REVELATION LESSON 32
In chapter 16, we see the vials poured out.
Revelation 16:1 "And I heard a great voice out of the temple
saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of
the wrath of God upon the earth."
There are several things we need to notice in V-1. This "...great
voice..." originates "...out of the temple...". This is the voice of
God most probably. These "...angels..." (ministering spirits) are
operating each step as God directs them. God does not send them all
the same way. Way is plural "...ways...". It appears that each angel
has his own vial to pour out, note also where it is to be poured out
"...upon the earth...".
It seems here we need to compare the trumpets and the vials. It
seems the vials are the same punishment. It could be they are just
heightened more in the vials. Lets stop here and compare the trumpets
and the vials.
TRUMPETS
1. Hail, fire and blood cast upon earth
1/3 trees burned up
2. 1/3 sea made blood
1/3 of creatures killed
1/3 ships destroyed
3. 1/3 of rivers made bitter
many men destroyed
4. sun darkened
1/3 time didn't shine
5. star falls into abyss
men beg to die
locust -demons turned loose
6. army from Euphrates destroy 1/3 of people
they repent not
two witnesses go forth of God and work miracles
the beast wars against them
7. voices in heaven
Judgement
earthquake - hail
VIALS
1. vial poured on earth
sore upon followers of beast
2. sea made blood as dead man
every soul destroyed
3. rivers made blood
this is Gods vengeance on all men
4. sun darkened
men scorched by sun and repent not
5. the beast system attacked; defeated
men blaspheme God and repent not
6. way prepared for kings beyond Euphrates
three unclean dragon spirits witness for him and work
miracles
ends in Armageddon
7. fall of Babylon
earthquake and hail
Revelation 16:2 "And the first went, and poured out his vial upon
the earth; and there fell a noisome and grievous sore upon the men
which had the mark of the beast, and [upon] them which worshipped his
image."
You see these "...seven angels..." go out one at a time and pour
out the vial which was given to them. These "...sore..." mentioned
here describe something like would happen when excess fallout from
radiation occurred. I believe this is the fallout from an atomic
blast, and I also believe these sores could be speaking of diseases
like AIDS.
Some might say "what a cruel thing for God to do". This is just
not so. God is more than gracious to all of us. We all deserve
everyone of these plagues. God's love for us is the only reason He
provided a way out for us (through Jesus). Each of these plagues
happened not only in punishment, but to get men to repent. I cannot
believe "...they repented not...". Notice here that the reason this
fell on them, was because they worshipped a false god.
Revelation 16:3 "And the second angel poured out his vial upon the
sea; and it became as the blood of a dead [man]; and every living soul
died in the sea."
These vials, trumpets, and evil things happening are similar to
the problems that came with the ten plagues on Egypt. In all cases,
God brought them on to cause repentance. Just as Pharaoh repented
not, these worshippers of the beast repented not. The water is already
going bad. Many large cities have so much pollution that the water is
bad.
Revelation 16:4 "And the third angel poured out his vial upon the
rivers and fountains of waters; and they became blood."
All of this describes a devastation beyond what we can comprehend.
The judgement of God has fallen. Sometimes, God uses wars to bring
His will about. At any rate, this does away with a good part of
humanity.
Revelation 16:5 "And I heard the angel of the waters say, Thou art
righteous, O Lord, which art, and wast, and shalt be, because thou
hast judged thus."
Notice here, this is not the people saying that God is righteous.
This is the angel saying God is righteous. At no time do the people
repent. The angel here is saying that this judgement that God has
brought is justified. This God mentioned here is the I Am.
Revelation 16:6 "For they have shed the blood of saints and
prophets, and thou hast given them blood to drink; for they are
worthy."
It seems that blood in their water supply is in punishment for
the blood of the saints and prophets. Throughout the ages, the world
and its evil system has been opposed to God and His people. They
deserve this punishment.
Revelation 16:7 "And I heard another out of the altar say, Even
so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous [are] thy judgments."
As bad as these judgements are, they are deserved. As I have said
before, everyone likes to think of God as love, but few remember,
also, that He is the Judge of the world. Thank God His grace saved me.
He is longsuffering, not willing that even one should perish. However,
there is a day of reckoning when the God of all the world will judge
fairly. This seems to be that time.
Revelation 16:8 "And the fourth angel poured out his vial upon the
sun; and power was given unto him to scorch men with fire."
The environmentalists are telling us every day that we are
destroying the Ozone layer above the earth. Every time a person
sprays their hair or uses an aerosal spray of any kind it does away
with Ozone. The scientists tell us that this is so thin, it might just
go away altogether. And if it did, people would die by the thousands
from harmful rays from the sun that had not been filtered to make them
safe. I saw a news bulletin a few weeks ago where scientist
discovered that near one of the poles, the ozone layer was gone.
You see, God put this earth together very intricately and man, in
changing God's ways, has messed up the atmosphere. An interesting
thing to note in connection with this is, that it takes just a very
thin coat of the shed blood of Jesus to protect us from the enemy.
What a comparison.
Revelation 16:9 "And men were scorched with great heat, and
blasphemed the name of God, which hath power over these plagues: and
they repented not to give him glory."
The worst thing they could possibly do was to curse God, and that
is just what they did. At any time they could have fallen on their
knees before God and repented of their sins, and God could have turned
the plagues off. They did not repent. They either were not aware of
His power or just did not want to give God the glory. Either way, they
are in trouble.
This type of "...heat..." would burn up all crops, cause drouths,
and maybe even melt the polar ice region.
Revelation 16:10 "And the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the
seat of the beast; and his kingdom was full of darkness; and they
gnawed their tongues for pain,"
With this type of rays from the sun, they would be covered with
sores. This terrible plague is vented at the beast and its followers.
This "...darkness..." here was not just physical darkness, which
is bad enough; but this "...darkness..." is of the spirit, as well,
bringing depression, attempted suicide, and all sorts of evil attacks
on the mind.
You see, the beast may have control of evil men upon the earth,
but he cannot control God or nature.
This "...gnawing of the tongue..." takes place when the pain is so
great that the pain killers will not stop it. Some types of cancer are
like that today.
WHY DON'T THEY REPENT?
The answer to all of this is to cry out to God for forgiveness.
God is good and kind. This beast they are worshipping is the created,
not the Creator. God is a jealous God. He will not allow us to worship
any thing or anyone other than Him. The only good thing I can say
about all of this is that the Christians are in heaven when this takes
place.
Memorize Matthew 3:2, Mark 1:15, and Acts 2:38.
Revelation Questions 32
1. In chapter 16, what is poured out?
2. Where did the great voice he heard come from?
3. Who was this voice speaking to ?
4. What did the great voice tell them to do?
5. What can we compare the vials with?
6. What was similar in the first vial and the first trumpet?
7. What in the second?
8. What in the third?
9. What in the fourth?
10. What in the fifth?
11. What in the sixth?
12. What in the seventh?
13. Who were these plagues poured out on?
14. These sores mentioned, describe what?
15. Is God cruel in pouring out
these vials?
16. What percent died in the sea?
17. What Egyptian happening do we relate these plagues to?
18. Who said "..thou art righteous, O Lord..."?
19. In V-6, why did God give them blood to drink?
20. What name was God called by in V-7?
21. How does the author believe this scorching of men by the sun will
take place?
22. What is a new discovery the scientists have made (above the north
or south pole)?
23. What protection must the Christian apply to be safe from the
enemy?
24. When these men were scorched, what did they do?
25. Who had the power over these plagues?
26. What could these people have done to stop this horror?
27. What other things would this type of heat do?
28. What did they do because the pain was so great?
29. What two kinds of darkness prevailed?
30. What is the only good thing here?
31. Write Matthew 3:2.
32. Write Mark 1:15.
33. Write Acts 2:38.
34. Write a mini-sermon about how you would convince someone to
repent.
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