Seven bowls of wrath and some definitions.

We deal now with chapters fifteen, sixteen and seventeen of Revelation. Chapter fifteen sets the stage and reminds us where we are. We are at the eternal scene, but some changes have been made. The sea of glass has become mixed with fire, and a crowd has gathered around the sea, ones who have contended with the beast and his image. They sing a song of Moses.

Please note that it is one of the four living creatures who gives the seven angels (remember the trumpet blowers?) their bowls filled with wrath.

Chapter sixteen is the pouring out of the bowls. Note that this is done quickly, and that there are no long asides at the sixth place. The seventh bowl is poured out right after the sixth. When the patient is opened up and at risk, the surgical team works as quickly as possible.

Things to ask as the bowls are poured out:

Is the pattern exactly the same?
If it is not, do we learn anything from the differences?
Are there any clues here that shed light on questions we have been asking?

The first four bowls effect the same parts of creation as did the seven trumpets. This should pretty well convince you that there is specific meaning intended in these three series of numbered events, 777.

But if that is the case, the fifth bowl should be poured out on humans directly. It is poured out instead on the throne of the beast.

Instead?

Dwell on the possibility that we humans are the throne of the beast. Remember what kind of power is associated with thrones? You have to be occupying the throne to have power.

What happens if we do not accommodate the beast? Where is his power then?

Oh sure, he had horns, ten of them. And horns represent power that goes with you. TEN horns, not seven. But remember the letter to the church at Smyrna? They were told they would be persecuted for ten days, but ten is very limited. They were told not to worry about ten days. Ten is the human number, twice five, you know. Seven is the eternal number. The Lamb has seven horns.

The power of the beast is solely dependent upon the willingness of humans to let the beast use them. Here is the sixth bowl. Is it about Christ, the Lord of Creation? It doesn't seem to be, at first. But wait! The bowl is poured out on the river Euphrates, the location of the Garden of Eden, the traditional source of the children of God. Hmm.

And who do you suppose is speaking in verse 15? Oh yeah. All right, there he is.

And look at what he is saying about keeping your clothes at hand. Remember the martyrs under the altar who had to be given clothes? I'll tell you right now that clothing in Revelation represents our righteous acts.

Start working on the frogs that come out of the mouths of the dragon, the beast and the false prophet. I might check with you later on them.

The seventh bowl brings more questions than answers, but then I guess that is appropriate for the place of silence and mystery.

At the pouring of the bowl into the air, God declares, "It is done!"

What is done? Well, the wrath, one would think. But bad stuff seems to keep happening for a while. Hmmmm.

Chapter seventeen is a great exercise, and I'm going to let you do it. This chapter contains a wonderful number of answers to the puzzles that we have been wondering about. Remember what adulteration is - watering down. Remember also that Rome, the most famous worldly city of the time, sat on seven hills.

Have fun here. You will get some new ideas, and some new questions to be pondering as you begin your next reading/study of Revelation.

Now that wrath, the natural consequences of our action, has been loosed, we will take a look at how judgement plays out afterward. Remember the seventh bowl? Remember that things kept happening after the wrath was finished? The next three chapters answer your question, "Hey! What's going on here?"

FOREWORD || INTRODUCTION || CHAPTER 1 || CHAPTER 2 || CHAPTER 3 || CHAPTER 4 || CHAPTER 5 || CHAPTER 6 || CHAPTER 7 || CHAPTER 8 || CHAPTER 9 || CHAPTER 10 || CHAPTER 11 || CHAPTER 12 || APPENDIX A, 777 || APPENDIX B - The Medicine Wheel || REVELATION STUDY MAIN PAGE || Return to the Revelation Geek Homepage