INTERNATIONAL HOUSE OF PRAYER MIKE BICKLE SEALS, TRUMPETS, AND BOWLS: JESUS END-TIME JUDGMENTS I. THE CONTEXT FOR THE BOWLS OF WRATH A. The Church has a mandate to proclaim the coming outpouring of the bowls of wrath. In doing so, we witness to the truth of God s character in judgment as we warn the earth of what is ahead. God s justice requires that even the guilty are forewarned of the judgment against their sin. B. The last event in Revelation before the seven bowls is the rapture of the Church at the seventh trumpet and the beginning of Jesus royal procession across the nations (Rev. 11:15-19). The bowls occur after the seventh trumpet and before Jesus enters Jerusalem in Rev. 19:11-21. C. The seven bowls of wrath will be the final outpouring of divine judgment in this age. Jesus marches up through Jordan to fight the final battle in the Armageddon campaign in Jerusalem and to rescue the unsaved remnant of Israel (Zech. 12:1-9; 14:1-5; Isa. 63:1-6; Hab. 3:3-16). D. Jesus will come as the greater Moses, who will release the bowls of wrath (Deut. 18:15-18; Acts 3:22) in a way similar to how Moses, with the ten plagues, delivered Israel from captivity. 2 I will gather all the nations to battle against Jerusalem; the city shall be taken half of the city shall go into captivity. (Zech. 14:2) 13 So it shall be in that day: the great trumpet will be blown; they [remnant of Israel] will come, who [captives] are about to perish in the land of Assyria, and they who are outcasts in the land of Egypt, and shall worship the LORD in the holy mount at Jerusalem. (Isa. 27:13) 10 Behold, the Lord GOD [Jesus] shall come with a strong hand 11 He will feed His flock like a shepherd; He will gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in His bosom, and gently lead those who are with young. (Isa. 40:10-11) E. In Jesus royal procession, Jesus will march through ancient Edom (modern-day Jordan) and its ancient capital city of Bozrah, killing His enemies on His way to Jerusalem. Their blood will be sprinkled on His robes (Isa. 34:5-10; 63:1-6; Hab. 3:3-18; Ps. 110:5-6; Rev. 19:11-16). 1 Who is this who comes from Edom [Jordan], with dyed garments from Bozrah, this One [Jesus] who is glorious in His apparel, traveling in the greatness of His strength?... 2 Why is Your apparel red? 3 I have trodden them in My anger their blood is sprinkled upon My garments, and I have stained all My robes. 4 For the day of vengeance is in My heart, and the year of My redeemed has come. (Isa. 63:1-4) F. Habakkuk prophesied that when the Messiah came, He would march through the land in victory. 4 His brightness was like the light 5 Before Him went pestilence, and fever followed at His feet 6 startled the nations 8 Your anger against the rivers Your wrath against the sea 11 The sun and moon stood still 12 You marched through the land in indignation; You trampled the nations in anger. 13 You went forth for the salvation of Your people. (Hab. 3:4-13)
G. Jesus will go through the land killing the Antichrist s leaders who sought to destroy Jerusalem. 5 He [Jesus] shall execute kings in the day of His wrath 6 He shall fill the places with dead bodies, He shall execute the heads of many countries. (Ps. 110:5-6) 3 Gird Your sword upon Your thigh, O Mighty One, with Your glory and Your majesty. 4 In Your majesty ride prosperously because of truth, humility, and righteousness. (Ps. 45:3-4) 6 Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hand, 7 to execute vengeance on the nations, and punishments on the peoples; 8 To bind their kings with chains 9 to execute on them the written judgment this honor have all His saints! (Ps. 149:6-9) H. On this journey, Jesus will dash the nations to pieces to destroy the Antichrist s worldwide infrastructures because they have been permeated by evil (Ps. 2:8-9; Isa. 11:4, 15; 19:22; Rev. 2:26-27; 19:15). 8 I [the Father] will give You [Jesus] the nations for Your inheritance 9 You shall break them with a rod of iron; You shall dash them to pieces like a potter s vessel. (Ps. 2:8-9) II. THE COMMAND TO POUR OUT THE BOWLS OF WRATH 1 I heard a loud voice from the temple saying to the seven angels, Go and pour out the bowls of the wrath of God on the earth. (Rev. 16:1) A. Only during the seals and trumpets does John mention believers having a seal of protection (Rev. 7:3; 9:4). John did not mention a seal of protection for any during the bowl judgments. B. The remaining judgments of the bowls are redemptive in calling unsaved resisters to refuse to take the mark of the Beast, and they are punitive, stopping the Antichrist from terrorizing Israel. These judgments will cause some to blaspheme and others to seek salvation (unsaved resisters). III. FIRST BOWL: LOATHSOME SORES TO ANTICHRIST WORSHIPERS (REV. 16:1-2) 2 So the first went and poured out his bowl upon the earth, and a foul and loathsome sore came upon the men who had the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. (Rev. 16:2) A. Only the Antichrist worshipers receive these tormenting sores. The unsaved resisters will not receive them. This will strengthen their resolve to resist taking the mark of the Beast. Satan chose boils to strike God s servant (Job 2:7). Now God uses boils on Satan s kingdom. B. These sores will be foul, or revolting, with an offensive odor (as foul meat is rotten or putrid). They will also be loathsome in being so painful that men will loathe life itself. The very pain will give people time to reflect without being pulled away by the lure of sinful pleasure. God uses pain in the first, fourth, and fifth bowls (Rev. 16:2, 8-11), and in the fifth trumpet (Rev. 9:1-11). C. The sixth plague of Egypt was boils that broke out in sores (Ex. 9:9-11). Moses warned Israel that rebellion would result in being judged with boils (Deut. 28:35).
IV. SECOND BOWL: DESTROYING THE SEA WITH BLOOD (REV. 16:3) 3 Then the second angel poured out his bowl on the sea, and it became blood as of a dead man; and every living creature in the sea died. (Rev. 16:3) A. The sea will become thickened like the congealed blood of a dead man. It will kill all the marine life in the sea, causing an unimaginable stench and destroying the sea trade and its food supply. It is possible that the sea refers to the Mediterranean Sea, which was the focal point of Daniel 7:2-8. B. Man has polluted the seas and rivers, now God judges them. The fish and shipping industry will be destroyed, causing a disruption of maritime commerce and prosperity. C. The second bowl brings to fullness what began as a partial one-third judgment in the second trumpet. The moon became as blood in the sixth seal and now the seas and the rivers do. 8 Then the second angel sounded and a third of the sea became blood. 9 And a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed. (Rev. 8:8-9) D. This parallels the first plague that turned the rivers and waters to blood (Ex. 7:14-25; Ps. 105:29; 78:44). The destruction of the food supply was seen in Egypt in the fifth plague of pestilence, which killed all of Egypt s livestock (Ex. 9:1-7), and the eighth plague locusts which destroyed their crops (Ex. 10:12). Both plagues resulted in great famine and economic crisis. V. THIRD BOWL: POISONING THE EARTH S FRESH WATER (REV. 16:4) 4 The third angel poured out his bowl on the rivers and springs of water, and they became blood. (Rev. 16:4) A. The third bowl will cause the drinking water to become blood. Whole cities will be endangered as God poisons their water supply. This will cause a terrifying panic in the nations. B. In the third trumpet, a great burning star will fall on one-third of the rivers and fountains causing them to become bitter, or poisoned, resulting in the deaths of many people (Rev. 8:10-11). C. This parallels the first plague of Egypt which struck the water supply by turning the Nile and the streams, rivers, and ponds into blood, resulting in the fish and people dying (Ex. 7:14-25). 17 By this you shall know that I am the LORD. Behold, I will strike the waters which are in the river and they shall be turned to blood. 18 The fish shall die, the river shall stink 19 Take your rod and stretch out your hand over the waters of Egypt, over their streams, over their rivers, over their ponds, and over all their pools of water, that they may become blood. And there shall be blood throughout all the land of Egypt, both in buckets of wood and pitchers of stone 20 All the waters that were in the river were turned to blood. 21 The fish that were in the river died, the river stank, and the Egyptians could not drink the water of the river 25 And seven days passed after the LORD had struck the river. (Ex. 7:17-25)
D. At Marah, the reverse of this occurred when a tree (a type of the cross) made poisoned water fresh, or sweet (Ex. 15:23-27; 2 Kgs. 2:19-21). God revealed Himself as Jehovah Rapha, The Lord who heals. Elisha also prayed for bitter waters to be healed (2 Kgs. 2:21; 4:40-43). E. Jesus will supernaturally supply the captives of Israel, who return from the nations, with water. The prophets prophesied of the miracle of streams flowing in the desert and on mountain tops. 19 I will do a new thing I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert 20 I give waters in the wilderness and rivers in the desert, to give drink to My people. (Isa. 43:19-20) 18 I will open rivers in desolate heights, and fountains in the midst of the valleys; I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water. (Isa. 41:18) VI. HEAVENLY RESPONSE TO GOD TURNING THE WATER TO BLOOD (REV. 16:5-7) 5 I heard the angel of the waters saying: You are righteous, O Lord, the One who is and who was and who is to be, because You have judged these things. 6 For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and You have given them blood to drink. For it is their just due. 7 I heard another from the altar saying, Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are Your judgments. (Rev. 16:5-7) A. God s severity in destroying the drinking water will make the nations angry with Him (Rev. 11:18). The two oracles in this passage (vv. 5-6 and v. 7) agree with God that His judgment is right. B. The angel over the waters has power over the waters (sea, rivers, and streams). Different angels have different assignments. Revelation speaks of angels with authority over the winds (Rev. 7:1), over the bottomless pit (Rev. 9:11), over fire (Rev. 14:18), and over the waters (Rev. 16:5). C. The angel over the waters proclaimed his agreement with God s judgment over his domain. This is the only time an angel interrupts a judgment series to interject his view. The emphasis on these last two bowls was judgment on water. He was compelled to declare that God is right in this. D. You are righteous: God s judgments are not only fair payment to the wicked and necessary to stop them, but they are helpful in waking up sinners to salvation. God s judgments are never too lenient or severe. They are never too late or too early. They are altogether right in every way. There no contradictions within God s character as He pours out these severe judgments. E. The principle of judgment: God uses the least severe means to reach the greatest number of people at the deepest level of love without violating anyone s free will. F. You gave them blood to drink, it is their just due: God judges the drinking water to repay those who were accomplices to killing the martyrs. God makes them drink the very thing they thirsted for blood. God s justice demanded that blood be poured out, because the wicked poured out the blood of the martyrs. This angel interprets the reason for the blood in the second and third bowls as well as the first and second trumpets (Rev. 8:7-9).
G. O Lord, the One who is and who was and who is to be: The angel emphasizes God s eternal nature, because only by understanding the big picture of God s eternal plan can we understand the necessity of God s temporal judgments to wake men up to eternal salvation. God desires to wake up as many as possible to avoid the coming blasphemy leading them to eternal judgment. H. A voice from the altar: In full agreement, a voice from the altar cries, Even so, Your judgments are true and righteous. The altar is the place where intercession has power to change history. I. Forerunners will unashamedly proclaim their agreement with God s judgments namely, that God s judgments are true and righteous, or perfectly wise in causing love to increase. J. Some are inconsistent by interpreting the blood of the saints as literal but the blood of the rivers as symbolic. Blood is literal in every instance throughout the book of Revelation (Rev. 1:5; 5:9; 6:10, 12; 7:14; 8:7, 8; 11:6; 12:11; 14:20; 16:3, 4, 6; 17:6; 18:24; 19:2, 13). VII. FOURTH BOWL: SCORCHING HEAT AND FIRE FROM THE SUN (REV. 16:8-9) 8 Then the fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and power was given to him to scorch men with fire. 9 And men were scorched with great heat, and they blasphemed the name of God who has power over these plagues; and they did not repent and give Him glory. (Rev. 16:8-9) A. The fourth bowl releases power over the sun to make it more intense. The pain of this judgment comes through scorching heat from the sun. This is a supernatural act of God in burning men by the sun. It is not merely a natural act, nor one caused by Satan but it is God s activity. B. Blasphemed: Men will blaspheme God and accuse His character instead of taking responsibility for their sin and repenting (Rev. 9:21; 16:9, 11). They acknowledge God s role in this judgment. Their true feeling of hatred for God will now be manifest instead of hidden. C. This bowl will be a prophetic message to the earth that science will not be able to explain away. Its scorching fire will be a prophetic token of the fire many will experience in the lake of fire. God will be speaking in love to the human race, calling them to salvation from the eternal fire. 43 to go to hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched 44 where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched. (Mk. 9:43-44) VIII. FIFTH BOWL: DARKNESS ON THE ANTICHRIST S EMPIRE (REV. 16:10-11) 10 The fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast [Antichrist], and his kingdom became full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues because of the pain. 11 They blasphemed because of their pains and sores, and did not repent of their deeds. (Rev. 16:10-11) A. The fifth bowl will affect light and energy and cause great pain. God will turn all the lights out in the Antichrist s empire. This judgment will impact heat, health, agriculture, navigation, etc. This darkness will be caused supernaturally by God.
B. Throne of the Beast: The bowl judgments target the Antichrist s governmental structure. The Antichrist s throne, or seat of government, includes his worldwide governmental infrastructure. His government center may be in Babylon or in Israel. He may have several government centers. 45 And he [Antichrist] shall plant the tents of his palace between the seas and the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and no one will help him. (Dan. 11:45) C. This parallels the ninth plague in Egypt (Ex. 10:21), in which the powers of thick darkness operated in a way that could be discerned, or felt, by the people for three days (Ex. 10:21-23). This judgment parallels the fourth trumpet and the ninth Egyptian plague. In Egypt, the darkness lasted three days and was felt, or discerned, as a demonic presence. 21 There may be darkness over the land of Egypt, darkness which may even be felt 22 There was thick darkness in all the land of Egypt three days. 23 They did not see one another; nor did anyone rise from his place for three days. (Ex. 10:21-23) D. The fifth bowl will be like people on their death beds with time for reflection. This is to cry out for salvation so as to avoid the blasphemy against the Spirit in the sixth bowl, which comes next. E. Isaiah prophesied that deep darkness would cover the earth. It will have a demonic element to it. 1 Arise, shine; for your light has come! And the glory of the LORD is risen upon you [remnant of Israel]. 2 For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the people; but the LORD will arise over you, and His glory will be seen upon you. (Isa. 60:1-2) F. Pain: Those in the Antichrist s government will gnaw their tongues because of unceasing pain. The unprecedented darkness will cause pain because of the demonic activity, which will also aggravate the pain of their sores that started with the first bowl (Rev. 16:2). They will be filled with a spirit of hopelessness and despair. G. The Antichrist will be unable to explain or solve this global problem. His throne at one time seemed invincible (Rev. 13:4). Now, he will be seen as helpless, just as Pharaoh was. The first bowl (sores) and the fifth bowl (darkness) are only on those who joined the Antichrist s systems. 4 They worshiped the beast, saying, Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him? (Rev. 13:4) H. In the fourth trumpet, they received a judgment on light and energy as a warning of more to come. At that time, one-third of the light of the sun, moon, and stars were darkened (Rev. 8:12). I. This bowl will be a prophetic message to the earth that science will not be able to explain away. Its demonic darkness will be a prophetic token of the outer darkness many will experience in the lake of fire. God will be speaking in love, calling the nations to salvation. 12 will be cast out into outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (Mt. 8:12) J. Jesus prophesied that signs (plural) would occur in the sun, moon, and stars (Mt. 24:31; Mk. 13:24; Lk. 21:25-28). God has always had power to alter the operation of the sun.