The Tribulation Judgments

THE SECOND BOWL JUDGMENT: THE SEA WILL BE TURNED INTO BLOOD

REVELATION 16:3: THE SECOND ANGEL POURED OUT HIS BOWL ON THE SEA, AND IT TURNED INTO BLOOD LIKE THAT OF A DEAD PERSON, AND EVERY LIVING THING IN THE SEA DIED.

NOW THE LORD COMMANDS THAT THE ENTIRE SEA BE TURNED INTO BLOOD. THE EFFECTS INCLUDE THE DEATH OF ALL CREATURES THAT LIVE IN THE SEA. ALL SHIPPING WILL BE GROUNDED. THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WILL DIE AS A RESULT OF THE DISEASE THIS JUDGMENT WILL CAUSE.

THE THIRD BOWL: THE RIVERS AND SPRINGS TURNED TO BLOOD

REVELATION 16:4-7:

THE THIRD ANGEL POURED OUT HIS BOWL ON THE RIVERS AND SPRINGS OF WATER, AND THEY BECAME BLOOD. 5 THEN I HEARD THE ANGEL IN CHARGE OF THE WATERS SAY: “YOU ARE JUST IN THESE JUDGMENTS, O HOLY ONE, YOU WHO ARE AND WHO WERE; 6 FOR THEY HAVE SHED THE BLOOD OF YOUR HOLY PEOPLE AND YOUR PROPHETS, AND YOU HAVE GIVEN THEM BLOOD TO DRINK AS THEY DESERVE.” 7 AND I HEARD THE ALTAR RESPOND: “YES, LORD GOD ALMIGHTY, TRUE AND JUST ARE YOUR JUDGMENTS.”

IN THIS JUDGMENT ALL REMAINING FRESH WATER IS GOING TO BE TURNED INTO BLOOD, EFFECTING ONLY UNBELIEVERS. JUST IMAGINE, A TRIBULATION SAINT WILL DRINK FREELY, BUT THE MOMENT THEY GIVE WATER TO AN UNBELIEVER IT TURNS TO BLOOD. THERE IS NOTHING THAT EITHER PARTY CAN DO ABOUT IT.

THE FOURTH BOWL: SCORTHING HEAT:

REVELATION 16:8-9:

THE FOURTH ANGEL POURED OUT HIS BOWL ON THE SUN, AND THE SUN WAS ALLOWED TO SCORCH PEOPLE WITH FIRE. 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.

RECENTLY WE HAVE BEEN BLESSED BY SOME VERY HIGH TEMPERATURES, BUT WE HAVE THE BENEFITS OF BEING ABLE TO COOL OFF IN POOLS, HAVE AIR-CONDITIONING, GET COOL DRINKS OF WATER. IT’S HOT BUT WE CAN COPE.

NOT SO WITH THIS JUDGMENT. THE UNBELIEVERS HAVE NO FRESH OR SALT WATER TO BATH IN OR DRINK. NOW THEIR SKIN IS GOING TO SCORCH WITH INTENSE UNNATURAL HEAT, THAT WILL HAVE NO EFFECT ON BELIEVERS.

NOW THE INTERESTING THING ABOUT THIS JUDGMENT IS WHAT JOHN SAYS AT THE END OF THE VERSE, WITH REFERENCE TO THEIR RESPONSE, “THEY CURSED THE NAME OF GOD, WHO HAD CONTROL OVER THESE PLAGUES, BUT THEY REFUSED TO REPENT AND GLORIFY HIM”.

HERE IS A KEY POINT TO THE JUDGMENTS. GOD IS IN CONTROL OF THE JUDGMENTS. HE CAN CHANGE A GLASS OF BLOOD IMMEDIATELY TO A GLASS OF COOL WATER IF THE PEOPLE WOULD JUST REPENT AND TURN TO JESUS AS LORD AND SAVIOR.

WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED IS THAT THEY HARDENED THEIR HEARTS EVEN HARDER IN RESPONSE TO THE JUDGMENTS. INSTEAD OF TURNING TO GOD IN MERCY FOR HIS GRACE, THEY TURNED TO HIM IN ANGER.

WE HAD A DOG NAMED “MILLIE”. ONE DAY WHEN WE WERE WALKING IN THE WOODS, MILLIE HAD AN ENCOUNTER WITH A PORCUPINE. IT WAS QUITE BAD AND INVOLVED A TRIP TO THE VETS TO GET THE SPINES REMOVED. AS WE TALKED WITH THE VET I WAS SURPRISED TO HEAR THAT ONE OF TWO THINGS WAS GOING TO HAPPEN.

MILLIE WOULD EITHER FEAR PORCUPINES AND STAY AWAY FROM THEM, OR SHE WOULD HAVE SUCH AN ANGER WITH THEM FOR THE PAIN THEY CAUSED HER THAT SHE WOULD ATTACK ANY SHE SAW. FOR MILLIE IT WAS TO ATTACK.