The Goodness of God's Judgment
Revelation 15:5-16:21
Main Idea: God’s judgment displays his goodness and glory, inviting us to repent and prepare.
I. God’s Judgment is Preparatory (15:5-8)
In this next vision, John sees the “sanctuary” of the tent of heaven opened, with seven angels commissioned as the Lord’s representatives of judgment. These bowl judgments recall God’s judgment in the Exodus, as they are described as “plagues” (15:6) and are poured out after the people of God sing the “song of Moses and the Lamb” (15:2).
These seven angels are given “golden bowls full of the wrath of God” (15:7). These bowls were previously mentioned in 5:8 as the “prayers of the saints,” like those martyrs who were crying out “how long before you judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” (6:10).
“When the tabernacle and later the temple were built, God filled both with the cloud of his glory (Exodus 40:34–38; 1 Kings 8:10, 11). Revelation 15:8 tells us, “the sanctuary was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from his power…” No one can enter the sanctuary until the plagues are finished, and the plagues are going to finish the wrath of God. This seems to indicate that this final, purging judgment will purify the world. God will then take up residence in his cosmic temple, and the earth will be filled with the glory of the Lord as the waters fill the seas. The manifestation of God’s justice saves his people and wins him praise.” ~ Jim Hamilton, Revelation: The Spirits Speaks to the Churches
II. God’s Judgment is Proportional (16:1-16)
The angels are then instructed to pour out the seven bowls, describing the wrath of God and the folly of idolatry and false worship:
Bowl #1 (16:2): Painful sores on those who worship the beast (cf. Ex. 9:8-12)
Bowls #2 & #3 (16:3-4): Seas, rivers, and springs all turn to blood (cf. 8:8-11; Ex. 7:17-20)
Bowl #4 (16:8-9): Scorching heat from the sun
Bowl #5 (16:10-11): Darkness on the beast, his throne, and his kingdom (cf. 9:2; Ex. 10:21)
Bowl #6 (16:12-16): The battle of Armageddon (cf. 9:13-19; Ex. 14; Zech. 12:11; Judg. 5:19)
“In response to the cries of the Israelites in Egypt, God remembered his covenant. As Moses lifted up his staff, God sent a series of plagues on Egypt that were intended to make his glory known, expose the false gods of Egypt, and call Pharaoh to repentance. But over and over, Pharaoh’s heart was hardened. In Revelation 15-16, we’re going to see that God hears the cries of those being persecuted and sends a series of plagues on their persecutors that are intended to make his glory known, expose their false gods, and call them to repentance. And we’re going to see that the hearts of the persecutors are also hardened.”
~ Nancy Guthrie, Blessed: Experiencing the Promise of the Book of Revelation
There are two notable interjections in these first 6 bowl judgments:
John wants to draw attention to the fact that all of these judgments are fitting, appropriate, and righteous in nature (16:5-7).
“John is sensitive to those questioning the judgments and emphasizes that they verify God’s justice. The Holy One of Israel always does what is right. Even though life often seems futile and meaningless and irrational, in the end God will make everything right.” ~ Tom Schreiner, Revelation (ESV Expository Commentary)The voice of Jesus interrupts the flow of judgment in order to exhort and encourage believers to “stay awake” and “stay dressed” (16:15; cf. Matt. 24:42-44; 1 Thess. 5:2). “Nakedness” and “sleep” are associated with shame (cf. 3:8, 17-18; Matt. 25:5) at the end when Jesus returns.
III. God’s Judgment Puts an End to Evil (16:17-21)
Bowl #7 (16:17-21): Final Judgment (cf. Ex. 9:24; Isa. 66:6)
This bowl is poured into the “air” in order to defeat the “prince of the power of the air” (cf. Eph. 2:2). Earthquakes, lightning, and thunder all indicate final judgment throughout Revelation (cf. 6:12; 8:5; 11:13, 19; 19:6).
The “great city… Babylon” is a symbolic stand-in for the “city of man,” the enemy of God and His people. The city will be made to “drink the cup of the wine of the fury of his wrath” (cf. Isa. 51:17; Ps. 75:8; Mt. 26:39) as it is “flattened” by the righteous judgment of God.
“John is [also] the one who recorded the final words of Jesus on the cross: “It is finished” (John 19:30). It is hard to imagine that he wouldn’t intend for us readers to make that connection. He wants us to see that everything accomplished on the cross will come to its fruition on the day of Christ’s return. While the head of the serpent was crushed in his death and resurrection, the ancient serpent will be destroyed for good on the day of his return. With the seventh bowl John tells us that the wrath of God is finished. The justice of God has been fully satisfied. It has been exhausted either on his Son or on unrepentant sinners.”
~ Nancy Guthrie, Blessed: Experiencing the Promise of the Book of Revelation
