The Plagues

Rev. 16:5-6

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!

 

 A loud voice echoes from the temple telling the 7 angels to pour out the 7 bowls of the wrath of God upon the earth.

• The first bowl brings harmful and painful sores upon those people who had the mark of the beast and worshiped its image.
• The second bowl turns the sea to blood killing every living thing in it.
• The third bowl turns the rivers and springs into blood. [So fitting since mankind took the lives of the saints and prophets, spilling innocent blood.]

The angel in charge of the waters declares the plagues were just because of the shed blood of the saints and prophets. All of the judgments of the Lord God are true and just.

• The fourth bowl affects the sun allowing it to scorch people with fire. But even as they will be scorched the people will not repent and give God glory. So sad!
• The fifth bowl plunges the throne of the beast and his kingdom into darkness. People will gnaw their tongues and curse God with unrepentant hearts.
• The sixth bowl dries up the Euphrates River to prepare the way for the kings of the East. Out of the mouths of the dragon, the beast, and the false prophet will come three unclean spirits like frogs, who were demonic spirits performing signs and gathering the kings of the world for the final battle on the Great Day of God at Armageddon.
• The seventh bowl affects the air filling it with lightning, rumblings, thunder, and a great earthquake that splits the great city into three parts and disintegrates all the cities of the nations. God will make Babylon the Great drain the cup of the wine of the fury of His wrath down to the bitter dregs! Islands and mountains will be gone. One hundred pound hailstones will fall from heaven on the remaining people. But still they will curse God. Still they will not repent. 

The heart of man is so perverse, seeking only its own satisfaction, and stubbornly persisting in its sinful way until the final end. Apparently, not even noticing, that they have no hope to win this battle with supplies and armies are severely depleted! Their deception will be so strong, that they believe a lie and reject the great truth of God.  It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the Living God. Vengeance is Mine, says the Lord, I will repay.

 

Father,

How hard and willful is the heart of man! Keep my heart tender, receptive, and repentant to Your Holy Spirit.

In the name of the Lamb,

Amen