“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 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 ‘burning anger’ 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’s protection that is put on the foreheads of those who grieve over Jerusalem (Ezekiel 9:4); however, the ‘mark of the beast’ will be an obvious ‘point out’ to those who Adonai will judge with great pain.
Hebrew Word Pictures
Mark or Tavah
ת Tav – Crossed Sticks means ‘sign’ or ‘covenant.’
ו Vav – A Nail means ‘binding.’
ה 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 taking or receiving the ‘mark’ may not be immediately painful and may even seem like the right thing to do, it will have severe consequences –– Adonai’s judgment.
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 pharmakeus means ‘poison’ and is translated as sorcery or witchcraft. Adonai’s wrath will be poured out against a ‘beast’ system that employs the poison of pharmaceuticals to force mankind into a idolatrous religious system.
In Egypt, the sorcerers were responsible for collecting the ashes of human sacrifices and casting them into the air. Floating human ashes in the wind was considered a blessing; however with Adonai’s 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 hundreds of millions of the innocent unborn, will burn the flesh of all who celebrated this 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” (Revelation 16:3).
The second bowl of wrath turned the sea to blood and 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 prophets and the Jewish people (Revelation 8:10).
In Egypt, the first plague turned the Nile River into blood. This judgment 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 –– their very lifeline.
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 that Adonai controls the heavens and the earth; it is yod-hey-vav-hey who is finally judging the world for all the blood that has been shed from Abel, infants in the Nile, toddlers in Bethlehem to the the murder of millions of Jewish people over the millennia, and the last days’ martyrs.
Many will argue that religious wars have killed more people than any other type of war. However, just In the past two hundred years over 150 million people have been murdered by Communist dictators like Stalin, Lenin, Mussolini, Hitler, Kim Jon, Pol Pot (Cambodia) and Mae Setoung. Many of the murdered were those who desired religious freedom, but were living under the control of atheist and antisemitic dictators. As the time of the end draws closer , more people around the world will be murdered because of their faith in the Elohim of Isra’el. ‘The beast’ will attempt to remove all evidences of Adonai’s existence. For their part in the great deception, ‘the beast’ and his false prophet will suffer a great consequence by having to drink the blood of those they murdered.
“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 16:4-7).
The third bowl of Adonai’s wrath is poured out into the rivers and springs of water turning them to blood. The “angel of the waters” proclaims the judgments of the Holy One are just. In the Greek, the word for ‘just’ is dikaios and means all of Adonai’s judgments are right; He is righteous in his judgments.
The Altar in the heavenly sanctuary responds in agreement, “Yes, Adonai, God of heaven’s armies, your judgments are true and just!” The Altar responds with words and voice. This Altar could be two-fold. First, it could be representing the Altar of sacrifice where the blood of the martyrs has been poured out for proclaiming the Word of Adonai. It could also be the Altar of Incense where the prayers of the righteous rise like incense and the martyrs, under the Altar, are still proclaiming the holiness of Adonai (Revelation 6:9; 8:3).
“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 in Egypt was against Ra, the Egyptian god of the sun. He was worshiped for his warmth and life, but Adonai proved His authority over the sun, His power over the light of the sun by not allowing it to shine for three days.
Though it would seem that Ra is no longer worshiped in the modern era, he is still honored through the Venerable Day of the Sun or Sunday by millions around the world. In Egypt, Adonai caused a darkness that could be felt to the soul to settle over Egypt and the Egyptians. With this bowl, however, He uses the heat of the sun to judge the world. His wrath burns hotter than the sun and His anger scorches the people living on the earth (Isaiah 5:24). Instead of turning from their multitude of sins and giving glory to the Elohim of Isra’el who has authority over the searing heat, the people of the world continue to 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. This plague mimics the ninth plague in in Egypt. The Egyptians spent three days and three nights in the tomb of death’s abyss; now the people of the earth face the same judgment (Exodus 10:21).
People gnaw on their tongues from the pain of the darkness; this suggests again that the darkness is something they feel. Just like the darkness revealed the condition of Pharaoh’s soul in Egypt, this fifth bowl of wrath judgment reveals the darkness in the souls of humanity. Human souls have become so void of light that they won’t even consider repenting from their dark and evil deeds. Even though they are in pain that cannot be removed, they continue to curse Adonai.
“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 and the number of soldiers riding horses was 200 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 and unfaithfulness, they have never occupied the entire Promised Land shown to Abraham.
Divine judgment through war or captivity always came from the north whether from Assyria (Syria), Persia (Iran) or Babylon (Iraq). ‘Drying up of the river’ allows an end times great army to move west through the promised land for Isra’el.
“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 believe the “kings of the east” come from the Orient; however, all end times prophesy must center around Isra’el and Jerusalem. The Hebrew doesn’t use the word for ‘east,’ but the phrase “from the direction of the sun rising.” The “kings from the east” will come from all the nations east of Isra’el that want to destroy it from the earth.
From the mouths of the dragon, ‘the beast,’ and false prophet, come three unclean spirits that appear to be frogs. 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 lies from the mouths of the evil threesome.
This trinity of demon voices coming from the dragon, ‘the beast’ and the false prophet will have power to flatter and deceive the entire world. These tiny beings will croak out evil speech against the Most High and hop around the world proclaiming grand delusions. These amphibian creatures will perform miracles through seductive words and actions. These caecillians will entice the kings of the world to muster two hundred million warriors for 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 small interlude, Yeshua reminds his followers that he is coming like a thief so stay alert and keep their garments clean. The messenger from Yeshua admonished the congregation in Sardis for their appearance of being alive, but they were dead. They needed to ‘wake up’ or Yeshua would return like a thief. Only a few in Sardis still had white clothes and were worthy of walking him. The messenger from Yeshua to the congregation in Laodicea told them they were lukewarm and in danger of being vomited out of Yeshua’s mouth. Though they believed their riches would save them, Yeshua saw them as poor, blind, and naked.
Har Megiddo are the Hebrew terms for the mountain or hill of Megiddo, an ancient city in Isra’el where archeological digs or tels reveal the remains of a myriad of cultures. Megiddo was where the kings of the Hitties, Amorites, Canaanites, Perrizites, Hivites, and Jebusites were defeated by Joshua (Joshua 17:11). Megiddo was located in the land inheritance of the Tribe of Manasseh. Deborah overcame 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 English word Armageddon that is used to reference end of the world scenarios; however, Megiddo is where Adonai’s judgment of the worlds’ nations will take place. It is where the deceptive frog demons ensnare 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 kings and peoples of the nations will be completed with the seventh bowl of wrath. By judging the air, He judges the ruler and principalities of the air, the Adversary and his angelic cohorts (Ephesians 2:2).
The physical earth is shaken to its core. Flashes of lightning, voices, and peals of thunder come from the heavenly Temple and the divine presence of Adonai. A massive earthquake, such as never happened, rocks the entire 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. 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).
With Adonai’s final shaking of the earth and its people, Jerusalem splits into three parts. 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. Every island disappears, and mountains are leveled. Huge 70-pound hailstones fall from the sky as the finale of Adonai’s wrath. Adonai will judge Babylon and make ‘the beast’ drink the cup of His fury. Those who do not die and remain alive still curse Adonai.
“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. I will judge him with plague and with blood. I will cause torrential rain to fall on him, his troops and the many peoples with him, along with huge hailstones, fire and sulfur. I will show my greatness and holiness, making myself known in the sight of many nations; then they will know that I am Adonai.’” (Ezekiel 38:18-23).
“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).
Chapter 17 – The Whore and The Beast
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