Seven Last Plagues

Revelation 16

Click for a description of the mark of the beast.
Click for a description of the image of the beast.

• First Bowl………..Culture of the beast suffers foul and loathsome sores.
• Second Bowl…….The deadly blood.
• Third Bowl……….Rivers and springs of water of blood.
• Fourth Bowl……..Sun’s intense heat; Global warming.
• Fifth Bowl……….Power center of the beast is plunged into darkness.
• Sixth Bowl……...Global nations gather for the Battle of Armageddon.
• Seventh Bowl……Destruction of earth from the Throne of God.

The Seven Bowls are referred to as the Seven Last Plagues in Revelations 15, as quoted, “Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous: seven angels having the seven last plagues, for in them the wrath of God is complete.” Revelations 15:1 “Then I heard a loud voice from the temple saying to the seven angels, “Go and pour out the bowls of the wrath of God on the earth.” Revelation 16:1

The first plague brings loathsome sores on all those who serve the image of the beast and have the mark of the beast. The second plague brings blood of a dead man causing death. The third plague brings blood upon the fresh waters, and referring to that, this is written, “For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and You have given them blood to drink. For it is their just due.” The fourth plague brings intense heat from global warming, “…and they blasphemed the name of God who has power over these plagues; and they did not repent and give Him glory.” The fifth plague plunges the power center of the beast into darkness, “They blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and did not repent of their deeds.” The sixth plague brings the Battle of Armageddon. The seventh plague brings the voice from the temple of Heaven that says. “It is done!”

The Holy Spirit warns us to, “Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues. For her sins have reached to heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities.” Revelations 18:4-5

First Bowl………..Culture of the beast suffers foul and loathsome sores.

“So the first went and poured out his bowl upon the earth, and a foul and loathsome sore came upon the men who had the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image.” Revelation 16:1-2

Something that is “foul” is offensive to see, or smell, or feel, or touch, and something that is loathsome is repulsive, and disgusting. The first plague brings a foul and loathsome sore upon those who have the mark of the beast or serves the image of the beast.

In the early years of the reign of the beast upon the earth, those who serve the beast boast in their attitude and behavior, “Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?” Revelations 13:4 When the first plague comes on them, something smells and it is coming from them. Something is offensive to look at, and it is on them. Something is offensive to touch, and it is all over their bodies. Something is repulsive and loathsome, and it is on them.

During the time of the first plague, the beast that gives the culture of the beast what to say, do, think, and feel is still functioning. The power center isn’t destroyed until the Fifth Plague. We can envision what the beast might be giving them to say and do, which is to always deny their vulnerability and find ways to cover up and minimize the foul and loathsome sores that is plaguing the culture of the beast, which is worldwide. They are all about promoting a positive image and one of strength. The beast will utilize its power over physiology [seen as limited as the last plagues come] to give the culture of the beast feelings of comfort and reassuring thoughts.

Today, we see how the community culture of the beast thrives on showing human love to one another through hugs, caresses, and human touch of every sorts. They rely on people being the comforter instead of embracing the Comforter, who is the Holy Spirit. The coming of the plagues brings an end to that. Our Lord Jesus warns against putting honor for people above the honor given to Him, “How can you believe, who receive honor from one another, and do not seek the honor that comes from the only God?” John 5:44

Just to have those foul and loathsome sores will reveal the vulnerability of those who serve the beast and have his mark. They will be made aware of the chink in their armor. They are vulnerable to the power and authority of God who requires all people to repent of their unbelief through Jesus Christ.

Today, we are living in the early years of the reign of the beast on this earth. The beast has power over physiology to give people what to say, do, think, and feel. The beast gives breath/life to the image of the beast to speak by speaking and living through people. Everywhere, people have chosen to serve the beast. By what they are given to say and do, they are conformed to the mark, name, number of the beast. Click for a post on the mark of the beast

Click for a post on the beginning and end of the beast’s “42 month”, or “1260 days” reign on this earth, from Revelations 13:5-6.

Second Bowl…….The Deadly Blood.

“Then the second angel poured out his bowl on the sea, and it became blood as of a dead man; and every living creature in the sea died.” Revelation 16:3

The first plague brought external sores to those of the culture of the beast. The second plague brings internal disease referred to as “blood as of a dead man”.

In the days when the Apostle John was given the visions of the book of Revelations, there was nothing in the vocabulary of the people to express “blood borne diseases”. In order to know if a person has a blood borne disease, laboratory testing has to be done, involving extensive scientific knowledge, which was far from reality in the days when the Bible was written. Except, the Lord God knows not only about blood borne diseases, but He knows about every cellular aspect of the human body, and knows about every detail of future events.

The Holy Spirit spoke in a way that today’s world can understand what was spoken through the Apostle John. Who doesn’t know what the blood of a dead man refers to, especially knowing that it kills living creatures. It is not very much of a gap to cross, just a crack in the sidewalk, to connect John’s vision of the second plague to deadly blood borne diseases. In the Bible, “sea” often refers to the population of people, and with the deadly blood being of a person, it can be said that the blood of a dead man kills every living creature of the “sea”. The “sea” would include every person infected with the deadly blood.

We really can’t say that the blood as of a dead man only infects and kills ocean life. Afterall, the deadly blood is already within people, which means it spreads through people, from person to person, worldwide, such as HIV. Also, “HIV cannot be transmitted through water as the virus cannot survive or spread in aquatic environments.” The deadly blood of the second plague would be much like HIV, in the sense that it spreads from person to person, not from person to aquatic life.

Third Bowl……….Rivers and springs of water of blood.

“Then the third angel poured out his bowl on the rivers and springs of water, and they became blood. And I heard the angel of the waters saying: “You are righteous, O Lord, the One who is and who was and who is to be, because You have judged these things. For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and You have given them blood to drink. For it is their just due.” And I heard another from the altar saying, “Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are Your judgments.” Revelation 16:4-7

The third plague turns the fresh waters to blood to give the culture of the beast, which is global, blood to drink. That is their just due because they have shed the blood of saints and prophets.

The rivers and springs of water are the planet’s fresh water supplies, and they become blood. However, we know that the rivers and springs of water is not referring specifically to the earth’s water supply. We know that because it is written, “You have given them blood to drink.” That refers to the violence being committed in places that are supposed to provide a “breath of fresh of air”, relaxation, and leisure time to the culture of the beast. Why does the Lord give them blood to drink? Because “they have shed the blood of saints and prophets”, and He gives them “their just due”.

Revelations 17 gives a description of the formation of the global government, the government of the beast, and its global culture. This is written, “I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. ” Revelations 17:6 Even as we see in today’s culture, which is global, they oppose belief in God, reject the need for forgiveness through Jesus Christ for their unbelief, and do not want the Holy Spirit to be part of who they are. Christianity is not welcome din their community culture. They serve the beast that gives them what to do, say, feel, and think. When the third plague comes, they will not have any freshwater of rivers and springs to enjoy, those places will be overcome with violence and bloodshed.

“You are righteous, O Lord, the One who is and who was and who is to be, because You have judged these things.“

I live in Ohio, so there are fresh rivers, springs of water, and lakes everywhere. For ten years, I lived 20 yards from the edge of Lake White, popular in Waverly. It used to be a “breath of fresh air,” and a place to “drink in” some refreshing entertainment, to relax, and to enjoy barbecues with friends and family. It was known for water skiing, fishing, platoon boats, swimming, tanning on the small lake beach, etc. In recent years, it has become a hub of deaths. A couple bodies were found lying on its banks, a boat exploded into flames without any explanation, a person was killed in a collision while riding a jet ski, and other such bloody tragedies. That is an example of drinking blood from the fresh water. It became a very unpopular place. On one Labor Day holiday, the lake was completely drained down to mud bottom, due to repair on a faulty spill way. Those traveling to the lake with their boats had no idea, those living on the lake saw their boats laying on the mud bottom, and needless to say, many were angered, furious even.

What happened in the above paragraph is a small glimpse into what it will be like when the third plague comes, when rivers and springs of water are turned to blood, and the culture of the beast are given blood to drink. They have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and the Lord is righteous who is and who was and who is to be, because He will judge these things.

Fourth Bowl……..Sun’s Intense Heat: Global warming.

“Then the fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and power was given to him to scorch men with fire. And men were scorched with great heat, and they blasphemed the name of God who has power over these plagues; and they did not repent and give Him glory.” Revelation 16:8-9

The fourth plague is poured out on the sun to bring global warming. Global warming is in the world today, and as we know, its heat upon the earth increases as time goes by. In that light, we see how the intensity of the heat of global warming is walking hand-in-hand with the progression of the United Nations. The more powerful the United Nations become as the undisputed one world government, the more powerful the effect of global warming becomes. The United Nations was established in 1945, immediately after World War 2, and brought the government of the beast with it, as described in Daniel 8:1-14, and also Revelations 17.

Global warming is instrumental in plunging the power center of the beast into darkness, which happens in the Fifth Plague.

While global warming is present for all the world to see today, and it is clearly sent by God as judgment against this world system, the global culture of the beast refuses to repent of their unbelief through Jesus Christ, “And men were scorched with great heat, and they blasphemed the name of God who has power over these plagues; and they did not repent and give Him glory.”

“For no sooner has the sun risen with a burning heat than it withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beautiful appearance perishes. So the rich man also will fade away in his pursuits...the day is coming, burning like an oven, and all the proud, yes, all who do wickedly will be stubble. And the day which is coming will burn them up,” says the Lord of hosts, “That will leave them neither root nor branch. But to you who fear My name the Sun of Righteousness will arise with healing in His wings…” James 1:11, Malachi 4:1-2

“But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.” 2 Peter 3:10-13

Fifth Bowl……….Power center of the beast is plunged into darkness.

“Then the fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom became full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues because of the pain. They blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and did not repent of their deeds.” Revelation 16:10-11

The fifth plague plunges the power center of the beast into darkness. Today’s culture, which is global, lives with the light of uncanny knowledge and heightened intuition. They are constantly boasting, “We see!”, or “I know!”, or in other ways declaring their superior light, knowledge, and intuition over others. When the power center of the beast is plunged into darkness, that light will be gone. The beast that has power over physiology to give people what to think, feel, do, and say will no longer be functioning…will be powerless…plunged into darkness. The culture of the beast will no longer be empowered with uncanny knowledge, heightened intuition, extraordinary skills and talents, amazing physical abilities, uncanny authority over others, fabricated emotional responses, physical comforts, sensual pleasures, etc.

Satan disguises himself as an angel of light today, but that light will be snuffed out when the Fifth Plague comes, “And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.” 2 Corinthians 11:14-15 As the power center of the beast is plunged into darkness, the government of the beast and its global culture will be gnawing their tongues because of the pain. They will continue to blaspheme the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores and refuse to repent of their deeds.”

To “gnaw tongues” corresponds to the inability to speak with the artificial light of uncanny knowledge and heightened intuition when the power center of the beast is plunged into darkness. Gnawing a tongue would be to continually chew on it, causing pain. That gnawing comes from continually misspeaking and not having uncanny authority over others anymore. Instead of boasting “We see!” or “I know!”, they will be in pain due to being plunged into darkness along with the power center of the beast.

The power center of the beast is the source that gives the global government and its global culture what to say, do, think, and feel. From that power center, breath/life is given to the beast to speak by speaking and living through people. That power center is what conforms people to the mark, name, number of the beast by what they are given to say and do.

With the power center of the beast being plunged into darkness, the government of the beast is powerless to adequately defend itself from those seeking its destruction. Global rebellion follows worldwide, there is massive lawlessness, social chaos in every city around the world, violence, the collapse of the global economy, etc. A glimpse into that global rebellion is described in the events of the fifth trumpet of Revelations 9:1-6.

Click for a post on Habakkuk 2:5-8 which describes the revolt against the global government.

The global population of rebels are the “bats” living by the cover of darkness and are the “moles” living underground as spoken about in Isaiah, “In that day a man will cast away his idols of silver and his idols of gold… to the moles and bats, to go into the clefts of the rocks, and into the crags of the rugged rocks…” Isaiah 2:20-21 Click here for a post on Isaiah 2:20-21 They are able to revolt against their oppressors because they are free from the beast controlling their thoughts, feelings, actions, and words.

The loyal governors of the world government will plan to put down the revolt the “old-fashioned way… they will want to go to war to try salvaging what is left of the powerless global system of the beast. That brings the Battle of Armageddon in the Sixth Plague.

Sixth Bowl………Global nations gather for the Battle of Armageddon.

“Then the sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up, so that the way of the kings from the east might be prepared.” Revelations 16:12

The River Euphrates is also spoken about in the post on the Sixth Trumpet of Revelations 9:13-21. It is also in the context of the global battle, “…saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, “Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.” Revelations 9:14

The river Euphrates, Israel, Iran, China, and Russia are seen on the map below. Israel is to the west of the Euphrates, circled in red on the map to the left. Iran is to the east of the Euphrates, circled in red on the map to the left. Russia, and China are to the east of the Euphrates, seen on the map to the right, to the east of Iran. For the waters of the Euphrates to be dried up means that there will be easy access to invade Israel. That territory will be a major focus within the global Battle of Armageddon. “It will come to pass that your choicest valleys will be full of chariots, and the horsemen will set themselves in array at the gate.” Isaiah 22:7

The kings of the east are so obvious to us today, that it doesn’t sound like prophecy anymore. Those kings are Russia and China with Iran standing out among them. Russia and China are two of the three most powerful nations in the world, atheist nations that have total disregard for God the Creator, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. They embrace the beast that governs by giving them what to speak, do, think, and feel. They both set on the security council of the United Nations, making decisions for the rest of the world. They have enormous influence over the other countries of the United Nations, as the majority of the countries are atheists themselves. When the United Nations become the undisputed one world government, the government of the beast, China and Russia will rule over the nations. Today, people put the major focus on Russia.

“And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs coming out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. For they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.” Revelations 16:13-14

That verse reveals the trinity of Satan, with him being the father of the first beast, and the second beast [known as the false prophet]. Satan and the first beast are mentioned in Revelations 13:1-8. The second beast, a.k.a. the false prophet, is Satan’s version of the Holy Spirit, as mentioned in Revelations 13:11-18.…Click here for posts on Revelations 13.

The three unclean spirits like frogs, coming out of the mouth of Satan’s trinity, can be compared to what was coming out of their mouth before the power center of the beast was plunged into darkness. When the power center of the beast was functioning, Satan’s trinity was able to speak and live through people. Satan’s trinity was able to govern on this earth by giving people what to say, do, think, and feel. The world filled with “silver-tongued devils”. Godly words were flowing from the mouth, words filled with humanitarian principles, words of hope for peace and prosperity and for the salvation of the planet and all of humanity, “…having a form of godliness but denying its power.” 2 Timothy 3:5 They were promoting an earthly Garden of Eden.

When the power center of the beast was plunged into darkness in the Fifth Plague, the trinity of Satan no longer had human beings to speak and live through. That loss made them determined to destroy whatever they could of what was left of God’s creation here on earth. They were naked in that they were seen for exactly who they are, the source of unclean spirits and demons. Frogs symbolize corruption, deception, and demonic influence. Without the ability to speak and live through people, the trinity of Satan has to resort to appealing to the evil nature within people, as they have always done in the past, instead of appealing to their Godly side. In their appeal to the worse within people, the kings of the earth and of all the world are gathered to the battle of that great day of God Almighty, the Battle of Armageddon. That day is linked to the Day of the Lord, as described in Zachariah 14.

What are the signs being performed by the spirit of demons, which flow from the mouth of Satan’s trinity? That verse says that those signs enabled the gathering of the whole earth to the Battle of Armageddon. They are definitely not the signs mentioned in Revelations 13:13-14 that seduced people to serve the image of the beast. The power center of the beast was destroyed in the Fifth Plague, so all that Satan’s trinity has left is to gather wicked hearts to the battle of that great day of God Almighty

Our Lord Jesus says to all whose faith is in Him, “Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame.” Revelations 16:15

“And they gathered them together to the place called in Hebrew, Armageddon.” Revelations 16:16

Satan’s trinity successfully gathers the kings of the earth, and the whole earth, to the Battle of Armageddon. The post on the sixth trumpet from Revelations 9:13-20 provides a glimpse into what the Battle of Armageddon will be like.

Seventh Bowl……Destruction of earth from the Throne of God.

“Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, “It is done!” Revelations 16:17

“It is done!” refers to the end of this present world system, which brings the sounding of the Seventh Trumpet to signal the return of our Lord Jesus Christ, as quoted, “Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He will reign forever and ever!” Revelations 11:15

“And there were noises and thunderings and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such a mighty and great earthquake as had not occurred since men were on the earth.” Revelations 16:18

“Now the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. And great Babylon was remembered before God, to give her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of His wrath.” Revelations 16:19 

The great city is what once had been the global government of the beast, and it will be torn into three parts, by a great earthquake that this earth will have never seen before. Every nation on this earth will fall. All through Revelations, Babylon and the global government of the beast is one and the same, as described in the post on Isaiah 21:1-2 God is going to give those who assumed ownership of this world, without Him, the cup of the wine of the fierceness of His wrath. “Then every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. And great hail from heaven fell upon men, each hailstone about the weight of a talent. Men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail, since that plague was exceedingly great.” Revelations 16:20-21 A talent weighed between 70 and 90 pounds.

“For the windows from on high are open, and the foundations of the earth are shaken. The earth is violently broken, the earth is split open, the earth is shaken exceedingly. The earth will reel to and fro like a drunkard, and will totter like a hut; Its transgression will be heavy upon it, and it will fall, and not rise again.” Isaiah 24:18-20 The whole chapter of Isaiah 24 mirrors the catastrophe coming to this planet.

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“….to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets,“
‘I will not impose any other burden on you, except to hold on to what you have until I come.’”
“I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.”
Revelation 2:24-25, 3:1