There is now one more set of 7 judgments God will release before the battle of Armageddon is set up and Jesus returns back to us for the second time. This last set of judgments are called the 7 Bowl judgments.
This will be God's last and final attempt to try to get some of these hardened sinners to repent and turn to Him for salvation. Again, as with some of the last set of judgments, there are verses that once again say that they will still refuse to repent and turn to God.
These "bombshells" that God will throw at them are so supernatural, that these people will know, without any shadow of a doubt, that it is God doing all of this, but some of these verses will tell you that these people are still blaspheming God and still refusing to repent. When it is all said and done, we will all realize that God did everything He possibly could to get these people saved and pulled in. These events really do show us how "hardened" some people can really become towards God, and there is nothing that God Himself can do to turn these people around without breaking the free will that He has given to each and every one of us.
These judgments are severe and extreme. God is now fully releasing His wrath on this world that has now become extremely evil and wicked.
1. The First Bowl
In this first judgment, God releases a very foul and loathsome sore or boil that comes upon all the people who have the mark of the Beast. Notice that this plague is not released on any of His saints that are still living at this time. The verse also tells us that these "bowl judgments" are the wrath of God being "poured out" - hence the word "bowl" judgments. Here is the first verse: "Then 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." 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 worshipped his image." (Revelations 16:1-2)
2. The Second Bowl
In this next bowl judgment, God causes the entire sea to turn to blood and every living creature in the sea is killed as a result. I believe the word sea is referring to all of our oceans. Just try to imagine the magnitude of such event, not to mention the stench that will probably be in the air from all the rotting fish and sea creatures who have now died and who may be floating on top of the ocean waters. Here is the verse: "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." (Revelations 16:3)
3. The Third Bowl
In this next judgment, God now comes after all the rivers and springs and also turns them into blood. Also notice that an angel then makes the statement that the reason God is doing this is to pay back with vengeance those who have killed His prophets and saints. He says God is now giving them "blood to drink" since these people spilled the blood of His saints and that this is their "just due." Again, just imagine that all of the oceans, rivers and springs upon those earth will now be turned into nothing but pure blood. Here is the verse: "Then the third angel poured out his bowl on the rivers and springs of water, and they became blood. And 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. For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and You have given them blood to drink, for it is their just due." And I heard another from the altar saying, "Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are Your judgments." (Revelations 16:4-7)
4. The Fourth Bowl
In this next judgment, in an effort to really turn up the "heat" so to speak, God literally does that! He allows the heat of the sun to scorch men with great heat. And you will also notice that after this occurs, along with all the oceans, rivers and springs being turned into blood, that people still refuse to repent and turn to God. This verse actually tells us that people are still cursing and blaspheming God through all of this instead of getting on their knees and asking God for forgiveness. Here is the verse: "Then the fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and power was given to him to scorch men with fire and men were scorched with great heat, and they blasphemed the name of God who has the power over these plagues; and they did not repent and give Him glory." (Revelations 16:8-9)
5. The Fifth Bowl
In this next judgment, God goes after the Antichrist direct along with his kingdom. God causes total darkness to fall upon his kingdom. This verse also tells us that the people are still be plagued by the boils and sores from the first bowl judgment, and that they are in extreme pain because of all of this. And once again, even after this judgment falls, these people are still refusing to repent. Here is the verse: "Then the fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom became full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues because of the pain. And they blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pain and their sores, and did not repent of their deeds." (Revelations 16:10-11)
6. The Sixth Bowl
In this next judgment, two things happen. The Euphrates river is allowed to dry up so as to prepare the way for the kings of the east to come for the last and final battle on planet earth - the battle of Armageddon. The kings of the east are China and several other Asian nations.
The second thing that occurs is that three demons, who proceed out of the Antichrist and False Prophet, are "allowed" by God to go out to all the kings of the earth to bring them all to the battle of Armageddon. Talk about sheep being led to the slaughter! Here is the verse: "Then the sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up, so that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared. And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs coming out of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. For they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of the God Almighty, "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." And they gathered them together to the place called in Hebrew, Armageddon." (Revelations 16:12-16)
7. The Seventh Bowl
This next judgment is the last and final judgment. Early on in the verse the words, "it is done," are shouted out. And God saves what may be His biggest shot yet for this last judgment. In this judgment, the greatest and most severe earthquake that has ever hit our planet will strike! An then to top it all off, great hailstones weighing about 135 pounds apiece will be launched at this earth!
This earthquake is so massive that "every island flees away" and the mountains are no longer "found." It says "cities of the nations fell," but it doesn't specifically tell us which cities these are. Suffice to say, this earthquake is going to wipe out entire cities! The city of Babylon is apparently one of these cities which will be completely destroyed. Here is this most frightening verse: "Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, "It is done!" And there were noises and thunderings and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such a mighty and great earthquake as had not occurred since men were on the earth.
Now the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. And great Babylon was remembered before God, to give her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of His wrath. Then every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. And great hail from heaven fell upon men, every hailstone about the weight of a talent. And the men blasphemed God because of the plagues of the hail, since the plague was exceedingly great." (Revelations 16:17-21)
The "great city" that is divided into three parts is probably Jerusalem. The voice from the temple of heaven shouting "it is done" is probably God the Father. His Son said "it is done" right before He died on the cross. Now God the Father is going to say the same words as His last and final judgment is thrown onto the earth.
After this last judgment passes, the only thing now left is for all the kings of the earth to march towards the battle of Armageddon.
Article written by Michael Bradley of Bible Knowledge Ministries. Their website is a resource of Bible Knowledge, articles, commentary and teaching. They currently have over 100 Bible articles. All free of charge.
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