The First Four Bowl Judgments
Study note
A loud voice from the temple commands the angels to pour out the bowls. The first brings painful sores on those with the beast's mark. The second turns the entire sea to blood, killing every sea creature. The third turns rivers and springs to blood, and the angel of the waters declares God's justice: those who shed the blood of saints are given blood to drink. The fourth intensifies the sun's heat to scorch people with fire, yet they curse God and refuse to repent.
1 Then a powerful voice thundered from the temple to the seven angels: "Go! Pour out the seven bowls of God's anger on the earth." And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth.
2 The first angel went and poured out his bowl on the earth. Horrible, painful sores broke out on every person who wore the mark of the beast and worshiped its statue. And the first went, and poured out his vial upon the earth; and there fell a noisome and grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and upon them which worshipped his image.
3 The second angel poured out his bowl on the sea. The water turned to blood, thick like blood from a dead body. Every living thing in the sea died. And the second angel poured out his vial upon the sea; and it became as the blood of a dead man: and every living soul died in the sea.
4 The third angel poured out his bowl on the rivers and springs. They all turned to blood. And the third angel poured out his vial upon the rivers and fountains of waters; and they became blood.
5 Then I heard the angel in charge of the waters say, "You are right to judge this way, O Lord. You are and you were, the Holy One." And I heard the angel of the waters say, Thou art righteous, O Lord, which art, and wast, and shalt be, because thou hast judged thus.
6 "They spilled the blood of your holy people and your prophets, so you have given them blood to drink. They are getting exactly what they deserve." For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and thou hast given them blood to drink; for they are worthy.
7 And I heard the altar respond, "Yes, Lord God Almighty, your judgments are true and right." And I heard another out of the altar say, Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are thy judgments.
8 The fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and it was given the power to burn people with an intense blaze of heat. And the fourth angel poured out his vial upon the sun; and power was given unto him to scorch men with fire.
9 People were scorched by the terrible heat. They cursed the name of God, who controlled these plagues. But they still refused to change their ways and give him glory. And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which hath power over these plagues: and they repented not to give him glory.
The Fifth and Sixth Bowl Judgments
Study note
The fifth bowl plunges the beast's kingdom into darkness, causing agonizing pain, yet people still refuse to repent. The sixth dries up the Euphrates River, preparing the way for kings from the east. Three unclean spirits like frogs emerge from the dragon, the beast, and the false prophet, performing miracles to gather the world's kings for the great battle at Armageddon. Christ inserts a warning about coming like a thief, blessing those who remain watchful.
10 The fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast. Its entire kingdom was swallowed in darkness. People chewed on their own tongues from the agony. And the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast; and his kingdom was full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues for pain,
11 They cursed the God of heaven because of their pain and their sores, but they still refused to change what they were doing. And blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and repented not of their deeds.
12 The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great Euphrates River. The river dried up completely to clear the way for armies from the east. And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared.
13 Then I saw three disgusting spirits that looked like frogs. They came out of the mouth of the dragon, the mouth of the beast, and the mouth of the false prophet. And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet.
14 These are demon spirits that do miracles. They went out to the rulers of the whole world to bring them together for battle on the great day of God Almighty. For 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.
15 "Listen! I am coming as unexpectedly as a thief! Blessed is the person who stays awake and keeps their clothes ready, so they will not be caught walking around naked and ashamed." Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.
16 The spirits brought all the rulers together at the place called Armageddon in Hebrew. And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon.
The Seventh Bowl: 'It Is Done'
Study note
The seventh bowl is poured into the air, and a voice from the throne declares 'It is done!' The most catastrophic earthquake in history splits the great city into three parts, destroys the cities of nations, and levels every mountain and island. Great Babylon receives the cup of God's fierce wrath. Hundred-pound hailstones fall on people, who continue to blaspheme God despite the severity of the plague.
17 The seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air. A booming voice from the throne in the temple declared, "It is finished!" And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done.
18 Lightning flashed, thunder roared, and the earth was hit by the most powerful earthquake in all of human history. And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great.
19 The great city split into three sections, and cities across the nations crumbled. God did not forget Babylon the great. He made her drink the cup of his blazing anger. And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath.
20 Every island went away. Every mountain was gone. And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found.
21 Giant hailstones, each weighing about 100 pounds, pounded down on people from the sky. People cursed God because of the hailstorm, since the plague was so unbelievably severe. And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent: and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof was exceeding great.