THE SEVEN BOWLS OF THE WRATH OF GOD

A listing of the 7 bowls of God's wrath.

John saw that there will be 7 angels who will come from the temple of the tabernacle of testimony in heaven, which is where the Ark of the Testimony is. The Ark represents the law, for the earthly Ark was where the Ten Commandments were kept and also represents God’s mercy, because its lid was the Mercy Seat (where the blood of forgiveness was applied). In the future, those who will have rejected God’s law and the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and then accepted the Antichrist, will receive God’s wrath from the 7 angels with the 7 bowls.

• Revelation 15:5-8 After these things I looked, and behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened. And out of the temple came the seven angels having the seven plagues, clothed in pure bright linen, and having their chests girded with golden bands. Then one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God who lives forever and ever. The temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from His power, and no one was able to enter the temple till the seven plagues of the seven angels were completed.

John saw 7 angels come out of the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony. These angels will have the 7 bowls of God’s wrath and plagues. No one will be able to enter the temple again, until these plagues will be finished.

• Bowl 1 / Revelation 16:2 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.

The 1st angel will pour his bowl upon the earth. All who will have received the mark of the beast and those who will have worshiped his image, will receive foul and loathsome sores.

• Bowl 2 / Revelation 16:3 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.

The 2nd angel will pour his bowl upon the sea and it will become as of a dead man's blood (coagulated) and every living creature in the sea will die. The Amplified Version says: "... the sea, and it turned into blood like that of a corpse [thick, corrupt, ill-smelling, and disgusting], and every living thing that was in the sea perished."

• Bowl 3 / Revelation 16: 4-6 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." 

The 3rd angel will pour his bowl upon the rivers and springs and turn them into blood. John heard the angel declare that it is their just due for killing the saints and prophets. Retribution.

• Bowl 4 / Revelation 16:8-9 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 power over these plagues; and they did not repent and give Him glory."

The 4th angel will pour his bowl on the sun and men will literally get scorched with tremendous heat. John only saw people blaspheming God, nor repenting. This confirms the day of salvation is past.

• Bowl 5 / Revelation 16:10-11 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. They blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and did not repent of their deeds.

The 5th angel will pour his bowl on the throne of the beast and his kingdom will become fully dark. People will gnaw their tongues in pain, blaspheme God and are still not repenting.

• Bowl 6 / Revelation 16:12 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 from the east might be prepared.

The 6th angel will pour his bowl on Euphrates River and it will be drying up, making the way for the preparations of the kings of the east. The enemy will be going through there for the Battle of Armageddon.

• Revelation 16:13-16 And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs coming out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth 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 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.

The evil ones will prepare for their last stand of this age whereupon they will lose at Armageddon. Consider this thought. Why did Jesus have this inserted here about His coming? We believe it is a warning to all who read it: Stay right with God. Keep our garments clean and our hearts pure with the Lord. Those who do not, will end up under God's judgment and wrath.


• Bowl 7 / Revelation 16:17-18 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.

Remember the following verse from the beginning of John’s experience with the 7 bowls where no one would be able to enter the temple again, until the angels’ missions were completed?

• Revelation 15:8 The temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from His power, and no one was able to enter the temple till the seven plagues of the seven angels were completed.

Consider this next section of Scripture and notice when that part of the temple is open again.

• Revelation 11:15-19 Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, "The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!" And the twenty-four elders who sat before God on their thrones fell on their faces and worshiped God, saying: "We give You thanks, O Lord God Almighty, the One who is and who was and who is to come, because You have taken Your great power and reigned. The nations were angry, and Your wrath has come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that You should reward Your servants the prophets and the saints, and those who fear Your name, small and great, and should destroy those who destroy the earth." Then the temple of God was opened in heaven, and the ark of His covenant was seen in His temple. And there were lightnings, noises, thunderings, an earthquake, and great hail.

 
The 7th bowl and 7th trumpet are reserved for the Great White Throne of Judgment. This is confirmed by Revelation 11:19.
 
The verses that follow the conclusion of the bowls, show another break or interruption.
 

• Revelation 16:19-21 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, each hailstone about the weight of a talent. Men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail, since that plague was exceedingly great.

 
At the conclusion of the bowls, a voice from heaven declares "It is done" which means it is done. But the verses about the demise of Babylon, must apply to an earlier time. This is definitely a break or interruption.

OTHER ARTICLES ABOUT "THE SEVENS" OF REVELATION

BIBLE VERSES OF ALL THE SEVENS OF THE BOOK OF REVELATION
Have you ever wondered just how many sevens are in book of Revelation? They are listed here.
THE SEVEN SEALS OF REVELATION
Showing the 7 Seals with commentary, a chart & how they correlate with other Scripture.
THE SEVEN TRUMPETS AND SEVEN BOWLS PARALLEL STUDY
Side by side, for study & personal analysis.
THE SEVEN TRUMPETS & THREE WOES
The 7 trumpets shown & how the last 3 trumpets are also the 3 woes.
THE HOLY INTERRUPTION
(Companion article to The Seven Trumpets & Three Woes)
The interruption John had writing the 7 Trumpets.

"BASIC RAPTURE" ARTICLES

WHAT IS THE RAPTURE? 
Understanding the concept of biblical rapture.
IS THE WORD "RAPTURE" IN THE BIBLE?
Understanding "harpázō" - the word "rapture" comes from & where it's seen in the Bible.
MYSTERY OF THE SEVENTY WEEKS OF YEARS
A prophecy in Daniel foretold the coming of Christ & also the concept of the "last week of years" is derived; sometimes called "the 7 year tribulation."
RAPTURE VIEWS
Understanding pre, mid & post tribulation, millennial views, preterism & more.
THE TRIBULATION & THE WRATH OF GOD
Understanding what really happens during the last 7 years of this age.
TRIBULATION & WRATH, BIBLICAL DEFINITIONS & USAGE
A study taking a deeper look at original context.
​THE BEST BIBLICAL MINDSET FOR LIVING IN THE LAST DAYS
As shown in 1 and 2 Thessalonians.
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Copyright 2014 E. Cockrell May be copied for personal study or instruction but shall not be copied and/or distributed in whole or part without permission or for financial profit.