A Study of The Book of Revelation, Part #53

Earl Gillespie

A Verse by Verse Study of The Book of Revelation

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

The Seven Vials of the Wrath of God

Revelation 16:1

As  stated earlier, the reason for the omission of The Book of Revelation from many serious Bible Studies is that some tend to believe that it should not have been a part of the Bible.  Revelation reveals and predict the end of the world in vivid and graphic terms that is unacceptable to many.   Revelation reveals the rise and fall of societies and nations, and it predicts disaster for the apostate church.  The acceptance of the God of Revelation  falls within the same venue as saying I know God is a healer as you are being  rushed to the hospital.  It is easy to accept our Heavenly father as a loving father but to think of him as an angry God is Taboo.

In our study we are asked to visualize the wrath of God as being stored up in the vitals.   In essence the wrath of God is withheld today and stored waiting for that day when God says, "enough".  We have trample the word of the almighty, taken his Holy word, revised it into a guidebook for motivational speakers and rendered the power irrelevant.   In this chapter we are studying an angry God, a fearful God, not the sugar coated God of love that we are constantly hearing about.  

Verse 1,. And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth.

Chapter sixteen opens with a great voice coming out of the temple saying to the seven angels, “Go your ways.”  Each angel had a specific set of orders. They were to go their separate ways, and pour out the vials or containers of the wrath of God upon the earth.  There is no mistake regarding the place where the contents of the containers are to be poured. 

At the close of chapter 15, the temple in Heaven was filled with smoke, the smoke was from the Glory of God. The temple was so filled that nothing inside could be seen and no one could enter.   Nothing could deter the coming judgment. There was a heavenly blackout, so to speak.  There was no place of intercession, no place for a blood offering. There was no place for mercy!  The understanding of the Bible is easy when we read each verse slowly and let the verse say what it says.  There is no need to spiritualize or sermonize the word of God.  Understanding the symbology of the Bible allows us to make a literal  application of the Word of God.

The Judgment of God in its final bitterness must come immediately, there could be no further delay. During the pouring out of the wrath of  God, he is hidden in the dark cloud of His glory, in His temple.  The temple is God house. God cannot be found until the seven angels have completed their missions - the pouring out of the contents of the vials given to each of them. Read Exodus 40:34-35, where, in the dedication of the tabernacle, Moses could not enter into the tent of the congregation “because the cloud abode thereon, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.” In I Kings 8:10-11, when the temple and its services were inaugurated, the priests could not enter, “for the glory of the Lord had filled the house of the Lord.” 

In Revelation 16:1,  it is not the glory of the Lord that fills the temple, but “the smoke of the glory of the Lord.” We have the glory of God in judgment here.   In Revelation we have the terms, “voice,  voices, strong voice, a  loud voice, a  great voice.” Each of these terms has a special significance.  Where you find “voice” in Revelation, it is in reference to Christ, to God, to angels, to the living creatures, to the altar, or to the throne, etc. The word “voices” is found eight times in Revelation, and in seven of these times they have to do with God’s judgment (Revelation 4:5; 8:5-13b; 10:3, 4; 11:19; 16:18).  “Strong voice” in Revelation 18:2, “loud voice” in Revelation 5:2, and “great voice” in Revelation 16:1 and 21:3 all describe the character of the voice which is speaking. It is either the  “great voice” of God Himself, or else He is speaking through an angel.

This “great voice” which came from the temple (the holiest spot of all) is tremendously stirred to holy wrath by those things which have been taking place on earth during the last half of the Tribulation, when Antichrist sounds out such blasphemy as Heaven, earth, nor hell has never known. God’s wrath burns fiercely, and that fierce wrath must be poured out. The number of angels is seven, God's number signifying divine completeness. These seven vials are not filled with incense - but with wrath and fury.  The symbology is clear, it is not hard to understand.  They were filled in the temple (God's House)  by Almighty God Himself,  the holy,  righteous One of Heaven and of earth. The seven angels stand by, vials in hand,  ready to do God's biddings,  ready to move upon God’s command. The “great voice” gives that command: “Pour out your vials upon the earth!” (The same voice announces the completion of the judgments in Revelation 16:17.)  

Now notice the command to go and pour out, not “in part”, but to the last bitter dreg. “Empty your vials, every last  drop, upon the earth!” (Read Zephaniah 3:8, Psalm 69:24, and Jeremiah 10:25). The seven last plagues seem to be an answer to Israel’s prayer, “Render unto our neighbors sevenfold into their bosom their reproach, wherewith they have reproached thee, O Lord” (Psalm 79:12).  These seven vials are to be poured out upon all the earth, not just on one locality, but every square inch of this earth. Verse 1 deal with an angery God.

THE FIRST VIAL

Revelation 16:2:

Verse 2. “And the first went, and poured out his vial upon the earth; and there fell a noisome and grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and upon them which worshipped his image.”

In this verse, the first vial is poured out upon the earth. We know where and what the earth is, and there is no point in spiritualizing this statement. When the angel poured out his vial, a running sore came upon men who bore the mark of the Beast and upon them who worshipped his image.  We have already established that the church will not here to undergo this tribulation.  The having already been caught up when Christ came back for his church, have a front row seat as God began to purge the earth of its sinful nature. 

In Revelation 8 we read about, “The first angel, the second angel  . . . “, etc. But here in Revelation 16:2 we read only “the first,” signifying that the contents of the vials are rapidly poured out, that judgments are short and follow in rapid succession. “Except those days should be shortened, there would be no flesh saved” (Matthew 24:22).

The first vial contained running, grievous sores, which reminds us of the Egyptian plague in the days of Moses. The sores in Egypt were the sixth plague, and the first to be inflicted upon man.  (The previous ones were not directed to the bodies of men.) The sore in Moses’ day was a terrible, loathsome disease. Read Deuteronomy 28:27-35.  The God of Moses’ day is the God of Revelation. The God of Pharaoh’s day is the God of this day. If God poured out sores upon the ungodly men of Egypt, it will be no hard task for Him to again inflict people with running sores.  The Beast had influenced all the earth. The  group designated here consists of the Beast-worshippers and those who had received his mark.  These vials are to be poured out upon all the earth, and from that I gather that the mark of the Beast (and the Beast-worshippers) reaches throughout the universe. It began in Jerusalem, but quickly spread to the four corners of the earth.  The mark of the Beast is a ticket for those who wear it to be covered with running sores. At the time the vials will be poured out, there will be a very small remnant of God’s elect on earth.  Again I quote, “Except those days were shortened, there would no flesh be saved ”; not one person would be spared.  The sores will be “ evil and grievous ” - a bad ulcer.

The Greek word signifies a sore that gives off highly offensive odors. Words cannot describe the despicable condition and the awfulness of such a plague. Will YOU be here? Dear friend, if you are not saved, you could be. If you are born again you will not be. If you do not know beyond a shadow of a doubt that you are born again, bow your head and give your heart to Jesus right now.  “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved .” This terrible judgment of sores  precedes the fall of Babylon which occurs in verse 19. The everlasting torments of the Beast worshippers (chapter 14:9-10) succeeds the fall of Babylon.

THE SECOND VIAL

Revelation 16:3: 3.

Verse 3,  And the second angel poured out his vial upon the sea; and it became as the Blood of a dead man: and every living soul died in the sea.

I believe the vials will be poured out in rapid succession.  The first vial will be poured, and the second vial will immediately follow. In Exodus 7:17-25 the rivers of Egypt turned to blood . . . literal blood, not spiritual nor symbolic blood! Some symbolize the Blood, but why should I? I believe the sea will actually turn to blood “as the blood of a dead man ,” just as the Bible tells us. It is so strange to me that some people have a hard time believing what the Bible has to say. They read it and they ask, “What does that mean?” The answer is clear: The Bible says what it means, and means What it says. In the words of Paul, “Let God be true, but every man a liar.” There is no need to try to explain away the running sores, the blood of a dead man, and the literal baking and burning of the backs of men. There is no need to try to explain away God’s Word. If God sent real blood, real fire, real lice, real flies, real frogs, real darkness, real death to Egypt,  then can He not do it again? Has God changed? You know the answer: “God changes not!”  (Hebrews 13:8).

God has not changed His mind about sin, nor will He ever do so. One day the Mediterranean and other seas will change to the blood of a dead man. That will be a rotten, stinking, deplorable condition. All the fish, whales and all the sea monsters will die and begin to decay. Think of it! Do you want to be around when all of this happen?

The Church and James Brown

Earl Gillespie

The Church 

And 

The James Brown Effect

All the world's a stage, And all the men and women merely players: thus began the monologue from William Shakespeare’s, As you like it.  A member of the Generation X defined a local church as one big stage created by those who wants to be players.  It is the place where local actors go to preform.  Liturgy once a communal response to the sacred Word through Activities reflecting praise, thanksgiving, supplication, or repentance are changing.  Barriers of separation between Christianity and the natural tendencies of humanity is falling.   

Millennials, an abbreviation for the millennial generation, is a term used by demographers to describe a segment of the population born between 1980 and 2000 (approximately). Sometimes referred to in the media as "Generation Y," Millennials are the children of the post-WWII baby Boomer generation.   This is the generation that are are walking away from the church.  The question that many pastors entertain is how to reverse the mass migration from the church by Generation X, while some just plain and simply refuse to acknowledge that the problem exist. 

The assumption among many Christian leaders is that the key to drawing the twenty-something crowd back into the church is to make a few style updates, change the beat of the music, add more musicians, more casual services, a coffee shop in the fellowship hall or a pastor and wife who wear skinny jeans.   Dance groups and praise teams are a good way to draw friends and relatives of the performers or the want-to-be performers.  These groups may even contribute to the natural growth of the church, but it is the spiritual growth of the masses that suffers when these performances become the heart our liturgy.  The showmanship of the pastor and wait staff no longer holds the “Awe” that it once held.  This millennial generation not easily impressed with consumerism or performances.  Church performances are just one more thing that has been said to be driving this generation away from the church.   Many Christians are finding themselves increasingly drawn to high church traditions  because the ancient forms of liturgy seem so unpretentious, so unconcerned with being “cool,” and they find that refreshingly authentic. 

Growing up indoctrinated in the Baptist and Pentecostal church worship platform,  I was indoctrinated in the hoop and holler method of preaching.  The preacher would read a scriptural, one that was easily spiritualized, then he would begin to weave a story that could be related to by most of the church members.  The congregation was encouraged to participate in the story telling or message from God by shouts of “Amen” or “Preach”.    Once the excitement built to an acceptable frenzy, the tone of the preacher would change as he began to sermonize, amid scream and shout .   In the Baptist church the ushers were prepared to rush to the side of those overcome by the “Spirit of God”, holding them down, using hand fans and wiping tears were standard procedures.   In the Pentecostal church, when the spirit hit you, you  were encouraged to get up and dance.   There were certain phrases that could be used to get a church worked up.  In the Baptist church if the crowd was slow to respond the preacher had a way of going into the graveyard and digging someone up.  The pastor of one church was famous for , “I got a mother gone on, and if she was here tonight she would tell you…”, church out!  I have seen a Pentecostal preacher turn the church out with just three words, “isn’t God Good”.

Young aspiring ministers would often emulate older preachers that had a strong voice and could stir up  a church group.   Many preachers mastered the art,  but some come off with a strange screeching that keep many on the edge of their seat , wondering if the speaker was about to have a heart attach.  The thing that bothered some was, that once the, “Spirit of the Lord started moving” you no longer could understand anything that was said.   A preacher came to our church and preached a message from the twenty third Psalms, it was a beautiful message that explained to our young minds the concept of Jesus being our Shepherd.  The church sat in stoic silence, occasionally there was an “ amen”.   After the minister sat down the pastor took to the pulpit, he began, “The Lo----ord is my Sheppard, “AHAW”,  and I , and I say I, can you say I, I just want to say IIIIIIIII shall not want,    People began to dance, scream and  jumping over beaches, He turned the place out.  What was confusing to me when I reached the age of curiosity, was there was an ethnic flavor to this type of, “having church.” 

In the ancient days a piano or organ was the extent of the musical instruments acceptable in a church worship setting.  With the advent of the pentecostal movement all of that seems to have changed.  First it was drums and washboards that evolved into a full scale church band with many different types of instruments.  To compete with the, “get down and juke” entertainment aspect of modern religion many other denominations gave in to the use of musical instruments in their worship service.

Growing up in a Pentecostal environment I had little contact with any music other than church music.  Off to college at an early age I had a desire to gather experiences that I had missed out on .   James Brown was coming to town and the concert was a big event on campus and I never had been to a concert before.  The night of the concert came and I arrived early at the auditorium and braved the long line to get a good seat.  The huge auditorium was filled with a standing room only crowd.  The band began playing to warm the crowd up,  after everyone was rocking to the beat the announcer introduced James Brown as the hardest working man in show business.   James Brown appeared on stage with a cape draped over his shoulders, ran to the microphone, removed it from its stand,  danced his way to the edge of the stage, fell down on his knees and moaned two words, “Please, please”.  The auditorium erupted in screams, people were climbing over seats, some fainting, as others rushed to fill the small dancing area around the stage.   I had seen this reaction before in the church, and it was called the “spirit of God.”

Words are powerful, how they are used, the environment they are used to set the stage for emotional reaction, and emotional reactions should not be defended as the Spirit of God.  In many settings we are indoctrinated into a reactive state.  The yelling “fire” in a crowded theater will cause a panic reaction, but when the announcer yells the word “Touchdown” at a football game a reaction of euphoria  ensued.  Both reactions involve physical and emotional reactions, but neither should be interpreted as the Spirit of God.

In order to draw the millennium youth back to church, many churches have begun to exploit the entertaining aspect of Christianity.  The nightclubs had once been the place to go to get your “juke on”, the church has now become the place to “get your praise on”.  The churches that refuse to go along with  todays modern interpretation of Christian worship risk becoming a haven for the elderly and the handicap.  To offset this prediction many churches have begun to compete with institutions of higher learning and promise supernatural favors  that is not in accordance with the Word of God.

What the millennial generation  really wants from the church is not a change in style but a change in substance.   They want an end to the culture wars. The generation that is coming on after us is a highly educated generation and they want a truce between science and faith.   They want to be known for what they stand for, not what they are  against.  There is a need to be able to ask questions that have not predetermined answers.  The churches need to  emphasize an allegiance to the kingdom of God rather than an allegiance to a single political party or a single nation or even a single pastor.  The Bible should not be treated as a playbook for motivational speakers, it should be treated as the word of God, if not then it is time we burn it.

Next 

The Seven Vials of the Wrath of God

Revelation 16:1

A Rant About Understanding The Word of God

Earl Gillespie

A Rant
Understanding the Word of God
Praying For The Sick

When I stray from my predefined bible study guide,  it means I am venting my frustration at the callous ways we cast the word of God.  In my writing I do not claim to have all of the answers,  I post questions and pointers that could guide us into a  deeper understanding, a  righteous assessment and interpretation of God's word.   I am committed to believing in God and his powers, but much of what I see and hear about the God of today,  I simply don't believe.  

I am often reminded of the days of old while growing up in the church environment, being a curious nature I often made the mistake of asking questions.  Hearing numerous messages delivered on the flat earth concept, (Yes flat earth) I wanted to know why did science say the earth was round and the Bible say it is flat. I was told that science which we studied five days a week and the Bible which we studied on Sunday, did not agree. As I grew older, the age of the earth and the dinosaurs became a point of contention.  Nobody told me of the conversation that  God and Job had about these huge beasts that easily could be described as dinosaurs.  Asking the question, where did Cain get his wife or when did the different races began to appear was enough to get you kicked out of Sunday School and sent home with the feeling that you crossed into dark territory.   To put the final cap on things we were told that there were much about the Bible that we would never understand.  Lack of understanding  of the Bible became the reason many graduate from college and opt out on modern day Christianity. 

How many times have you attempted to engage in a serious conversation concerning world affairs , only to be rebuffed, or told that God said, “If my people which are called by my name would humble themselves and pray, then will I hear from Heaven and Heal the land”?  Questions began to fill your mind but you are hesitating to ask.  The world situation is not getting better.  Look at our communities, read the news headlines.  The United States are not becoming more Godly.  The things that Jesus prophercied  are happening now.  Do this mean nobody is praying?  Yet everyday from the social media pages to the grocery checkout lanes people are talking about how much they pray.  Have you noticed how a smorgasbord of promises is being offered from God?  God said he would not let the sickness and diseases come upon you if you pray.   Paypal is doing a booming business collecting "Donations" from those who desire prayer.  Yet sickness and disease is rampart in and out of the church.  Maybe God had a different plan for the Children of Israel than he has for the world today. 

Serious dialogs are no longer possible in many settings without the power of prayer being invoked and those that consider themselves to be more righteous will leave you in an embarrassing state.  Churches are conducting public prayer services and members setting up call in prayer lines, yet evil seems to flourish.   The Bible is under attack more than ever and alternate lifestyles have mushroomed and flourished even in the churches and too many of God’s ministers like the Kings of old,  they are acting badly.  The church is beginning to lock hand with the government, the same as it did under the rule of Constantine the Great.  Fine churches are being built with the support of government funding and the edifice of the government must be upheld.  Jesus spoke against this type of arrangement in the book of Revelation, in his message to the churches. 

Parent do the best they can raise up their children in the way of the church only to see them walk away from the church.  They sit with heavy hearts as the preacher preaches, “Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart.”   They pray and wonder, "Lord what did I do wrong", as they struggle to understand.  "A new story say a teenager from a faith-healing family died from an illness that could have been easily treated, just a few months after a toddler cousin of his died in a simular case.   The incidents has led to criminal charges." This type of headline seems to appear more and more .

Before we get too far in this dissertation let me insert this disclaimer.  I am not questioning the power of God, I am questioning our application of our knowledge of God.  I strongly believe that  in the power of God.  if it had not been for the saving and healing power of God I would not be here today.  Those that know me personally will be quick to testify of how God heals me of cancer, but   I do not testify of being healed of cancer.  I went to the hospital and underwent surgical and radiation procedures.  It was God's grace that allowed me to recover.  I believe there is a difference between God's grace and the healing power of God.  Paul stated that he prayed to God three times for a condition that he described as a throne in the flesh, that it might depart from him.  God answered Paul in in 2 Corinthians 12:9, " And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me."   When God heals there is no need to undergo surgery.  We ought to be more thankful for God's grace than the natural elements of this life.  When I had a heart attack alone in my shop, God healed me.   

James 5:13-16  Is any among you afflicted? Let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms. Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he has committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.  We could reinterpret this or spiritualize this to make it say what we want it to say.

To set the stage for this discussion let's ask two questions.  Who is talking and who is he talking to?  James 1:1  James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.  Now it is accepted by some to spiritualize the scripture, thereby claiming that the church is the spiritual Israel.  If this were true then how could the Jews, The Gentiles and the church be referred to in the same verse. 1 Corinthians 10:32  Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God:  At this point the pious prelate will quote 1 Corinthians 12:13  For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.  Yes, it is true the church is a body made up of Jews and Gentiles, but the church and the Jews play an important in the end time judgement.   If we go about spiritualizing the scripture we end up with a polluted Gospel that is not sustainable, nor it is believable.

Now let us agree, prayer is a powerful tool in our fight against the devil.  Pray is necessary for a closer walk with God.  We ought to always pray.  Now that has been said there is much that we call prayer that is not prayer.  We should be like the disciples when they said, "Lord teach us how to pray."   Now, allow me to be redundant and ask you to reread our lesson text slowly.

James 5:13-16  Is any among you afflicted? Let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms. Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he has committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

The James Brown Effect

I found myself in an untenable position once when I was asked to come to the Alter for prayer.   Now there is an art to pushing a person's head back until the stumble and fall, this is a little talked about secret.  The pastor pushed my head backward to the point I had to make a decision whether to take a step backward or fall down on the floor.   If I took that step backward to regain my balance I would be resisting the power of God.  If I did nothing and fell to the floor I would be submitting to the power of God.  

 To be Continued