Chuck Smith: The Book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ – Chapter 16

Pastor Chuck Smith teaches Revelation 16, the seven bowls of God’s wrath—painful sores, seas and rivers turned to blood, scorching heat, darkness on the beast’s kingdom, Euphrates dried up, and the world gathered at Armageddon—ending with a global quake and hail. He explains why God’s judgments are righteous and urges believers to watch and be ready for Christ’s return.

The Book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ – Chapter 16

Going back to chapter 15, John said, “I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous: seven angels having the seven last plagues, for in them is filled up the wrath of God.” That introduces chapter 16. These seven angels have the seven last plagues—the climax of God’s wrath, the culmination of the Great Tribulation. This will bring to an end the time of man’s governments. The final human government is in place: the Antichrist ruling over the western powers. During his reign, the Lord from heaven will come and establish a kingdom that will never end. We’re right on the border of the glorious return of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Chapters 17 and 18 will fill in details—the destruction of religious Babylon and commercial Babylon—events that fit within this period. But in chapter 16, we reach the final great conflict, the Battle of Armageddon. During this conflict, Jesus Christ will return to earth, set His foot upon the Mount of Olives, and establish the kingdom of God upon the earth.

“I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, ‘Go your ways and pour out the bowls of the wrath of God upon the earth.’”

They are bowls (not tiny vials), poured out upon the earth.

Bowl 1: Painful Sores (16:2)

“The first went and poured out his bowl upon the earth; and there fell a grievous and noisome sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and upon them which worshiped his image.”

This is a running, ulcerated sore—incurable, causing great pain. Zechariah describes those who come against Jerusalem suffering with eyes melting in their sockets and tongues in their mouths, and with grievous sores. It sounds like extreme radiation effects, as from neutron weapons. Whatever the exact cause, this is the first of the last seven plagues.

Bowl 2: Sea Becomes Blood (16:3)

“The second angel poured out his bowl upon the sea; and it became as the blood of a dead man, and every living soul died in the sea.”

Under the trumpet judgments, a third of sea life died. Here, everything dies. Imagine living in Newport Beach or Huntington Beach when the sea turns to blood and the dead wash ashore—the stench would be unimaginable. The ocean’s salt preserves and purifies; when that preservative effect is withdrawn, death spreads. Horrific.

Bowl 3: Fresh Waters Become Blood (16:4–7)

“The third angel poured out his bowl upon the rivers and fountains of waters; and they became blood.”

This strikes the world’s fresh water—rivers, lakes, springs. Water is basic to life. When fresh water is polluted like this, there will be severe scarcity and global crisis.

John then hears the angel of the waters say:

“You are righteous, O Lord, which are and were and shall be, because You have judged thus. For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and You have given them blood to drink; for they are worthy.”

Those who shed the blood of God’s people now drink blood. “Right on,” the angel is saying—God’s judgments are fair. Then a voice from the altar responds:

“Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are Your judgments.”

Back in chapter 6 (fifth seal), martyrs under the altar cried, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You avenge our blood?” They were told to wait until the full number of martyrs was complete. Here the response affirms: God’s justice is true and righteous.

Bowl 4: Scorching Heat (16:8–9)

“The fourth angel poured out his bowl upon the sun; and power was given unto him to scorch men with fire. And men were scorched with great heat…”

Possibilities include the sun intensifying (a kind of supernova-like flare) or the earth moving slightly closer to the sun. Isaiah speaks of the earth reeling like a drunken man and being moved out of her place. Any such shift brings increased radiation and heat. You’d think people would repent, but instead:

“…they blasphemed the name of God, who has power over these plagues; and they repented not to give Him glory.”

When God’s dealings don’t soften a heart, they harden it.

Bowl 5: Darkness on the Beast’s Kingdom (16:10–11)

“The fifth angel poured out his bowl upon the throne of the beast; and his kingdom was full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues for pain.”

As with Egypt’s plague of darkness (yet Israel had light), here the beast’s realm is plunged into a strange, oppressive darkness. Again:

“They blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and repented not of their deeds.”

Bowl 6: Euphrates Dried Up—Armies Gathered (16:12–16)

“The sixth angel poured out his bowl upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared.”

Historically the Euphrates has divided East from West. Drying it opens a pathway for the kings of the east—massive populations of Asia—to move westward toward the final conflict.

John sees three unclean spirits like frogs come from the mouths of the dragon (Satan), the beast (Antichrist), and the false prophet:

“They are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.”

Demonic deception gathers the world’s leaders and armies.

Parenthetical warning (v. 15):

“Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame.”

Watchfulness! Keep your garments—stay clothed in the righteousness of Christ.

Armageddon (v. 16):
“They gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon”—the mountain/plain of Megiddo, in the Jezreel (Esdraelon) Valley east of Haifa. Many of history’s battles have been fought there. Here, the vast hordes assemble for the final conflict.

Bowl 7: “It Is Done”—Great Earthquake and Hail (16:17–21)

“The seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, ‘It is done.’”

This is the voice of our Lord announcing the completion of judgment. Voices, thunder, lightning—and then:

“A great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great.”

Unparalleled shaking—global, catastrophic. We’ve seen destructive quakes in history (think the 1994 Northridge earthquake, or devastating quakes abroad), but this is beyond any precedent. Jerusalem (“the great city”) is split into three parts, the cities of the nations fall, and every island flees away; the mountains are not found—massive topographical upheaval.

Then:

“There fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent.”

Depending on the “talent” (Roman ~50 lb; Jewish ~110 lb), we’re talking enormous hailstones—roof-piercing, structure-leveling. And yet:

“Men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof was exceeding great.”

Instead of repentance, more blasphemy. Tragic.

Be Ready

What will it take to turn a person’s heart from sin? Scripture says it is the goodness of God that leads to repentance (Romans 2:4). The hardness of an impenitent heart only “treasures up wrath” for the day of judgment.

Jesus likened His coming for the church to an eastern wedding. Ten virgins waited for the bridegroom—five wise, five foolish. All slept. At midnight came the cry: “Behold, the bridegroom comes; go out to meet him!” The foolish discovered their lamps had gone out and rushed to get oil; while they were gone, the bridegroom came. Those who were ready went in; the door was shut. Later the others knocked, but were denied. The point: be ready. You can’t fill your lamp at the last minute.

“Watch therefore and be ready; for in such an hour as you think not, the Son of Man comes.”
Keep your garments—remain in Christ’s righteousness.

Some have drifted into lukewarmness. The Spirit calls us to “get right or get left.” Don’t bank on martyrdom later if you won’t live for Christ now. Much easier to live for Him today by the power of the Holy Spirit than to imagine dying for Him then.

Closing Prayer & Appeal

Father, as we reach the end of the judgment period, we see the nations gathered in the Valley of Jezreel, man’s final attempt to thwart Your kingdom. We see You coming in power and great glory. Your kingdom comes; Your will is done, as You reign with a rod of iron.

Lord, make us ready. Count us worthy to escape these things that are coming upon the earth. May we be among that company in chapter 5, before the throne, singing to the Lamb: worthy to take the scroll and open its seals, for You were slain and have redeemed us by Your blood out of every tribe, tongue, people, and nation.

Help us live lives pleasing to You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Jesus said, “Watch therefore and be ready, for in such an hour as you think not, the Son of Man comes.” He could come before you get up tomorrow morning. Are you ready?

“I will serve You, because I love You; You have given life to me…”