Revelation 16
This chapter depicts the actual pouring forth of the seven bowls upon the earth below. As each bowl is poured out, those on the earth receive a plague.
The primary purposes of the seven bowl judgments are: (1) to pour out God’s righteous wrath in judgment of the earth dwellers; (2) to graphically demonstrate the unrepentant nature of the earth dwellers who are already doomed by the mark they have taken (Rev.14:9-11). Unlike the trumpet judgments, which were partial and intended to produce repentance, the bowl judgments are completely punitive, as the earth dwellers have passed the point of possible return.
People often confuse the relative calm of our own day for meekness and mildness on the part of God. In truth, God never changes. The strength with which He acts against sin at the end, reflects the intensity He holds even now toward that which we often have a cavalier attitude toward.
The righteous nature of God’s judgment is spoken of by Paul in Romans 9:14-24. In fact, God’s judgment is required by His righteousness (2 Th.1:6), for if He were to forever delay judgment, then He would be in violation of His own righteous nature.
For God to forego judgment when it is due, is as impossible as it is for the Holy One to lie.
The Truth
“But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.” (Luke 21:34-36)
