Bullet Point Bible - Revelation 16

The Command and the First Bowl: Painful Sores

¹ Then I heard a loud voice from the temple declaring to the seven angels: "Go and pour out on the earth the seven bowls containing God's wrath."² So the first angel went and poured out his bowl on the earth. Then ugly and painful sores appeared on the people who had the mark of the beast and who worshiped his image.

The command originates from the temple, God's dwelling place, signifying divine authority behind the judgments (Rev 16:1).
The "seven bowls of God's wrath" represent the final, intensified outpouring of divine judgment upon the unrepentant world system.
These judgments parallel the plagues of Egypt (Exodus 7-12), but are universal and final in scope.
The first bowl specifically targets those who actively aligned themselves with the beast system, identified by the "mark of the beast" (Rev 13:16-17).
The "ugly and painful sores" recall the sixth plague of Egypt (boils, Exodus 9:8-12), signifying physical suffering as a consequence of spiritual rebellion.
This judgment demonstrates God's sovereignty over the physical health of those who reject Him and worship the counterfeit authority.
The specificity of the target (those with the mark) highlights that God's wrath is directed, not indiscriminate.
The term "wrath" (Greek: *thumos*) often denotes a passionate, intense anger, reflecting God's righteous indignation against persistent sin and rebellion.

The Second and Third Bowls: Water Turned to Blood

³ Next, the second angel poured out his bowl on the sea and it turned into blood, like that of a corpse, and every living creature that was in the sea died.⁴ Then the third angel poured out his bowl on the rivers and the springs of water, and they turned into blood.⁵ Now I heard the angel of the waters saying:⁵ "You are just -the one who is and who was,⁵ the Holy One-because you have passed these judgments,⁶ because they poured out the blood of your saints and prophets,⁶ so you have given them blood to drink. They got what they deserved!"⁷ Then I heard the altar reply, "Yes, Lord God, the All-Powerful, your judgments are true and just!"

The second bowl targets the sea, turning it into "blood like that of a dead person," suggesting coagulation and putrefaction, leading to the death of all marine life. This echoes the first Egyptian plague (Exodus 7:17-21).
The third bowl affects the freshwater sources ("rivers and springs"), turning them also to blood, making potable water unavailable.
The "angel of the waters" (a unique designation possibly indicating authority over these domains) affirms God's justice in these judgments.
The principle of *lex talionis* (an eye for an eye) is invoked: those who shed the blood of God's people ("saints and prophets") are now forced to drink blood (Rev 16:6).
The description of God as "the one who is and who was, the Holy One" emphasizes His eternal nature and moral purity, grounding His righteous judgment.
The altar, representing the prayers of the martyrs (Rev 6:9-10), affirms the judgments, signifying that God is answering their cries for justice.
The combined effect of these bowls is the destruction of vital ecosystems and water sources, essential for life.
The affirmation "true and just are your judgments" is a recurring theme, underscoring the righteousness of God's actions even amidst severe destruction (Rev 15:3, 19:2).

The Fourth Bowl: Scorching Sun

⁸ Then the fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and it was permitted to scorch people with fire.⁹ Thus people were scorched by the terrible heat, yet they blasphemed the name of God, who has ruling authority over these plagues, and they would not repent and give him glory.

The fourth bowl intensifies the sun's heat, causing severe scorching, a judgment affecting everyone under its reach.
Unlike previous plagues targeting specific groups or elements, this plague brings direct, widespread physical torment from a celestial body normally associated with life.
God retains "ruling authority over these plagues," indicating His sovereign control even in unleashing destructive forces.
Despite the undeniable supernatural nature and intensity of the plague, humanity's response is not repentance but blasphemy ("cursed the name of God").
Their refusal to "repent and give him glory" demonstrates the hardness of their hearts, confirming their rebellion even in the face of overwhelming judgment.
This reaction contrasts sharply with the desired outcome of judgment, which often aims to lead to repentance (cf. Jonah 3).
The focus shifts from ecological disaster (bowls 2 & 3) to direct human suffering inflicted from the heavens.

The Fifth Bowl: Darkness and Pain

¹⁰ Then the fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast so that darkness covered his kingdom, and people began to bite their tongues because of their pain.¹¹ They blasphemed the God of heaven because of their sufferings and because of their sores, but nevertheless they still refused to repent of their deeds.

The fifth bowl specifically targets the "throne of the beast," the center of the antichrist's power and authority, plunging his kingdom into darkness.
This echoes the ninth plague of Egypt (Exodus 10:21-23), symbolizing spiritual blindness, chaos, and judgment upon the source of evil authority.
The darkness is accompanied by intense pain, causing people to "gnaw their tongues," a graphic depiction of extreme agony and despair.
The pain seems cumulative, referencing both the current torment and the "sores" from the first bowl (Rev 16:2, 11).
Again, the response is blasphemy ("cursed the God of heaven") rather than repentance, reinforcing their hardened state.
They blame God for their suffering ("because of their pains and their sores") without acknowledging their own "deeds" (rebellion, idolatry) as the root cause.
Targeting the beast's throne signifies a direct assault on the counterfeit kingdom opposing God.

The Sixth Bowl: Euphrates Dried and Armageddon Gathering

¹² Then the sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates and dried up its water to prepare the way for the kings from the east.¹³ Then I saw three unclean spirits that looked like frogs coming out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet.¹⁴ For they are the spirits of the demons performing signs who go out to the kings of the earth to bring them together for the battle that will take place on the great day of God, the All-Powerful.¹⁵ (Look ! I will come like a thief!¹⁵ Blessed is the one who stays alert and does not lose his clothes so that he will not have to walk around naked and his shameful condition be seen.)¹⁶ Now the spirits gathered the kings and their armies to the place that is called Armageddon in Hebrew.

The drying of the Euphrates River removes a significant natural barrier, historically facilitating invasions from the east (e.g., Babylon, Persia). This prepares the way for the "kings from the east."
This act symbolizes the removal of obstacles for the final confrontation orchestrated by God.
Three unclean spirits, resembling frogs (unclean animals in Jewish law, associated with the second Egyptian plague), emerge from the unholy trinity: the dragon (Satan), the beast (antichrist), and the false prophet.
These demonic spirits perform deceptive "signs" (counterfeit miracles) to influence world leaders ("kings of the whole world").
Their mission is to gather these armies for "the battle on the great day of God Almighty," indicating this is God's appointed time for judgment, not just a human conflict.
Verse 15 contains a sudden parenthetical warning directly from Jesus: "{{Look, I will come like a thief!}}" This urges believers to remain spiritually alert and prepared amidst the escalating chaos.
The imagery of staying "clothed" refers to maintaining righteousness and readiness, avoiding spiritual nakedness and shame at Christ's return (cf. Rev 3:18).
The gathering point is "Harmagedon" (often transliterated Armageddon), meaning "Mountain of Megiddo" in Hebrew. Megiddo was a plain known for decisive historical battles (Judges 5:19; 2 Kings 23:29), symbolizing the final, decisive confrontation between God and the forces of evil. It's likely symbolic of the ultimate battle location rather than a literal single mountain.
The gathering is ironically orchestrated by demonic influence but serves God's ultimate purpose of bringing His enemies together for judgment.

The Seventh Bowl: Final Cataclysm and Babylon's Judgment

¹⁷ Finally the seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air and a loud voice came out of the temple from the throne, saying: "It is done!"¹⁸ Then there were flashes of lightning, roaring, and crashes of thunder, and there was a tremendous earthquake-an earthquake unequaled since humanity has been on the earth, so tremendous was that earthquake.¹⁹ The great city was split into three parts and the cities of the nations collapsed. So Babylon the great was remembered before God, and was given the cup filled with the wine made of God's furious wrath.²⁰ Every island fled away and no mountains could be found.²¹ And gigantic hailstones, weighing about a 100 pounds each, fell from heaven on people, but they blasphemed God because of the plague of hail, since it was so horrendous.

The seventh bowl is poured "into the air," the domain of Satan ("prince of the power of the air," Eph 2:2), signifying a comprehensive, atmospheric judgment affecting the entire world.
A loud voice from the throne (God Himself) declares, "{{It is done!}}" echoing Christ's words on the cross (John 19:30) but here signifying the completion of God's wrathful judgment before the final return of Christ.
Unprecedented cosmic disturbances follow: lightning, thunder, and the greatest earthquake in human history, signifying the deconstruction of the old order.
The "great city" (likely representing both literal Jerusalem and the world's rebellious system, symbolized by "Babylon the great") is fractured, and all "cities of the nations" collapse, indicating global societal breakdown.
"Babylon the great," representing the world's idolatrous political, economic, and religious system, is specifically remembered by God for judgment, receiving the full measure of His "furious wrath." Chapters 17-18 will elaborate on its fall.
The cataclysm reshapes the very geography: islands vanish, mountains disappear, depicting a radical transformation of the earth.
Enormous hailstones (recalling the seventh Egyptian plague, Exodus 9:22-26, but vastly more destructive) inflict further devastation. A "talent" (the weight mentioned) was roughly 75-100 pounds.
Despite this overwhelming and final plague, humanity's response remains unchanged: they curse God, demonstrating ultimate, unrepentant rebellion even at the climax of judgment.
This final bowl sets the stage for the destruction of Babylon (Rev 17-18) and the return of Christ (Rev 19).

The Bullet Point Bible

Revelation 16