In September of 1859 a solar storm jettison a solar flare that affected Earth atmosphere causing widespread mayhem. It was known as the Carrington Event named after the astronomer Richard Carrington who discovered the solar flare. Considering the primitive technology of the time the magnetic effects were so substantial that the “aurora borealis” normally seen at polar latitudes, could be seen in the tropics.

This phenomenon was named for the Roman goddess of the dawn, Aurora, and the Greek god of the north wind, Boreas. Electricity from the storm flowed through the electrical telegraph lines overloading the circuits, starting fires around the world and shocking nearby workers. Interestingly, some telegraph operators reported being able to send messages without the batteries attached.

Just imagine if a storm of that magnitude were to strike today, the impact to technology could be catastrophic. Transformers would be damaged, and the power outages would occur around the world. Radio and satellite communications could be knocked out, resulting in a massive blackout without the benefit of our being able to talk to one another. These facts were compiled by NASA and the National Academy of Sciences.

Such solar events can also have an impact on our ozone layer, as depicted in the film “Finch”. Climate change has caused radical depletion of the ozone layer and this could cause the earth to heat up. It could be a solar storm the like we’ve never seen that brings about as the Bible states, “Men will be scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God”.

Today we will be looking at these last dreadful judgments to come. Dr. Charles Stanley once said, he doesn’t know any judgments in the bible liken unto these. The grace of God is over and the wrath of God has come. Since these judgments are the final culmination of God’s divine justice the bowl judgments will also be the most severe of all the judgments. Their severity stems from the fact that God is to those who willfully reject the the blood atonement of God’s Son.
These terrible plagues can be compared to two other sets of plagues. The first occurred in Egypt and is recorded in Exodus chapter 7 through 12. These plagues God brought upon the wicked in Egypt because they had kept His people captive. In liberating His people He brought these plagues that were judgments upon the Egyptians.

I. The First Bowl (16:1-2).

1. In the previous judgments (the seals and the trumpets) there was a break, or interlude, between the sixth and seventh judgments, but the seven vials, or bowls, of wrath are poured out without interruption. This seems to indicate they will occur in rapid succession.

2. When this first angel pours out the first bowl of wrath, there fell a noisome and grievous sore upon the people which had the mark of the beast. The phrase noisome and grievous sore literally means “ugly and painful, or malignant, sores.” Apparently, these sores are permanent because after the fifth bowl of wrath has been poured out in verse 11, people are still suffering from them.

3. The word “sore,” hell-kos, an ulcer…this is probably where that word ulcer comes from, a running sore, a cancer, anything like that. It is despicable, growing, and incurable. The same term, by the way, is used in the Greek translation of Exodus chapter 9 to describe the boils there. It is also the same word used in Luke 16:21 to describe the sores on the body of the beggar by the name of Lazarus. The world is going to have unbelievable pain in their physical bodies as they are stricken with these sores. –

4. The first bowl is an awesome picture of God’s judgment poured out upon the followers of the Anti-Christ … those who received the “Mark of the Beast” – 666. Undoubtedly, the disposition of people will be such that it will be difficult to get along with each other, adding to the miserable conditions on earth.

II The Second Bowl (16:3).

1. And the second angel poured out his vial upon the sea; and it became as the blood of a dead man: and every living soul died in the sea. One-third of the sea life had already been killed at the sounding of the second trumpet (8:9), but now ALL sea life is killed, causing unimaginable stench and pollution. Some of these correspond to the trumpets judgments.

2. Have you ever been around a “red tide”? A pastor I know (Ray Scott) lives in Clearwater, Florida said he used to experience this every year. The fish die, and are washed ashore. The beach became a stinking, filthy mess. This is just a small “taste” of what will happen during God’s judgment upon the earth.
Illustration:
Back in 1949 one of these red tides hit the coast of Florida. First the water turned yellow but by mid-summer it was thick and gummy with countless billions of what are called dyno-flagellates, tiny one-celled organisms. Sixty mile winds arose, stinking fish fouled the beaches, much marine life was wiped out, even bait used by fishermen died on the hooks. Eventually that red tide subsided only to appear again the following year, according to this report. Eating fish contaminated by the tide produced severe symptoms caused by potent nerve poison.

An unchecked population explosion of toxic dyno-flagellates would kill all the fish in the sea. Maybe that’s what the Lord will use. We don’t know but every living thing in the sea is going to die.
It is interesting that they rejected the blood that brings forth LIFE (Jesus) however this blood brings forth DEATH. I f you reject what the blood of Jesus gave to SAVE you … and you will PERISH for eternity.

III The Third Bowl (16:4-7).

1. In this judgment the rivers and fountains of water … became blood (16:4). So, the earth’s fresh water becomes polluted. God reveals why this judgment is what the people on earth deserve, according to 16:6.

2. Even though most had not participated directly in the act of bloodshed, the people on earth had rejoiced when God’s two witnesses were slain by the beast in 11:10. There have been many severe persecutions of God’s people throughout history, but none as universal and unmerciful as that conducted by the beast in the Great Tribulation. Therefore, it is fitting his generation shall be compelled to drink water that is like the blood that they so apathetically allowed to be shed.

Dr. Warren Wiersbe says of these verses; “Heaven gives justification for this terrible judgment; the earth-dwellers have shed the blood of God’s people, so it is only right that they should drink blood. In God’s government, the punishment always fits the crime. Pharaoh tried to drown the Jewish male babies, but it was his own army that eventually drowned in the Red Sea. Haman planned to hang Mordecai on the gallows and to exterminate the Jews; but he himself was hanged on the gallows, and his family was exterminated. King Saul refused to obey God and slay the Amalekites, so he was slain by an Amalekite. Yesterday the Palestinians attached Israel in an unprovoked attack. I can tell you God will response with Hos own attack in due time. EZ. 39:1-

IV. The Fourth Bowl (16:8-9).

1. It is very important for all earthy life to receive light from the sun. All life in some way or fashion depends on the sun’s light. But now, in this 4th bowl judgment, the intensity of its heat is increased. Do you remember in Revelation 8:12 part of the sun had been dimmed?

2. In this judgment the sun’s heat intensifies so as to scorch men with fire (verse 8). We find here that dramatic changes in the atmosphere and climate will occur during the Great Tribulation. Coupled with the loss of drinking water, this will result in untold suffering and agony. Yet it leaves men unrepentant.

The terrible foolishness of unbelief, of refusing God’s grace, is that you gradually lose the capacity to repent. At last you reach a state of hardness of heart which no longer can respond or does respond to what God is doing. It is too late to pray!

Conclusion:

Satan has been trying to destroy Israel since the beginning and he tried *through many different ways to do it in the past. God chose the Jewish people not because of their number, power, greatness, or anything of that nature. It is simply that God is sovereign and chose Israel to be the vehicle for His plan for the world. God’s plan for this world revolves around His chosen people and will end with all His promises to them fulfilled. The day is soon approaching that there will God’s Judgement.