The Future According to GodSample

REVELATION 16: Armageddon

In Revelation 16, the seven bowls of the wrath of God are poured out. Armageddon is more than a Hollywood movie; it is a real place in Israel where a future battle will be fought. Do you wonder how life on Earth will end? Please read or listen to Revelation 16.

COMMENTS

My three personal Bible reading journals give some insight into Revelation 16, starting with 1995. “Seven angels freed to administer seven last plagues:

1)Physical - sores on men who worshiped the beast

2)Survival - waters destroyed, which were needed for life

3)Survival - water again

4)Survival - sun scorches men, and they blaspheme God rather than repent

5)Spiritual - at the enemy's throne of the beast; again, they curse God rather than repent

6)Euphrates - final spiritual war, like in heaven when Satan was kicked out, only on earth this time

7)On air - great earthquake, hail, yet men blaspheme God and did not repent."

I continued, “You gave us free will to worship You or choose after false gods. To the bitter end, people will hang on to their self-will and curse the one true God.”

From 2008, “God’s wrath upon His creation, earth, and mankind, is orchestrated from heaven. Sad as that may be, it is also true righteousness. They deserve it, according to Revelation 16:6-7 NASB. At those final judgments, all that’s left are those who worship the beast, according to Revelation 16:2 NASB. They know of God because they blaspheme Him, will not repent, or give Him glory. The response from the dragon, the beast, and the false prophets is more demons to war against God. Final wrath is a massive earthquake, lightning, thunder, cities fall, islands sink, and mountains are leveled. Then hail pours from heaven and men curse God.”

From 2013, “Judgment on earth and people as the wrath of God. He is just. People get what they deserve. Yet, people curse God rather than repent and give Him glory. To counter, more demon spirits are released from the dragon, the beast, and the false prophet. Preparation for the final battle, Armageddon. ‘It is done’ (Rev 16:17 ESV).”

Let’s look at Revelation 16. As a younger Christian, I always thought it would be great to be here for the second coming of Jesus on that cloud we read about in earlier chapters. But I guess I never thought a whole lot about the condition of the earth when Jesus comes. It will be hell on earth. As we just read, the wrath of God will be devastating, yet just:

And I heard the angel in charge of the waters say, “Just are you, O Holy One, who is and who was, for you brought these judgments. For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and you have given them blood to drink. It is what they deserve!” And I heard the altar saying, “Yes, Lord God the Almighty, true and just are your judgments!” (Rev 16:5-7 ESV).

We may not like what we are reading, but these are just judgments of a righteous, Holy God.

I mentioned in one of my journals that I think the only people left here anyway are those who worship the beast; probably no Christians left. Let's look at verse 2, “So the first angel went and poured out his bowl on the earth, and harmful and painful sores came upon the people who bore the mark of the beast and worshiped its image” (Rev 16:2 ESV). I believe those are the only people left at this time. At this time, they may realize there is no hope left for them. They see, they experience these plagues, yet they curse the name of God who had power over these plagues. They did not repent and give Him glory.

We see that phrase repeated a few times in this chapter, which means they know God, and they know of God. They know these plagues are coming from God, and yet, in their stubbornness of their own hearts, they will not repent.

The sixth angel pours out his wrath and prepares for the final battle on the battleground called Armageddon. Let’s look at my English Standard Version Study Bible footnote concerning this term, Armageddon:

Armageddon means “Mount Megiddo” in Hebrew. In ancient Israel, Megiddo was a plain, not a mountain; but it was also the site of some key battles, so in the symbolic geography of John’s visions it aptly represents the global combat zone in which the final conflict between Christ and Satan will be fought (ESV Study Bible, Crossway Bibles 2008, 2486).

Many of us have heard the term Armageddon. Now you know it is a biblical term and stands for the final battle.

When the seventh angel pours out his wrath, a voice from the throne of God says, “It is done!” (Rev 16:17 ESV). Afterwards, flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, and a great earthquake occur, such as there has never been since man was on the earth. “And every island fled away, and no mountains were to be found. And great hailstones, about one hundred pounds each, fell from heaven” (Rev 16:20-21 ESV). This is the end of the end, yet people who see and experience it curse God. They know it is coming from God, they know of God, and they curse Him.

We do not need to watch movies to see how the world is going to end. All we need to do is read the Book of Revelation, chapters like this.

DIGGING DEEPER

Our application is simple. Do not be here when this happens. The way out is to make sure your name is written in the Lamb’s book of life. Be sure you are saved by the blood of the Lamb. Be sure you have knelt at the cross at Calvary and given your heart to Jesus. If you do those things, Revelation 16 is not going to matter to you. Let’s pray.

PRAYER

Father, as we see, Your final wrath is devastating. Yet, you are a true and just God. You give us all a way of escape. None of us has to experience what we just read. But, obviously, some will. Lord, embolden us and use us to witness to others so we can keep as many as possible from the days of this final wrath. It may take some boldness on our part to share the gospel with people, but helps us reflect on what we just read and have the Holy Spirit's power to do so. Your wrath is coming. You will judge the earth. Thank you for giving us Jesus so we can have a way of escape. Amen.