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Revelation 16
3 The second angel poured out his bowl into the sea, and it became blood as of a dead man. Every living thing in the sea died. 4 The third poured out his bowl into the rivers and springs of water, and they became blood. 5 I heard the angel of the waters saying, "You are righteous, who are and who were, you Holy One, because you have judged these things. 6 For they poured out the blood of the saints and the prophets, and you have given them blood to drink. They deserve this." 7 I heard the altar saying, "Yes, Lord God, the Almighty, true and righteous are your judgments."
The second angel poured out his bowl into the sea
The sea is the source from which rain receives much of its content to return water to the earth. It is mentioned second in this sequence of the water cycle of our planet. The previous bowl was poured out on the land from where the second beast arose. Now this bowl is poured on the sea from which the first beast arose.
Then [the dragon] stood on the sand of the sea. I saw a beast coming up out of the sea, having ten horns and seven heads. On his horns were ten crowns, and on his heads, blasphemous names. The beast which I saw was like a leopard, and his feet were like those of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority. (Revelation 13:1-2)
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 sixth angel sounded. I heard a voice from the horns of the golden altar which is before God, saying to the sixth angel who had one trumpet, "Free the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates!" The four angels were freed who had been prepared for that hour and day and month and year, so that they might kill one third of mankind. (Revelation 9:13-15)
But the wicked are like the troubled sea; for it can't rest, and its waters cast up mire and dirt. (Isaiah 57:20)
But let him ask in faith, without any doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, driven by the wind and tossed. For let that man not think that he will receive anything from the Lord. He is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. (James 1:6-8)
What needs to be examined further is why the sea is here differentiated from the next outpouring that involves the rivers and springs of water. In other words, how are seas different from waters.
A sea in prophecy more likely represents turbulent peoples, chaotic, undependable, unstable. There is a difference between what is symbolized by the sea versus waters such as lakes, streams, springs and rivers. The primary difference is that seas are salty while the other bodies of water are generally composed of fresh water. Seas are where major storms are generate producing damaging waves, strong turbulence and very high winds far more than are experienced over inland areas. Thus they represent more violent and evil-permeated groups of peoples in contrast with more peace-loving peoples represented by fresh waters.
Let’s do a quick run through of this thread involving the sea in this book to get a perspective outline.
The second angel sounded, and something like a great burning mountain was thrown into the sea. One third of the sea became blood, and one third of the living creatures which were in the sea died. One third of the ships were destroyed. (Revelation 8:8-9)
It may be important to be reminded that the origin of this throwing action is not explicitly identified here. It can be very misleading to assume without careful analysis what the actual source may be of violent actions throughout Revelation. But we can be sure that it is only safe to ever keep in mind the two keys we picked up in the very first verse and use them consistently in order to test every potential interpretation as we move along.
Therefore rejoice, heavens, and you who dwell in them. Woe to the earth and to the sea, because the devil has gone down to you, having great wrath, knowing that he has but a short time." (Revelation 12:12)
He said with a loud voice, "Fear the Lord, and give him glory; for the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and the springs of waters!" (Revelation 14:7)
As we carefully unpack these two chapters associated with the occurrence of these plagues, we have noted what the true contents are made of that are being poured out by each of these symbolic angels. With that strategic advantage, we may now see that what these angels are doing is the very opposite of what has too long been assumed about them. Each of these outpourings are invitations, even strong and passionate appeals for those who dwell on the earth to worship the true God who created them as well as the earth and seas and everything else involved. Yet He did not create them evil but to reflect His glory and get their true identity directly from Him instead of by their own selfish means that defaces His image in their lives.
Just as the angel messages in chapter 14 are calls to genuine worship that has power to save and transform those who do so into Lamb-like people learning from the One who is meek and lowly of heart where they may experience rest and joy, so too these angels in chapter 16 are again pouring out one last appeal for humans to be returned to their original design and allow God to save them rather than clinging tenaciously to the lies they have embraced that have been foisted and promulgated through the world’s system of economics, artificial law and administered through the counterfeit social design of top-down hierarchy. This is where the complete sealing of both sides in this war is being permanently finalized just as predicted at the beginning of chapter 15.
For in an hour such great riches are made desolate.' Every shipmaster, and everyone who sails anywhere, and mariners, and as many as gain their living by sea, stood far away, and cried out as they looked at the smoke of her burning, saying, 'What is like the great city?' They cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and mourning, saying, 'Woe, woe, the great city, in which all who had their ships in the sea were made rich by reason of her great wealth!' For in one hour is she made desolate.
"Rejoice over her, O heaven, you saints, apostles, and prophets; for God has judged your judgment on her." A mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and cast it into the sea, saying, "Thus with violence will Babylon, the great city, be thrown down, and will be found no more at all. (Revelation 18:17-21)
Here we are alerted to the major component of Satan’s design for an alternate society that challenges God’s government and design. Trading and exchange at the expense of others while purporting to be for the benefit of all, was I believe, one of the very first steps in the development of the rebellion that began in heaven long before this world was created. We find this most clearly exposed in Ezekiel 28 and supported strongly in the preceding chapters. In fact when we come to the study of Revelation 18 we will see how it parallels Ezekiel 27. I point this out here because in both locations the sea figures prominently as a symbol of intelligent beings upon which all commerce and trafficking depends.
God made the expanse, and divided the waters which were under the expanse from the waters which were above the expanse; and it was so. God called the expanse sky. There was evening and there was morning, a second day. God said, "Let the waters under the sky be gathered together to one place, and let the dry land appear;" and it was so. God called the dry land Earth, and the gathering together of the waters he called Seas. God saw that it was good. (Genesis 1:7-10)
The flood was forty days on the earth. The waters increased, and lifted up the ship, and it was lifted up above the earth. The waters prevailed, and increased greatly on the earth; and the ship floated on the surface of the waters. The waters prevailed exceedingly on the earth. All the high mountains that were under the whole sky were covered. (Genesis 7:17-19)
Lift up your rod, and stretch out your hand over the sea, and divide it: and the children of Israel shall go into the midst of the sea on dry ground.
Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and Yahweh caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all the night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided. The children of Israel went into the midst of the sea on the dry ground, and the waters were a wall to them on their right hand, and on their left. (Exodus 14:16, 21-22)
With the blast of your nostrils, the waters were piled up. The floods stood upright as a heap. The deeps were congealed in the heart of the sea. The enemy said, 'I will pursue. I will overtake. I will divide the spoil. My desire shall be satisfied on them. I will draw my sword, my hand shall destroy them.' You blew with your wind. The sea covered them. They sank like lead in the mighty waters. (Exodus 15:8-10)
For the horses of Pharaoh went in with his chariots and with his horsemen into the sea, and Yahweh brought back the waters of the sea on them; but the children of Israel walked on dry land in the midst of the sea. Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a tambourine in her hand; and all the women went out after her with tambourines and with dances. Miriam answered them, "Sing to Yahweh, for he has triumphed gloriously. The horse and his rider he has thrown into the sea." (Exodus 15:19-21)
I have found David, my servant. I have anointed him with my holy oil, with whom my hand shall be established. My arm will also strengthen him. No enemy will tax him. No wicked man will oppress him. I will beat down his adversaries before him, and strike those who hate him. But my faithfulness and my loving kindness will be with him. In my name, his horn will be exalted. I will set his hand also on the sea, and his right hand on the rivers. (Psalms 89:20-25)
I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth have passed away, and the sea is no more. (Revelation 21:1)
it became blood as of a dead man
The main point here is that the blood of a dead man is non-circulating. The circulating waters in the seas greatly influences weather patterns over the whole earth. If they stop circulating, disastrous results will ensue. Dead blood is also black in contrast to bright red living blood (Leviticus 17:11). The only blood used in the sanctuary services was from living animals that had just been killed.
Dark views of God held by those who worship the beast result in dead, non-circulating spiritual blood in contrast with life-giving truth as revealed by the blood of Jesus designed to restore trust in God's heart. Man-made religions are like dead blood with no life-giving power to save anyone from sin and distrust of God. As the mercy and kindness of God is rejected, it stifles the circulation of grace, kindness and love, leaving ‘all those who dwell on the earth' dead in their selfishness and sins.
Because iniquity will be multiplied, the love of many will grow cold. (Matthew 24:12)
A man who disregards Moses' law dies without compassion on the word of two or three witnesses. How much worse punishment, do you think, will he be judged worthy of, who has trodden under foot the Son of God, and has counted the blood of the covenant with which he was sanctified an unholy thing, and has insulted the Spirit of grace? (Hebrews 10:28-29)
We will look more at this metaphor in the next plague that affects the springs and rivers.
Every living thing in the sea died
Every living thing may represent the extinguishing of the last vestiges of hope for repentance on the part of those who have continued to cling to worship of a false image of God. They have so saturated their minds and hearts with false identity that they have completely become like what they have chosen to worship.
The second angel sounded, and something like a great burning mountain was thrown into the sea. One third of the sea became blood, and one third of the living creatures which were in the sea died. One third of the ships were destroyed. (Revelation 8:8-9)
The dead shall not live. The deceased shall not rise. Therefore have you visited and destroyed them, and caused all memory of them to perish. (Isaiah 26:14)
Parallels
Sodom parallel – Lot went out to them to the door, and shut the door after him. He said, "Please, my brothers, don't act so wickedly. See now, I have two virgin daughters. Please let me bring them out to you, and you may do to them what seems good to you. Only don't do anything to these men, because they have come under the shadow of my roof." They said, "Stand back!" They said, "This one fellow came in to live as a foreigner, and he appoints himself a judge. Now will we deal worse with you, than with them!" They pressed hard on the man Lot, and drew near to break the door. (Genesis 19:6-9)
1st of 10 plagues on Egypt – Exodus 7:19-20
Curses parallel – therefore shall you serve your enemies whom Yahweh shall send against you, in hunger, and in thirst, and in nakedness, and in want of all things: and he shall put a yoke of iron on your neck, until he have destroyed you. (Deuteronomy 28:48)
Cross parallel – loss of blood from whippings, rotten wine to drink.
Then he said to them, "My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here, and watch with me." He went forward a little, fell on his face, and prayed, saying, "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass away from me; nevertheless, not what I desire, but what you desire." (Matthew 26:38-39)
He was withdrawn from them about a stone's throw, and he knelt down and prayed, saying, "Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done." 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 22:41-44)
They gave him sour wine to drink mixed with gall. When he had tasted it, he would not drink. (Matthew 27:34)
2nd Message – Smyrna – Revelation 2:8-17.
2nd Seal – When he opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, "Come!" Another came forth, a red horse. To him who sat on it was given power to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another. There was given to him a great sword. (Revelation 6:3-4)
2nd Trumpet – The second angel sounded, and something like a great burning mountain was thrown into the sea. One third of the sea became blood, and one third of the living creatures which were in the sea died. One third of the ships were destroyed. (Revelation 8:8-9)
The third poured out his bowl into the rivers and springs of water
The rivers are part of the system of returning excess water from the land back to the sea. Springs are sources from which underground water pour out to water the earth. These are addressed separately here from the sea in the water cycle of our planet. The previous bowl was poured out on the sea which turned to blood. Now this bowl is poured on the rivers and springs that extends the deprivation of clean water from all who worship the beast that came from the sea. In other words, all potential resources for life and truth are now eliminated because the world is rejecting the clear messages of light about the truth of God that is hated and despised by those on the earth.
The third angel sounded, and a great star fell from the sky, burning like a torch, and it fell on one third of the rivers, and on the springs of the waters. The name of the star is called "Wormwood." One third of the waters became wormwood. Many people died from the waters, because they were made bitter. (Revelation 8:10-11)
Yahweh said to Moses, "Tell Aaron, 'Take your rod, and stretch out your hand over the waters of Egypt, over their rivers, over their streams, and over their pools, and over all their ponds of water, that they may become blood; and there shall be blood throughout all the land of Egypt, both in vessels of wood and in vessels of stone.'"
Moses and Aaron did so, as Yahweh commanded; and he lifted up the rod, and struck the waters that were in the river, in the sight of Pharaoh, and in the sight of his servants; and all the waters that were in the river were turned to blood. (Exodus 7:19-20)
Why are there two bowls that affect different bodies of waters? What is the significance of this distinction while in the plagues of Egypt it all involved just one plague?
While Egypt bordered a sea, in that time only the river Nile and the rest of the water returning to the sea experienced being turned to blood. Of course the sea was full of salt water so not having access to fresh water from any source made life extremely problematic for everyone. But here in this last symbolic round of events, we see first the sea and then the sources feeding water into the sea all polluted and becoming blood, symbolizing the pervasive rebellion and resistance to the fresh insights of saving truth that are being poured out but are simultaneously being rejected.
Later in this chapter we find the streams and pools mentioned again in connection with frogs which is the second plague that fell on Egypt. The frogs did not emerge from the sea but from the rivers, streams and pools. That may provide important clues as to why there are two separate outpourings and distinguish between the sea and the other sources of water.
Yahweh said to Moses, "Tell Aaron, 'Stretch forth your hand with your rod over the rivers, over the streams, and over the pools, and cause frogs to come up on the land of Egypt.'" (Exodus 8:5)
I saw coming out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits, something like frogs; for they are spirits of demons, performing signs; which go forth to the kings of the whole inhabited earth, to gather them together for the war of that great day of God, the Almighty. (Revelation 16:13-14)
they became blood
Why, when I came, was there no man? when I called, was there none to answer? Is my hand shortened at all, that it can't redeem? or have I no power to deliver? Behold, at my rebuke I dry up the sea, I make the rivers a wilderness: their fish stink, because there is no water, and die for thirst. (Isaiah 50:2)
For my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the spring of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water. (Jeremiah 2:13)
I will fill its mountains with its slain: in your hills and in your valleys and in all your watercourses shall they fall who are slain with the sword. (Ezekiel 35:8)
Though he is fruitful among his brothers, an east wind will come, the breath of Yahweh coming up from the wilderness; and his spring will become dry, and his fountain will be dried up. He will plunder the storehouse of treasure. (Hosea 13:15)
The symbol of springs and streams is very relevant to the nature of what is transpiring in this chapter. This is a spiritual confrontation far more important to understand rather than an outpouring of punishments by God as so many assume. Consider the opposite use of these symbols.
For thus says Yahweh, Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the nations like an overflowing stream: and you shall suck of it; you shall be borne on the side, and shall be dandled on the knees. (Isaiah 66:12)
Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, 'Give me a drink,' you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water."
The woman said to him, "Sir, you have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep. From where then have you that living water? Are you greater than our father, Jacob, who gave us the well, and drank of it himself, as did his children, and his livestock?"
Jesus answered her, "Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never thirst again; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life." (John 4:10-14)
Now on the last and greatest day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink! He who believes in me, as the Scripture has said, from within him will flow rivers of living water." (John 7:37-38)
They will never be hungry, neither thirsty any more; neither will the sun beat on them, nor any heat; for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne shepherds them, and leads them to springs of waters of life. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes. (Revelation 7:16-17)
These two plagues are in sharp contrast to the life-giving properties that can be unleashed through believing with the heart, the saving truth symbolized by the blood of Jesus that can reconcile sinners to God.
But God commends his own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we will be saved from God's wrath through him. For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we will be saved by his life. Not only so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation. (Romans 5:8-11)
The kind of blood involving both the seas and all the other sources of life-giving water, represents this world’s fixation with death as the presumed payment required by God before being willing to reconcile. This satanic view of God has been reflected in the myriads of deaths that religious people have imposed on God's true believers throughout history. This is really a counterfeit of Jesus turning water into wine for the purpose of bringing joy, for the dark teachings of nearly all religions portray God as the very opposite in one way or another.
Parallels
1st and part of 2nd of 10 plagues on Egypt – Exodus 7:20; 8:5.
Curses – Deuteronomy 28:23-24
Cross – Excessive blood from thorns, beatings, nails in hands and feet.
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 27:29)
When they had crucified him, they divided his clothing among them, casting lots, (Matthew 27:35)
but when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was already dead, they didn't break his legs. However one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out. (John 19:33-34)
The other disciples therefore said to him, "We have seen the Lord!" But he said to them, "Unless I see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe." (John 20:25)
Message – Pergamum Revelation 2:12-17
Seal – Revelation 6:5-6
Trumpet – The third angel sounded, and a great star fell from the sky, burning like a torch, and it fell on one third of the rivers, and on the springs of the waters. The name of the star is called "Wormwood." One third of the waters became wormwood. Many people died from the waters, because they were made bitter. (Revelation 8:10-11)
