The sixteenth chapter commences with the pouring out of the wrath of God upon the earth. There are no longer any saints in the world in their fragile mortal bodies at this time, as this immediately follows the rapture event and resurrection of those who are in Christ. Christ does not immediately return, but He first sends air strikes that cripple not only any armed resistance but also cripple the ability of the earth to support economic activity. These judgments cripple her to the point, that if Christ does not return to bring restoration to the world, life will not long survive. These are supernatural attacks upon the earth that are inexplicable in terms of natural processes.
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Rev 16:1-11 NKJV |
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Then I heard a loud voice from the temple saying to the seven angels, “Go and pour out the bowls of the wrath of God on the earth…” …(2) So the first went and poured out his bowl upon the earth, and a foul and loathsome sore came upon the men who had the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image… …(3) Then the second angel poured out his bowl on the sea, and it became blood as of a dead man; and every living creature in the sea died… |
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Rev 16:1-11 NKJV |
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…(4) Then the third angel poured out his bowl on the rivers and springs of water, and they became blood. (5) And I heard the angel of the waters saying: “You are righteous, O Lord, The One who is and who was and who is to be, Because You have judged these things. (6) For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, And You have given them blood to drink. For it is their just due.” (7) And I heard another from the altar saying, “Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are Your judgments….” …(8) Then the fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and power was given to him to scorch men with fire. (9) And men were scorched with great heat, and they blasphemed the name of God who has power over these plagues; and they did not repent and give Him glory. …(10) Then the fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom became full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues because of the pain. (11) They blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and did not repent of their deeds. |
At the conclusion of the fifth vial, wicked mankind refuses to repent. The sixth vial sets the stage for the great battle of Armageddon. The Euphrates is dried up to prepare the way for the Kings of the East to meet at the Valley of Megiddo. These plagues have crippled the Kingdom of the Antichrist, so these demons communicate directly to the various kings to round them up for one final battle to oppose Jesus Christ.
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Rev 16:12-16 NKJV |
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Then the sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up, so that the way of the kings from the east might be prepared. (13) And I saw three unclean spirits 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 spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. (15) “Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame.” (16) And they gathered them together to the place called in Hebrew, Armageddon. (17) Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, “It is done!” |
Once these armies were gathered together, the seventh vial crippled them in place. God’s wrath was declared done, which was followed by an earthquake so powerful that it leveled every mountain on earth and destroyed every island. This destruction of the mountains has great significance as these are used as bunkers for the elite. This use of mountains was what was in view when Revelation 6 says “And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains, (16) and said to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! (17) For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?“ (Revelation 6:15-17 NKJV)”
Such an earthquake would be in excess of 10.0 magnitude, a level of shaking that is not possible via any known tectonic process. This is a supernatural shaking that will level anything that can be shaken (Heb 12:27). This would completely cripple any military capability by any human, military technology that would be in use in the foreseeable future.
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Rev 16:17-21 NKJV |
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Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, “It is done!” (18) And there were noises and thunderings and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such a mighty and great earthquake as had not occurred since men were on the earth. (19) Now the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. And great Babylon was remembered before God, to give her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of His wrath…. |
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Rev 16:17-21 NKJV |
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…(20)Then every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. (21) And great hail from heaven fell upon men, each hailstone about the weight of a talent. Men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail, since that plague was exceedingly great. |
After the armed forces assembled at Megiddo are completely paralyzed by the global supernaturally inflicted 10.0+ mega-quake, the Lord Jesus Christ returns with his armies to enter the battle. The text, however, takes an interlude that covers chapters 17-18 and the first part of 19. Next week will be a study of the judgment of the Great Harlot Mystery Babylon.