Seven Bowls Of God's Wrath

Are you offended to read that the wine of God's wrath, poured full strength into the cup of his anger, will bring torment with fire and sulfur forever to anyone who worships the beast and has its image on his forehead or hand?

Another angel, a second, followed, saying, "Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, she who made all nations drink the wine of the passion of her sexual immorality." And another angel, a third, followed them, saying with a loud voice, "If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, he also will drink the wine of God's wrath, poured full strength into the cup of his anger, and he will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name." - Rev 14:8-11 ESV

Remember, of course, that these are symbols, not literal descriptions. Remember also that God respects our freedom of will. He does not force anyone to turn to him. If anyone chooses to reject the Lord God in favor of Babylon and the beast, he is not forced with fear of retribution to worship the true God. What he will receive instead is what he has freely chosen, God's wrath, poured out in full strength forever and forever. These somber thoughts lead to the conclusion of Rev. 14 and the image of grapes gathered and thrown into the winepress of God's wrath, with blood flowing out as high as a horse's bridle for 1600 stadia (ca.184 miles; a stadion was about 607 ft. or 185 meters)! - Rev. 14:18-20 ESV

So we enter another of the seven parallel yet ever-progressing panels that display God's plan for the affairs of all mankind. In the next chapters (15-18) the church's conflict with this hostile world reaches new levels of intensity. Earlier we were told of the opening of seven seals, then seven trumpets (How Revelation is Organized). We come now to . . . "another sign in heaven, great and amazing, seven angels with seven plagues, which are the last, for with them the wrath of God is finished." - Rev 15:1 ESV These are the seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God (Rev. 15:7).

Before describing these bowls full of God's wrath John's Revelation portrays the security of the 144,000 that have been sealed and given white robes. They sing the song of Moses and the song of the Lamb. In Exodus 14:1-18 are the words of the song of Moses after crossing the Red Sea and seeing their enemies drown in its depths. They sang,

The Song of Moses And The Lamb

"I will sing to the LORD, for he has triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider he has thrown into the sea. The LORD is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation; this is my God, and I will praise him, my father's God, and I will exalt him. The LORD is a man of war; the LORD is his name. - Exo 15:1-3 ESV 

That song, together with the song of the Lamb, celebrates the LORD's mighty deliverance of His people at the time when all seemed lost. Now these victorious saints stand beside "the sea of glass with harps of God in their hands" (Rev. 15:2) as they sing,

"Great and amazing are your deeds, O Lord God the Almighty! Just and true are your ways, O King of the nations! Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship you, for your righteous acts have been revealed." - Rev 15:3-4 ESV 

Was this possibly one of the hymns sung by earthly worshippers in John's day? Perhaps. Above all it glorifies God's victory. He is the Savior. He has triumphed. O come, let us worship Him.

I write as we prepare again to celebrate the Birth of the Savior. A favorite Advent/Christmas hymn of many Christians comes to mind,

O come, O come, Emmanuel

And ransom captive Israel

That mourns in lonely exile here

Until the Son of God appear

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel

Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free

Thine own from Satan's tyranny

From depths of Hell Thy people save

And give them victory o'er the grave

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel

Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Day-Spring, come and cheer

Our spirits by Thine advent here

Disperse the gloomy clouds of night

And death's dark shadows put to flight.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel

Shall come to thee, O Israel.

To God Be The Glory And Honor Forever

The throne of God, described in Rev. 4:1-3 is surrounded by 24 other thrones, 7 burning torches of fire and 4 living creatures. We need to look at them and try to understand what is being revealed as we do. Let's start with the 24 thrones on which 24 elders were seated.

Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and seated on the thrones were twenty-four elders, clothed in white garments, with golden crowns on their heads. - Rev 4:4 ESV

Who are these "elders"? Normally one thinks of the rulers of the Jewish people, either in smaller towns or as members of the highest court, the Sanhedrin (Acts 4:5,6:12, etc.). Later John's revelation points to the 12 patriarchs and the 12 apostles whose names are on the gates and foundation of the new Jerusalem (Rev. 21:12-14). We may also compare the number 24 with the 24 courses of priests appointed to serve in the Temple (1 Chron. 24:3-19). The duties of these sons of Aaron included leading the people in worship and teaching them God's Word. In that these 24 elders represent the ministry of the Word, they point to this ministry carried on for all time.

The elders were clothed in white garments, which as previously noted (Rev. 3:4), represents purity and holiness. On their heads are crowns of gold, symbols of victory, glory and royalty (Gen. 41:42).

God's almighty power and authority echo around His throne: "From the throne came flashes of lightning, and rumblings and peals of thunder."This was awesome and frightening, as when God came down on Mt. Sinai as Israel began her wilderness journey.

On the morning of the third day there were thunders and lightnings and a thick cloud on the mountain and a very loud trumpet blast, so that all the people in the camp trembled. - Exo 19:16 ESV

Now when all the people saw the thunder and the flashes of lightning and the sound of the trumpet and the mountain smoking, the people were afraid and trembled, and they stood far off - Exo 20:18 ESV

 And before God's awesome throne burn seven torches, interpreted by John as "the seven spirits of God" (Rev. 4:5). We've heard of these seven spirits before God's throne earlier (Rev. 1:4). We will see them again in the Lamb "with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth" (Rev. 5:6).

It is well at this point to introduce the sacred numbers of the Bible: 1, 22, 40, 12, 4, 10, 6, 3, 7 and 21.   These sacred numbers will occur again and again as symbols throughout the Revelation. At this point we encounter seven, the number pointing to perfection. Earlier we saw seven golden lamp-stands, seven stars and seven churches (Rev. 1:12-20). Here John points to the perfect fruit of the Spirit at work in those who live by the Spirit (2 Pet 1:3-8; Gal. 5:22-24). These burning torches are a metaphor of the Spirit encountered earlier (Acts 2:3; Matt 3:11).

"Before God's throne there was as it were a sea of glass, like crystal" (Rev. 4:7).

 Note that John does not say that there was a great sea. Rather he says that it looked to him as if it were a sea of glass, like crystal. This seems to point to God's providence encircling the earth like the sea. His ways are inscrutable, but here they appear crystal clear (Rom 11:33-36).

The Four Living Creatures

On each side of that glorious throne of God are 4 (four) living creatures. Of the 12 tribes of Israel, Jesus' lineage is traced to Judah, the fourth tribe (Luke 3:23-33; Matt. 1:2). In Ezekiel these four creatures carry God's throne (Ezek 1:5-25) Here they encircle it and instead of having wheels with rims full of eyes the creatures themselves are full of eyes in front and behind (Rev. 4:6,8), full of eyes all around and within. Nothing escapes them. So it is with God's providence. Nothing escapes Him.

The Four Evangelists

Since the days of Irenaeus, bishop of Lugdunum in Gaul, these four creatures have been portrayed as  symbols of the four Gospels. Irenaeus held that the face of a man signified the human nature of Christ, the lion His royal character, the calf an emblem of sacrifice, His priestly character, and the flying eagle the grace of the Holy Spirit ever upon Him. There is, however, no obvious connection between these four living creatures and the four Gospels. Christ is portrayed with other symbols in the next chapter. He is the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David and the Lamb, standing as though it had been slain (Rev. 5:5-6).

We may be advised not to manufacture connections between these symbolic creatures and the four Gospels. It is enough to hear them singing the praises in the wild places (lion), in cultivated places (calf or ox), in the cities and towns where men live (man's face) and in the whole expanse of the air (flying eagle). Their hymn has three parts. The triple holy, holy, holy points to the great Three-in-One. There is also the triple name: Lord God Almighty, the almighty Ruler of the universe, "who was and is and is to come" (Rev. 4:8). This is the hymn of glory, giving Him all honor and thanks for all that He is and does (Ps. 103:19-22; 111:7-10; 145:1-21).

So whenever and wherever God's Word is proclaimed God accomplishes His purposes. This ministry of the Word accomplishes all that God pleases (Isa 55:11).

And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying, "Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created." - Rev 4:9-11 ESV