Episode 22: Revelation 16 – The Plagues Are Poured Out.

 

You can watch the video of this study at 8PM AEST time on YouTube here.

Introduction

Judgment is escalating. Are we seeing this passage fulfilled in our day? Are we in the midst of the bowl judgements now?

These are questions we will look at tonight and more. Revelation 16 is both a simple passage and a difficult passage. What is happening is clear, God is pouring out judgement on an evil city, an evil people and his judgement is intense. When this is happening and how, is far more difficult to answer. Personally, as I have gone through Revelation teaching this series I have become more and more convinced that the book of Revelation is showing how God will judge his apostate people and vindicate his righteous people. By that I specifically mean this book is prophesying the destruction and judgement of Jerusalem and the corrupt religion that it became associated with and also the glorification of the church, the bride of Christ. However, I still think this points forward also to God’s judgement of this world and his ultimate vindication of his people.

But others see it differently. Some see here how God is going to judge the corrupt Roman empire that persecuted God’s people, the Church. Some see in this the judgement of the Catholic Church. Indeed, these people largely agree with me, as they see in Revelation the judgement of God’s apostate people, the Catholic Church, and his vindication of his true people, the faithful Church. They see the identity of those apostate people a bit differently. I would simply say to this that as God judged his Apostate people in the first century, so too will he judge all peoples including his Apostate people on the final day. So, our readings might not be as opposed as some might think.

But whoever this is explicitly applying to, I think there is much in this passage that we can apply for ourselves today. In fact, the ambiguity of who this is applying to might be deliberate on the part of Jesus Christ. He might be going out of his way to allow this to apply to many different groups of people, specifically because his enemies come in many forms. Many forms. This passage, therefore, should be seen as a warning to all who stand opposed to Jesus: repent now of be judged like Egypt was judged.

Old Testament Imagery.

Let’s look at some of the Old Testament Imagery behind this passage:

The entire chapter is steeped in Old Testament imagery, primarily from the Exodus plagues and the prophetic books. John is using this familiar language to communicate that this is the ultimate, culminating act of God's judgment, far surpassing previous acts.

• Verses 1-2 (Sores): Directly echoes the sixth plague of Egypt (boils) from Exodus 9:8-12. The targeting of those with the "mark of the beast" is a parallel to the Hebrews being spared from many plagues.
• Verses 3-7 (Sea and Rivers to Blood): Directly echoes the first plague of Egypt (Nile turned to blood) from Exodus 7:14-25. The angel's declaration in v. 5-6 draws from the lex talionis (law of retribution) principle found in the OT (e.g., Psalm 79:3, Genesis 9:6) and the poetic justice of God giving blood to those who shed it (Isaiah 49:26).
• Verses 8-9 (Scorching Sun): While not a direct Exodus plague, it reflects prophetic judgments of drought and fire (e.g., Deuteronomy 32:24; Isaiah 42:25; Jonah 4:8) and the threat of God as a "consuming fire" (Deuteronomy 4:24).
• Verses 10-11 (Darkness): Directly echoes the ninth plague of Egypt (darkness) from Exodus 10:21-23. The spiritual symbolism of darkness representing separation from God and judgment is pervasive in the OT (e.g., Joel 2:2, Amos 5:18).
• Verse 12 (Drying of Euphrates): Recalls the dramatic drying of the Red Sea (Exodus 14) and the Jordan River (Joshua 3) to make a way for God's people. Here, it is reversed to make a way for God's enemies. It also draws on prophecies against Babylon, which sat on the Euphrates (Isaiah 44:27-28; Jeremiah 50:38; Jeremiah 51:36).
• Verses 13-14 (Unclean Spirits like Frogs): Frogs were part of the second plague of Egypt (Exodus 8:1-15). More importantly, they were unclean animals under the Levitical law (Leviticus 11:10-11). The imagery of deceptive spirits coming from the mouths of the unholy trinity echoes Deuteronomy 13:1-5 and 1 Kings 22:21-23, where false prophets lead kings to their doom.
• Verse 16 (Armageddon): The name "Armageddon" (Har-Megiddo, "Mountain of Megiddo") evokes the history of the plain of Megiddo as a famous and tragic battlefield in Israel's history (Judges 5:19; 2 Kings 23:29-30; 2 Chronicles 35:22). It symbolizes the ultimate, final battle where God decisively defeats the forces of evil.

New Testament Imagery

The NT imagery builds on the OT foundation, applying it to the cosmic spiritual conflict revealed in Christ.

• The Wrath of God: The entire concept of God's final wrath is a NT theme (e.g., Romans 1:18, Romans 2:5, 1 Thessalonians 1:10, Revelation 6:16-17).
• The Mark of the Beast (v.2): The antithesis of the "seal of God" on the foreheads of believers (Revelation 7:3, Revelation 9:4). It represents ultimate allegiance to the world system opposed to God.
• Lack of Repentance (v.9, 11): Fulfills the pattern seen in Revelation 9:20-21. It demonstrates the terrifying reality of a heart so hardened that even direct, tangible judgment cannot soften it.
• Coming like a Thief (v.15): A direct teaching of Jesus (Matthew 24:43-44, Luke 12:39-40) and reiterated by Paul (1 Thessalonians 5:2, 4) and Peter (2 Peter 3:10). It is a call to constant spiritual readiness for Christ's sudden return.
• The Dragon, Beast, and False Prophet (v.13): This "unholy trinity" is the satanic counterfeit of the Holy Trinity, fully revealed in the NT. The False Prophet is first introduced in Revelation 13:11-18 as the one who enforces the worship of the Beast.
• The Great Day of God Almighty (v.14): A NT term for the final day of judgment (Revelation 6:17, 2 Peter 3:12).

So, the imagery under this passage is deep, just like in every other passage of Revelation. Now that we have assessed this, let’s go through our questions.

Revelation 16 study questions.

1. Read verse 1: where do you think we are in history with this verse? Does this appear to be a past, future or present event?

 

2. The first bowl clearly mirrors and Egyptian plague. Why would God use similar imagery here?

 

3. What kind of devastation would the second bowl cause, and how does this compare to the earlier judgements in chapters 6 and 8?

 

4. Vv.4-7 – What do they tell us about the wrath of God? Does this sound like a literal judgement or a symbolic one?  

 

5. What does the mention of verses plagues in verses 8-9 bring to mind? Why did the people not repent, and give him glory, even in the midst of this judgement? (cf. Rev 14:9-10). How do these verses point to Israel (Deut. 32:24. Cf. Rev. 15:3)

 

6. The nation was plunged in darkness, and they still did not repent, this judgement is so similar to the plagues of Egypt isn’t it? Why is this being reiterated. How does the darkness of the land apply to the state of the people in the land? Vv10-11.

 

7. Who are the demonic Spirits of verses 12-14?

 

8. Now verse 15 makes clear these judgements are coming before Jesus returns (cf. Chapter 19), yet 14 has already described Jesus returning. How is this possible?

 

9. What is Armageddon? (vs. 16).