Book of Revelation
By: Tom Lowe Date: 3/6/17
Topic # IV: VISIONS OF JUDGMENT AGAINST ROME (12:1-19:21)
Subtopic A: The Great Conflict (12:1-14:20)
Lesson: IV.A.4: THIRD BOWL: RIVERS AND SPRINGS TURN TO BLOOD (16:4-7)
REVELATION 16:4-7 (KJV)
4And the third angel poured out his vial upon the rivers and fountains of waters; and they became blood.
5And 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.
6For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and thou hast given them blood to drink; for they are worthy.
7And I heard another out of the altar say, Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and right¬eous are thy judgments.
COMMENTARY
4And the third angel poured out his vial upon the rivers and fountains of waters; and they became blood.
“And the third angel poured out his vial (bowl) upon the rivers and fountains of waters”
The third vial carries on the idea of the second vial (See 16:3 notes), and is similar to the second in its effects. Moreover, this clause is almost a match with the account of the sounding of the third trumpet (*Revelation 8:10-11). “Upon the rivers and fountains of waters” may be an allusion to the first Egyptian plague (Exodus 7:20), and there are allusions to those plagues throughout this chapter. For more on the meaning of the phrase, “rivers and fountains of waters,” see the notes on Revelation 8:10-11. It is an opinion of the rabbis that "whatever plagues God inflicted on the Egyptians in former times, he will inflict on the enemies of His people in all later times."
The “angel of the waters,” is a name given to the second and third angels, since both of them are said to be sent against the waters, though the one acts against the sea, and the other against the rivers (16:5, 6).
“And they became blood”
This would mean that they became like “blood”; or became colored red by blood; and it would be fulfilled if bloody battles were fought near them, so that they seemed to run with blood.
The rivers and springs of water “became blood” as the contents of the bowl are poured out on the rivers and springs of waters. It is not only the great sea which becomes blood, but all the sizes and types of streams and babbling brooks which carry their tribute of water to the seas and the five great oceans. And this plague is acknowledged by heavenly voices as a just retribution (See Revelation 16:5-7). This complete contamination is in contrast to the partial (one-third) pollution of fresh waters shown in Revelation 8:10-11.
In addition to the interpretation of the second vial given in Revelation 8:10-11, it is probable that the “blood” signifies the slaughter and death which is part of God's vengeance on the wicked (See verse 6). The great effusion of blood results from terrible wars where so much of the blood of the saints has been shed: hence it follows, “and they became blood”; these countries will be covered with blood, the allusion is to Exodus 7:19. “They thirsted after blood and massacred the saints of God; and now they have got blood to drink!” (Clarke)
When these judgments come, the time for the return of Jesus must be getting near. With ecological disaster such as this, the human race cannot survive for very long.
5And 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.
“And I heard the angel of the waters say”
This is the “angel” who presides over the element of water; an allusion to the common opinion among the Hebrews that the angels presided over elements, and that each element was committed to the jurisdiction of a particular angel. Compare the notes on Revelation 7:1. We read in Jewish writings of an angel that was “the prince of the sea,” and of angels that were over the waters, and others over fire (*Revelation 14:18), and angels that presided over particular kingdoms and states (*Daniel 10:20); angels appointed to take care of the wells, and fountains, and ditches in the vicinity of Jerusalem, so that the people might have water at the feasts.
“Thou art righteous, O Lord”
In view of the judgments that turned these streams and fountains red with the blood of people, the angel ascribes “righteousness” to God. These judgments seem terrible, for the numbers slain were so vast, and the bloody streams indicated that a great slaughter had taken place, and all this showed the severity of the divine judgment; yet the angel sees in all this only the act of a righteous God bringing just retribution on the guilty.
Which art, and wast, and shalt be
In other words, Thou art eternal--God is existing now; God has always existed; and God will exist forever. God says practically the same thing about Himself in Revelation 1:8: “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” The reason why this attribute of God is referred to here seems to be that the mind of the angel brings it up because of the changes and desolations that were occurring around him. When people find themselves subjected to dangerous and stressful situations, usually due to no fault of their own; things such as revolutions and the desolations of war, the mind naturally turns to One who is unchanging; to one whose throne is from everlasting to everlasting.
This clause may be applied to either God the Father, who had power over these plagues (*Revelation 16:9), and who sent them; or to the Lord Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all, and is righteous in all His ways and works, in all His judgments on antichrist, and is the eternal “I AM,” which is, and was, and shall be: ‘“I am the Alpha and the Omega,’ says the Lord God, ‘who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty”’ (Revelation 1:8).
“Because thou hast judged thus”
“Because thou hast judged” these things or them, and have permitted these wars that have changed rivers and fountains to blood, to occur.
6For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and thou hast given them blood to drink; for they are worthy.
“For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets”
Violence has a way of destroying itself through the operation of the *Divine Law of Retribution, which states, “Every wrong action or crime brings its own punishment.”
Where were the “saints and prophets” of God murdered? Almost without exception, they were murdered in earth's great cities, indicating that we are on the right track in our interpretation of the rivers and fountains. God will reward ruthless, barbarous, violent cultures with a liberal dose of their own medicine. They shed innocent blood; very well, God will give them blood to drink.
Many cultures have a story about how a deity executed punishment on previous inhabitants of their land. An example of divine retribution is the story found in many cultures about a great flood destroying all of humanity. Christians and Jews have the event described in the Book of Genesis (6:9-8:22), leaving one principal ‘chosen’ survivor, ‘Noah.’
A “saint” is a term used for a person who is recognized as having an exceptional degree of holiness or likeness to God. Depending on the context and denomination, the term also retains its original Christian meaning--any believer who is “in Christ” and in whom Christ dwells, whether in Heaven or on Earth
“Prophet” is a term used for a person who is recognized as a teacher of religion; ministers of truth. It is not necessary to understand the word “prophets” in its technical sense, as denoting those who are raised up by God and sent forth as inspired men, but it may be understood in its more common meaning in the New Testament denoting teachers of religion in general (Romans 12:6; 1 Corinthians 14:1).
“and thou hast given them blood to drink”
Their thirst for “blood” triggered their desire to massacre the saints of God; and now they have got “blood to drink!” They killed so many of the saints that the streams and fountains became red from blood (See Revelation 16:4). Blood had been poured out in such abundance that it seemed to mingle with the very water they drank. This was Israel’s punishment for pouring out so much blood in persecuting the saints and prophets--the pious leaders of the faithful, and the public teachers of religion.
“For they are worthy”
That is, they deserve this; or this is just recompense for their sins. It does not mean that those who would suffer this fate had been individually guilty of this or that this was an appropriate punishment for them; but it does mean that in those countries there had been bloody persecutions, and that this was a fit recompense for what had occurred there. This carries with it the general idea that wicked, hardened men fully deserve the divine sentence of wrath being executed upon them.
There is a blurred sense of justice that is becoming increasingly obvious in the present day. There are many now who do not believe that anyone is worthy of punishment, no matter what their crimes may be. The "Reign of Terror" in our largest cities was brought about primarily from the reluctance or outright refusal of legitimate authority to punish criminals. The result has been riots in the streets, shooting cops, random shootings, destruction of property, and crimes by illegal aliens, and radical Muslims, etc. A society that is incapable of keeping its citizens safe will inevitably perish.
7And I heard another out of the altar say, Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and right¬eous are thy judgments.
“And I heard another out of the altar say”
What he heard was “another” angel (either the angel of the altar--that is, who presided over the altar, or an angel whose voice seemed to come from the altar. The sense is essentially the same.) that came “out of (from) the altar”; and who represents the souls under the altar (*Revelation 6:9), whose blood had been shed by the above persons. This is the same altar beneath which the souls of the martyrs cried, and on which the prayers of saints were offered. The angel’s message, which is sent by God is represented as confirming the testimony to the just dealings of God, and a response to what had just been said in regard to the judgment of God, or to His righteousness in bringing the judgment upon people (Revelation 16:5). This was evidently the voice of someone who was interested in what was occurring, or to whom these things particularly pertained; that is, one who was particularly connected with the martyrs referred to, whose blood was now, as it were, to be avenged.
“Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are thy judgments”
Once again, this is said by way of a response to what is said in Revelation 16:5. That is, God is "true" or faithful to His promises made to His people, and "righteous" in the judgments which he has now inflicted. These judgments had come upon those who had shed the blood of the martyrs, and they were justified.
In regard to the relevance of this, there are several things to be said. The following points are clear:
(a) That this judgment would "follow" the first one mentioned, and apparently at a period not too far in the future.
(b) It would occur in a region where there had been much persecution.
(c) It would be in a country of streams, and rivers, and fountains.
(d) It would be a just retribution for the bloody persecutions which had occurred there.
Scripture Reference
*Daniel 10:20: “So he said, "Do you know why I have come to you? Soon I will return to fight against the prince of Persia, and when I go, the prince of Greece will come;”
*Revelation 6:9” “When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained.
*Revelation 8:10-11: “The third angel sounded, and a great star fell from heaven, burning like a torch, and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of waters. The name of the star is called Wormwood; and a third of the waters became wormwood, and many men died from the waters, because they were made bitter.”
*Revelation 14:18: “Still another angel, who had charge of the fire, came from the altar and called in a loud voice to him who had the sharp sickle….”
*Revelation 16:9: “They were seared by the intense heat and they cursed the name of God, who had control over these plagues, but they refused to repent and glorify him.
Special Notes
* Divine retribution is supernatural punishment of a person, a group of people, or everyone by a deity in response to some action.
