February 2020 – Page 3

8. “It is done!”

Revelation 16:17 The seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple, from the throne, saying, “It is done!” And there were flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, and a great earthquake such as there had never been since man was on the earth, so great was that earthquake. The great city was split into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell, and God remembered Babylon the great, to make her drain the cup of the wine of the fury of his wrath. And every island fled away, and no mountains were to be found. And great hailstones, about one hundred pounds each, fell from heaven on people; and they cursed God for the plague of the hail, because the plague was so severe.

We end bowl judgments with the 7th with lightning, thunder, and the largest earthquake earth has ever had. Islands disappear and mountains are no more. A great rearrangement of earth will take place followed by 100 lb hailstones. We see through even this men still curse God and are not repentant. Chronologically, the next event will be the return of Christ (Revelation 19) but before continuing chronologically, chapters 17 and 18 will give added details about Babylon. The Seven bowls of God’s wrath should remind all of us that there is no escape from diving judgment except for those who avail themselves of the grace of God in the day of opportunity. Nothing seems to produce repentance in those who have hardened their hearts against the grace of God. Make sure that our hearts are right with God today, tomorrow, and forever.

7.z. For they are demonic spirits, performing signs

Revelation 16:12 The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up, to prepare the way for the kings from the east. And I saw, coming out of the mouth of the dragon and out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits like frogs. For they are demonic spirits, performing signs, who go abroad to the kings of the whole world, to assemble them for battle on the great day of God the Almighty. (“Behold, I am coming like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake, keeping his garments on, that he may not go about naked and be seen exposed!”) And they assembled them at the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon.

It is hard to see how the 1700 mile long river Euphrates could dry up. But in the scope of what we are reading this is the easiest to understand. The trilogy of the dragon, beast, and false prophet spew out three unclean spirits that perform signs and can convince the whole world to do battle against Israel. We are given another glimpse of something in the future that is hard to wrap our minds around. With all the division and isolation between countries how in the world can they be convinced to all join together for a war against the Israelites who have listened to God’s witnesses, repented, and have come to saving grace knowledge of Jesus Christ. Zechariah 12:10 “And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and pleas for mercy, so that, when they look on me, on him whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over him, as one weeps over a firstborn.” Israel will realize what has happened and will mourn for Jesus Christ because of the way the nation treated Him when He first came to earth. They now know Him as Savior, Redeemer, and Coming King.”

Those who follow the demonic spirit’s lies will come against Israel with a single focus and purpose. They want to rid the earth of anything and anyone who God has called. Anyone who has come to the knowledge of Jesus Christ. Anyone who has not taken the mark of the beast. Anyone who has not worshipped the beast. The whole world will come against the Almighty God with the thought that with their numbers they can surely put an end to Him and those who follow Him.

Once again this prophecy is given with a message of hope too. Blessed is the one who stays awake! The ones who are looking for and believing in the pending return of Jesus Christ. This same message of hope right now is during a time of the grace, mercy, and love of Jesus Christ. The difference between now (grace, mercy, and love) and the time of Tribulation (wrath, anger, and judgment of God) are not very great. People reject living for Jesus now as they do then. People reject repenting of their sin now as they to then. People reject the surrender of their whole heart, mind, and soul to Jesus Christ now as they do then. There is no real difference in the intentional choice people are making now and as they do then. Denying Jesus Christ with unrepentant hearts whether now or then has the same eternal consequences – eternal damnation.

7.y. They did not repent and give him glory.

Revelation 16:8 The fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and it was allowed to scorch people with fire. They were scorched by the fierce heat, and they cursed the name of God who had power over these plagues. They did not repent and give him glory. The fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and its kingdom was plunged into darkness. People gnawed their tongues in anguish and cursed the God of heaven for their pain and sores. They did not repent of their deeds.

The fourth and fifth bowl shows the power of God over His creation. It is hard to say what will take place that allows the sun to scorch people with fierce heat. It is not just part of the world, it is all people in the world who have taken the mark of the beast, who have denied God, and would not repent. This scorching heat is followed by a darkness so dark that people are in anguish over it. We can speculate on what will take place but in the end that is all it will be, men trying to speculate about what God can and will do to cause these events on those who have rejected Him. It is important to note that the wrath and anger of God do not draw people to Him. It seems as though they harden their hearts more rather than having them soften. Paul put it like this as a warning: Do you suppose, O man—you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself—that you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? It is God’s kindness that leads to repentance, not His wrath and anger. God’s kindness is not to be taken lightly, His offer of mercy and grace are not to be taken lightly, His redeeming love, and salvation found in and through the suffering and death of Jesus Christ is not to be taken lightly. Paul said; “What manner of person ought you to be in light of the great price paid for your salvation?” There should be no room in our heart and mind for what we allow to be in there. There should be no room for neglect and complacency. There should be no room for things of this world to replace the fullness of Christ in our life. Our lives have been bought with a very high cost and we should be living in light of the price that was paid. Do not forget for a single moment the grace, mercy, and love God has poured out on us. Keep this thought close to your heart and mind when you wake and when you go to sleep and live to honor and glorify Him by growing more mature in your faith and love for Him.

7.x. Just are you, O Holy One, who is and who was, for you brought these judgments.

Revelation 16:1 Then I heard a loud voice from the temple telling the seven angels, “Go and pour out on the earth the seven bowls of the wrath of God.”

So the first angel went and poured out his bowl on the earth, and harmful and painful sores came upon the people who bore the mark of the beast and worshiped its image.

The second angel poured out his bowl into the sea, and it became like the blood of a corpse, and every living thing died that was in the sea. The third angel poured out his bowl into the rivers and the springs of water, and they became blood. And I heard the angel in charge of the waters say, “Just are you, O Holy One, who is and who was, for you brought these judgments. For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and you have given them blood to drink. It is what they deserve!” And I heard the altar saying, “Yes, Lord God the Almighty, true and just are your judgments!”

God’s wrath is let loose on mankind. All of those who have rejected Him, His message of repentance, and salvation through Jesus Christ will experience His wrath in ways that have not been known to mankind. Know this, His wrath is furious as His love is full of grace and mercy. We often think about His absolute pure and holy love but fail to see that His wrath, anger, and judgment are absolutely pure. All of the judgments that have come at the hands of man and Satan are nothing compared to God’s wrath and judgment. The first bowl is harmful and painful sores. This afflicts all who have taken the mark of the beast, all who have rejected the message of His witnesses, and those who have killed the saints (those who have rejected the beast and have come to Jesus Christ.) Even during the 7 seals and the 7 trumpets and all of the calamity, unrest, and wonders associated with these judgments, people still choose to deny Jesus Christ. Do you ever wonder how hard a heart has to be to reject the grace, mercy, and love of Jesus Christ and choose to be blind to things that are happening at God’s command? We might understand how it happens right now in the US as we live during a time of prosperity. People just don’t see a need for Jesus Christ, and if they do, it seems as though it is not with their whole heart, mind, and soul, but with a want for the benefit but without and change in their life. How many times are we neglectful and complacent with our time in His Word, prayer, and humble service? How many times are we chasing after things this world has to offer and not the things of God? How many times do we choose the worldly stuff over Godly living? We can read about God’s judgment against those who have willfully and knowingly rejected Him but how much more do we deserve His judgment for willingly and intentionally choosing to live lukewarm Christian lives that serve no more as a testimony to Jesus Christ than those who openly deny Him. We do well to search our heart, mind, and soul for that which hinders us from humbly serving, honoring, following, trusting, and obeying Him.