Revelation 16:1-7

The Seven Bowls of God's Wrath
1Then I heard a loud voice from the temple saying to the seven angels, "Go, pour out the seven bowls of God's wrath on the earth." 2The first angel went and poured out his bowl on the land, and ugly and painful sores broke out on the people who had the mark of the beast and worshiped his image.
3The second angel poured out his bowl on the sea, and it turned into blood like that of a dead man, and every living thing in the sea died.
4The third angel poured out his bowl on the rivers and springs of water, and they became blood. 5Then I heard the angel in charge of the waters say:
"You are just in these judgments,
you who are and who were, the Holy One,
because you have so judged;
6for they have shed the blood of your saints and prophets,
and you have given them blood to drink as they deserve."
7And I heard the altar respond:
"Yes, Lord God Almighty,
true and just are your judgments."



The following is adapted from a chart that will not transfer to this medium form. The capital letters (ABC) correspond to the numbers below. The chart demonstrates the similarities before bowls, trumpets, and plagues of Egypt.

A. Bowls

B. Trumpets

C. Plagues of Egypt


1A. On the land, becom-ing sores (16:2)

1B. On the land, 1/3 earth, trees, grass burned (8:7)

1C. Boils (6th plague: Ex. 9:8-12)

2A. On the sea, becom-ing blood (16:3)

2B. On the sea (8:8-9)

2C. Water to blood (1st plague: Ex. 7:17-21)

3A. On rivers & springs, becoming blood (16:4-7)

3B. On the rivers and springs (8:10-11)

3C. Water to blood (1st plague: Ex. 7:17-21)

4A. On the sun, causing it to scorch (16:8-9)

4B. 1/3 sun, moon, stars darkened (8:12)

4C. Darkness (9th plague: Ex. 10:21-23

5A. On the throne of the Beast, causing dark-ness (16:10-11)

5B. Demonic locusts (9:1-12)

5C. Locusts (8th plague: Ex. 10:4-20)

6A. On the Euphrates; invasion of frog-de-mons, Armageddon (16:12-16)

6B. Army from Euphra-tes kills 1/3 mankind (9:13-21)

6C. Invasion of frogs (2nd plague: Ex. 8:2-4)

7A. On the air, causing storm, earthquake, and hail (16:17-21)

7B. Voices, storm, earth-quake, hail (11:15-19)

7C. Hail (7th plague: Ex. 9:18-26)



16:1 - The loud voice from the Temple commands to pour out the seven bowls of God’s wrath on the earth. The term ‘pour’ is the same word used in the Hebrew as the priests poured out the blood of the sacrifice around the base of the altar (Lev. 4:7, 12, 18, 25, 30, 34; 8:15; 9:9). In the New Testament this word is used in contexts that parallel the major themes of Revelation: the spilling of wine (Matt. 9:17; Mark 2:22; Luke 5:37), the shedding of Christ’s blood (Matt. 26:28; Mark 14:24; Luke 22:20), the shedding of martyr’s blood (Matt. 23:35; Luke 11:50; Acts 22:20; Rom. 3:15), and the outpouring of the Spirit (Acts 2:17-18, 33; 10:45; Rom. 5:5; Tit. 3:6; cf. Joel 2:28-29; Zech. 12:10). All these different associations are in the background of the imagery of the bowls used here.

16:2 - As a result of the first bowl poured on the land (Israel), people broke out with painful sores. This is reminiscent of the sixth Egyptian plague of boils, as well as the fulfillment of the promised sores of the curse for breaking the Covenant (Deut. 28:27-35). It is also a fitting retribution as a mark for those who who have accepted the mark of the Beast.

16:3 - The second bowl is poured on the sea. It is similar to the first Egyptian plague and the second trumpet. This time, however, the blood doesn’t flow as streams but as the coagulated, putrefying blood of a dead man. Although this is primarily symbolic, there was a corresponding moment in the history of the destruction of Jerusalem as rebels fled to the Sea of Galilee from the massacre of Tarichaeae. The Romans killed so many rebels in the Sea, that Josephus said, "One could see the whole lake stained with blood and crammed with corpses."

16:4-7 - The plague of the third bowl is poured out on the rivers and springs of water and resembles the first Egyptian plague. Water, a symbol of life, is corrupted here in a reversal of sorts of the paradise of the Garden of Eden. The angel responds to this plague by praising God as just in these judgments. There is no need to be embarrassed by this. Although the concept of the judgment of God is not popular in our culture, it is a common Biblical theme, and we can be assured that God’ judgments are always right. Part of the justification for this judgment is the fact that they have shed the blood of your saints and prophets. One of the characteristic charges against Israel was the murder of the prophets (2 Chron. 36:15-16; Luke 13:33-34); Acts 7:52). In fact, Jesus said this was the specific reason that judgment would come on this generation (Matt. 23:31-36). Joining in the praise comes the voice of the altar itself, where the blood of the saints and prophets had been poured out: Yes Lord God Almighty, true and just are your judgments.