Podcast Episode 28 (Condensed)
Welcome back to Wytinsea Writes! I hope that you had a wonderful Christmas with the ones you love! Jesus is the reason for the season. We’re closing out 2025 with a bible study on Revelation 16. If you’ve stuck with me throughout this year on the journey through the book of Revelation, thank you! I appreciate your support. It is my hope to conclude the series on the book of Revelation in 2026. If you’re new to my blog, start with Revelation 1 here.
If you missed last month’s bible study on Revelation 15, click here. The podcast and YouTube version are available as well.
Let’s get right into it. So, if you’ve been following along, you know that John the Revelator is a powerful prophet. He was banished to Patmos for preaching the good news of the Gospel. But that didn’t stop him. John has been caught in the spirit, and the Lord is revealing prophetic dreams and revelations regarding the end times.
Revelation 16:1-4 NLT states, “Then I heard a mighty voice from the Temple say to the seven angels, “Go your ways and pour out on the earth the seven bowls containing God’s wrath.” So the first angel left the Temple and poured out his bowl on the earth, and horrible, malignant sores broke out on everyone who had the mark of the beast and who worshiped his statue. Then the second angel poured out his bowl on the sea, and it became like the blood of a corpse. And everything in the sea died. Then the third angel poured out his bowl on the rivers and springs, and they became blood.”
Clearly, the tone and mood these verses indicate that great terror is upon the land. The bowls contain the wrath of God. The sad truth is that the whole world is about to receive this judgement. These sores mentioned likely produced marks all over their bodies. Keep in mind, this is happening to these people because of their idolatry and the fact that they rejected and blasphemed God. Now, they’re reaping the consequences of the bad seeds they’ve sown.
This isn’t the first time God has rendered judgment where ailment fell upon people. In 1 Samuel 5:6, people were struck with tumors. In Exodus 9:8-11, plagues broke out and people were filled with boils. There are several other biblical examples as well where God is rendering His judgement. I encourage you to read both biblical stories to discover the backstory of why those things occurred to those particular people. God never punishes His creations without a cause.
As we continue, the second angel pouring out his bowl reminds me of the Nile river that turned to blood in Exodus 7:19-21. Read that story to spot the correlation between the sea becoming like “the blood of the sea” and the Nile river turning to blood.
It is as if each series of judgment intensifies more and more. When the third angel pours his bowl out it could represent how the water people use will one day be unusable (just a thought). If the water turns to blood, it could affect the water people drink, bathe with, wash with, and etc. Now, this isn’t explicitly said in scripture, just something to consider and ponder on.
Revelation 16:5-7 NLT states, “And I heard the angel who had authority over all water saying,
“You are just, O Holy One, who is and who always was,
because you have sent these judgments.
Since they shed the blood
of your holy people and your prophets,
you have given them blood to drink.
It is their just reward.”
And I heard a voice from the altar, saying,
“Yes, O Lord God, the Almighty,
your judgments are true and just.”
These verses proves that what God is inflicting upon the rebellious is just and right. Remember, the martyr people begged God earlier in Revelation 6:9-11 to punish the wicked. The martyred were told to wait a little while longer until the amount of martyred were full (I am summarizing but read it for yourself). Now the day of God’s vengeance has come! The wicked is receiving what they deserve. Human wickedness has reached its peak and it’s time for them to receive their “just reward” (Rev 16:6).
As the scripture continues, Revelation 16:8-10 NLT says, “Then the fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, causing it to scorch everyone with its fire. 9 Everyone was burned by this blast of heat, and they cursed the name of God, who had control over all these plagues. They did not repent of their sins and turn to God and give him glory. Then the fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom was plunged into darkness. His subjects ground their teeth in anguish, 11 and they cursed the God of heaven for their pains and sores. But they did not repent of their evil deeds and turn to God.”
These people did not repent. They refused to turn from their evilness. They cursed the name of God with no remorse. Unfortunately, the scorching heat did not soften the callous hearts of the wicked. The truth is, there is no one to blame for rejecting God but themselves. What keeps people from discovering God is their own sinful actions. Although that sounds harsh, I speak in love and truth. Additionally, they had warnings all along, just as people today have them. In Joel, he prophesied that the tribulation would be a day of darkness (Joel 2:2). This particular darkness mentioned will be a glimpse of where the eternal darkness of doom will be for the unrepented souls forever (Matthew 8:11-12).
Continuing with the chapter, verses 12-16 says, “Then the sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great Euphrates River, and it dried up so that the kings from the east could march their armies toward the west without hindrance. And I saw three evil spirits that looked like frogs leap from the mouths of the dragon, the beast, and the false prophet. They are demonic spirits who work miracles and go out to all the rulers of the world to gather them for battle against the Lord on that great judgment day of God the Almighty. “Look, I will come as unexpectedly as a thief! Blessed are all who are watching for me, who keep their clothing ready so they will not have to walk around naked and ashamed.” And the demonic spirits gathered all the rulers and their armies to a place with the Hebrew name Armageddon.”
Dragon = devil
Frogs= unclean spirits
Unclean spirits like frogs = demons
Understand that the devil knows his time is short, so he is gathering as many souls as he can. He is building an army of those who rebelled against God (even though they will lose the battle against God and His kingdom). Jesus’ return will take many by surprise. That is why so many scriptures warn us about keeping watch, being ready, staying on guard, not leaving your post, cleaning up the sin in your life quickly, and realizing that the Lord will return like a thief in the night (1 Thessalonians 5:2)
Believers must be careful about their behavior and lifestyles choices (Ephesians 5:8 and John 2:28). Remember, Adam and Eve became “naked” and exposed when they ate from the tree of knowledge (ultimately disobeying God). Therefore, people who are not prepared for the day of the Lord’s return will be walking around naked and exposed (spiritually) and left behind.
Revelation 16:16 indicates where demons are gathering because Zechariah prophesied about how before the Lord returns, the war of Armageddon will include horrible things in Jerusalem (Zechariah 14:2). But in verse 3, the scripture tells us that the Lord will go out and fight against those nations. I encourage you to read Zechariah 14:2-3.
As we come to the end of Revelation 16, verses 17-21 states, “Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air. And a mighty shout came from the throne in the Temple, saying, “It is finished!” 18 Then the thunder crashed and rolled, and lightning flashed. And a great earthquake struck—the worst since people were placed on the earth. 19 The great city of Babylon split into three sections, and the cities of many nations fell into heaps of rubble. So God remembered all of Babylon’s sins, and he made her drink the cup that was filled with the wine of his fierce wrath. 20 And every island disappeared, and all the mountains were leveled. 21 There was a terrible hailstorm, and hailstones weighing as much as seventy-five pounds fell from the sky onto the people below. They cursed God because of the terrible plague of the hailstorm.”
Verse 17 is similar to John 19:30 when Jesus drunk the sour wine and said, “It is finished”. The number 7 represents completion and the 7th angel “finished” or completed what God set out to do upon the wicked world of evil ones. God’s fierce anger is upon the earth in this chapter. The ending of Revelation 16 mentioned hailstorm. Isaiah 30:30 and Ezekiel 13:13 relates hailstorms to God’s judgement and wrath. Read the scriptures to understand the correlation.
Revelation 16 proves how the human heart is deceitful above all else (Jeremiah 17:9). Their hearts are hard and callous (Matthew 13:5). Not only that, but the people are extremely wicked and rebellious beyond anything else. Therefore, in the eyes of God, they deserve this.
Just a quick recap of the seven bowls:
Bowl #1: The earth is affected; this results in sores on those living for the world and serving Satan.
Bowl #2: The rivers are affected; this results in blood and death.
Bowl #3: The rivers and springs are affected; this results in blood to drink.
Bowl #4: The sun is affected; this results in burning heat.
Bowl #5: The beast’s throne is affected; this results in extreme darkness.
Bowl #6: The Euphrates River is affected; this results in a gathering for the great battle.
Bowl #7: The air is affected; this results in an earthquake shattering the great city.
I am sure one may ask, “Well, what about me? The one who is not rebellious…The one who is not wicked…The one who lives for Christ.”
James 1:12 ESV says, “Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.” That means, we must hold on. We must stay rooted in Christ. We can’t give in or give up. The devil is on the prowl for souls. He wants to sift us like wheat (Luke 22:31).
Even Matthew 5:12 tells us to rejoice because our reward in heaven is great! Our hope is in Christ. For those not subject to God’s wrath, we can look forward to the day God says (Matthew 25:21), “Well done, good and faithful servant.” Now, many people have used that scripture out of context, referring to worldly people who did not live a life devoted to Christ (maybe they were labeled a “good person” by society), but that will not suffice in the kingdom of God. This scripture is pertaining to believers and only believers.
We should even be encouraged by 1 Corinthians 2:9 NLT, It states, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him”. Therefore, the heavenly reward God has for His faithful servants is greater than our carnal minds can even imagine. We’ve never seen or heard of how magnificent it will be for those who love the Lord. Not only that, but those whose lifestyles proved they repented of their sins and turned from their sins, have a mighty award awaiting (Matthew 3:8).
Thank you so much to sticking around to the end of my bible study on Revelation 16. I know it seemed like doom and gloom (which it will be for unrepented people), but there is hope for the righteous. I hope this chapter has served as a warning for you. Not only that, but I hope you share this with someone whose soul you care about.
Until next year, with Wytinsea Writes! We’ll pick up in 2026! Happy New Year. May the Lord keep you, bless you, and strengthen you on your journey with Christ.
