“I heard a loud voice from the sanctuary say to the seven angels, “Go, and pour out on the earth the seven bowls of God’s fury!” (Revelation 16:1).
Yochanan hears a loud voice from the heavenly sanctuary commanding seven messengers to pour out the seven bowls of Adonai’s fury onto the earth. The Hebrew word for ‘fury’ is chemah and means ‘heat’ or ‘burning anger.’ The earth will be judged by Adonai with bowls of wrath similar to how He judged Egypt and her gods with plagues.
“In fury you stride across the land, in anger you trample the nations” (Habakkuk 3:12).
“Therefore I will act in fury, my eye will not spare, I will have no pity. Even if they cry loudly right in my ears, I will not listen to them” (Ezekiel 8:18).
“That Day is a Day of fury, a Day of trouble and distress, a Day of waste and desolation, a Day of darkness and gloom, a Day of clouds and thick fog, a Day of the shofar and battle-cry against the fortified cities and against the high towers [on the city walls]. I will bring such distress on people that they will grope their way like the blind, because they have sinned against Adonai. Their blood will be poured out like dust and their bowels like dung. Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to save them. On the day of Adonai’s fury, the whole land will be destroyed in the fire of his jealousy. For he will make an end, a horrible end, of all those living in the land” (Zephaniah 1:15-18).
“So the first one went and poured his bowl onto the earth, and disgusting and painful sores appeared on all the people who had the mark of the beast and worshiped its image” (Revelation 16:2).
The first bowl of wrath or plague judgment will bring disgusting and painful sores on everyone who took the ‘mark of the beast’ and worshiped its image. The Hebrew word for ‘mark’ is avah and means ‘to point out.’ The Hebrew word tavah means ‘mark’ as in ‘setting or making a mark.’ It is used for the ‘mark’ of Adonai that is put on the foreheads of those who grieve over Jerusalem (Ezekiel 9:4).
Hebrew Word Pictures
Mark or Tavah
ת Tav – Crossed Sticks means ‘sign’ or ‘covenant.’
ו Vav – A Nail means ‘binding.’
Hey – A Window means ‘reveal’ or ‘behold.’
The Hebrew Word Picture for tav: covenant sign binding revealed.
The ‘mark’ of the beast will be a perversion of the ‘mark’ of Yeshua. Those who take the ‘mark of the beast’ will be bound together. Though accepting the ‘mark’ may not be painful or wrong in the immediate, it has severe consequences –– painful sores.
In Egypt, Adonai sent a plague of boils. This judgment was against Thoth, the Egyptian god of medicine and theology. The plague in Hebrew is shechiyn meaning ‘burning’ spots. In Greek, the word for ‘sorcerer’ is pharmakeus which means ‘poison.’ Adonai’s wrath will be poured out against a ‘beast’ that employs the poison of pharmaceuticals to force people into a false religious system.
In Egypt, the sorcerers were responsible for taking the ashes of human sacrifices and casting them into the air. Floating human ashes in the wind was considered a blessing; however with the judgment, the ash remains of human sacrifice burned the flesh of the Egyptians (Exodus 9:8-10). With Adonai’s fury, the ash remains of human sacrifice, the murder of innocent unborn, will burn the flesh of all humanity that bought into the sacrificial system.
“The second one poured out his bowl into the sea, and it became like the blood of a dead person, and every living thing in the sea died. The third one poured out his bowl into the rivers and springs of water, and they turned to blood. Then I heard the angel of the waters say, ‘O HaKadosh, the One who is and was, you are just in these judgments of yours. They poured out the blood of your people and your prophets, so you have made them drink blood. They deserve it!‘ Then I heard the altar say, ‘Yes, Adonai, God of heaven’s armies, your judgments are true and just!‘” (Revelation 16:3-7).
The second bowl of wrath turned the sea to blood and every living thing in the sea died. The third bowl turns the water of the rivers and springs into blood. According to the messenger, this judgment is against those who poured out the blood of the Jewish people and the prophets (Revelation 8:10).
In Egypt, the first plague turned the Nile River into blood. This judgement is against Hapi, the god of the Nile. Turning the water of the Nile into blood was a ‘sign’ to Egypt that Adonai controls their water supply.
The first bowl of Adonai’s wrath brought judgment onto those who took the ‘mark of the beast,’ but the seas turning to blood shows the world Adonai controls the heavens and the earth; it is He who is judging the world. The rivers and streams turn to blood as a judgment for all the blood that has been shed in the world –– Abel, infants in the Nile, toddlers in Bethlehem to the the murder of the pre-born, and the last days’ martyrs.
Many people believe that religious wars have killed more people than any other type of war. In the modern era over 150,000,000 people have been murdered by Communist dictators like Stalin, Lenin, Mussolini, Hitler, Kim Jon, Pol Pot (Cambodia) and Mae Setoung. Many of those murdered were religious people who wanted religious freedom, but had atheist, anti-semitic dictators. As the end times progress, more people will be murdered because they put their faith in the Elohim of Isra’el. The ‘beast’ will try to destroy all realities of Adonai’s existence. The ‘beast’ and his false prophet will suffer a great consequence –– drinking the blood of the murdered.
The ‘angel of the waters’ said the judgments of the Holy One are ‘just.’ The Altar in the sanctuary responds, “Yes, Adonai, God of heaven’s armies, your judgments are true and just!” The Altar responds with the voices of the martyrs (Revelation 6:9). This is not the Altar of Sacrifice, but the Altar of Incense where the prayers of Adonai’s people rise like incense (Revelation 6:9; 8:3). Under this Altar are those who have been martyred for proclaiming the Word of Adonai – Yeshua.
“The fourth one poured out his bowl on the sun, and it was permitted to burn people with fire. People were burned by the intense heat; yet they cursed the name of God, who had the authority over these plagues, instead of turning from their sins to give him glory” (Revelation 16:8-9).
The fourth bowl of Adonai’s wrath is poured out on the sun. This judgment is against Ra, the Egyptian god of the sun. He was worshiped for his warmth and life, but Adonai proves His authority and power over the sun. His wrath becomes hotter than the sun and burns the people on the earth (Isaiah 5:24). Instead of turning from their multitude of sins and giving glory to the Elohim of Isra’el who had authority over the judgments, they curse Him.
“Here comes the name of Adonai from afar, his anger burning, in thick rising smoke. His lips are full to the brim with fury, his tongue a consuming fire” (Isaiah 30:27).
“The fifth one poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and its kingdom grew dark. People gnawed on their tongues from the pain, yet they cursed the God of heaven because of their pains and sores, and did not turn from their sinful deeds” (Revelation 16:10-11).
The fifth angel pours out his bowl of Adonai’s wrath on the throne of the beast bringing great darkness, a darkness that is felt. The ninth plague in Egypt was darkness. This judgment was against Ra, too. The darkness could be felt and covered the entire land of Egypt. The Egyptians spent three days and three nights in the tomb of death’s abyss (Exodus 10:21).
With the fifth bowl of wrath, people gnaw on their tongues from the pain of the darkness and curse Adonai. This bowl of wrath judgment reveals the evil darkness in the souls of humanity. Human souls have become so dark that they don’t repent from their evil deeds. The bowls seem to come quickly as the people still have sores from the first judgment.
“Give glory to Adonai your God before the darkness falls, before your feet stumble on the mountains in the twilight, and, while you are seeking light, he turns it into deathlike shadows and makes it completely dark” (Jeremiah 13:16).
“The sixth one poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water dried up, in order to prepare the way for the kings from the east. And I saw three unclean spirits that looked like frogs; they came from the mouth of the dragon, from the mouth of the beast and from the mouth of the false prophet. They are miracle-working demonic spirits which go out to the kings of the whole inhabited world to assemble them for the War of the Great Day of Adonai-Tzva’ot” (Revelation 16:12-14).
With the sixth bowl, Adonai’s wrath is poured out on the Euphrates River; its water dries up to make a path for kings from the east. In Revelation 9:13-15, at the sound of the sixth shofar blast, four angels are released to kill one-third of mankind; the number of soldiers riding horses was two hundred million.
The Euphrates River flows from Turkey through Syria into Iraq and to the north of Isra’el. According to the land promised to Abraham, Isra’el’s northern boundary is at the Euphrates River, a large protective boundary like a moat (Genesis 15:18). However, because of Isra’el’s disobedience, they have never occupied the entire Promised Land. Divine judgment through war and captivity always came from the north whether it was from Assyria (Syria), Persia (Iran) or Babylon (Iraq). With the ‘drying up of the river’ that Yeshua Himself will come out of the north to deal with his enemies and the ten kings.
Out of the north comes a golden glow, fearsome majesty surrounding God. Shaddai, whom we cannot find, whose power is immense, in his great righteousness does not pervert justice” (Job 37:22-23).
Many people believe the ‘kings of the east’ come from the Orient; however, all end times prophesy must center around Isra’el and Jerusalem. The ‘kings from the east’ will come from the nations that want Isra’el destroyed from the face of the earth. The Hebrew phrase doesn’t use the word ‘east,’ but ‘from the direction of the sun rising.’ As the Adversary gathers the kings of the earth and makes his move to destroy Isra’el, Adonai dries up the river Euphrates so He can rescue His people.
From the mouth of the Dragon, ‘beast,’ and false prophet come three ‘unclean’ spirits symbolized by the frog. Though frogs were the second plague placed on Egypt to judge Heket, the Egyptian goddess of fertility and renewal, these frogs are demonic spirits spewing delusions from the mouths of the evil threesome.
This trinity of demonic voices coming from the ‘beast,’ ‘seed of the Adversary’, and the false prophet will have ‘frog power’ to divine and flatter deceiving the whole world. They will croak out evil speech against the Most High and leap around the world proclaim their delusions of grandeur. They will perform miracles through seductive words and actions. They will entice the kings of the world and two hundred million warriors to gather war on the Great Day of Adonai.
(“Look! I am coming like a thief! How blessed are those who stay alert and keep their clothes clean, so that they won’t be walking naked and be publicly put to shame!”) And they gathered the kings to the place which in Hebrew is called Har Megiddo” (Revelation 16:15-16).
In this interlude, Yeshua reminds his people that he is coming like a thief, to stay alert, and keep their clothes clean. The congregation in Sardis was told that they had the appearance of being alive, but were dead. They needed to ‘wake up’ as Yeshua would return like a thief. Only a few in Sardis had not soiled their clothes and were worthy of walking with Yeshua in white. The messenger to the congregation in Laodicea said they were neither hot nor cold, but lukewarm and worthy of being vomited out of Yeshua’s mouth. They believed their riches were their salvation, but they were poor, blind, pitiful, and naked.
Har Megiddo is the Hebrew for the mountain or hill of Megiddo. Megiddo is an ancient city in Isra’el where archeological digs or tels reveal the remains of a multitude of cultures. Megiddo was originally where the kings of the Hitties, Amorites, Canaanites, Perrizites, Hivites, and Jebusites were defeated by Joshua (Joshua 17:11). Megiddo was in the land inheritance of the Tribe of Manasseh. Deborah dealt with Sisera and Barak in Megiddo (Judges 5:19). King Josiah, who disobeyed a command of Elohim died in battle at Megiddo (2 Kings 23:29-30). The prophet Zechariah refers to the plain of Megiddo or the Jezreel Valley that sits below the hill in his prophecy about the return of Messiah (Zechariah 12:10-12).
From the Hebrew word Megiddo comes the word Armageddon that is used to refer to the ‘end of the world;’ however, Megiddo is where Adonai’s judgment of the nations will take place. It is where the deceptive ‘frog’ demons draw the kings of the world to meet and battle with Adonai.
“The seventh one poured out his bowl on the air, and a loud voice came out of the Temple from the throne, saying, “It is done!” There were flashes of lightning, voices and peals of thunder; and there was a massive earthquake, such as has never occurred since mankind has been on earth, so violent was the earthquake. The great city was split into three parts, the cities of the nations fell, and God remembered Bavel the Great and made her drink the wine from the cup of his raging fury. Every island fled, and no mountains were to be found. And huge seventy-pound hailstones fell on people from the sky. But the people cursed God for the plague of hail, that it was such a terrible plague” (Revelation 16:17-21).
The seventh angel pours his bowl of Adonai’s wrath on the air, and a loud voice comes from the Throne in heaven saying, “It is done!” The judgments of Adonai on the earth with the kings and peoples of the nations will be completed with the seventh bowl of wrath. By judging the air, He judges the Ruler of the Powers of the Air, the Adversary (Ephesians 2:2).
The earth is shaken to its core. Flashes of lightning, voices, and peals of thunder come from the heavenly realm as the presence of Adonai. A massive earthquake, such as never happened, rocks the world. When the sixth seal was broken in Revelation 6:12, along with the earthquake, the sun turns black as sackcloth and the moon becomes blood red.
Jerusalem splits into three part. Cities of the world crumble: Tokyo, Japan; Beijing, China; Sao Paulo, Brazil; Shanghai, China; Mexico City, Mexico; Cairo, Egypt; Mumbai, India; Istanbul, Turkey; Moscow, Russia; New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Houston, San Francisco, United States. Every island flees, mountains are leveled. Huge 70 pound hailstones fall from the sky with the final bowl of Adonai’s wrath. Just like the seventh plague judgment in Egypt against Nut, the goddess of sky and heavenly bodies, chaos hits the heavens and the earth (Exodus 9:17-18).
“When that day comes, when Gog invades the land of Isra’el,’ says Adonai Elohim, ‘my furious anger will boil up. In my jealousy, in my heated fury I speak: when that day comes there will be a great earthquake in the land of Isra’el; so that the fish in the sea, the birds in the air, the wild beasts, all the reptiles creeping on the ground and every human being there in the land will tremble before me. Mountains will fall, cliffs crumble and every wall crash to the ground” (Ezekiel 38:18-20).
“Adonai has someone strong and powerful. He comes like a hailstorm, a destructive tempest, like a flood of water, rushing, overwhelming; with his hand he hurls them to the ground” (Isaiah 28:2).
“Adonai will make his glorious voice heard, and he will reveal his arm descending with furious anger in a flaming firestorm, with cloudbursts, tempests and hailstones” (Isaiah 30:30).
Adonai will finally judge Babylon and makes the ‘beast’ drink the cup of His fury. Those who remain alive curse Adonai.
Chapter 17 – The Whore and The Beast
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