Verse 1: “I heard a great voice from the Sanctuary (in the heavens) saying to the seven angels: ‘Go and pour out your bowls of the wrath of God towards the earth.’”

Earth, here, means the whole world. God has sealed Israel through this time. Like in Egypt, the plagues fell upon the Egyptians, but God protected His people (Exodus 8v22-23). With each of the plagues there was revelation. People were moved to move away from Pharaoh and from the sorcery of the false teachers of Egypt. Many Egyptians came to faith in God and joined in the exodus with God’s covenant people. (a mixed multitude – Exodus 12v37-38)

Verse 2: “And the first one went, and he poured out his bowl upon the earth. And there came about painful and loathsome boils upon those people, who had upon them the mark of the beast and who worshipped the image.”

God’s covenant people, through a New Covenant relationship based upon the work of Messiah Yeshua (1 Thessalonians 5v9), are not appointed for the wrath of God. This is happening to the people who have completely rejected God.

Verse 3: “And the second one poured out his bowl upon the sea; and it became blood as the blood of a dead man. And all the living creatures in the sea died.”

There are two types of blood: The blood of Messiah that redeems, and the blood of death – which is unclean and doesn’t justify. It pollutes. Water is seen as the source of life. God is showing that He is removing the source of life. The opportunity to repent is at an end.

Verse 4: “And the third one poured out his bowl upon the rivers and the springs of water; and they became blood.”

This blood will have the stench of death upon it. It is blood that brings impurity.

Verse 5: “And I heard the angel of the water saying: ‘Righteous are You, O L-rd. The One who is and was, and the Holy One. For thus You have judged.’”

Verse 6: “For the blood of the saints and the prophets they have poured out. This blood you have caused them to drink. For Your retribution of their blood is now.”

God is punishing those who persecuted the prophets and the believers throughout the ages. This verse draws a connection between prophets and believers. Wise believers are those who understand prophetic revelation (when these things happen, the wise believer will not be confused, bewildered or have a crises of faith. They are prepared for what is to come).

Verse 7: “And I heard another voice from the altar saying: ‘Indeed, the L-rd God Of Hosts, True and Righteous are Your judgements.”

God sets before everyone blessing and curse (Deuteronomy 28) Revelation 16 reveals to us the outcome of the curse. What is the origin of the curse? It comes out of the law. The law has two components – It can be used to bless, or it can be used to curse. It depends on the response of the people. Do we approach the Word of God in faith or with a rebellious spirit?

Verse 8: “And the fourth angel poured out his bowl upon the sun; and it was given to the sun to scorch men with fire.”

God ‘turns up the heat’ so to speak.


Verse 9: “And they blasphemed the name of God, who has power over these plagues. They did not repent to give Him glory.”

These people do not want to reflect or submit to the character (name) of God. God revealed Himself to these people in a powerful, undeniable way, but they have no humility, no repentance, no pleas for mercy or forgiveness. They continue to blaspheme and refuse to give Him glory.

Verse 10: “And the fifth angel poured out his bowl upon the throne of the beast. His kingdom became dark, and they gnawed their tongues from the pain.”

Darkness, according to Levitical tradition, is seen as one of the most fearful plagues. It was called a “thick” darkness – those who were sitting down could not stand up, those who were standing could not sit down. The plague of darkness destroyed the authority of this empire. This was a painful darkness.

Verse 11: “And they blasphemed the God of the heaven because of their pain and their boils, and they did not turn from their deeds.”

An unrepentant spirit. Even after the defeat of the effects and influence of the empire, people are still not willing to turn from sin or confess their unrighteousness. Everyone who goes to eternal damnation will be those who were unwilling to repent of their sins.

Verse 12: “And the sixth angel poured out his bowl upon the great river Euphrates. And its waters were dried up in order to make a straight path for the kings from the East.”

The Euphrates River is in the East. Judgement, in Scripture, is depicted as coming from the East. In this plague there is a movement toward Jerusalem. Israel and Jerusalem are important to God. They are part of His kingdom. The great King is going to rule from Jerusalem for 1000 years.

These kings play an important role in the battle of Armageddon, also called Gog and Magog. They are coming to wage war on Jerusalem They want to destroy it, and the temple, because they are against worship. The kings do not want God’s kingdom to be established. They thin that if they can destroy Jerusalem they would have been successful in their ungodly purposes.