Read Revelation 15:5–16:21
Questions from the Scripture text: What did John see opened where (v5)? Who came out of it (v6)? What did they have? How were they clothed? Who gave them what (v7)? What did the bowls look like? With what were they filled? Whose wrath? With what was the temple filled (v8)? From where did this smoke come? What couldn’t anyone do? Until when? What did John hear from where (16:1)? To whom did it speak? What it tell them to do? Where? Who does what in v2? With what result? Upon whom? Who does what in v3? Onto where? What happens to it? And what happens to which creatures? Who does what in v4? On what? With what effect? Whom does John hear in v5a? To Whom are they speaking (v5b)? What do they call Him (v5c)? For what are they praising (v5d)? What have those whom He judged done (v6a)? And what has the Lord done to them (v6b)? Why (v6c)? What does John hear in v7 From where? To Whom is it speaking? What does it say about Him? Who does what in v8? Upon what? What was given to him? With what result (v9)? What do these men do? Why? What do they not do? Who does what in v10? Upon what? What happens to his kingdom? Who do what, and why? What do they do to Whom (v11)? Because of what? What did they not do? Who poured out what in v12? On what? With what result? So that who could do what? What does John see in v13? Coming out of which three mouths? What are these spirits (v14)? What are they able to do? Who now speaks in v15? What does He say that He is doing? As what? Whom does He say is blessed—what two things must they do? Lest what happens? To what place do the kings gather (v16, cf. Jdg 5:19)? Who pours out what in v17? Onto what? What comes from where? What does it say? What four things occur in v18? How big is the earthquake? How does v19 refer to the world coalition? What happens to this city? What does v19 call the city? What is being done to her? What happens in v20? What falls from where upon whom (v21)? How large? What do men do in response?
What do we learn from the bowls of wrath? Revelation 15:5–16:21 looks forward to the hearing of God’s Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord’s Day. In these twenty-five verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that we should admire God for His wrath, hating and repenting of sin, and running to Christ in thankful love.
In this passage, we have the wrath of God poured out on the earth (v2), the sea (v3), the rivers (v4), the sun (v8), the worldly kingdom (v10), the Euphrates (v12), and the air (v17). In these seven bowls, the wrath of God is completed.
We are reminded throughout the passage that the wrath of God has broken into history multiple times. There are obvious references to the plagues of Egypt, which were forerunners of the wrath to come. Just as the Song of Moses became the Song of the Lamb in 15:3–4, NKJ’s “Armageddon” in v16, is actually “Megiddo” (in the Greek NT throughout the ages), a reference to Jdg 5:19–20, and heaven’s victory over the kings of Canaan.
In our passage, the time has come for the wrath that had sounded warnings into history to express itself fully and forever. 15:8 refers us back to 2Th 1:9–10 which calls this the day when, “These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, when He comes in that Day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who believe.” Now v8 says “the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from His power.”
The great theme of this passage is the glory of God in His wrath. He is indeed, “glorified in His saints and admired among all those who believe.” We hear the angel in 16:5–6 say, “You are righteous, O Lord, the One who is and who was and who is to be, because You have judged these things. For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and You have given them blood to drink. For it is their just due.” And the other angel say, “Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are Your judgments.” They are dressed in brilliant white and gold, and the bowls from which the wrath is poured are gold. The passage screams the glory, justness, truth, and holiness of God’s wrath.
This challenges us, because we are so easily offended at God’s wrath. But this comes entirely from our flesh. We must be wary of responding to His wrath with anything but worship. Its justness is displayed, in part, precisely by the responses of the judged. They blaspheme Him for the plagues and do not repent or give Him glory (v9). Hey blaspheme Him for their sores, and do not repent of their deeds (v11). They blaspheme God for the plague in v21. They do not respond to the wrath of God with repentance but with more rebellion! Truly, His wrath is just. And it is proportional to their sin (16:6). Like Babel of old, they are only too glad to be deceived by evil spirits into gathering against God and His Christ (v12–14, 19). But, this comes as a pouring out of God’s wrath (v12), Who rules over it, and the Lord Jesus Who comes as a thief (v15).
The Lord Jesus Himself applies all of this to us, urging us to watch and keep our garments (v15). The believer must remember the greatness of God’s wrath against sin and be watchful against it in ourselves.
So, we must glorify God for His wrath; we must take comfort that all sin will be justly repaid; we must repent we must watch against our wrath deserving sin; and, we may add one more application: marvel at what Christ has endured for our sakes. God made Him Who knew no sin to be sin, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. Jesus bore the full enmity of God against all the sins of all His people. The display of the severity of that enmity in this chapter should bring us to the feet of Jesus in thankfulness and love.
What do you think and feel about God’s wrath? How can that be brought more into line with the responses of the holy ones in this passage? What sins of yours do you find yourself tolerating too much? How can this passage help you against that? What has the Lord Jesus suffered for you? How will you respond to Him in your life?
Sample prayer: Lord, Your wrath is righteous and holy. Forgive us for how we have bristled against it in our hearts, and even been embarrassed of it before men. Often, You have justly chastened us, but we have responded against Your wrath instead of against our sin. Forgive us for our slowness to repent. And forgive us for how we are not mindful of Your coming, or of how our lives will appear in light of Your coming. Finally, forgive us for not being more affected in our hearts by Christ having suffered the wrath of God in our place. Grant that we would remember what He has done and respond with lives of thankfulness and love, we ask in His Name, AMEN!
Suggested songs: ARP149B “O Praise the LORD, O Sing Aloud” or TPH389 “Great God, What Do I See and Hear”