As we enter another highly charged political year, I have been thinking how much the book of Revelation has to offer in terms of casting a discerning eye on how the forces of empires (symbolized by Rome/Babylon) challenge the faith and ethics of the Kingdom of God. In this post, we look at what's really happening in the seven bowl judgments, and how John's vision for a 1st century audience still applies to us today,
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After I had taken all this in, I looked again; and the inner part of the tabernacle of witness[1] opened in heaven. Out of the temple came seven messengers, clothed in pure linen, bright and shining, their chests clad in a golden sash, carrying seven plagues. Then one of the four living creatures[2] stepped over to give to the seven messengers seven golden bowls[3] brimming with the wrath of God who lives throughout the ages. The temple was full of the smoke billowing from the magnificent glory of God and from His power,[4] and no one could enter the temple until the seven plagues of the seven messengers accomplished their God-ordained end. Then I heard a great voice coming from the temple ordering the seven heavenly messengers. A voice said,” Go and pour out the seven bowls of the wrath[5] of God upon the earth.”[6]I am going to take the approach that John's vision explains God’s coming judgment on the Roman Empire (that will be clear in the next few chapters) by taking into the account of the fall of Babylon in light of the defeat of Pharaoh at the Red Sea, and use all of these as framework for a universalized prediction of the judgments that will fall on all Babylons (World Systems) until the final global Babylon is gone.[7]
- Chapter 15-16 pick up details from chapters 4, 8, 12 and 14. This is recapitulation.
- The 7 bowls of judgment (16:1-21) overlap the 7 trumpets and seals. Lots of similar imagery and events.
- They all have a similar goal: to bring the earth's inhabitants, like Pharaoh, to repentance.[8]
- The judgment escalates from impacting 1/4, to 1/3, to all the world.[9][10] My theory: it reminds us that God is patient, but at some point “our iniquities are full.” (Genesis 15:16)
- The bowls are linked to the Judgment of the global system in 18; 16:19; 14:8 - 10; 15:7, 16:1.
- This is modeled after the plagues in Egypt, the last 7 of which did not touch God’s people.
Let’s pause on that point for a moment. Literal interpretations are very popular for this section (“Oh, it must be a supernova, or nuclear war, or some kind of plague, etc.”), but a) that’s not how Revelation has been working, and b) if they were literal, there’s no way God’s people wouldn’t be harmed. Real things will happen, but just like we do with numbers, we need to weigh the message. Early church commentaries overwhelmingly read these events as symbolic of spiritual and cultural realities. Briefly summarized, “All of these plagues are spiritual, and they occur in the soul.” (Caesarius of Arles, 500s)
This language of blood is not about less than the violent and greedy reaping sowing the wind and reaping the whirlwind, but I think it’s about more than that. Nothing helps them avoid the reality of reaping the sin and chaos they sowed within and around themselves – physically, existentially, emotionally, spiritually.
To think of Armageddon as a specific geographical locale would go against our principles in understanding Revelation so far. Like Babylon and the Euphrates, Armageddon must be weighed: it has global and spiritual application. Adam Clarke, writing in the 1800s, noted:
“But what is the battle of Armageddon? How ridiculous have been the conjectures of men relative to this point! Within the last twenty years this battle has been fought at various places, according to our purblind seers and self-inspired prophets! At one time it was Austerlitz, at another Moscow, at another Leipsic, and now Waterloo! And thus they have gone on, and will go on, confounding and being confounded.”
I favor the reading that Har-Mageddon is Har-Moad, God’s cosmic mountain dwelling place (Jerusalem and Zion, the home of the Church). The battle symbolizes the final cosmic clash between God and Satan over the people of God.[35] The evil hordes associated with the East (all the nations) - are going to march on God’s domain and God’s people. [36]
The Great City that splits into three parts[40] has been variously identified as Jerusalem, Rome, or ungodly world systems, which would include the former two. Along with Babylon, John also sees the cities of the nations fall,[41] likely "the kings of the whole world" assembled for battle at Armageddon (vv. 14, 16). John's vision revealed that all the cities are doomed to share Babylon's fate.[42]
- The waters are nations (Primasius, 500s).
- The sores are guilt of sin and grief of apostates (Primasius, Caesarius, Andrew of Caesarea, 500s) or a version of the Mark (Bede, 700s).
- Blood is a spiritual revenge, a vision of filth (Primasius, Bede), though it could indicate the bloodshed that followed war (Andrew, Oecumenius, 900s).
- Scorching sun is drought (Oecumenius), the steadfastness of the saints (Primasius), or the splendor of the wise (Bede).
- Darkness is a darkness of reason (Oecumenius), suppressing the truth through wickedness (Primasius), lacking the ‘sun of righteousness’ (Andrew), the false joy of earthly happiness (Bede), the brightness of doctrine obscured by unbelievers (Victorinus, 200s)
- The Euphrates drying up means nations will possess nothing which is living (Primasius).
- The Great City is Jerusalem, Babylon, or everybody; when the cities of the nations fall, it is “the strength and confidence of the nations” (Primasius) or “the cessation of the pagan manner of life” at the coming of the Kingdom of God” (Andrew).
- Islands are churches and the mountains are leaders (Oecumenius, Andrew, Bede).[11]
- 100 lb. hailstones are the completeness of God’s judgment (Primasius, Andrew)
So the first messenger poured out his bowl onto the earth. When he did, a foul-smelling, painful sore broke out on each person who bore the mark of the beast and who worshiped its image.The First Bowl. The sores seem to represent some form of suffering similar to the spiritual and psychological torment of the fifth trumpet.[12] This will not be experienced by those who are resting in God.
The second messenger poured out his bowl into the sea. When he did, the waters became like the blood that spills from a dead body, and every living creature in the sea died. The third messenger poured out his bowl into the rivers and springs of fresh water.[13] When he did, they, too, became blood. And I heard the messenger over the waters speak. “You are just, O holy One who is and who was, for You have judged these things rightly. Because people shed the blood of the saints and prophets, You have given them blood to quench their thirst. They are deserving of these punishments.”[14] And I heard a voice from the altar agree. “Yes, Lord God, the All Powerful, true and right are Your judgments!The Second and Third Bowl.[15]
- 17:1 and 17:15 make clear the ‘many waters’ are nations from which the Beast emerges (Rev. 13).[16] In 20:8, ungodly nations are compared to the sand of the sea shore on which the dragon stands (13:1)
- The sea being turned into blood = a spiritual vision of filth (Primasius, Bede) or the bloodshed that followed war and violence (Andrew, Oecumenius). “Because people shed the blood of the saints and prophets, You have given them blood to quench their thirst.”[17] What goes around comes around.
- Jewish tradition claimed that,[18] in response to Pharaoh drowning Israel’s babies in the Nile, God later turned the Nile to blood, struck Egypt’s firstborn, and drowned Pharaoh’s army. [19]
This language of blood is not about less than the violent and greedy reaping sowing the wind and reaping the whirlwind, but I think it’s about more than that. Nothing helps them avoid the reality of reaping the sin and chaos they sowed within and around themselves – physically, existentially, emotionally, spiritually.
The fourth messenger poured out his bowl on the sun. When he did, the sun was permitted to blister people with its fire.[21] The incredible heat of the sunburned their skin; but instead of rethinking their actions and glorifying God, they cursed God’s name because He had the power to carry out these plagues.The pouring out of God's wrath in the Old Testament is often figuratively expressed as fire.
- Jeremiah 7:20 - “My anger and my wrath will be poured out on this place… and it will burn and not be quenched.”
- Ezekiel 22:21-22 - “I shall gather you and blow on you with the fire of my wrath, and you will be melted in the midst of it...”
- Deuteronomy 32:22 – “For a fire will be kindled by my wrath, one that burns down to the realm of the dead below. It will devour the earth and its harvests and set afire the foundations of the mountains.”
The fifth messenger poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast.[23] When he did, its kingdom was blanketed in darkness. People chewed on their tongues out of the depth of their agony.[24] Still they refused to change their wicked ways, so they cursed the God of heaven because of their painful afflictions and ulcerous sores.Early Jewish interpreters thought that the darkness of the Egyptian plague symbolized spiritual separation from God, an exile from Eternal Providence. Some believed the Egyptians’ contemplation of their own wretchedness was worse than the actual darkness. Isaiah 8:20-22 associates darkness with occult practices:
“[Mediums and spiritists] have no light of dawn. Distressed and hungry, they will roam through the land; when they are famished, they will become enraged and, looking upward, will curse their king and their God. Then they will look toward the earth and see only distress and darkness and fearful gloom, and they will be thrust into utter darkness.”The ancient commentary summarizes well: Darkness is a darkness of reason (Oecumenius), suppressing the truth through wickedness (Primasius), lacking the ‘sun of righteousness’ (Andrew) or the false joy of earthly happiness (Bede). I think we are intended to think of this as light being the light of God’s truth and glory, and the darkness being separation from God and every good and perfect gift that He has given the world. Those in anguish are recognizing the horror of their spiritual darkness, their separation from God, and that eternal fate awaits them characterized by this very thing.[25] [26]
The sixth messenger poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates. When he did, the river dried up and became a road so that the kings from the east and their armies could make their way.[27]
- ‘Many waters,’ are the multitudes, nations and tongues (17:15).
- The judgment on Babylon included the drying up of the Euphrates River (Cyrus diverted the Euphrates and crossed it- from the East)
- Kings from the East = the kings of the whole world (17:18; 20:8).
- The traditional northern enemies, God and Magog, are later explained to be all nations in the four corners of the Earth.
What I saw next troubled me deeply: three foul spirits like frogs appeared, belched from the mouth of the dragon, the mouth of the beast, and the mouth of the earth-beast (false prophet). These frogs are demonic spirits.[28] As they go into the world, they perform miracles[29] persuading the kings of the world to gather for the last battle on the great day of God[30], the All Powerful.[31] I heard a voice saying: ” See, I am coming like a thief! Blessed is the person who watches and waits, dressed and ready to go, so as not to wander about naked, exposed to disgrace.”[32] And the kings gathered at the place called Har-Magedon in Hebrew.[33]This battle gathers the global persecutors of God’s people. This is the confrontation between Christ and all of the evil nations at the end of the age.[34] The nations that think they will eliminate God’s people will actually meet their own judgment (19:11-21). Things to note:
- There is no mention of a mountain of Megiddo in the Old Testament or in Jewish literature. It was a very small hill.
- Thanks to a military history at Megiddo (Judges 5:19, 2nd Kings 23:29), Megiddo became associated in Judaism with the place where evil nations attack Israel.
- If 20:8 is a recapitulation to the same event as 16:14, then 20:9 puts Armageddon at Jerusalem/Mount Zion, both of which (in John's terms) refer to the worldwide Church.
To think of Armageddon as a specific geographical locale would go against our principles in understanding Revelation so far. Like Babylon and the Euphrates, Armageddon must be weighed: it has global and spiritual application. Adam Clarke, writing in the 1800s, noted:
“But what is the battle of Armageddon? How ridiculous have been the conjectures of men relative to this point! Within the last twenty years this battle has been fought at various places, according to our purblind seers and self-inspired prophets! At one time it was Austerlitz, at another Moscow, at another Leipsic, and now Waterloo! And thus they have gone on, and will go on, confounding and being confounded.”
I favor the reading that Har-Mageddon is Har-Moad, God’s cosmic mountain dwelling place (Jerusalem and Zion, the home of the Church). The battle symbolizes the final cosmic clash between God and Satan over the people of God.[35] The evil hordes associated with the East (all the nations) - are going to march on God’s domain and God’s people. [36]
Finally, the seventh messenger poured out his bowl into the air. When he did, a great voice came out of the temple, from the throne. And a loud Voice said, “It is accomplished!” At the sound of the voice, there were flashes of lightning, sounds of voices, rumblings of thunder, and tremors of an earthquake. In all of human history, there had never been an earthquake of this magnitude. The great city was torn into three parts, and the cities of all the nations fell. God remembered the great city, Babylon[37], and made her drink the cup of His fury and wrath.[38] Every island sank into the ocean, and no mountains were left to be discovered. And great hailstones, each weighing nearly 100 pounds[39], fell from the sky onto the people until they cursed God because the plague of hail was so severe.In the 7th Bowl, God punishes the ungodly world system with final judgment. The language of lightning, thunder, and hailstone is in imagery of judgment that we've already seen several times in Revelation to show that something is brought to an end.
The Great City that splits into three parts[40] has been variously identified as Jerusalem, Rome, or ungodly world systems, which would include the former two. Along with Babylon, John also sees the cities of the nations fall,[41] likely "the kings of the whole world" assembled for battle at Armageddon (vv. 14, 16). John's vision revealed that all the cities are doomed to share Babylon's fate.[42]
I favor the view[43] that these are images of governments (islands) falling apart, and the nations (mountains) collapsing, leaving the masses of humanity (the water) with no source of human stability and leadership. [44] Then indeed, as Othello said when his madness descended, “Chaos has come.”
The summary: The seals, bowls and trumpets and Egypt, Babylon and Rome tell us how the story is going to go as history unfolds:
1. Arrogant nations (beasts) will arise from humanity (sea)
2. They will be motivated by the Satan (dragon) and fed by the people who love them (streams and springs)
3. They will align themselves against God and His people by abusing with power (Rome) or alluring with pleasure (Babylon).
4. As they reap what they sow (drinking the ‘bowls’ of the blood they shed), they will collapse, and all their allies will desert them (mountains and islands fleeing).
5. Throughout history, God, who is slow to anger, has spared people the full weight of their punishment. Egypt, Rome, Babylon – they are all previews of the anguish, guilt, misery, and punishment (sores, darkness, scotching light of truth) that cannot be escaped.
6. In the end, when the cup of the history of the whole world’s iniquity is full, God will tell the martyrs that the time of waiting is over[45], and He will pour out His wrath at the evil that destroyed His good world – but this time it will be undiluted.
The summary: The seals, bowls and trumpets and Egypt, Babylon and Rome tell us how the story is going to go as history unfolds:
1. Arrogant nations (beasts) will arise from humanity (sea)
2. They will be motivated by the Satan (dragon) and fed by the people who love them (streams and springs)
3. They will align themselves against God and His people by abusing with power (Rome) or alluring with pleasure (Babylon).
4. As they reap what they sow (drinking the ‘bowls’ of the blood they shed), they will collapse, and all their allies will desert them (mountains and islands fleeing).
5. Throughout history, God, who is slow to anger, has spared people the full weight of their punishment. Egypt, Rome, Babylon – they are all previews of the anguish, guilt, misery, and punishment (sores, darkness, scotching light of truth) that cannot be escaped.
6. In the end, when the cup of the history of the whole world’s iniquity is full, God will tell the martyrs that the time of waiting is over[45], and He will pour out His wrath at the evil that destroyed His good world – but this time it will be undiluted.
* * * * *
So, right now, we are watching things unfold on the world stage that likely have us thinking about apocalyptic world events.
If John were writing today to the church in the Ukraine, I suspect Putin would be the latest example in world history of what it looks like when a beast follows the dragon.[46] There’s even a false prophet: Kremlin’s propaganda machine that has convinced so many Christians in Russia (and America) that Putin is a good man, perhaps even a friend of the church, when the reality is the opposite. (Read “How Putin’s Politics Threaten the Church’s Witness,” at Christianity Today,[47] ; “No, Putin Is Not A Defender Of Christian Values,”[48] ; “The Point: Christian Persecution In Russia.”[49]) Putin’ allies (islands and mountains) are currently abandoning him.[50] His Euphrates is drying up.[51] His own people are in anguish over his decision.[52] [53] [54]
Now, I don’t know how this war will end and what will happen to Russia when it does. I just know what happens throughout history: oppressive, violent and decadent nations eventually drink the bowl of their own evil. If it doesn’t happen now, it will, given enough time.[55]
But John’s talking about something bigger. The Babylon/Rome/Egypt that deserves God’s judgment is the whole system. It’s not less than one geographical entity or a particularly evil moment in time, but it’s certainly more than that. It’s everything and everyone aligned against Christ and his people.
John’s trying to communicate the totality of the problem: earthly nations are not the true home of God’s people. They will all eventually wreak some kind of havoc in God’s good world and seek to ruin God’s people through coercive power (Rome) or decadent pleasure (Babylon). The best way for John’s audience to understand this was to run them through all the nations they already knew to be beastly – Egypt, Babylon, Rome - and then universalize it for all believers: “This is how history is going to unfold.”
The fall of Babylon/Rome/Egypt acts as a preview to the next Babylon/Rome Egypt and eventually the fall of the whole thing when the cup of the global iniquity is full. That sets the stage for the ultimate reversal (Revelation 17 and 18), followed by the creation of the New Heaven and the New Earth.[56] That’s where we are heading next week.
Meanwhile, we hold fast to the testimony of Jesus and keep his commands (Revelation 14:12). We pray. We hope. We endure, longing for the day when all beasts will come to an end, and all dragons will be destroyed, and every knee will bow, and every tongue confess, the Jesus is Lord, to the glory of God (Philippians 2:10-11).
John’s trying to communicate the totality of the problem: earthly nations are not the true home of God’s people. They will all eventually wreak some kind of havoc in God’s good world and seek to ruin God’s people through coercive power (Rome) or decadent pleasure (Babylon). The best way for John’s audience to understand this was to run them through all the nations they already knew to be beastly – Egypt, Babylon, Rome - and then universalize it for all believers: “This is how history is going to unfold.”
The fall of Babylon/Rome/Egypt acts as a preview to the next Babylon/Rome Egypt and eventually the fall of the whole thing when the cup of the global iniquity is full. That sets the stage for the ultimate reversal (Revelation 17 and 18), followed by the creation of the New Heaven and the New Earth.[56] That’s where we are heading next week.
Meanwhile, we hold fast to the testimony of Jesus and keep his commands (Revelation 14:12). We pray. We hope. We endure, longing for the day when all beasts will come to an end, and all dragons will be destroyed, and every knee will bow, and every tongue confess, the Jesus is Lord, to the glory of God (Philippians 2:10-11).
UP NEXT: BABYLON HAS FALLEN
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[1] “The temple of the tabernacle of the testimony is the heavenly prototype of the earthly ‘tabernacle of testimony; (Nm 17:7), containing… the tablets of the Law brought down from Mt. Sinai by Moses.” (Orthodox Study Bible)
[2] See Revelation 4:6
[3] “Recalls the bowls that hold the prayers of God’s people who cry out for vindication (see note on 5:8; cf. 6:9–10; 8:3–5).” (NIV Biblical Theology Study Bible)
[4] “Smoke or thick cloud frequently accompanies God’s presence, especially when He is angry. The associations include Mount Sinai (Ex. 19:9, 16, 18; 20:18) and the visions of Isaiah and Ezekiel (Is. 6:4; Ezek. 1:4; cf. Num. 12:5; Ps. 18:8, 11; 74:1).” (ESV Reformation Study Bible)
[5] The phrase ‘pour out God's Wrath’ in the Old Testament is used to indicate judgment against either covenant breakers or those who have persecuted God's people (Ezekiel 14:19, Jeremiah 10:25, Psalm 69:24, Zephaniah 3:8).[5]
[6] Beale claims, “These plagues are the last in that they complete the thought revealed in the preceding ‘woe’ visions and portray the wrath of God in a more intense manner than the previous visions. The bowls go back in time and explain in greater detail the ‘woes’ throughout the age and culminating in the final judgment… The trumpet visions may be compared to incomplete snapshots and the bowls to fuller photographs.”
[7] This is the approach G.K. Beale takes, and a lot of my commentary echoes his Revelation: An Introduction.
[8] IVP New Testament Commentary
[9] “For example, the second and third cups reveal that the second and third trumpet plagues have increased in extent (8:8–11; 16:3–4); just as the earthquake following the seventh trumpet seems to be that of the seventh cup, only more fully described (11:19; 16:17–20). The parallels between the fourth trumpet and fourth cup are evident (8:12; 16:8), as also between the fifth and sixth trumpets and fifth and sixth cups (9:1–21, 16:10–16).” New Bible Commentary
[10] Sam Storms notes that John writes Revelation with visions that are temporally parallel. What he means is this: “What can occur in a limited or partial manner at any point in history between the two advents of Christ, can also occur, at any point in history between the two advents of Christ, in a universal or more thorough-going manner.” https://www.samstorms.org/all-articles/post/the-seven-bowls---part-i
[11] All references from Ancient Christian Commentary On Scripture: Revelation, from IVP Press.
[12] The sores are guilt of sin and grief of apostates (Primasius, Caesarius, Andrew of Caesarea) or the Mark (Bede).
[13] According to Beale, “The “sea” as figurative for ungodly humanity is not inconsistent with the other uses of thalassa in the Apocalypse… Clearly the “many waters” of 17:1 are a picture of unbelievers throughout the earth [echoed in 17:15]. Furthermore, Satan’s standing “on the sand of the sea” in 12:18 may refer to his sovereignty over the wicked nations, since in 20:8 ungodly nations are compared to “the sand of the sea.” The sea from which the beast of 13:1 emerges represents the mass of nations. This symbolic understanding of 16:3 is supported by the explicit figurative interpretation of the bloody “rivers and springs of waters” in v 4 as God’s judgment on the impious. The understanding of “blood” in v 3 as representing the suffering of the ungodly is warranted by the immediate context (e.g., vv 2, 8–11) and by the use of “blood” (haima) elsewhere in Revelation to refer, without exception, to the suffering of the wicked or of Christ and the saints (the former in 11:6; 14:20; 19:13; cf. 6:12; 8:7–8; the latter in 1:5; 5:9; 6:10; 12:11; 17:6; 18:24; 19:2).”
[14] NIV Cultural Backgrounds Commentary
[15] The sea turning to blood is based on Exodus 7:17 -21.
[16] The waters are nations (Primasius).
[17] Adam Clarke notes: “It is said that when Tomyris, queen of the Scythians, had vanquished Cyrus, she cut off his head and threw it into a vessel of blood, saying, "Satisfy thyself with blood, for which thou hast thirsted, and for which thy desire has been insatiable."
[18] “Wisdom of Solomon once again, reflecting on how the plagues were appropriate to the Egyptians' sins: "In return for their foolish and wicked thoughts, which led them astray to worship irrational serpents and worthless animals, you sent upon them a multitude of irrational creatures to punish them, so that they might learn that one is punished by the very things by which one sins" (Wisdom 11:15) How To Read The Bible Book By Book
[19] NIV Cultural Background Study Bible
[20] Isaiah had warned the world centuries before: “I will feed your oppressors with their own flesh, and they will become drunk with their own blood, and all flesh will know that I, the Lord, am your savior.” (Isaiah 49:26)
[21] In 7:16, God promised to protect the redeemed from the sun’s “scorching heat.”
[22] “A form of spiritual judgment against persecutors… the basis for their future final punishment.” Michael Heisser
[23] “"Throne" designated the stronghold of Satan at Pergamum. "The throne of the beast" symbolizes the seat of the world-wide dominion of the great satanic system of idolatry (20:1). This system is plunged into spiritual darkness or disruption, bringing chaos on all who sought life and meaning in it. This bowl plague… strikes at the very seat of satanic authority over the world; and the darkness is moral and spiritual rather than physical (cf. 21:25; 22:5; Jn 8:12; 12:35-36, 46; 1Jn 1:5-7; 2:8-10). (Expositor’s Bible Commentary)
[24] The darkness of Moses’ plagues could be “felt” (Ex 10:21).
[25] Heisser
[26] “Beale says,“God causes all who follow the beast to have times of anguish and horror when they realize that they are in spiritual darkness, that they are separated from God and that eternal darkness awaits them... The temporal judgment here is a precursor of the final judgment, when unbelievers will be “cast into the outer darkness,” where “there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth (Matt. 8:12; 22:13; 25:30).” G.K. Beale, Revelation: An Introduction “
[27] The reference to the Euphrates is a striking parallel to the sixth bowl plague (9:14). The sixth trumpet releases demonic hordes to inflict death on the earth dwellers; the sixth bowl effects the assembling of the rulers (kings) from the East to meet the Lord God Almighty in battle. Perhaps they are, in some sense, the same thing? (Expositors Bible Commentary) “John transforms the Roman fear of Parthian invaders into a universal confrontation. To him, kings and nations and armies are demon possessed, not just individuals. Twice he states that the evil spirits "gathered them" for battle (vv. 14, 16), giving first the time and then the place of the great final conflict.” (How To Read The Bible Verse By Verse)
[28] Since these demons come from the mouth, deceptive words are implied (contrast the sword from Christ's mouth = truth. (Expositor’s Bible Commentary)
[29] “Recalls the counterfeit signs by Pharaoh’s magicians (Exod 8:7), as well as Jesus’ warning concerning the “great signs and wonders” by false messiahs and prophets (Matt 24:24).” (NIV Biblical Theology Study Bible)
[30] The last battle on the Great Day of God is used in Joel 2:11 and Zephaniah 1:14 to indicate that the battle is one in which God will decisively judge the unrighteous.
[31] Imagery alluding to the battle between God and Pharaoh in Ex. 15:2. (ESV Reformation Study Bible)
[32] Hyperlink to the letters to the churches in Sardis (3:2–3) and Laodicea (3:17–18). The warning about Jesus' coming "like a thief" implies a need for alertness to the deception of idolatry and disloyalty to Jesus.
[33] “Magedon can be derived from the secondary sense of the Hebrew verb gadad, which means "to gather in troops or bands." A simple way in Hebrew to make a noun from a verb is to prefix a ma to the verbal form. Thus we have maged, "a place of gathering in troops," and the suffix o, meaning "his," yielding "his place of gathering in troops." This is almost equivalent to the expressions in vv.14, 16—"to gather them [the kings] for the battle on the great day of God Almighty"—and would allude to the prophetic expectation of the gathering of the nations for judgment (Joel 3:2, 12). In any case, the name… describes the final confrontation where God will meet the forces of evil in their final defeat. It does, however, refer to a real point in history and to real persons who will encounter God's just sentence.” (Expositor’s Bible Commentary)
[34] Lots of Old Testament prophecy on this (Zachariah 12 -14; Zephaniah 3:8-20; Ezekiel 38: 2 -9, 39:1- 8.
[35] Asbury Bible Commentary
[36] Michael Heisser
[37] Even if someone builds a city now on the site of ancient Babylon, that’s a far cry from it being a global center of world power, commerce, domination, and loyalty.
[38] 15:5-16:21. Ch. 17 identifies Babylon as the Roman Empire and 18:3 accuses Babylon/Rome of making nations drink the maddening wine of her adulteries. Now, in retribution, Rome must drink the cup of God’s wrath. (Asbury Bible Commentary)
[39] 100 lb. hailstones are the completeness of God’s judgment (Primasius, Andrew)
[40] The background to the phrase “Babylon the Great” is Daniel 4:30
[41] When the cities of the nations fall, it is “the strength and confidence of the nations” (Primasius) or “the cessation of the pagan manner of life” at the coming of the Kingdom of God (Andrew).
[42] How To Read The Bible Verse By Verse
[43] Oecumenius, Andrew, and Bede thought the islands were churches and the mountains church leaders. I think their idea was right, but too limited.
[44] Not a bad chart here for symbolism in Revelation. Not perfect (in my opinion), but overall helpful. http://www.revelation-today.com/a1bible%20symbols.htm
[45] Revelation 6:10
[46] Another example: “In 1793 the French king was beheaded by the National Assembly; and great and unparalleled miseries fell upon the French nation, which nearly extinguished all their nobility, and brought about a war that lasted twenty-three years, and nearly ruined that country and all the nations of Europe.” (Adam Clarke)
[47] https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2022/february-web-only/russia-ukraine-orthodox-pope-putin-politics-church-witness.html
[48] https://reason.com/2022/02/25/religious-freedom-russia-putin-isnt-defender-of-christian-values/
[49] https://www.breakpoint.org/the-point-christian-persecution-in-russia/
[50] (“Putin’s allies abandon him over Ukraine invasion,” Axios https://www.axios.com/putin-allies-abandon-russia-ukraine-invasion-2833f0b9-425d-4169-b159-2d2bdd159368.html
[51] “List of sanctions against Russia after Ukraine’s invasion.” https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/2/25/list-of-sanctions-on-russia-after-invasion
[52] “Prominent Russians join protests against Ukraine war amid 1,800 arrests.” https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/feb/25/prominent-russians-join-protests-against-ukraine-war-amid-1800-arrests-putin
[53] “Russia's richest 22 billionaires have lost $39 billion in one day after the invasion of Ukraine.” https://www.businessinsider.com/russian-billionaires-lose-39-billion-dollars-one-day-ukraine-invasion-2022-2
[54] His own troops are surrendering because they “didn’t know that they were brought to Ukraine to kill Ukrainians.”https://ktla.com/news/nationworld/russian-platoon-surrendered-to-ukrainian-forces-ambassador-says/
[55] Wikipedia has a really excellent entry on “State Collapse.” The cyclical rise and fall of nations has not only robust philosophical support, but continuous historical examples.
[56] Michael Heisser
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[1] “The temple of the tabernacle of the testimony is the heavenly prototype of the earthly ‘tabernacle of testimony; (Nm 17:7), containing… the tablets of the Law brought down from Mt. Sinai by Moses.” (Orthodox Study Bible)
[2] See Revelation 4:6
[3] “Recalls the bowls that hold the prayers of God’s people who cry out for vindication (see note on 5:8; cf. 6:9–10; 8:3–5).” (NIV Biblical Theology Study Bible)
[4] “Smoke or thick cloud frequently accompanies God’s presence, especially when He is angry. The associations include Mount Sinai (Ex. 19:9, 16, 18; 20:18) and the visions of Isaiah and Ezekiel (Is. 6:4; Ezek. 1:4; cf. Num. 12:5; Ps. 18:8, 11; 74:1).” (ESV Reformation Study Bible)
[5] The phrase ‘pour out God's Wrath’ in the Old Testament is used to indicate judgment against either covenant breakers or those who have persecuted God's people (Ezekiel 14:19, Jeremiah 10:25, Psalm 69:24, Zephaniah 3:8).[5]
[6] Beale claims, “These plagues are the last in that they complete the thought revealed in the preceding ‘woe’ visions and portray the wrath of God in a more intense manner than the previous visions. The bowls go back in time and explain in greater detail the ‘woes’ throughout the age and culminating in the final judgment… The trumpet visions may be compared to incomplete snapshots and the bowls to fuller photographs.”
[7] This is the approach G.K. Beale takes, and a lot of my commentary echoes his Revelation: An Introduction.
[8] IVP New Testament Commentary
[9] “For example, the second and third cups reveal that the second and third trumpet plagues have increased in extent (8:8–11; 16:3–4); just as the earthquake following the seventh trumpet seems to be that of the seventh cup, only more fully described (11:19; 16:17–20). The parallels between the fourth trumpet and fourth cup are evident (8:12; 16:8), as also between the fifth and sixth trumpets and fifth and sixth cups (9:1–21, 16:10–16).” New Bible Commentary
[10] Sam Storms notes that John writes Revelation with visions that are temporally parallel. What he means is this: “What can occur in a limited or partial manner at any point in history between the two advents of Christ, can also occur, at any point in history between the two advents of Christ, in a universal or more thorough-going manner.” https://www.samstorms.org/all-articles/post/the-seven-bowls---part-i
[11] All references from Ancient Christian Commentary On Scripture: Revelation, from IVP Press.
[12] The sores are guilt of sin and grief of apostates (Primasius, Caesarius, Andrew of Caesarea) or the Mark (Bede).
[13] According to Beale, “The “sea” as figurative for ungodly humanity is not inconsistent with the other uses of thalassa in the Apocalypse… Clearly the “many waters” of 17:1 are a picture of unbelievers throughout the earth [echoed in 17:15]. Furthermore, Satan’s standing “on the sand of the sea” in 12:18 may refer to his sovereignty over the wicked nations, since in 20:8 ungodly nations are compared to “the sand of the sea.” The sea from which the beast of 13:1 emerges represents the mass of nations. This symbolic understanding of 16:3 is supported by the explicit figurative interpretation of the bloody “rivers and springs of waters” in v 4 as God’s judgment on the impious. The understanding of “blood” in v 3 as representing the suffering of the ungodly is warranted by the immediate context (e.g., vv 2, 8–11) and by the use of “blood” (haima) elsewhere in Revelation to refer, without exception, to the suffering of the wicked or of Christ and the saints (the former in 11:6; 14:20; 19:13; cf. 6:12; 8:7–8; the latter in 1:5; 5:9; 6:10; 12:11; 17:6; 18:24; 19:2).”
[14] NIV Cultural Backgrounds Commentary
[15] The sea turning to blood is based on Exodus 7:17 -21.
[16] The waters are nations (Primasius).
[17] Adam Clarke notes: “It is said that when Tomyris, queen of the Scythians, had vanquished Cyrus, she cut off his head and threw it into a vessel of blood, saying, "Satisfy thyself with blood, for which thou hast thirsted, and for which thy desire has been insatiable."
[18] “Wisdom of Solomon once again, reflecting on how the plagues were appropriate to the Egyptians' sins: "In return for their foolish and wicked thoughts, which led them astray to worship irrational serpents and worthless animals, you sent upon them a multitude of irrational creatures to punish them, so that they might learn that one is punished by the very things by which one sins" (Wisdom 11:15) How To Read The Bible Book By Book
[19] NIV Cultural Background Study Bible
[20] Isaiah had warned the world centuries before: “I will feed your oppressors with their own flesh, and they will become drunk with their own blood, and all flesh will know that I, the Lord, am your savior.” (Isaiah 49:26)
[21] In 7:16, God promised to protect the redeemed from the sun’s “scorching heat.”
[22] “A form of spiritual judgment against persecutors… the basis for their future final punishment.” Michael Heisser
[23] “"Throne" designated the stronghold of Satan at Pergamum. "The throne of the beast" symbolizes the seat of the world-wide dominion of the great satanic system of idolatry (20:1). This system is plunged into spiritual darkness or disruption, bringing chaos on all who sought life and meaning in it. This bowl plague… strikes at the very seat of satanic authority over the world; and the darkness is moral and spiritual rather than physical (cf. 21:25; 22:5; Jn 8:12; 12:35-36, 46; 1Jn 1:5-7; 2:8-10). (Expositor’s Bible Commentary)
[24] The darkness of Moses’ plagues could be “felt” (Ex 10:21).
[25] Heisser
[26] “Beale says,“God causes all who follow the beast to have times of anguish and horror when they realize that they are in spiritual darkness, that they are separated from God and that eternal darkness awaits them... The temporal judgment here is a precursor of the final judgment, when unbelievers will be “cast into the outer darkness,” where “there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth (Matt. 8:12; 22:13; 25:30).” G.K. Beale, Revelation: An Introduction “
[27] The reference to the Euphrates is a striking parallel to the sixth bowl plague (9:14). The sixth trumpet releases demonic hordes to inflict death on the earth dwellers; the sixth bowl effects the assembling of the rulers (kings) from the East to meet the Lord God Almighty in battle. Perhaps they are, in some sense, the same thing? (Expositors Bible Commentary) “John transforms the Roman fear of Parthian invaders into a universal confrontation. To him, kings and nations and armies are demon possessed, not just individuals. Twice he states that the evil spirits "gathered them" for battle (vv. 14, 16), giving first the time and then the place of the great final conflict.” (How To Read The Bible Verse By Verse)
[28] Since these demons come from the mouth, deceptive words are implied (contrast the sword from Christ's mouth = truth. (Expositor’s Bible Commentary)
[29] “Recalls the counterfeit signs by Pharaoh’s magicians (Exod 8:7), as well as Jesus’ warning concerning the “great signs and wonders” by false messiahs and prophets (Matt 24:24).” (NIV Biblical Theology Study Bible)
[30] The last battle on the Great Day of God is used in Joel 2:11 and Zephaniah 1:14 to indicate that the battle is one in which God will decisively judge the unrighteous.
[31] Imagery alluding to the battle between God and Pharaoh in Ex. 15:2. (ESV Reformation Study Bible)
[32] Hyperlink to the letters to the churches in Sardis (3:2–3) and Laodicea (3:17–18). The warning about Jesus' coming "like a thief" implies a need for alertness to the deception of idolatry and disloyalty to Jesus.
[33] “Magedon can be derived from the secondary sense of the Hebrew verb gadad, which means "to gather in troops or bands." A simple way in Hebrew to make a noun from a verb is to prefix a ma to the verbal form. Thus we have maged, "a place of gathering in troops," and the suffix o, meaning "his," yielding "his place of gathering in troops." This is almost equivalent to the expressions in vv.14, 16—"to gather them [the kings] for the battle on the great day of God Almighty"—and would allude to the prophetic expectation of the gathering of the nations for judgment (Joel 3:2, 12). In any case, the name… describes the final confrontation where God will meet the forces of evil in their final defeat. It does, however, refer to a real point in history and to real persons who will encounter God's just sentence.” (Expositor’s Bible Commentary)
[34] Lots of Old Testament prophecy on this (Zachariah 12 -14; Zephaniah 3:8-20; Ezekiel 38: 2 -9, 39:1- 8.
[35] Asbury Bible Commentary
[36] Michael Heisser
[37] Even if someone builds a city now on the site of ancient Babylon, that’s a far cry from it being a global center of world power, commerce, domination, and loyalty.
[38] 15:5-16:21. Ch. 17 identifies Babylon as the Roman Empire and 18:3 accuses Babylon/Rome of making nations drink the maddening wine of her adulteries. Now, in retribution, Rome must drink the cup of God’s wrath. (Asbury Bible Commentary)
[39] 100 lb. hailstones are the completeness of God’s judgment (Primasius, Andrew)
[40] The background to the phrase “Babylon the Great” is Daniel 4:30
[41] When the cities of the nations fall, it is “the strength and confidence of the nations” (Primasius) or “the cessation of the pagan manner of life” at the coming of the Kingdom of God (Andrew).
[42] How To Read The Bible Verse By Verse
[43] Oecumenius, Andrew, and Bede thought the islands were churches and the mountains church leaders. I think their idea was right, but too limited.
[44] Not a bad chart here for symbolism in Revelation. Not perfect (in my opinion), but overall helpful. http://www.revelation-today.com/a1bible%20symbols.htm
[45] Revelation 6:10
[46] Another example: “In 1793 the French king was beheaded by the National Assembly; and great and unparalleled miseries fell upon the French nation, which nearly extinguished all their nobility, and brought about a war that lasted twenty-three years, and nearly ruined that country and all the nations of Europe.” (Adam Clarke)
[47] https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2022/february-web-only/russia-ukraine-orthodox-pope-putin-politics-church-witness.html
[48] https://reason.com/2022/02/25/religious-freedom-russia-putin-isnt-defender-of-christian-values/
[49] https://www.breakpoint.org/the-point-christian-persecution-in-russia/
[50] (“Putin’s allies abandon him over Ukraine invasion,” Axios https://www.axios.com/putin-allies-abandon-russia-ukraine-invasion-2833f0b9-425d-4169-b159-2d2bdd159368.html
[51] “List of sanctions against Russia after Ukraine’s invasion.” https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/2/25/list-of-sanctions-on-russia-after-invasion
[52] “Prominent Russians join protests against Ukraine war amid 1,800 arrests.” https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/feb/25/prominent-russians-join-protests-against-ukraine-war-amid-1800-arrests-putin
[53] “Russia's richest 22 billionaires have lost $39 billion in one day after the invasion of Ukraine.” https://www.businessinsider.com/russian-billionaires-lose-39-billion-dollars-one-day-ukraine-invasion-2022-2
[54] His own troops are surrendering because they “didn’t know that they were brought to Ukraine to kill Ukrainians.”https://ktla.com/news/nationworld/russian-platoon-surrendered-to-ukrainian-forces-ambassador-says/
[55] Wikipedia has a really excellent entry on “State Collapse.” The cyclical rise and fall of nations has not only robust philosophical support, but continuous historical examples.
[56] Michael Heisser
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