The Seven Vials of God’s Wrath
Introduction
When we compare these judgments with the trumpet judgments of chapter 8, they are similar. The differences are that these judgments are more severe and especially aimed at the Beast and his Satan kingdom. Whereas the trumpet judgments occurred in the first 3.5 yrs of the Tribulation, these judgments occur in the last 3.5 yrs of the Great Tribulation and lead to the Battle of Armageddon and Christ’s Second Coming.
Grievous Sores, vv. 1-2
A. Reminds us of the Sixth Plague of Egypt, Exodus 9:9.
B. God promised to send this plague on Israel if they rebelled against Him, Deuteronomy 28:27, 35.
C. People still refused to repent and they blasphemed God.
Water to Blood, vv. 3-7
A. Two vials are poured out:
- the Sea;
- Freshwater sources;
- Unlike the trumpet judgment where only 1/3 of the water was turned to blood, here all water is turned to blood.
B. The angel of the waters praises God for this judgment.
- The people of earth shed innocent blood, so they must drink blood.
- The souls under the altar are now satisfied. God answered their prayers and vindicated them, v. 9.
Scorching and Darkness, vv. 8-11
A. The 4th angel causes the sun to scorch men.
- In the trumpet judgment (8:12), a part of the sun was darkened.
- God gives them a foretaste of hell, Malachi 4:1-2.
- Men refuse to repent.
B. The 5th angel brings darkness.
- Parallel of the 9th plague of Egypt, Exodus 10:21-23.
- Satan is the prince of darkness, so it is only right that darkness invade the world. See Mark 13:24.
- God gives them another foretaste of hell: enduring suffering in darkness!
C. William Newell said: “Men who will not be won by grace will never be won at all.”
Gathering of the Armies, vv. 12-16
A. The 6th angel dries up the Euphrates River so the Eastern hordes can invade Israel.
B. The unholy trinity sends out evil spirits to compel the armies of the world to gather for the Battle of Armageddon.
C. Verse 15 is an admonition to pre-Tribulation saints. The church will not be caught “in the dark,” see 1 Thessalonians 5:2.
The Mystery of God Finished, vv. 17-21
A. The 7th angel pours out this vial into the air.
- This is the beginning of the end. Chapters 17-19 are included in this vial. They elaborate more fully what happens in this judgment.
- Why the air? This is the realm of Satan, since he is the “prince of the power of the air” (Ephesians 2:2). The previous judgments touched the world of nature and mankind, but not the mastermind behind it all–>Satan.
- From this point, Christ will judge Satan’s religious system (17:1-18), his political system (18:1-24), his armies (19:1-21), and finally, the old serpent himself (20:1-3).
B. God says: “It is done!” This is the first “It is done.” When the new heaven and new earth are ushered in, God will again say, “It is done,” (21.6).
C. Earthquakes, vv. 19-20
- Divides Jerusalem into three sections
- Other cities of the nations are destroyed
D. Hail, v. 21
- Parallel of the 7th Egyptian plague, Exodus 9:22-26.
- A talent of silver weighs 125 pounds!
- Leviticus 24:16 says that blasphemers should be stoned to death. Mankind receives what they deserve.