Seven Bowls and Babylon, Revelation 16-18
CityPoint: Meta Tauta, Session 5 Notes: Seven Bowls and Babylon, Revelation 16-18
As always, be a Berean and challenge against Scripture what is written here, the words I say or anyone, for that matter, who speaks about the Bible. The church as a whole would not be so far off track if Christians who sit in church would know, study, and challenge all things against Scripture. This is incumbent on all of us. Remember, the testimony of Jesus Christ is the spirit of prophecy (Revelation 19:10). This is why prophecy is pivotal to our walk with Jesus. He made a promise, and He will fulfill it! Praise HIM!!!
As always, we will just scratch the surface….
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I. Bowl Judgements, Revelation 16
a. Bowl 1, Revelation 16:2
i. Foal and loathsome sore
ii. On those who had the mark and worshiped his image
b. Bowl 2, Revelation 16:3
i. Sea turned to blood
ii. Every sea creature died
c. Bowl 3, Revelation 16:4
i. Rivers and springs turned to blood
ii. Assumption would be every fresh water creature dies
d. Praise in Heaven from the angel of the waters, Revelation 16:5-6
i. Who is, who was, and who is to be: this will be a contrast to the beast-17:8, 11
ii. God is now fulfilling Deuteronomy 32:35
e. Praise in Heaven from another angel, Revelation 16:7
i. True and righteous are God’s judgements
f. Bowl 4, Revelation 16:8-9
i. Sun will now scorch men when it had previously been darkened
ii. Men continue to blaspheme and will not repent
g. Bowl 5, Revelation 16:10-11
i. Kingdom of the beast is darkened
ii. Gnawing their tongues in pain
iii. Continued blasphemy and unrepentant men
h. Bowl 6, Revelation 16:12-14
i. Euphrates dried up to prepare the way of the kings from the east
ii. 3 unclean frogs from the dragon, beast, and false prophet to deceive the nations
iii. All of this to gather the nations for God’s judgement
i. Jesus speaks, Revelation 16:15
i. He is coming as a thief
ii. Be ready!
iii. Reference Matthew 24:42-44
j. Armageddon, Revelation 16:16
i. Gathering of the nations for judgement
ii. More on this in Revelation 19
k. Bowl 7, Revelation 16:17-21
i. It is done!
ii. Cataclysmic response never before experienced
iii. Jerusalem split in three parts and cities throughout world fall
iv. Islands flee and heavy hail falls (Leviticus 24:16)
v. Men continue to blaspheme and not repent
In this passage, we have God’s final judgement upon the earth: the bowl or vial judgements. Again, there are seven of them. It is the consummating blow as was discussed in the last notes as it pertains to war. During these judgements, there are no restrictions. These judgements will encompass the whole earth. In the previous judgements, we saw restrictions like a 1/3 or a 1/4. Not so with the bowl judgements.
The sores poured out were on all those who received the mark and worshiped his image. This is chronology here. The mark of the beast has been instituted prior to the first bowl. Therefore, we know these judgements are past the midpoint of the 70th Week. Some render that someone could receive the mark and not worship his image or repent after receiving the mark. Although God’s mercies are great and awesome, the text seems to more fit that if one has the mark, he also worships the beast. Remember, there will be very strong delusion during these times as the earth will be in overt spiritual warfare. These sores are reminiscent of the 6th plague in Egypt.
Bloody waters is a follow on judgement from Trumpets 2 and 3 where the waters were impacted. First, we have bloody seas (Bowl 1) then bloody rivers and springs (Bowl 2). Again here, we have the whole of the waters impacted. Wiersbe states this: “Heaven gives justification for this terrible judgement: the earth-dwellers have shed the blood of God’s people, so it is only right that they should drink blood. In God’s government, the punishment fits the crime. Pharaoh tried to drown the Jewish boy babies, but it was his own army that eventually drowned in the Red Sea. Haman planned to hang Mordecai on the gallows and to exterminate the Jews, and his family was hung on the very gallows he had erected for Mordecai (Esther 7:10; 9:10). King Saul refused to obey God and slay the Amalekites, so he was slain by an Amalekite (II Samuel 1:1-16).”
The sun scorching (Bowl 4) then followed by darkness (Bowl 5) is reminiscent of Trumpet 4 as it impacted the heavens. In the Trumpets, it was one trumpet that darkened a third of everything. Again here, we have a bowl that causes the sun to scorch those who have blasphemed God then darkness over the anti-christ’s kingdom. The question remains is how will this impact those who are believers? It would seem that God is protecting them against these judgements. The interesting part of Bowl 4 is we prior had the sun being darkened in the Trumpets. Earth worshippers today are saying we have to save our planet and do this, that or the other. God in His judgements will upend what they are saying. We will have quick changes in global weather between the judgements as one can assume when God darkens the sun there would be a cooling effect.
The Euphrates bowl (6th) is an interesting one in light of what is going on with the Euphrates today. Turkey has a series of dams that they brag on the fact they could dry up the Euphrates by holding back the waters. We are not sure how things will actually transpire, but it is one of those items that places another checkmark down that things seem to be falling into place. I personally believe it will be God who will literally dry things up, but we cannot discredit that God turns man over to his own devices that still support God’s sovereign will.
“Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.” Jesus inserts some words here. As we see throughout the Revelation, we have encouragements in the midst of absolute chaos. Jesus is speaking to His followers here on earth during this time period. Do NOT turn away! Be on guard. Be ready. The King is Coming!
Armageddon is always the fun topic. It is in the Hebrew har (hill) Megiddo (place of troops or slaughter) meaning the hill of Megiddo. There is a lot of history surrounding this place throughout the Bible. Even Jesus grew up in Nazareth that overlooks Megiddo. You can reference Judges 5, 7, and I Samuel 31 for a few reads on this. Even Napoleon had a quote regarding this place: “What an excellent place into which all the armies of the world could be maneuvered.”
“It is done!” The KJV Commentary says this: “The voice from heaven utters one word (Greek: Gegonen), It is done, which declares that all God’s plagues have thus been exhausted. By contrast, the word of the Lord Jesus Christ on Calvary (Greek Tetelestai, ‘It is finished’ in John 19:30) has all the blessedness of a finished redemption for sinful men.” This is why studying our Bibles is pivotal. Our English language is junk. Understanding the original Hebrew (Old Testament) and Greek (New Testament) words and usage takes us into a much deeper meaning.
All earth is now leveled. Jerusalem is split in three. Now, we have 100 pound hail stones poured out on those who blaspheme the Lord. The KJV Commentary states, “Three times in this awesome chapter (verses 9, 11, 21), it is declared that men reacted to their punishments with blasphemy against God and not with repentance. These judgements are not remedial or corrective in effect, but they reveal the corruption of those undergoing them all the more. The judgements are punitive; the dwellers on earth are incorrigible. Men who will not be drawn by God’s love will not be attracted by His wrath, either.” Leviticus 24:16 is a good verse that clearly states the punishment for blasphemy is being stoned to death. Here we have God stoning those who have blasphemed His holy name.
I will close this section with this snippet from Amir Tsarfati’s Revealing Revelation: “You have a choice: You can either fall into the hands of the living God, or you can fall into the arms of the loving Savior. You can continue to rebel and turn your back on the Lord’s salvation, or you can accept the free gift that He is holding out to you. Enduring the tribulation is a choice. By closing this book without dealing with your eternal standing with God, you are making that choice. His arms are open: He’s inviting you in. Surrender to Him, accept His love and forgiveness, receive His salvation, live for Him.”
II. Babylon
a. Great harlot is Babylon. I encourage everyone to watch this series: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL70118C8DEDCEB4F0
b. Sits on many waters in verse 1 is explained in verse 15.
c. Woman on a scarlet beast: look up the Commonwealth Games of 2022 opening ceremony
d. 7 heads and 10 horns in verse 7 is explained in verses 9-14. A study of Daniel is a must here.
e. Description of the beast: was, is not, and will ascend is a contrast of God: is, was, and will always be.
These are two of the most difficult chapters in this book, in my opinion anyway. One must understand Daniel, specifically chapter 2, to have a solid perspective. Babylon is always viewed as both a city and a system (religious and economic) throughout Scripture. Babylon was the first major world empire as seen from Daniel’s perspective followed by the Medo-Persians then by the Greeks and finally the Roman Empire which had two legs: west (Rome) and east (Constantinople). It will be revived in the final days. Open your eyes, the foundation is being set…
The question here is our we dealing with literal or symbolic Babylon. It would seem that Babylon is symbolic for a few reasons, but we can never discredit that the city of Babylon could be rebuilt for this final period. Saddam Hussein attempted to rebuild the city during his reign of Iraq which was thwarted by our invasion(s). There is always an attempt to re-establish that which God has rejected. In I Peter 5:13, Peter refers to Rome as Babylon, so we do know that Rome is a reference point here which was built on seven hills or mountains how they would have described it. Isaiah 13:19-22 and Jeremiah 51:24-26, 61-64 all point to when Babylon fell to the Medo-Persians in Daniel’s day that it had fallen forever. Saying that, we cannot discredit the doctrine of double fulfillment or what was will be. Babylon set on the plains (flatlands) not on mountains.
Keep in mind Daniel 12 with these things that are really hard to understand. As the time draws closer and ultimately comes to fulfillment, these things will be much clearer to the wise who will understand, but to the wicked, they will not understand. True wisdom only comes from the Lord.
Chapter 17
Verse 1: many waters. This is symbolic of the Gentile nations. This isn’t a stretch here as verse 15 clearly states this.
Verse 3: the woman is the reference here to the Babylonian system. We are referencing her deception through abominations and fornication which has a lot to do with the religious system. Again, all pagan religions can be traced back to the Tower of Babel era. It was ruled by Nimrod, his wife, and their son.
Verse 4: purple is the color of royalty or wealth and scarlet of sin. She is ordained in both amongst other items.
Verse 5: harlots in John’s day brazenly printed their names on their foreheads. Everyone in his day would have easily made this correlation.
Verse 8: the beast is a direct contrast to how both God and Jesus are referenced in Scripture: was, is and is to come. The beast is described as was, is not, and is to come. You can take this one of two ways but cannot discredit a double fulfillment to include both: The Roman Empire (beast system) was, is not (as it fell), and will be again OR the beast (anti-christ) was, is not (as he suffered a mortal head wound, 13:3), and will then ascend from bottomless pit.
Verses 9-12: 7 heads and 10 horns. The 7 heads are the mountains on which the woman sets. Some believe this is a reference to the USA given that DC sets on 7 hills. This doesn’t make sense in my mind even though we as a country are leading the world in apostasy. Again, we must have Daniel in viewpoint here, specifically chapter 2. These 7 mountains are most likely the reference to the 7 hills on which Rome sets. This will probably be the seat of the beast empire. The woman’s pagan religious system will set upon it which some say correlate to the Roman Catholic Church.
There are also 7 kings, and the beast is the 8th but of the 7. If we reference these to kings of Rome (KJV Commentary), they would be: Augustus, Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius, Nero, Vespasian, Titus then the beast. If we reference these to kingdoms (Wiersbe Bible Commentary), they would be Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, Rome, Revived Rome where beast rises from, Beast Empire which will be from Jerusalem. Lots of discussion points here.
The 10 horns are 10 rulers that will report to Rome. It is interesting that the World Economic Forum and other global groups are attempting to divide the world up into regions that would be ruled by a leader that would report to a single person to rule the world. You can’t make this stuff up. Time is short!
III. Babylon is fallen, is fallen
a. Verses 1-3
i. Contrast to Ephesians 2:22
ii. Reference Isaiah 13:19-22 and Jeremiah 51 for Babylon’s destruction
iii. Reference Matthew 13:31-32 with birds and the sower
b. Come out of her…verse 4
i. Reference Jeremiah 50:8, 51:6, 45 for same command
ii. This references to flee from the pagan system
c. The system collapses
i. One hour is referenced several times
ii. Immediate collapse, God’s judgement here is swift
d. Apostles, prophets, saints, verses 20 and 24
i. Inclusive statement of all who have faith
ii. All have been avenged
Chapter 18
Verses 1-3: Wiersbe provides the following description: The church, the bride of the Lamb, is the habitation of God (Ephesians 2:22); Babylon, on the other hand, is the habitation of Satan (Revelation 18:2). Furthermore, John called the city “a cage of every unclean and hateful bird” (Revelation 18:2). In Christ’s parable of the sower, He also used the birds as a picture of Satan (Matthew 13:31-32).
Verses 4-8: We are to be separate from the world. A voice from heaven calls out God’s chosen from Babylon (reference also Jeremiah 50:8, 51:6, 45). This is in reference to the pagan, religious system. God always displays his grace and mercy! Wiersbe points out several references to being separate from the world: God ordered Abraham out of his country (Genesis 12:1), Jews to not return to Egypt, church is to be separate from that which is ungodly (Romans 16:17-18, II Corinthians 6:14-7:1). We should always consider our stance with Scripture as our anchor or foundation.
Verse 20: KJV Commentary notes: Earth mourns, but heaven rejoices (Revelation 19:1-6). This reveals how out of tune with heaven earth-dwellers can be. When on their pilgrimage on earth, the saints suffered grievously at the hands of the apostate system; but now, in their hour of vindication, they exult in God’s justice.
Verse 24: KJV Commentary notes: This inclusive statement [prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth] shows that more than one apostate organization is meant; it involves the totality of all of them, from man’s appearance on earth until the coming of the Son of man to earth.
Daniel and Revelation are pivotal to study together. Daniel 2 is in question here with Nebuchadnezzar’s dream that was revealed to Daniel through prayer by Daniel and his three companions. The image was a reference to the world empires from Babylon to the final Roman, beast empire. What destroys the image thus signifying the destruction of the totality of the world empires? Jesus! He then rules and reigns on earth from Jerusalem for a 1000 years. That is our next section.
Consider Amir’s words from Revealing Revelation: …we have been on a very dark journey for many chapters. Looking ahead, I see some very bright light at the end of this tunnel. In fact, it is so bright that it can only be coming from the One who said, “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12). There’s also another group that’s going to make an appearance in the next chapter, and if you look closely, you might see yourself in the crowd.
MARANATHA!!