The Final Avenging Wrath Of God

The saints are secure. The 144,000 are safe. They are the living temple of God and He dwells in them (1 Cor. 3:17; 6:19). The beast has been conquered and these saints sing the songs of victory beside the sea of glass with harps of God in their hands (Rev. 15:2-4). So we watch as yet another revelation unfolds and "the seven bowls of the wrath of God" are poured out on the earth (Rev. 16:1-21).

1. Sores, harmful and painful, come upon the worshipers of the beast
2. Sea becomes like the blood of a corpse
3. Rivers and springs of water become blood
4. Sun scorches all with fire
5. Darkness over the throne of the beast and its kingdom 
6. Euphrates dries up so three unclean, demonic spirits may come out to assemble at Armageddon
7. Babylon split into three parts by lightning and thunder and a great earthquakes as every island and mountain disappear and hundred pound hailstones rain down

How does this list compare with earlier lists portraying the wrath of God? Start with the ten plagues in Egypt as Moses confronted Pharaoh when he would not let God's people go (Exodus 7:20-10:30)

Teach with Bible Cartoons: water into blood

1. Water made into blood
2. Frogs
3. Lice
4. Flies
5. Cattle infected
6. Boils and blains
7. Thunder and hail
8. Locusts
9. Darkness
10. First-born slain

Then move on to the terrors following the sounding of the seven trumpets (Rev. 8:7-9:31)

1. Hail, fire and blood wither a third of the trees and all grass
2. Flaming mountain cast into the sea, turning it to blood
3. Wormwood star falls, turning the waters bitter and poisonous
4. One third of the sun, moon and stars darkened
5. Abyss unlocked by the star so that smoke and terrible demonic locusts pour forth
6. Four angels bound at the Euphrates released so that 10,000 x 10,000 mounted troops pour forth to kill a third of mankind

Compare the lists. See how many things they have in common: hail, darkness, blood in the waters, ulcerous sores and boils, terrible Parthian hordes from across the Euphrates. But note the difference between this final list and the two earlier. Now all the horrors and terrors are gathered together as the avenging wrath of God is hurled upon the unbelieving world in one last terrible deluge of disaster. So the slain saints and their leaders are avenged. And the third angel in charge of the waters says, 

"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!" 

Earlier the souls of those slain for the word of God and the witness they had borne were under the altar, crying with a loud voice for God to avenge their blood. Now He has and they proclaim His judgments just (Rev. 6:9-11).

And I heard the altar saying, "Yes, Lord God the Almighty, true and just are your judgments!" - Rev 16:5-7 ESV

All of us grow weary of war, killing, bloodshed and death. When will it end? And when will the blood of God's holy ones be avenged? This chapter again urges us all to cling to God's Word in faith. He is not slow to fulfill His promises as some count slowness. Rather He is patient, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance (2 Pet 3:9). But the day of the Lord is coming, coming like a thief. And then the heavens will indeed pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed (2 Pet 3:10).

The final battle of Armageddon awaits. More on that next time.