Revelation 16:1-21

Revelation chapter 16 is part of what will occur after the opening of the seventh (7) seal of the book in heaven by the little-lamb which is representing the Lord Jesus Christ (Revelation 8:1). The seventh seal includes the implementation of judgments under seven trumpets (Revelation 8:7 - 14:20) including seven bowls as part of the seventh trumpet blowing (Revelation 15:1 - 18:24). The seventh trumpet with its seven bowls occur during the time of the great pressure of the completing together of the age - and will be followed by the Lord Jesus Christ's return on earth as recorded in Revelation chapter 19.

The details written in Revelation 16:1 - 18:24 pertain to effects or events taking place on earth as a result-of and corresponding-to the previous events which took place in heaven (Revelation 15:1-8). It records the implementation of the third woe on earth following the 7th angel blowing his trumpet in Revelation 11:15.

Revelation 16:1-3:

^16:1And I heard a great sound out-from the interior-temple saying to the seven angels, "You must go and you must pour-out the seven bowls of the rage of God into the earth."

^.2And the first went-away and poured-out his bowl into the earth; and there became a bad and evil boil on the men, the (men) having the character-mark of the wild-animal and the (men) worshipping its image.

^.3And the second poured-out his bowl into the sea; and there became blood as of a dead-person; and every soul of life died, the (creatures) in the sea.

John writes: And I heard a great sound (a large voice or uttered-tone, loudly)...

• out from the interior-temple (the innermost part of God's temple; refer to Revelation 11:19 and 15:5-8; it was the source of what I heard)

...saying to the seven angels (referring to the 7 angels in Revelation 15:1 and 6-8)...

• "You must go (actively lead yourselves under, in the sense of going without any argument, under cover, as animals go because they are under a yoke without going from side to side or intentionally stopping to do something else – go)
• and you must pour-out (shed forth the contents from)
  • the seven bowls (7 broad and flat vials)
  • of the rage of God (God's rage, the intense passion, heated-outburst from His mind, as a sudden flame from a burning fire; refer to Revelation 15:7)
    • into the earth (the planet earth which includes the land/ground and the sea)."

And the first angel went away and shed forth the contents of his bowl into the earth...

• and there became (came to pass, happened, occurred)
  • a bad (something that does not issue from God - its origination was not the only true God)
  • and evil (active with malignancy, exercising badness)
    • boil (sore, ulcer, festering wound, inflamed abscess)
• down on the men,
  • emphatically and specifically the men having the character-mark of the wild-animal (the savage beast of prey which is not tamed by mankind; this is the same "beast" referred to in Revelation 11:7, 17:8 and 11; also refer to Revelation 13:16)
  • and the men worshipping its image (paying homage to, is obeisant towards the icon, resemblance, representation of the wild-animal; refer to Revelation 13:14 and 15).

The contents of the first bowl only had this kind of effect on the people who were rejecting God.

And the second angel shed forth the contents of his bowl into the sea...

• and there became (came to pass, happened, occurred)
  • blood
    • in comparison to the blood of a dead-person (someone who had died and so the blood from that dead body is without life, lifeless);
• and all/every soul of life (the word "soul" refers to the life of a physical body which is evidenced by breathing; this verse refers to the creatures in the sea that have blood oxygenated as breathing in order to maintain their physical lives - it is what allows them to move, swim, etc, living in the physical category in the sea)
  • died (became dead, no life in them),
    • emphatically and specifically the creatures in the sea (salt waters).

[Reference: Genesis 1:21; Leviticus 17:11; Deuteronomy 28:15, 27 and 35; Matthew 24:21; Revelation 8:8 and 9, 11:19, 13:14-16, 14:9-11, 15:1 and 5-8.]

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Revelation Chapter 17