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1 I heard a loud voice out of the temple, saying to the seven angels, "Go and pour out the seven bowls of the wrath of God on the earth!" 2 The first went, and poured out his bowl into the earth, and it became a harmful and evil sore on the people who had the mark of the beast, and who worshiped his image.
The first went, and poured out his bowl into the earth
Targeting the earth may resonate with the second beast that came out of the earth versus the one coming from the sea from chapter 13. It is the earth beast that urges the creation of an image to the previous beast and that leads to a corresponding identifying mark, name and number.
Another potential application involves how the earth is one part of the cycle of life-giving water on our planet. The next two bowl targets relate to other parts of the cycle of water on this planet, the 4th target being the sun which is the source of heat providing power for circulation. The earth is where water is most needed to produce growth of vegetation to sustain life and health, so this might be why it is the first focus of attention by this group of heralds.
After this, I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, so that no wind would blow on the earth, or on the sea, or on any tree. (Revelation 7:1)
The angel took the censer, and he filled it with the fire of the altar, and threw it on the earth. There followed thunders, sounds, lightnings, and an earthquake. The seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound. The first sounded, and there followed hail and fire, mixed with blood, and they were thrown to the earth. One third of the earth was burnt up, and one third of the trees were burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up. (Revelation 8:5-7)
His tail drew one third of the stars of the sky, and threw them to the earth. The dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she gave birth he might devour her child. (Revelation 12:4)
Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty; you have corrupted your wisdom by reason of your brightness: I have cast you to the ground; I have laid you before kings, that they may see you. By the multitude of your iniquities, in the unrighteousness of your traffic, you have profaned your sanctuaries; therefore have I brought forth a fire from the midst of you; it has devoured you, and I have turned you to ashes on the earth in the sight of all those who see you. (Ezekiel 28:17-18)
For in my jealousy and in the fire of my wrath have I spoken, Surely in that day there shall be a great shaking in the land of Israel; so that the fish of the sea, and the birds of the sky, and the animals of the field, and all creeping things who creep on the earth, and all the men who are on the surface of the earth, shall shake at my presence, and the mountains shall be thrown down, and the steep places shall fall, and every wall shall fall to the ground. I will call for a sword against him to all my mountains, says the Lord Yahweh: every man's sword shall be against his brother. With pestilence and with blood will I enter into judgment with him; and I will rain on him, and on his hordes, and on the many peoples who are with him, an overflowing shower, and great hailstones, fire, and sulfur. I will magnify myself, and sanctify myself, and I will make myself known in the eyes of many nations; and they shall know that I am Yahweh. (Ezekiel 38:19-23)
This sequence of 7 parallels what happened to Jesus during His final hours leading to His violent death on the cross. This was while He was taking on our false identities most intensely, allowing them to be experienced in His physical body and emotional psyche that led to His agonizing death. This is the most important truth about the meaning of the blood of Christ and how it redeems us.
He said to them, "My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here, and watch." He went forward a little, and fell on the ground, and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass away from him. (Mark 14:34-35)
An angel from heaven appeared to him, strengthening him. Being in agony he prayed more earnestly. His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down on the ground. (Luke 22:43-44)
it became a harmful and evil sore
This word became in the Greek is ginomai. In this chapter it reveals an interesting pattern that may be significant. It is used to describe how the first three plagues come to be. Then it is used 6 times in 3 verses describing the reactions to the 7th outpouring. This supports the idea that these plagues occur reflexively rather than than being imposed on the world. This correlates perfectly with a correct understanding of the positive nature of the contents of the bowls that are being poured out. This also affirms the true nature of judgment as defined by Jesus in John 3:19-21 describing how people react to the light that inevitably exposes what is inside them.
The two adjectives for sore provide useful insights into the nature of this symbol. Keep in mind that everything we look at in this book is approached primarily as symbolic rather than literal. This does not exclude the possibility of it having a literal parallel, but if we fail to examine closely what its deeper meaning may be as interpreted from Scripture, we may often miss the most important purpose for why these symbols are used.
These adjectives reference the word sore. As I poured over every instance found in the NT for each of these words I began to realize much better what this may be pointing out. Importantly, when we keep in mind that our Savior experienced that same things that these angels are now repeating only on a global scale, it becomes even more real what this symbol may be trying to convey to our understanding.
This first adjective, harmful, literally means worthless, depraved, injurious, bad, ill, evil, loathsome. Following is a list of passages that may help provide a sense of the meaning and nature of these sores.
I know your works, and your toil and perseverance, and that you can't tolerate evil men, and have tested those who call themselves apostles, and they are not, and found them false. (Revelation 2:2)
He said, "That which proceeds out of the man, that defiles the man. For from within, out of the hearts of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, sexual sins, murders, thefts, (Mark 7:20-21)
A certain beggar, named Lazarus, was laid at his gate, full of sores, and desiring to be fed with the crumbs that fell from the rich man's table. Yes, even the dogs came and licked his sores.
"But Abraham said, 'Son, remember that you, in your lifetime, received your good things, and Lazarus, in like manner, bad things. But now here he is comforted and you are in anguish. (Luke 16:20-21, 25)
Why do you ask me? Ask those who have heard me what I said to them. Behold, these know the things which I said." When he had said this, one of the officers standing by slapped Jesus with his hand, saying, "Do you answer the high priest like that?" Jesus answered him, "If I have spoken evil, testify of the evil; but if well, why do you beat me?" (John 18:21-23)
Pilate said to them, "What then shall I do to Jesus, who is called Christ?" They all said to him, "Let him be crucified!" But the governor said, "Why? What evil has he done?" But they cried out exceedingly, saying, "Let him be crucified!" (Matthew 27:22-23)
He fell on the earth, and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?" (Acts 9:4)
But Ananias answered, "Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he did to your saints at Jerusalem. (Acts 9:13)
But when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat, and fastened on his hand. When the natives saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said one to another, "No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he has escaped from the sea, yet Justice has not allowed to live." However he shook off the creature into the fire, and wasn't harmed. (Acts 28:3-5)
Don't be deceived! "Evil companionships corrupt good morals." (1 Corinthians 15:33)
For we must all be revealed before the judgment seat of Christ; that each one may receive the things in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. (2 Corinthians 5:10)
Put to death therefore your members which are on the earth: sexual immorality, uncleanness, depraved passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry; (Colossians 3:5)
For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some have been led astray from the faith in their greed, and have pierced themselves through with many sorrows. (1 Timothy 6:10)
Alexander, the coppersmith, did much evil to me. The Lord will repay him according to his works, (2 Timothy 4:14)
But nobody can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. (James 3:8)
not rendering evil for evil, or reviling for reviling; but instead blessing; knowing that to this were you called, that you may inherit a blessing. For, "He who would love life, and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil, and his lips from speaking deceit. Let him turn away from evil, and do good. Let him seek peace, and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears open to their prayer; but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil." (1 Peter 3:9-12)
Beloved, don't imitate that which is evil, but that which is good. He who does good is of God. He who does evil hasn't seen God. (3 John 1:11)
The next adjective, evil, adds more clues to the meaning of these sores. While it is almost always translated as the word evil, there are also other words used to translate it. The context of some of the verses where it is found also provide insights to assist in learning what this symbol may represent. Here are selections from passages where this word is used that may help induce more insights.
The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is sound, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is evil, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness! No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other; or else he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You can't serve both God and Mammon. (Matthew 6:22-24)
Even so, every good tree produces good fruit; but the corrupt tree produces evil fruit. A good tree can't produce evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree produce good fruit. (Matthew 7:17-18)
You offspring of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks. The good man out of his good treasure brings out good things, and the evil man out of his evil treasure brings out evil things. (Matthew 12:34-35)
But he answered them, "An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, but no sign will be given it but the sign of Jonah the prophet." (Matthew 12:39)
Then he goes, and takes with himself seven other spirits more evil than he is, and they enter in and dwell there. The last state of that man becomes worse than the first. Even so will it be also to this evil generation." (Matthew 12:45)
So will it be in the end of the world. The angels will come forth, and separate the wicked from among the righteous, (Matthew 13:49)
For out of the heart come forth evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, sexual sins, thefts, false testimony, and blasphemies. (Matthew 15:19)
An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and there will be no sign given to it, except the sign of the prophet Jonah." He left them, and departed. (Matthew 16:4)
Then his lord called him in, and said to him, 'You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt, because you begged me. Shouldn't you also have had mercy on your fellow servant, even as I had mercy on you?' His lord was angry, and delivered him to the tormentors, until he should pay all that was due to him. So my heavenly Father will also do to you, if you don't each forgive your brother from your hearts for his misdeeds." (Matthew 18:32-35)
When they received it, they murmured against the master of the household, saying, 'These last have spent one hour, and you have made them equal to us, who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat!' "But he answered one of them, 'Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Didn't you agree with me for a denarius? Take that which is yours, and go your way. It is my desire to give to this last just as much as to you. Isn't it lawful for me to do what I want to with what I own? Or is your eye evil, because I am good?' (Matthew 20:11-15)
Blessed are you when men shall hate you, and when they shall exclude and mock you, and throw out your name as evil, for the Son of Man's sake. Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven, for their fathers did the same thing to the prophets. (Luke 6:22-23)
But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing back; and your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High; for he is kind toward the unthankful and evil. (Luke 6:35)
The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings out that which is good, and the evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings out that which is evil, for out of the abundance of the heart, his mouth speaks. (Luke 6:45)
The lamp of the body is the eye. Therefore when your eye is good, your whole body is also full of light; but when it is evil, your body also is full of darkness. (Luke 11:34)
"He said to him, 'Out of your own mouth will I judge you, you wicked servant! You knew that I am an exacting man, taking up that which I didn't lay down, and reaping that which I didn't sow. Then why didn't you deposit my money in the bank, and at my coming, I might have earned interest on it?' (Luke 19:22-23)
This is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light; for their works were evil. (John 3:19)
I pray not that you would take them from the world, but that you would keep them from the evil one. (John 17:15)
Sore
A physical sore involves deterioration of the health of skin. Symbolically it could represent the breakdown of family social structures or other healthy emotional bonds designed by God. Current media fuels this breakdown in society, for much of it is about social comparison and relative worth encouraging pride and/or causing depression. This perspective resonates with the first adjective of this word 'sore' that means worthless, depraved, injurious. It involves a loss of connection with the only true Origin of real worth Who is intended to be our sole Source of identity.
Without a healthy heart connection and reliance on God, our sense of worth and identity will begin to crumble resulting in emotional and societal sores as an inevitable outcome. At the same time, this does not preclude a literal parallel of physical sores as well, for the condition of our physical bodies are sensitive to the mental and emotional condition of our spirit.
The fifth poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom was darkened. They gnawed their tongues because of the pain, and they blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores. They didn't repent of their works. (Revelation 16:10-11)
Yahweh said to Moses and to Aaron, "Take to you handfuls of ashes of the furnace, and let Moses sprinkle it toward the sky in the sight of Pharaoh. It shall become small dust over all the land of Egypt, and shall be a boil breaking forth with boils on man and on animal, throughout all the land of Egypt." They took ashes of the furnace, and stood before Pharaoh; and Moses sprinkled it up toward the sky; and it became a boil breaking forth with boils on man and on animal. The magicians couldn't stand before Moses because of the boils; for the boils were on the magicians, and on all the Egyptians. (Exodus 9:8-11)
Yahweh will strike you with the boil of Egypt, and with the tumors, and with the scurvy, and with the itch, of which you can not be healed. (Deuteronomy 28:27)
Yahweh will strike you in the knees, and in the legs, with a sore boil, of which you can not be healed, from the sole of your foot to the crown of your head. (Deuteronomy 28:35)
Therefore neither the priests of Dagon, nor any who come into Dagon's house, tread on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod, to this day. But the hand of Yahweh was heavy on them of Ashdod, and he destroyed them, and struck them with tumors, even Ashdod and the borders of it. (1 Samuel 5:5-6)
It was so, that after they had carried it about, the hand of Yahweh was against the city with a very great confusion: and he struck the men of the city, both small and great; and tumors broke out on them. (1 Samuel 5:9)
Sores can to be an allergic reaction caused by something toxic to our system. Yet in Isaiah 6:5-7 Isaiah is touched with a live coal from the altar, hot with the glory of God. If we experienced our mouth being touched with a burning hot coal, it would likely result in sores from the burn. Yet because of Isaiah’s humility, this encounter actually resulted in healing that empowered him rather than causing pain.
In this context there is another aspect we have not yet explored. In chapter 13 we saw how fire brought down from heaven was manipulated to ‘prove’ that God was on the side of the beast powers and the image. This precedent was sadly originated with Elijah and is used to support the assertion that God is like the dragon asserts, willing to resort to violence and killing when necessary to enforce His will (2 Kings 1:10-14). Likely these sores also might be viewed as justification for wrong conclusions about who is righteous, just as Job’s friends, lacking the backstory, believed about Job’s situation. People who cling to harsh views of God that reject the revelation of the Lamb, might claim that these sores are punishments from God like Job’s friends asserted, unaware that Satan is also involved.
So Satan went forth from the presence of Yahweh, and struck Job with painful sores from the sole of his foot to his head. (Job 2:7)
This next passage emphasizes how these sores have more to do with spiritual condition than physical.
Why should you be beaten more, that you revolt more and more? The whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. From the sole of the foot even to the head there is no soundness in it: wounds, welts, and open sores. They haven't been closed, neither bandaged, neither soothed with oil. (Isaiah 1:5-6)
Therefore thus says Yahweh: you have not listened to me, to proclaim liberty, every man to his brother, and every man to his neighbor: behold, I proclaim to you a liberty, says Yahweh, to the sword, to the pestilence, and to the famine; and I will make you to be tossed back and forth among all the kingdoms of the earth. (Jeremiah 34:17)
There is a close parallel to this passage in a parable told by Jesus where a man forgiven a massive debt failed to pass along the liberty he had been given unconditionally. His unwillingness to forgive despite the fact he was living in freedom himself because of forgiveness extended to him, caused his master to proclaim ‘liberty’ to him similar to how it is described here in Jeremiah.
Then his lord called him in, and said to him, 'You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt, because you begged me. Shouldn't you also have had mercy on your fellow servant, even as I had mercy on you?' His lord was angry, and delivered him to the tormentors, until he should pay all that was due to him. So my heavenly Father will also do to you, if you don't each forgive your brother from your hearts for his misdeeds. (Matthew 18:32-35)
on the people who had the mark of the beast, and who worshiped his image
Though we have studied these symbols extensively in past studies, I would remind us that this idea of things happening to people identified in this way is repeated significantly throughout this book ever since they were introduced in chapter 13. What this indicates is the extreme significance heaven puts on being aware of the danger of being sucked into involvement in any aspect of identifying with the beast who works in close concert with the great dragon.
For what its worth, in this instance only the mark is mentioned – not the name or the number. I'm not sure how important that may be, but at least it is worth noting.
One of his heads looked like it had been wounded fatally. His fatal wound was healed, and the whole earth marveled at the beast. They worshiped the dragon, because he gave his authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast, saying, "Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?" (Revelation 13:3-4)
I saw another beast coming up out of the earth. He had two horns like a lamb, and he spoke like a dragon. He exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence. He makes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose fatal wound was healed. He performs great signs, even making fire come down out of the sky to the earth in the sight of people. He deceives my own people who dwell on the earth because of the signs he was granted to do in front of the beast; saying to those who dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast who had the sword wound and lived. It was given to him to give breath to it, to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause as many as wouldn't worship the image of the beast to be killed. (Revelation 13:11-15)
Let no one deceive you in any way. For it will not be, unless the departure comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of destruction, he who opposes and exalts himself against all that is called God or that is worshiped; so that he sits as God in the temple of God, setting himself up as God. (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4)
Another angel, a third, followed them, saying with a great voice, "If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives a mark on his forehead, or on his hand, he also will drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is prepared unmixed in the cup of his anger. He will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb. The smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever. They have no rest day and night, those who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name. (Revelation 14:9-11)
The beast was taken, and with him the false prophet who worked the signs in his sight, with which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur. (Revelation 19:20)
I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them. I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus, and for the word of God, and such as didn't worship the beast nor his image, and didn't receive the mark on their forehead and on their hand. They lived, and reigned with Christ for the thousand years. (Revelation 20:4)
Because this involves the completion of the wrath of God as mentioned at the beginning of the previous chapter, these plagues may well indicate that the wicked are now released from His shielding mercy so that the natural consequences of disease, suffering and death intercepted by Jesus on their behalf, is allowed to come directly on them because they have rejected their true identity in Christ. Rejectors of mercy open themselves to the natural as well as satanic consequences of sin, refusing to embrace the healing power offered them by the Lamb. Simultaneously that saving power is vividly on display in the lives of those pouring out their souls now overflowing with God's glory and goodness. This sharp contrast results in the chaos that is described throughout this chapter.
Perspectives and Parallels
Here are listed a number of significant parallels from Revelation and from historical events that may contribute to our appreciation and understanding of these final events. This is the last set of major sevens in this book, and it is also identified as the last seven plagues. This does not mean that is directly parallels the last seven of the ten plagues that fell on Egypt that led to the liberation of God's chosen people from slavery, but rather it reminds us that in that instance it was the last seven plagues that the people of God were protected from experiencing directly.
What I have noticed so far in my studies or from others who have shared with me, is that these last seven events have interesting correspondence with the following list found elsewhere. Some of them have close correlations and some may seem more fuzzy. But in either case there can be clues and connections that may help to contribute to a clearer understanding of what we are seeking to find.
The destruction of Sodom and the other wicked cities of the plain
The plagues that happened in Egypt described in the book of Exodus
The curses Moses described in Deuteronomy 28
The experience of Jesus Christ during the last hours of His life leading up to His death
The 7 messages to the assemblies in Revelation chapters 2-3
The 7 seals broken open by the Lamb in chapter 6 and 8:1
The 7 trumpets sounded in chapters 8-10
Sodom connection
But before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom, surrounded the house, both young and old, all the people from every quarter. They called to Lot, and said to him, "Where are the men who came in to you this night? Bring them out to us, that we may have sex with them." (Genesis 19:4-5)
This Sodom connection may be the least synchronized to these plagues, but we can still compare them as we go along to see how at least some of them may have potential parallels.
6th plague in Egypt – the 3rd of the last 7 plagues
Yahweh said to Moses and to Aaron, "Take to you handfuls of ashes of the furnace, and let Moses sprinkle it toward the sky in the sight of Pharaoh. It shall become small dust over all the land of Egypt, and shall be a boil breaking forth with boils on man and on animal, throughout all the land of Egypt." They took ashes of the furnace, and stood before Pharaoh; and Moses sprinkled it up toward the sky; and it became a boil breaking forth with boils on man and on animal. The magicians couldn't stand before Moses because of the boils; for the boils were on the magicians, and on all the Egyptians. (Exodus 9:8-11)
Curses in Deuteronomy
Yahweh will strike you with the boil of Egypt, and with the tumors, and with the scurvy, and with the itch, of which you can not be healed.
Yahweh will strike you in the knees, and in the legs, with a sore boil, of which you can not be healed, from the sole of your foot to the crown of your head. (Deuteronomy 28:27, 35)
Experience of Jesus
In addition to the literal bleeding through the pores of His skin in the garden of Gethsemane, the physical abuse of the body of Jesus during His trial and execution involved wounds that would naturally result in open sores.
Then he released to them Barabbas, but Jesus he flogged and delivered to be crucified.
They braided a crown of thorns and put it on his head, and a reed in his right hand; and they kneeled down before him, and mocked him, saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!" (Matthew 27:26, 29)
1st Message to the Assemblies
Message to Ephesus in Revelation 2:1-7. But I have this against you, that you left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen, and repent and do the first works; or else I am coming to you swiftly, and will move your lampstand out of its place, unless you repent. (Revelation 2:4-5)
This message resonates with another passage we studied recently that present important perspective about how God has to relate to us sometimes.
For thus says Yahweh, Your hurt is incurable, and your wound grievous. There is none to plead your cause, that you may be bound up: you have no healing medicines. All your lovers have forgotten you; they don't seek you: for I have wounded you with the wound of an enemy, with the chastisement of a cruel one, for the greatness of your iniquity, because your sins were increased. Why cry you for your hurt? your pain is incurable: for the greatness of your iniquity, because your sins were increased, I have done these things to you. (Jeremiah 30:12-15)
1st Seal
I saw that the Lamb opened one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures saying, as with a voice of thunder, "Come and see!" And behold, a white horse, and he who sat on it had a bow. A crown was given to him, and he came forth conquering, and to conquer. (Revelation 6:1-2)
1st Trumpet
The first sounded, and there followed hail and fire, mixed with blood, and they were thrown to the earth. One third of the earth was burnt up, and one third of the trees were burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up. (Revelation 8:7)
Thoughts to Ponder
What could we learn from this first outpouring from the bowls filled with praise and prayers and the effects described in the reactions it has on those who cling to the beast’s version of God?
Because we are to first of all approach this book as full of symbols to be translated, from these passages what might we conclude these painful sores could represent, and how might we already be experiencing them but to a lesser degree?
How could we apply these revelations to our own heart right now in ways that would make a difference as to which side we will be on when this actually transpires?
