Revelation 16

The seven bowls of wrath (vs. 1-21)--As we move towards the final climax, punishment will now be meted out on the earth in the form of seven "bowls of wrath." The first six come rapidly (vs. 2-12): "foul and loathsome" sores came upon those who "had the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image" (v. 2). Then the sea became blood (v. 3), rivers and springs also became blood (v. 4), men "were scorched with great heat" (v. 8), the kingdom of the beast "became full of darkness" (v. 10), and the Euphrates River dried up. In the midst of this, one of the angels proclaimed the justice and righteousness of God. "They have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and You have given them blood to drink. For it is their just due" (v. 6). "True and righteous are Your judgments" (v. 7). Men "blasphemed the name of God...they did not repent and give Him glory" (v. 9).

The specific meaning of these first six bowls is almost surely impossible to determine, and it is extremely problematic that they have no reference to any precise historical events. The whole effect, God's retributive wrath, is what is important. Those to whom John wrote would of a certainty see this as wrath executed upon the Roman Empire.

Verses 13-16 are an interlude between the sixth and seventh plagues. The three great enemies introduced so far--the dragon and the two beasts--attempt to fight back. They each belch out "unclean spirits like frogs" who are "spirits of demons, performing signs" (vs. 13-14) and they round up the "kings of the earth and the whole world" to do battle against God. They gathered at a "place called in Hebrew, Armageddon" (v. 16).

Armageddon, or the valley of Megiddo, was a famous Hebrew battlefield. It was in this region that Gideon and his 300 defeated the Midianites, Saul was defeated by the Philistines, Deborah and Barak won a victory over the Canaanite king, Jabin, King Ahaziah dies of Jehu's arrows, and the Egyptian Pharoah Necho conquered and killed Josiah. Megiddo had long symbolized to the Jews an example of national grief. Sometimes God's people won victories there, sometimes they lost. Thus, Armageddon fitly served symbolically to John's readers as a place for the final, ultimate battle of good and evil. This is NOT a literal battle, nor is it going to be; it must be understood as a figure--unless the devil's forces are going to be led by three frogs! If the battle is literal, then why aren't the frogs? We must be as consistent as possible in our interpretations, and always remember that this is apocalyptic literature where grotesque, awesome, sometimes frightening visions are used to describe great spiritual truths. There is no non-figurative passage of Scripture in the Bible that speaks of some actual "battle of Armageddon" in the future. It is extremely, extremely dangerous Biblical hermeneutics to build systems of doctrines on symbolic language. Such is the grave error of the premillennial system.

In the midst of this horrible picture, there is a word of comfort (and warning) to God's people: "Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame" (v. 15). Faithfulness is demanded in the face of persecution. There is no excuse, especially since God has given advance notice in this book of what the saints will have to face.

The final scene of the chapter (vs. 17-21) has the seventh angel pouring out his bowl "into the air," and a voice is heard "out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying 'It is done'" (v. 17). The judgment and condemnation of the wicked is sure. John heard noise of thunderings and lightenings, and there was a great earthquake "such a mighty and great earthquake as had not occurred since men were on the earth" (v. 18). These great events picture the forthcoming of great judgment upon "the great city" (v. 19)--Rome--which was divided into three parts (falling apart?), and the nations standing with her "fell.” God "remembered" the city ("Babylon"--Rome), to "give her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of His wrath” (v. 19) This is certainly a message of comfort to John's readers who were and would suffer at the hands of this pagan city. Another plague (hailstones which weighed either 55 or 113 pounds, depending upon whether Greek or Jewish weights for the "talent" is used) fell upon men, who "blasphemed God" (v. 21), but apparently did not repent. This sets the stage for the four final scenes of the book, where all the enemies of God will be punished and victory and glory are assured.