What are the 7 Golden Bowls?
After this I looked, and I saw in heaven the temple—that is, the tabernacle of the covenant law—and it was opened. 6 Out of the temple came the seven angels with the seven plagues. They were dressed in clean, shining linen and wore golden sashes around their chests. 7 Then one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls filled with the wrath of God, who lives for ever and ever. 8 And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from his power, and no one could enter the temple until the seven plagues of the seven angels were completed. (Revelation 15: 5-8)
The Wrath of God
Then I heard a loud voice from the temple saying to the seven angels, “Go, pour out the seven bowls of God’s wrath on the earth.” (Revelation 16: 1)
The 7 golden bowls represent the wrath of God. Each of the bowls represent a different plague that will be poured out onto the world in the end times. God’s wrath is not against His holy people – it is for the people of the world who have persecuted and martyred God’s holy people. God is able to protect His own from the wrath that is about to be poured out.
The Antichrist is powerless to stop the wrath of God from being poured out. The 1,260 days of the Antichrist’s reign is over. The “full number” of believers have been martyred (see the 6th seal in Revelation 6: 9-12). The 7 golden bowls of plagues are part of God’s vengeance for the martyring of His people.
1st Bowl
2 The first angel went and poured out his bowl on the land, and ugly, festering sores broke out on the people who had the mark of the beast and worshiped its image. (Revelation 16: 2)
The 1st plague targets only the people who took the mark of the beast. People who accepted the mark of the beast will be given painful skin sores.
When people take the mark of the beast, it is irreversible. Their fate will be sealed. In addition to suffering the painful sores described in the 1st Bowl, they will eventually share the same eternal torment as the beast. (Revelation 14: 9-11)
2nd Bowl
3 The second angel poured out his bowl on the sea, and it turned into blood like that of a dead person, and every living thing in the sea died. (Revelation 16: 3)
The 2nd plague targets the seas. According to this scripture, the water doesn’t simply turn red – it turns into blood “like that of a dead person.” The saltwater will no longer be able to sustain sea life. ALL sea life will die. This will eliminate the sea as a food source. This would result in an increase famine in the world.
The dead sea creatures are likely to float in the water and their decaying bodies would wash up onto the beach. The decaying bodies are likely to cause a horrible stench. This would result in an increase of disease in the world.
In addition, this is likely to affect whatever manufacturing or other processes that involve using salt water (e.g. for energy or cooling – such as nuclear power facilities).
3rd Bowl
4 The third angel poured out his bowl on the rivers and springs of water, and they became blood. 5 Then I heard the angel in charge of the waters say: “You are just in these judgments, O Holy One, you who are and who were; 6 for they have shed the blood of your holy people and your prophets, and you have given them blood to drink as they deserve.” 7 And I heard the altar respond: “Yes, Lord God Almighty, true and just are your judgments.” (Revelation 16: 4-7)
The 3rd plague targets sources of fresh water. Rivers and springs will turn into blood and will no longer provide drinkable water. In addition to humans not having fresh water to drink, the lack of drinkable water will also impact: cooking, cleaning, and bathing.
The creatures of the fresh waters will likely die (as did the creatures in the sea when it was turned into blood). This is likely to increase disease. In addition, the lack of fresh water will impact food production (e.g. raising animals, growing crops). This is likely to increase famine.
This scripture states that this plague is directly related to the actions of the Antichrist, False Prophet, and those who took the mark of the beast – because they have killed vast numbers of God’s people (e.g. those who remained faithful to God and refused to take the mark of the beast). According to this scripture, the water doesn’t simply turn red – it turns into blood because of the blood of the martyrs that has been shed.
4th Bowl
8 The fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and the sun was allowed to scorch people with fire. 9 They were seared by the intense heat and they cursed the name of God, who had control over these plagues, but they refused to repent and glorify him. (Revelation 16: 8-9)
The 4th plague targets unrepentant people. Intense heat from the sun (e.g. solar flares) will cause much suffering on earth. Due to an earlier plague, there is no fresh water to drink or soothe their burns.
The heat that scorches people will probably kill most of the land animals and plant life. Two of the earlier plagues have already destroyed aquatic creatures. This will further increase famine and disease.
In addition, the solar changes will probably cause electromagnetic issues that knock out communication and electricity.
The people know that God is sending the plagues and that He has control over the plagues. The people refuse to repent of their sins and instead they curse the name of God.
5th Bowl
10 The fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and its kingdom was plunged into darkness. People gnawed their tongues in agony 11 and cursed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, but they refused to repent of what they had done. (Revelation 16: 10-11)
The 5th plague targets the kingdom of the beast: it will be plunged into complete darkness. No visible light from the sun, moon, or stars. In addition, their ability to create artificial light would have been impacted by the electromagnetic problems from solar flares and the inability to use water sources to generate electricity.
Because of earlier plagues: there is no usable water, there are no sources of fresh food, they have painful sunburns, and they have festering skin sores. In the darkness, they gnaw their tongues in agony.
The people know that God is sending the plagues and that He has control over the plagues. The people still refuse to repent of their sins and instead, they continue to curse God.
6th Bowl
The Euphrates River Dries Up
12 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. (Revelation 16: 12)
Demonic Spirits Gather the World Against Israel
13 Then I saw three impure spirits that looked like frogs; they came out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet. 14 They are demonic spirits that perform signs, and they go out to the kings of the whole world, to gather them for the battle on the great day of God Almighty. (Revelation 16: 13-14)
A Warning to Be Watchful
15 “Look, I come like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake and remains clothed, so as not to go naked and be shamefully exposed.” (Revelation 16: 15)
The Armies Gather at Armageddon
16 Then they gathered the kings together to the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon. (Revelation 16: 16)
The 6th plague targets the Euphrates river and the world gathers for the battle of Armageddon. The dragon, beast and false prophet are able to perform demonic signs in order to gather the nations for war against Israel.
According to Ezekiel 38: 14, the remnant of Israel will not be affected by the outpouring of God’s wrath and that fact will not gone unnoticed by the rest of the world. They know that God has spared the Jewish people from His wrath. They hate God and they what God loves: Israel.
The dried riverbed of the Euphrates will make it possible for the armies of the world to gather at Armageddon to invade Israel. Their goal is the complete destruction of Israel. Demons will be involved in the gathering of the world’s armies against Israel.
Before the armies can destroy the remnant of Israel, the 7th plague will be released and the Messiah will arrive to save Israel. “I come like a thief” refers to the unknown details as to the exact timing of the Messiah’s return. “Blessed is the one who stays awake and remains clothed” emphasizes the need for God’s people to pay attention, know the signs of the times, recognize what is next, and prepare for the return of Jesus Christ.
7th Bowl
17 The seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and out of the temple came a loud voice from the throne, saying, “It is done!”
18 Then there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder and a severe earthquake. No earthquake like it has ever occurred since mankind has been on earth, so tremendous was the quake.
19 The great city split into three parts, and the cities of the nations collapsed. God remembered Babylon the Great and gave her the cup filled with the wine of the fury of his wrath. 20 Every island fled away and the mountains could not be found.
21 From the sky huge hailstones, each weighing about a hundred pounds, fell on people. And they cursed God on account of the plague of hail, because the plague was so terrible. (Revelation 16: 17-21)
The 7th plague results in unprecedented destruction. It begins with severe storms of lightning and thunder. Then there is a tremendous earthquake of a magnitude such as has never before occurred. The cities of the nations collapse. Mountains and islands disappear. The surface of the earth will be dramatically changed.
Huge hailstones will fall from the sky onto unrepentant people. Each hailstone will weigh about 100 pounds. The people will know that God is sending the plagues and that He has control over the plagues. The people again curse God because this plague is so terrible.
In the 6th Bowl, the Euphrates river is dried up and the armies gather at Armageddon. The stage is set for the return of the Jewish Messiah (Jesus Christ) as the Savior of the Jewish people. He arrives in time to save Israel from total annihilation and to destroy those would tried to destroy Israel. (Revelation 11: 15-19)
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