Seven Last Plagues

The seven last plagues upon the wicked are outlined in Revelation 15 and 16 and demonstrate the full and natural consequences of turning against God. The victims of these plagues have consistently resisted the Lord's call to repent. They refuse and are forever settled in their decision to "blaspheme the God of heaven" (Revelation 16:11). The bloodshed of these events matches the crime of destroying God's people over the centuries. As plagues fell on Egypt just before the release of the children of Israel, so also these plagues will fall on the earth just before Jesus returns. It appears that the seven last plagues are both literal and spiritual in nature. They are not universal in distribution and they do not harm God's people. They are poured out without mercy.

The First Five Plagues Revelation 15 introduces the seven last plagues of Revelation 16. In language reminiscent of the deliverance of the Israelites from Egypt, God's people are about to see the power of the Almighty against injustice. Angels come from God's throne room with bowls to be poured out on the earth. Like the incense from the prayers of God's people upon the altar of incense, the wrath against sin has reached a point where injustice is found wanting.

⋅ The First Bowl: When the first angel pours out a bowl on the earth, terrible and foul sores come on men "who had the mark of the beast and those who worshipped the image" (16:2). God's people are sealed and unharmed from all the plagues.

⋅ The Second Bowl: The result of the second angel pouring out a bowl is the sea becoming like blood and "every living creature in the sea died" (16:3). This obviously would cause a major catastrophe for the human race.

⋅ The Third Bowl: The third bowl of wrath causes all fresh water to become as blood (16:4). Verses 5—7 show the "crime fits the punishment" since the wicked have "shed the blood of saints and prophets".

⋅ The Fourth Bowl: The sun scorches men as a result of the fourth bowl. In contrast with the fourth trumpet (which darkened the sun), here we see the opposite. Men still do not repent but "blasphemed the name of God" (16:9).

⋅ The Fifth Bowl: In this plague the "throne of the beast" becomes shrouded in darkness. They also blasphemed God's name and "did not repent" (16:11). Such darkness shows God's power over the false power.

The Sixth Bowl: The Euphrates Dries Up When the sixth bowl is poured out the "great river Euphrates" is "dried up" so that the "way of the kings from the east might be prepared" (v. 12). Just as this river irrigated ancient Babylon, so in a spiritual sense it represents a lifeline for the beast. The kings of the east indicate the coming of the glory and power of God (see Matthew 24:27 and Ezekiel 43:1). The story of Cyrus and Darius conquering Babylon by diverting the river Euphrates, which gave them access to conquer the city, opens our understanding to the downfall of the beast power in the last days (see Daniel 5).

Like slippery flogs that jump all around, three evil spirits come out of the dragon, the beast, and the false prophet (the false trinity). They are "spirits of demons, performing signs" (v. 14). God warns His people to watch and not be deceived.

Armageddon and the Seventh Bowl At the end of the sixth plague the evil spirits gather the kings of the earth "together to the place called in Hebrew, Armageddon" (16:16). While some believe this is a literal battle in a literal valley in Palestine, the language emphasizes that this is the great and final battle between Christ and Satan, between the forces of good and evil. It is the devil's last great effort to exterminate God's people. There are three stories that point us to the spiritual message of Armageddon (Deborah, Gideon, and Josiah). God's people are outnumbered but in a hopeless situation the Lord brings victory.

The coming of the seventh plague is marked with a voice that says, "It is done!" (v. 17). There is lightening, thundering, and a mighty earthquake. Babylon crumbles, large hailstones fall, islands disappear, and people blaspheme God. Jesus comes and delivers His children. The Lord's people never need to fear that any plague will ever come upon them (see Psalm 91:9, 10).