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Question:
When do the events of Revelation 16:12-21 take place? What happens when the sixth bowl of God’s wrath is poured out?
The events of Revelation 16 take place in the second half of the seventieth week of Daniel 9:24-27 when seven angels with the seven plagues of the wrath of God came forth out of the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony, to pour out the cups of the wrath of God upon the earth.
for they poured out the blood of saints and prophets, and You have given them blood to drink. They deserve it.” And I heard the altar saying, “Yes, Lord God, the Almighty, true and righteous are Your judgments. (Revelation 16:6-7 NASB)
The first five bowls were shed on the earth, affecting mankind and all of God’s creation with much sorrow. People blasphemed God and did not repent of their deeds.
So the first angel went and poured out his bowl on the earth; and a harmful and painful sore afflicted the people who had the mark of the beast and who worshiped his image. The second angel poured out his bowl into the sea, and it became blood like that of a dead man; and every living thing in the sea died. Then the third angel poured out his bowl into the rivers and the springs of waters; and they became blood. And I heard the angel of the waters saying, “Righteous are You, the One who is and who was, O Holy One, because You judged these things; for they poured out the blood of saints and prophets, and You have given them blood to drink. They deserve it.” And I heard the altar saying, “Yes, Lord God, the Almighty, true and righteous are Your judgments.”And the fourth angel poured out his bowl upon the sun, and it was given power to scorch people with fire. And the people were scorched with fierce heat; and they blasphemed the name of God who has the power over these plagues, and they did not repent so as to give Him glory.And the fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom became darkened; and they gnawed their tongues because of pain, and they blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pain and their sores; and they did not repent of their deeds. (Revelation 16:2-11 NASB)
The outpouring of the sixth bowl is intended to drain the Euphrates River, which will allow the kings of the East to come to Armageddon.
The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river, the Euphrates; and its water was dried up, so that the way would be prepared for the kings from the east. And I saw coming out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits like frogs; for they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the entire world, to gather them together for the war of the great day of God, the Almighty. (“Behold, I am coming like a thief. Blessed is the one who stays awake and keeps his clothes, so that he will not walk about naked and people will not see his shame.”) And they gathered them together to the place which in Hebrew is called Har-Magedon. (Revelation 16:12-16 NASB)
At the outbreak of the sixth bowl, people will be involved in a catastrophic war campaign called Armageddon. This campaign takes place at the end of the period of great tribulation. The word “Armageddon” means “Mount Megiddo” and refers to a place that is 97 km away from Jerusalem. This is where Barak defeated the king of Canaan (Judges 4) and Gideon defeated the Midianites (Judges 7). This will be the place of the last terrible battles of mankind, which will take place just before the second coming of the King Jesus Christ.
The allied armies of the antichrist will gather for the final destruction of the Jews. The assembly of these armies takes place, in fact, at the outpouring of the sixth bowl of God’s wrath. The Euphrates River will be dried up, making it easier to assemble armies in the east. The Euphrates River – the longest river in West Asia with a length of almost 2896 km – begins in modern Turkey and flows into the Mediterranean Sea, then turns south, flows over 1609 km, merges with the Tigris River and then into the Persian Gulf. Many ancient cities, including Ur and Babylon, are located at various points along the river.
Today’s Eastern/Oriental emperors, who have the largest population in the world and have extraordinary military capability, will travel across the Euphrates River to Israel. This river is the first water border between Israel and Asia in the east. The drying up of the Euphrates River is prophesied in the book of the prophet Isaiah 11:15: “The LORD shall dry up the tongue of the sea of Egypt, and lift up his hand against the river in his wrath, and shall divide it into seven streams;
The purpose of this coalition will be to destroy the people of Israel once and for all. Satan, the antichrist and the false prophet, as well as evil spirits will be involved in calling the kings of the earth to war. Demonic messengers will be empowered to make signs to secure the assembly of the armies of the kings of the world.
With the outpouring of the seventh bowl, God’s wrath is “done.” Lightning, voices, thunder and an earthquake like never before happen. Other events follow such as the destruction of Babylon, etc. Anti-God forces and Israel are destroyed. But the people did not repent, but blasphemed God because of the plagues. But the remnant of the people of Israel will be saved by the Lord Jesus and will attend the marriage of the Lamb.
‘Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding feast of the Lamb.’ (Revelation 19:9 NASB)
I recommend that you study the Precept courses for a deeper understanding of the book of Revelation.
Translated by Didina Vicliuc