The Seven Vials of God's Wrath

David Mitts

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And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous, seven angels having the seven last plagues (vials); for in them is filled up the wrath of God. - Revelation 15:1

Giving Opportunity Message

Giving in Sabbath Rest

The Seven Vials of God’s Wrath

The Difference Between the Great Tribulation and the Wrath of God
1. The Great Tribulation is Satan’s wrath against people that will not worship him.

Revelation 12:12 “Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time."” (Rev 12:12, NKJV)

a. The Great Tribulation will occur 3½ years before the Battle of Armageddon and the Second Coming of Jesus to the earth.

b. Satan pours out his wrath against the inhabitants of the earth because he knows he only has a short time left.

c. Revelation 12:14 reveals that Satan will persecute the woman with the 12 stars (Israel) for time, times and half a time, which is 3½ years – the length of the Great Tribulation.

d. The Great Tribulation is not the Wrath of God.

2. The Vials containing the Wrath of God will be poured out at the end of the Great Tribulation and during the Battle of Armageddon.

a. God will use the Vials to deliver Israel from the armies of the Antichrist.

b. The Vials will be used like God used the plagues in the Old Testament against Pharaoh to deliver Israel from Egypt.

c. Five of the Seven Vials in Revelation 16 are duplicates of five of the 10 plagues poured out upon Egypt.

d. The beast does not take power until 3½ years before Armageddon according to Revelation 13:5.

e. Since the Mark of the Beast will probably be administered toward the latter part of his reign, the Vials will be poured out toward the end of the Great Tribulation.
The First Vial
Revelation 16:1-2 “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." 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.” (Rev 16:1-2, NKJV)

1. Verse 2 helps establish the timing of the pouring out of the Vials upon the earth.

2. The First Vial was poured out upon those who had received the Mark of the Beast and those who had worshipped his image.

A noisome and grievous sore is placed upon those that worship the Antichrist.
The Second Vial
Revelation 16:3 “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.” (Rev 16:3, NKJV)

1. The plague of turning the water into blood was the first plague poured out upon the Egyptians in Exodus 7:20.

a. The plagues against Egypt did not cover the entire world.

b. The plagues didn’t affect the people of Israel who were living among the Egyptians.

2. The Vials of Wrath will only affect the Antichrist and his kingdom but the people of God will be protected according to Revelation 7:2-3, “Then I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God. And he cried with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was granted to harm the earth and the sea, saying, "Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees till we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads."” (Rev 7:2-3, NKJV)

Hurt not the earth and the sea nor the trees till we have sealed the foreheads of God’s people.

3. This account of the sealing of God’s people to protect them from God’s Wrath is described justafter it is announced that the great day of God’s Wrath is come.

Revelation 6:15-17 states: “And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains, and said to the mountains and rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?"” (Rev 6:15-17, NKJV)

a. The timing of the pouring out of the Vials of Wrath

b. Most of the Vials will be poured out leading up to or during the Battle of Armageddon when Yeshua returns to earth.
The Third Vial
Revelation 16:4 “Then the third angel poured out his bowl on the rivers and springs of water, and they became blood.” (Rev 16:4, NKJV)

1. The rivers and fountains of water will become blood.

This Third Vial, like the Second Vial, is a repeat of the first plague poured out upon the Egyptians in Exodus 7:20.

2. Heaven’s attitude toward the enemies of the people of God is revealed in Revelation 16:5-7:

“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."” (Rev 16:5-7, NKJV)

a. The angel of the waters declared the Lord was justified for pouring out these plagues upon mankind because they had shed the blood of saints and prophets.

b. This passage is referring to the saints and prophets who will be killed by the Antichrist and False Prophet during the time of the Great Tribulation.
The Fourth Vial
Revelation 16:8-9 “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.” (Rev 16:8-9, NKJV)

God will make the sun exceedingly hot.

a. Men will be scorched with great heat because of this plague.

b. Instead of repenting in response to the judgments of God, the people will blaspheme the name of God.
The Fifth Vial
1. The Fifth Vial is the same as the ninth plague with which God smote Egypt. Revelation 16:10-11 “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.” (Rev 16:10-11, NKJV)

The kingdom of the Antichrist will be filled with horrible darkness.

2. Exodus 10:21-23 describes the darkness under the ninth plague of Egypt.

a. The darkness was so thick for three days that no one could move out of his place.

b. The Fifth Vial appears to be this same plague all over again.
The Sixth Vial
1. The Sixth Vial will lead the world into the Battle of Armageddon. Revelation 16:12 “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.” (Rev 16:12, NKJV)

a. The headline in the Indianapolis Star on January 13, 1990 read, “Flow of Euphrates to be Stopped for 30 Days.”

b. Turkey built the Ataturk Dam on the Euphrates River, which gave them the ability to control the flow of the Euphrates River.

c. Turkey will be one of the nations that will participate in the invasion of Israel.

2. The Kings of the East refer to the nations that will invade Israel under a United Nation’s banner at the time of the Battle of Armageddon. These nations are named in Ezekiel 38:

a. Russia
b. Iran
c. Ethiopia
d. Libya
e. Turkey

3. These nations will come across the dried-up Euphrates, travel down through Syria and invade Israel near the Valley of Jezreel, which is located in northern Israel.

a. The Valley of Jezreel is also called the Plain of Megiddo, which is why the final battle is called the Battle of Armageddon.

b. The word Armageddon is composed of two words: Har, meaning hill and Megiddo.

c. These two words become Armageddon or the Hill of Megiddo.

4. The motivation for these nations to come against Israel is explained in Revelation 16:13-14. “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.” (Rev 16:13-14, NKJV)

a. Daniel 7:20 reveals the mouth of the beast (the Antichrist) will have a mouth speaking great things.

b. The Antichrist will use his gifts of oratory to cause the world to follow his leadership.

c. His religious partner, the False Prophet, will also persuade the world to follow the Antichrist.

d. Revelation 11:18 describes the nations at the time of Armageddon, “The nations were angry, and Your wrath has come, And the time of the dead, that they should be judged, And that You should reward Your servants the prophets and the saints, And those who fear Your name, small and great, And should destroy those who destroy the earth."” (Rev 11:18, NKJV)

e. The power of the beast (Antichrist) and the False Prophet to work miracles will influence the kings of the world to follow them to Armageddon, also called the battle of that great day of God Almighty (Revelation 16:14).
The Last-Minute Warning
After describing the preparations for Armageddon, God gives a last-minute warning in Revelation 16:15, “"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."” (Rev 16:15, NKJV)

a. According to the Book of Revelation, the Second Coming will occur during the Battle of Armageddon.

b. After this last-minute warning, God gathers the nations together. Revelation 16:16 “And they gathered them together to the place called in Hebrew, Armageddon.” (Rev 16:16, NKJV)

c. Revelation 16:16 is the only verse in the Scriptures that actually uses the word “Armageddon”.
The Seventh Vial

1. The Seventh Vial will finish the pouring out of God’s Wrath upon the earth. Revelation 16:17 “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!"” (Rev 16:17, NKJV)

The Church Age will conclude with the Battle of Armageddon and the Kingdom of God will be established upon the earth.

2. The horrors of the Seventh Vial are described in Revelation 16:18-19, “And there were noises and thunderings and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such a mighty and greatearthquake as had not occurred since men were on the earth. 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.” (Rev 16:18-19, NKJV)

a. This same description is given during the Seventh Seal in Revelation 8:5, “Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and threw it to the earth. And there were noises, thunderings, lightnings, and an earthquake.” (Rev 8:5, NKJV)

b. These same words describe the conclusion of the Seventh Trumpet in Revelation 11:19, “Then the temple of God was opened in heaven, and the ark of His covenant was seen in His temple. And there were lightnings, noises, thunderings, an earthquake, and great hail.” (Rev 11:19, NKJV)

c. This phrase is repeated at the end of the Seven Seals, Seven Trumpets and the Seven Vials because these are the exact same events.

3. An earthquake will divide the great city (Jerusalem) into three parts.

a. This same earthquake is described in this scripture, which says 7,000 men will be destroyed in Jerusalem. Revelation 11:13 “In the same hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell. In the earthquake seven thousand people were killed, and the rest were afraid and gave glory to the God of heaven.” (Rev 11:13, NKJV)

b. Another account of this same earthquake occurs at the time of Jesus’ Second Coming when He descends from Heaven placing His feet on the Mount of Olives. Zechariah 14:4 “And in that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, Which faces Jerusalem on the east. And the Mount of Olives shall be split in two, From east to west, Making a very large valley; Half of the mountain shall move toward the north And half of it toward the south.” (Zec 14:4, NKJV)

4. God’s Wrath will be poured out upon great Babylon (Revelation 16:19).

a. Babylon refers to the city of Rome.

b. Rome will be destroyed by history’s greatest earthquake during the Battle of Armageddon.

c. Many other cities around the world will also be destroyed.

5. Other amazing events of the Seventh Vial are in Revelation 16:20, And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found.

a. This same event is described under the Sixth Seal in the following verse in Revelation 6:14, And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.

b. In both passages, the mountains and the islands of the world are moved.

c. Revelation 16:18 reveals this earthquake will be the mightiest earthquake that has ever occurred on the face of the earth!

6. The final portion of the Seventh Vial is found in Revelation 16:21, “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.” (Rev 16:21, NKJV)

a. The hailstones will be about the weight of a talent, approximately 125 pounds.

b. This great hail will not be worldwide because everything would be destroyed if this was true.

c. The hail will be one of the weapons God uses against the invading armies of the Antichrist during the Battle of Armageddon.

7. The pouring out of God’s Wrath during the Battle of Armageddon is also described in Ezekiel’s prophecy as the Battle of Gog and Magog. Ezekiel 38:18-23

“"And it will come to pass at the same time, when Gog comes against the land of Israel," says the Lord GOD, "that My fury will show in My face. For in My jealousy and in the fire of My wrath I have spoken: 'Surely in that day there shall be a great earthquake in the land of Israel, so that the fish of the sea, the birds of the heavens, the beasts of the field, all creeping things that creep on the earth, and all men who are on the face of the earth shall shake at My presence. The mountains shall be thrown down, the steep places shall fall, and every wall shall fall to the ground.' I will call for a sword against Gog throughout all My mountains," says theLord GOD. "Every man's sword will be against his brother. And I will bring him to judgment with pestilence and bloodshed; I will rain down on him, on his troops, and on the many peoples who are with him, flooding rain, great hailstones, fire, and brimstone. Thus I will magnify Myself and sanctify Myself, and I will be known in the eyes of many nations. Then they shall know that I am the LORD." '” (Ezk 38:18-23, NKJV)

a. When describing the same earthquake that will occur under the Seventh Vial, Ezekiel says, “There shall be a great shaking in the land of Israel.”

b. The mountains shall be thrown down and the steep places shall fall.

c. God will plead against the Antichrist and his armies with pestilence, blood, fire, overflowing rain and great hailstones.

d. These same events are also prophesied under the Seven Vials.
e. God says He will be magnified in the eyes of the nations and they will know He is the Lord. Right in the middle of God’s description of Armageddon and the Wrath of God in Revelation 16 and Revelation 19, God interjected two entire chapters to prophesy about the judgment of Mystery Babylon. Revelation 17 and 18 go into graphic detail about the judgment of the Great Whore whose name is Mystery Babylon. It is obvious God hates Mystery Babylon since He devotes two entire chapters to her destruction.