Here’s how the study works: Read the chapter mentioned in the heading several times during the week and share any words, thoughts, verses that stood out to you. Having a week for a chapter creates the opportunity to reread it several times and make additional comments as you feel inclined as well as make comments on other people’s insights.
I’ve read in other places that these bowls are only going to effect people who have the mark of the beast yet I can’t find a verse that actually says that. However v.8 says the sun was allowed to scorch people. Psalm 121:6 tells us, “the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.” So it would seem these plagues are not going to effect God’s people perhaps because we are no longer on earth?? I think this view may make me a mid-tribulationist!
In this regard it is interesting that after the seventh trumpet there is some sort of climax where God “has begun to reign” (11:17).
Other places in the Bible mention the last trumpet and Christians departing the earth (1 Corinthians 15:52 also 1 Thessalonians 4:16). So hopefully we are going to miss the worst of it.
I’ve read in other places that these bowls are only going to effect people who have the mark of the beast yet I can’t find a verse that actually says that. However v.8 says the sun was allowed to scorch people. Psalm 121:6 tells us, “the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.” So it would seem these plagues are not going to effect God’s people perhaps because we are no longer on earth?? I think this view may make me a mid-tribulationist!
In this regard it is interesting that after the seventh trumpet there is some sort of climax where God “has begun to reign” (11:17).
Other places in the Bible mention the last trumpet and Christians departing the earth (1 Corinthians 15:52 also 1 Thessalonians 4:16). So hopefully we are going to miss the worst of it.
Oops! how did I miss this (v.2) “festering sores broke out on people who had the mark of the beast and worshipped its image.” Nevertheless that would have been most people at this point since many who refused to worship the beast had been killed (13:15).
Oops! how did I miss this (v.2) “festering sores broke out on people who had the mark of the beast and worshipped its image.” Nevertheless that would have been most people at this point since many who refused to worship the beast had been killed (13:15).
What amazes me is they are still being given a chance to repent. So perhaps some will do so.
What amazes me is they are still being given a chance to repent. So perhaps some will do so.
Yes that is amazing, Deborah, God so wants people to come to him he gives them a chance to repent right up until the end.
Yes that is amazing, Deborah, God so wants people to come to him he gives them a chance to repent right up until the end.
v.4-6 The third angel poured out his bowl on the rivers and springs of water, and they became blood. Then I heard the angel in charge of the waters say: “You are just in these judgments, O Holy One, you who are and who were; for they have shed the blood of your holy people and your prophets, and you have given them blood to drink as they deserve.”
God makes the punishment fit the crime.
(From Constable Commentary) “Pharaoh tried to drown the Jewish boy babies, but it was his own army that eventually drowned in the Red Sea [Exod. 1:22; 14:28]. Haman planned to hang Mordecai on the gallows and to exterminate the Jews; but he himself was hanged on the gallows, and his family was exterminated.”
v.4-6 The third angel poured out his bowl on the rivers and springs of water, and they became blood. Then I heard the angel in charge of the waters say: “You are just in these judgments, O Holy One, you who are and who were; for they have shed the blood of your holy people and your prophets, and you have given them blood to drink as they deserve.”
God makes the punishment fit the crime.
(From Constable Commentary) “Pharaoh tried to drown the Jewish boy babies, but it was his own army that eventually drowned in the Red Sea [Exod. 1:22; 14:28]. Haman planned to hang Mordecai on the gallows and to exterminate the Jews; but he himself was hanged on the gallows, and his family was exterminated.”
The fall of Babylon seems to happen in stages and there is much debate as to who or what Babylon signifies.
v.19 The great city split into three parts, and the cities of the nations collapsed. God remembered Babylon the Great and gave her the cup filled with the wine of the fury of his wrath.
Previously in:
14:8 A second angel followed and said, “‘Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great,’ which made all the nations drink the maddening wine of her adulteries.”
Further in:
17:5 The name written on her forehead was a mystery: Babylon the great the mother of prostitutes and of the abominations of the earth.
And:
18:2 With a mighty voice he shouted: “‘Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great!’ She has become a dwelling for demons and a haunt for every impure spirit, a haunt for every unclean bird, a haunt for every unclean and detestable animal.
And:
18:10 Terrified at her torment, they will stand far off and cry: “‘Woe! Woe to you, great city, you mighty city of Babylon! In one hour your doom has come!’
And finally in:
18:21 Then a mighty angel picked up a boulder the size of a large millstone and threw it into the sea, and said: "With such violence the great city of Babylon will be thrown down, never to be found again."
The fall of Babylon seems to happen in stages and there is much debate as to who or what Babylon signifies.
v.19 The great city split into three parts, and the cities of the nations collapsed. God remembered Babylon the Great and gave her the cup filled with the wine of the fury of his wrath.
Previously in:
14:8 A second angel followed and said, “‘Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great,’ which made all the nations drink the maddening wine of her adulteries.”
Further in:
17:5 The name written on her forehead was a mystery: Babylon the great the mother of prostitutes and of the abominations of the earth.
And:
18:2 With a mighty voice he shouted: “‘Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great!’ She has become a dwelling for demons and a haunt for every impure spirit, a haunt for every unclean bird, a haunt for every unclean and detestable animal.
And:
18:10 Terrified at her torment, they will stand far off and cry: “‘Woe! Woe to you, great city, you mighty city of Babylon! In one hour your doom has come!’
And finally in:
18:21 Then a mighty angel picked up a boulder the size of a large millstone and threw it into the sea, and said: "With such violence the great city of Babylon will be thrown down, never to be found again."
It is interesting that the plagues in this chapter bare similarities to the plagues in Exodus.
It is interesting that the plagues in this chapter bare similarities to the plagues in Exodus.
v.15 “Look, I come like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake and remains clothed, so as not to go naked and be shamefully exposed.”
This reminds me of Matthew 22:11-14:
“But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes. He asked, ‘How did you get in here without wedding clothes, friend?’ The man was speechless…“For many are invited, but few are chosen.”
We must be clothed in Jesus’ righteousness or we are spiritually naked. Not clothed by my efforts but by receiving Jesus.
v.15 “Look, I come like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake and remains clothed, so as not to go naked and be shamefully exposed.”
This reminds me of Matthew 22:11-14:
“But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes. He asked, ‘How did you get in here without wedding clothes, friend?’ The man was speechless…“For many are invited, but few are chosen.”
We must be clothed in Jesus’ righteousness or we are spiritually naked. Not clothed by my efforts but by receiving Jesus.
v.9 …but they refused to repent and glorify him.
v.11 …but they refused to repent of what they had done.
This was not ignorance or apathy but a deliberate refusal.
v.9 …but they refused to repent and glorify him.
v.11 …but they refused to repent of what they had done.
This was not ignorance or apathy but a deliberate refusal.
v.4-6
In regard to God making the punishment fit the crime, this also comes out in 18:20
"For God has judged her with the judgment she imposed on you"
v.4-6
In regard to God making the punishment fit the crime, this also comes out in 18:20
"For God has judged her with the judgment she imposed on you"