IS TAKEN, THERE IS NO REPENTANCE.
• THE SIXTH BOWL JUDGMENT: (12-14)
• THE WATERS OF THE EUPHRATES RIVER DRY UP.
• THERE ARE A NUMBER OF DAMS BUILT ON THE EUPHRATES RIVER TO EXERT POWER AND CONTROL OVER THE LIFE-GIVING WATERS.
• THE GREAT ATATURK DAM WAS BUILT IN TURKEY ON THE EUPHRATES RIVER.
• IN 1974 RUSSIAN ENGINEERS BUILT THE KEBAN DAM IN TURKEY.
• IN 1975 RUSSIAN ENGINEERS BUILT A LARGE DAM IN TABRA, SYRIA.
• THROUGH CONTROL OVER 23 DAMS ON THE EUPHRATES RIVER, THE FLOW OF WATER WOULD STOP IN NATIONS LIKE IRAQ AND SYRIA.
• CLOSING THESE DAMS COULD EASILY DRY UP THE EUPHRATES RIVER.
• WATER IS THE PRECIOUS COMMODITY IN THE MIDDLE EAST.
• ISRAEL, JORDAN, IRAQ, AND SYRIA ARE THREATENED WITH WATER SHORTAGE.
• THE YARMUK RIVER IS CRUCIAL TO ISRAEL, JORDAN, AND SYRIA.
• ISRAEL CAPTURED THE GOLAN HEIGHTS AND THE WEST BANK TERRITORY IN THE 6 DAY WAR TO GAIN CONTROL OVER THE ENTIRE JORDAN RIVER VALLEY.
• IN THE 1970’S JORDAN COMPLETED THE EAST GHOR CANAL. IT RUNS FROM THE YARMUK RIVER IN THE NORTH, SOUTH BETWEEN THE SEA OF GALILEE AND THE DEAD SEA, AND IT RUNS PARALLEL TO THE JORDAN RIVER.
• ANOTHER SOURCE OF WATER FOR ISRAEL IS FROM TURKEY. IT IS THE “MEDUSA BAGS” WHICH ARE HUGE FLOATING PLASTIC CONTAINERS.THAT CARRY 1 MILLION CUBIC METERS OF WATER FLOATED IN THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA TO THE COAST OF ISRAEL.
• WHO IS AFFECTED BY THE SIXTH BOWL PLAGUE?
• LEADERS OF THE WORLD WHO WILL BE DECEIVED INTO COMING TO THE BATTLE OF ARMAGEDDON. THE KEY ISSUE THAT BRINGS NATIONS TO THE BATTLE OF ARMAGEDDON IN THE MIDDLE EAST WILL BE WATER.
• EUPHRATES DRIES UP IN PREPARATION FOR BATTLE.
• THREE UNCLEAN SPIRITS LIKE FROGS THAT DECEIVE PEOPLE AND DRAW THEM TO ARMAGEDDON.
• THE PRESENCE OF 3 DEMONIC FORCES:
• THESE DEMONIC FORCES COME FROM THE UNHOLY TRINITY:
• OUT OF SATAN
• OUT OF THE ANTI-CHRIST
• OUT OF THE FALSE PROPHET
• THE BATTLE OF THE GREAT DAY OF GOD ALMIGHTY = THE BATTLE OF ARMAGEDDON.
• WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE SIXTH BOWL PLAGUE?
• THE PURPOSE IS TO BRING UNBELIEVING ARMIES TO ARMAGEDDON FOR JUDGMENT.
• WE WILL DISCUSS THE BATTLE OF ARMAGEDDON IN GREAT DETAIL LATER IN OUR STUDY.
• PROBABLY THE GATHERING OF ARMIES AT ARMAGEDDON WILL HAVE A DOUBLE PURPOSE: TO CONTROL WATER AND AN ANTI-SEMITIC EFFORT TO ANNIHILATE ALL THE JEWS.
• HOW DO WE KNOW THAT REV 16 REFERS TO THE BATTLE OF ARMAGEDDON THAT OCCURS AT THE END OF THE TRIBULATION PERIOD?
• WE KNOW THIS REFERS TO THE GREAT TRIBULATION BATTLE BECAUSE VERSE 15 IS A REFERENCE TO THE SECOND COMING OF JESUS CHRIST THAT OCCURS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE BATTLE OF ARMAGEDDON.
• “I COME AS A THIEF” = (15) JESUS IS COMING IN THE MIDST OF THE BATTLE OF ARMAGEDDON. IT IS AN EVENT THAT WILL TAKE MANY PEOPLE BY SURPRISE EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE BEEN WARNED.
• WHAT DOES IT MEAN “HE THAT KEEPETH HIS GARMENTS LEST HE WALK NAKED”? (15)
• GARMENTS REFER TO THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF SAINTS WHICH BELIEVERS HAVE THROUGH THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF CHRIST.
• A PERSON IS FORGIVEN OF HIS SINS THE MOMENT HE RECEIVES JESUS CHRIST INTO HIS HEART. HE IMMEDIATELY “PUTS ON” THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF CHRIST. THIS ASPECT IS SPOKEN OF IN SCRIPTURE LIKE PUTTING ON A GARMENT. (EPH 4:24)
• THE THREE BEATITUDES OF REVELATION:
• BLESSED IS HE WHO READS AND THOSE WHO HEAR THE WORDS OF THIS PROPHECY (1:3)
• BLESSED ARE DEAD WHO DIE IN THE LORD (14:13)
• BLESSED IS HE WHO WATCHES AND KEEPS HIS GARMENTS (16:15). HE LIVES A JUST LIFE.
• THE SEVENTH BOWL JUDGMENT: (17-21)
• A GREAT EARTHQUAKE AND GREAT HAIL.
• THESE TWO EVENTS OCCUR AT THE EVENT OF THE SECOND COMING OF JESUS CHRIST TO EARTH.
• WHO IS AFFECTED BY THE SEVENTH PLAGUE?
• ALL THE CITIES OF THE EARTH, ALL LAND, ALL THE UNBELIEVING PEOPLE ARE AFFECTED BY THIS PLAGUE.
• THIS COMPLETES GOD’S WRATH ON EARTH.
• THE GREATEST EARTHQUAKE OF ALL TIME IS IN VERSE 18. IT OCCURS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE BATTLE OF ARMAGEDDON WHEN JESUS SETS HIS FOOT ON THE MT. OF OLIVES.
• READ ZEC 14:4-9
• THE EARTHQUAKE:
• “THE CITY” = PROBABLY JERUSALEM.
• THIS EARTHQUAKE SPLITS THE CITY OF JERUSALEM AS THERE IS A MASSIVE FAULT LINE UNDER THE MT. OF OLIVES.
• GOD USES EARTHQUAKES.

• THE FIRST THING JESUS DOES WHEN HE COMES IS TO COMPLETELY DESTROY THE WORLD FALSE RELIGION CALLED MYSTERY BABYLON. (REV 17 AND 18)

• THE GREAT HAIL
• THE WEIGHT OF A TALENT IS ABOUT 100 LBS. THIS MAKES IT THE LARGEST HAIL EVER EXPERIENCED ON EARTH.

• APPLICATION:
• AND STILL MAN WOULD NOT REPENT OF THEIR SINS AND ACKNOWLEDGE GOD.
• DESPITE THESE TERRIBLE JUDGMENTS, MAN HAS A CHOICE. IT IS EASIER TO MAKE THAT CHOICE TODAY THAN IT WILL BE IN THE TRIBULATION PERIOD. THEREFORE, IF YOU HAVE NOT MADE A DECISION TO GIVE YOUR LIFE TO JESUS CHRIST, TODAY IS THE DAY OF SALVATION FOR YOU!

HOMEWORK
REVELATION 17
THIS IS A SELF-STUDY. PLEASE DO NOT SEND HOMEWORK ANSWERS TO THE TEACHER FORCORRECTION.

• APPLICATION OF REVELATION 15-16
• PRAY THIS WEEK FOR SOMEONE YOU KNOW WHO IS A NON-BELIEVER

• PRAY GOD WILL OPEN THE DOOR OF OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU TO SHARE YOUR FAITH WITH A NON-BELIEVER THIS WEEK. WRITE YOUR EXPERIENCE HERE:

• PREPARATION FOR REVELATION 17
• READ REV 17:1-6
• READ GEN 10:8-10 FOR THE BEGINNING OF “MYSTERY BABYLON”, THE WORLD FALSE RELIGION

• MEMORY VERSE: MAT 7:13