Title: The Last Plague / Revelation 16:1-21
Contents The Last Plague / Revelation 16:1-21
Many people think that natural disasters are natural and accidental. But nothing in this world happens by chance. Everything is going on under the providence of God.
Genius was given as a warning from the unrepentant crowd when sin was strong from the old days. When we look at the people of Israel, when they do evil and do not repent, they warn them of war and famine. Although God warned and waited several times, He sent a disaster that could never be restored if we did not repent until the end.
How wicked and corrupt was the world in Noah's day? God gave them many opportunities, but in the end, when they did not repent, He judged the whole world with water.
It was the same when Abraham's nephew Lot lived in Sodom and Gomorrah. When they did not repent, they were judged with brimstone fire.
That's right. Among unbelievers, I know that geniuses come because of human sin. So you can hear the grown-ups say, "Don't be punished."
In the Bible, genius clearly has the meaning of punishing and warning of human sin.
In chapter 16, we see the seven bowls of plague. Verse 1 reveals where the plague is coming from. It tells us that the judgment that comes upon the earth comes from God.
And the details of that plague are recorded in verse 2 and below.
Verse 2 says, “The first went and poured out his bowl on the ground, and there was an evil and bitter sore on those who had the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image.
The plague of the first bowl is “evil and venomous boils”.
It means the name of the skin that hurts very much. It is that the end of the world will come upon the antichrists and idolaters.
Verse 3 says, "The second poured out his bowl on the sea, and it immediately became like the blood of the dead, and every living thing in the sea died."
The second bowl disaster is a disaster in which fish in the sea are destroyed.
It is like the plague that turned water into blood among the plagues that came upon Egypt in the past. The water of the sea will turn to blood and all the fish will die.
And in verses 4-7, it says that the third bowl was poured out, and the rivers and springs of water became blood.
This is a punishment that keeps people from drinking soda. Today, mankind knows the time when people recognize the value of beverages. If a person does not have access to water, he will not live for a few days and then he will die. Water is becoming increasingly unusable due to extreme pollution. I know that future disasters will not be as bad as pollution.
Again, the emphasis here is on who the judge is. “The Holy One, who was and was in the ten directions,” he said. This is the very qualification of a judge, and since he is holy, it implies that he will surely judge sin.
Verse 6 says, “It is fitting that they drink blood, because they have shed the blood of saints and prophets.”
This is the proportional recompense of God's acts of judgment that are often found in the psalms. In other words, you reap what you sow.
In the last days, the wicked are punished by their own punishment, but by looking at what the “altar said”, we can see that it is one of the answers to the prayers of the saints.
And it was "true", which means that the judgment not only came faithfully according to God's word, but the promise of judgment was fully realized.
And God's judgment is said to be "righteous." How unfair and wrong are the world's judgments? However, since God's judgment is perfect and righteous, those who receive it will know that it is justified.
In verse 8, the fourth bowl is poured out, saying, “The sun is given power to consume men with fire.” The natural world is a blessing to man under God's gracious intervention. However, because people sin, when the wrath of God comes upon them, all the negligence of the natural world becomes harmful.
Here, the object of wrath is "those who blaspheme the name of God and do not repent". If God does not give the Holy Spirit to humans, no matter how much God loves them or punishes them, they will not repent and turn away from God.
Since life is totally corrupt, you cannot repent until you are born again. Rather, the evil nature of human beings is more clearly revealed when disaster strikes. However, at such times, the saints rather repent and wait for God's mercy.
But the purpose of the disaster, as Credanus said, is to motivate sinners to repent.
In verses 10-11, there is the fifth plague. It was said, “I poured it out on the throne of the beast,” and this can be said to refer to the calamity of the darkness of the sunlight. However, as the politics of the Antichrist is darkened, it also symbolizes the suffering of his people in the dark politics.
How severe would it be to say, "People are sick and bite their tongues"? You are talking about unimaginable suffering.
Sin gives you temporary pleasure, but the result is a terrible pain that cannot be escaped forever. In fact, continuing suffering is worse than death.
But the wicked did not repent, but rather blasphemed God.
This shows the evil age that will occur in the last days.
There should never be such a stubbornness of unrepentance among us. Unrepentant stubbornness is a very evil heart, a proud heart, and a very dangerous thing. Is there any stubbornness in not saying what we deserve to apologize for? If you have such stubbornness, you must break it down as soon as possible. So, you will be able to say things like "I'm sorry", "I'm sorry" and "Forgive me". To such people, God gives great mercy, mercy, and love.
Cain did not give up his stubbornness until the end, and in the end he committed a horrific murder that killed his brother Abel. He became a wretched man on the ground.
Judas Iscariot also persisted in the evil heart he had embraced until the end, and ended up becoming the most unfortunate human being who “goed his way”. When Judas heard Jesus' prophetic warning, he did not repent and ran out of the room, but there was only darkness in the night to welcome him. The path ahead of those who persist in wicked things is always eternal darkness.
In Leviticus 26:21 it says, “I will bring upon you sevenfold more plagues according to your sins, unless you obey me against me.”
Therefore, we will receive greater love and blessings when we immediately repent at the first warning given by God and bow down humbly.
In verses 12-16, there is the sixth plague. If you look at the word “Euphrates,” you can see that this is also related to the river. But here, the river is dry and kings are coming in from the east, which is a metaphor for the kingdom of the Antichrist and its confederations to invade God's people.
And in verse 13, “Three unclean spirits like frogs came out of the mouth of the dragon, of the beast, and of the false prophet, who are spirits of demons, who work miracles to go to the kings of the whole world… and gather them for war. more," he said.
The history of evil spirits makes a fuss like a frog. It is not peaceful, it is turbulent, it is not sanctified, it is ugly. It is said that this history comes from the mouth of the dragon, the mouth of the beast, and the mouth of a false prophet. In other words, we are talking about Satan, the Antichrist, and the false prophet.
In particular, it is said that the characteristic of the spirits of demons is that they perform many miracles to deceive people. This is different from the miracles of God, that its purpose is evil and its methods are false.
In 2 Thessalonians 2:4, it says, "He opposes God, and excels in self-defense that is worshiped, and sits in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God." Therefore, you should know that it is very dangerous to emphasize miracles rather than the Word of God.
So, in verse 15, what the saints should do in such a time is said.
“Behold, I am coming like a thief; blessed is the man who watches and keeps his garments, and does not walk naked, and shows no shame.”
It was said that these times would come without warning like a thief. The Bible says that no one knows that day or hour. Therefore, we must always be awake and keep our clothes so that we do not walk around naked. In other words, keep awake and pray hard (Ephesians 6:18, Peter 4:7, Matthew 26:41). You have been washed clean with the blood of the Lord, and you have clothed yourself in the robe of righteousness. .
In summary, it means to stay awake and to pray, to defend the truth in faith, and to keep yourself beautiful. It is said that only such a person can escape shame.
These demonic spirits are bringing together the kingdoms of the Antichrist, a place called "Armageddon." This is originally "Har Megiddo," where Barak and Deborah destroyed the king of Canaan (Judges 5:19), and there King Ahaziah was killed by Jehu's arrow (2 Kings 9:27), and there Pharaoh Nego killed Josiah, king of Judea. (2 Kings 23:29, 2 Chronicles 35:22)
It is spoken of when the Jews expressed their national sorrow (Ezra 12:11). So it is a place that can symbolize the woes of the whole world. That is why it is being used as the name of the last war in the world.
For the saints, this name becomes a symbolic noun for the victory of God's people over the kingdom of Antichrist at the end of the world.
And finally, if we look at verses 17-21, we see the seventh bowl.
When it comes to where you pour your bowl, it is said, “I pour it into the air.” this is God
He is saying that he will strike Satan's stronghold. The kingdoms of the world came to power with the power of Satan, but it means that the kingdoms of this world will be completely destroyed when God strikes the stronghold of that power.
Lightning, voice, thunder, and earthquake are said to appear here, which suggests that God's stern judgment will appear.
It is said that the great city will be divided into three parts before this judgment, which means that the kingdom of the greatest and most powerful Antichrist will be completely destroyed.
Dear saints! May all of us humbly repent of our shortcomings, keep watch and pray, keep our faith, sanctify our lives without defiling our clothes of righteousness, so that when we stand before God, we will all become warriors of the cross who have nothing to be ashamed of. bless you with