What Are the Seven Bowl Judgments & Seven Plagues?
Bible Study Guide
(Verse 1) Worship of God and visions of heaven preempt the seven bowl judgments. We’ve seen this occur before each set of the previous two judgments that have brought God’s wrath upon the unbelieving world.
John wastes no time in adding two superlatives to the visions he casts his eyes upon. This is the third of three that John describes as signs. The first was of the woman who was about to give birth to the male child (Revelation 12:1-4). The second was the sign of the great red dragon that waited to devour the child as soon as it was born (Revelation 12:3-5).
John clearly states that once God dispenses these last seven bowl judgments, His wrath upon the unbelievers of Earth will be complete. Remarkably, even after God pours out all His wrath on the Earth, we will witness something difficult to comprehend. It’ll truly be hard to believe. We’ll talk more about that in the next chapter (Revelation 16).
The Sea of Glass
(Verse 2) John has seen this “sea of glass” before.
“Also in front of the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal.
In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back.” (Revelation 4:6)
In both chapters, John gives no further description than what we read as being a “sea of glass.” In John’s defense, describing some of the visions he saw must have been difficult.
We encounter this often throughout the Bible. The mind cannot comprehend or properly describe certain heavenly things. This is likely the case for John. He’s doing his best to describe what he sees so his readers will understand.
Standing beside the glass are the same 144,000 that we’ve seen in Revelation 7 & 14. They’re the ones that have been redeemed from the earth after evangelizing to the whole world.
They were sent out by God to preach the gospel to all the nations. While they were on earth, Satan threw everything at them, including the kitchen sink and not one strayed away from their faithfulness to God. Their mission has been completed. They’ve come to their reward of eternal life in the presence of God.
Heavenly Worship Before the Seven Bowl Judgments
(Verses 3-4) There is an unprecedented contrast among the activities that John is seeing. There is so much taking place in preparation for the unleashing of God’s final seven bowl judgments.
We see seven angels preparing for the seven plagues that will come from the bowl judgments. 144,000 saints have redeemed from the earth. They clear their throats, tune and adjust their instruments, and prepare to sing a great and marvelous worship song.
Harps have often been one of the favored instruments in worship and praising God.
“Praise the Lord with the harp;
make music to him on the ten-stringed lyre.” (Psalm 33:2)
The 144,000 will sing a worship song that follows the model of the song Moses wrote after God delivered the Israelites from Egypt and led them across the Red Sea (Exodus 15:1-18).
Preparation For the Seven Bowl Judgments
(Verses 5-6) In the Old Testament days, only the high priest could enter the Most Holy Place, called the Holy of Holies, in the temple or tabernacle. This place held the Ark of the Covenant. It held the Ten Commandments tablet carved out by Moses, Aaron’s staff that budded and the Manna from heaven.
It was the place where God’s presence resided. Judgment under the law took place here and the sacrifice ritual for the atonement of sin was conducted here.
But in this scene, John sees the seven angels coming out of the tabernacle. The angels exit the tabernacle with the seven plagues. The final act of God’s wrath upon an unbelieving and opposing world is about to begin.
Their purity is indicated by their dress of clean shiny linen and golden sashes.
(Verses 7-8) John again, sees the four living creatures that stand by the thrown administering God’s commands. These are high ranking mighty angels, created beings who hold a position of close proximity to God. They receive God’s commands and follow through on all God’s desires and purpose doing His appointed delegation and work.
These four living creatures play a pivotal role in the book of Revelation (Revelation 4:6–9; 5:6–14; 6:1–8; 14:3; 15:7; and 19:4). In this verse, we see them take their command from God and hand over the seven bowl judgments filled with God’s wrath to the seven angels.
The Power of God’s Presence and Command
(Verse 8) Moses was the first to see the glory of God descend upon Mt. Sinai when God gave him the Ten Commandments. God came down upon the mountain in fire and smoke as His glory enveloped the mountain.
John sees the same glory of God in smoke that Moses saw thousands of years earlier.
God commanded that no one could enter the temple until He poured out the seven bowl judgments, likely pointing to one thing. Since mankind refused to drink from God’s cup of salvation, they will have to drink from His bowl of wrath as He pours it out in full measure upon the earth.
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