THE FIRST FIVE VIAL JUDGMENTS

Continuing in our verse-by-verse journey through Revelation, we have reached the point where the last seven plagues will be poured out on planet earth.  The first plague results in all those that have the mark of the beast and that worship his image developing a diseased, painful, ulcer-like sore.

Revelation 16:2 “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.”

The second vial judgment is poured upon the sea and causes the water to become like the blood of a dead man.  Every living soul in the sea dies.

Revelation 16:3 “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.”

The next plague is directed at fresh water sources.

Revelation 16:4–7 “And the third angel poured out his vial upon the rivers and fountains of waters; and they became blood. And I heard the angel of the waters say, Thou art righteous, O Lord, which art, and wast, and shalt be, because thou hast judged thus. For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and thou hast given them blood to drink; for they are worthy. And I heard another out of the altar say, Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are thy judgments.”

Note that John declares that they become blood—not “as” or “like” blood.  I am reminded that the trumpet judgments were specific as to impacting “thirds” of their targets.  These judgments appear to be universal; they are different.

It’s interesting that after the third vial is poured out, the angel of the waters (which I believe is the angel pouring out the vial) takes the time to declare the righteousness of God in using this judgment.  Water is life giving.  Unrepentant man deserves this judgment since he is responsible for taking the life, “shedding the blood,” of the saints and prophets.  They deserve being given blood to drink.

Another voice then speaks from the area of the altar.  He basically says, “Amen to that!” 

Again, the angels seem to take every opportunity to praise the God of eternity, Lord God Almighty, and affirm the rightness and righteousness of His judgments.

The fourth angel pours out his vial upon the sun; his purpose—to scorch men with fire.

Revelation 16:8–9 “And the fourth angel poured out his vial upon the sun; and power was given unto him to scorch men with fire. And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which hath power over these plagues: and they repented not to give him glory.”

What does man do when he experiences this great heat?  Does he repent and beg for mercy?  No.  He blasphemes, reviles and abuses the name of God, the power behind the plagues.  I found a verse in Malachi that seems to apply here.

Malachi 4:1 “For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.”

The fifth angel pours out his vial upon the seat or power base of the beast causing complete darkness.

Revelation 16:10–11 “And the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast; and his kingdom was full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues for pain, And blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and repented not of their deeds.”

If literal, this darkness prevents them from accessing any type of pain relief for the sores and burns suffered from the previous plagues.  However, the wording allows for the thought that this “darkness” could be a reference to spiritual darkness, the overwhelming evil and wickedness that covers the world at this time.  No reference is made to the sun or moon as specifically referenced in previous judgments.  Many verses in scripture use darkness as a reference to evil.

Matthew 6:23 “But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!”

Luke 11:34 “The light of the body is the eye: therefore when thine eye is single, thy whole body also is full of light; but when thine eye is evil, thy body also is full of darkness”.

John 3:19 “And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.”

Ephesians 6:12 “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”

Again, do people repent and ask for mercy?  No.  They continue to blaspheme the God of heaven.  They realize He is the one judging them and causing their pain and sores.

(to be continued…)