blessed is he who watches!

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THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST Chapter 16

“BLESSED IS HE WHO WATCHES!”  1ST BOWL OF THE WRATH OF GOD ON THE EARTH! (v1-2) The JUDGMENT: “A foul & loathsome sore.” UPON: “Those who had the MARK OF THE BEAST (666 – Rev.13:18) & worshipped his image.”

 2ND BOWL OF THE WRATH OF GOD ON THE EARTH! (v3) The JUDGMENT: “The sea becomes blood.” UPON: “Every living creature in the sea dies.”

 3RD BOWL OF THE WRATH OF GOD ON THE EARTH! (v4-7) The JUDGMENT: “Rivers & springs of water become blood.” UPON: “The world shed the blood of saints & prophets and now the world shall drink blood.” (Examples of God’s saints & prophets being martyred – Matthew 21:33-46; 23:29-39.)

 4TH BOWL OF THE WRATH OF GOD ON THE EARTH! (v8-9) The JUDGMENT: “The sun produces more heat and scorches men on earth.” UPON: “They blaspheme the God of Heaven and did not repent of their deeds.”

 5TH BOWL OF THE WRATH OF GOD ON THE EARTH! (v10-11) The JUDGMENT: “Darkness and pain are poured upon the throne of the beast and his kingdom.” UPON: “They blaspheme the God of Heaven and did not repent of their deeds.”

 6TH BOWL OF THE WRATH OF GOD ON THE EARTH! (v12) The JUDGMENT: “The river Euphrates is dried up!” UPON: “So the kings of the east can make their way to Armageddon.” Revelation 9:16-18 - Now the number of the army of the horsemen was two hundred million; I heard the number of them. And thus I saw the horses in the vision: those who sat on them had breastplates of fiery red, hyacinth blue, and sulfur yellow; and the heads of the horses were like the heads of lions; and out of their mouths came fire, smoke, and brimstone.

(v13-16) A parenthetic moment: More details of events leading up to Armageddon! The Events: Spirits of demons work through Satan, the beast (antichrist) & false prophet to perform signs to gather the kings of the earth and their armies to the great battle of Armageddon! Jesus said, “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.”

> How to be blessed by watching? #1 – Watching for the Days of Noah – Matthew 24:36-42 (Rapture – 1 Thess. 4:13-18; 1 Cor. 15:51-58) #2 – Watch & Pray – Matt. 26:41-42 – “Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” #3 – Watch out for deceivers – Acts 20:29-32 - For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears. "So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. #4 – Don’t quit watching – 1 Cor. 16:13-14 – Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong. Let all that you do be done with love.

 7TH BOWL OF THE WRATH OF GOD ON THE EARTH! (v17-21) The JUDGMENT: “A GREAT EARTHQUAKE!” WHERE: The great city (Jerusalem) splits into three parts—cities of the nations fall—Babylon experiences God’s wrath—every island fled away—mountains were not found—hailstones weighing 120lbs. fell upon mankind! RESULTS: MEN BLASPHEME GOD! (Examples of God using hailstones for judgment are found in Ex. 9:22-26 when God used hail as a judgment in the 7th plague against Egypt. Also in Joshua 10:11 - And it happened, as they fled before Israel and were on the descent of Beth Horon, that the LORD cast down large hailstones from heaven on them as far as Azekah, and they died. There were more who died from the hailstones than the children of Israel killed with the sword. Also found in the oldest book of book of the Bible God speaks to Job by declaring, “Have you entered the treasury of snow, or have you seen the treasury of hail, which I have reserved for the time of trouble (“the great tribulation” – Rev. 16:21), for the day of battle and war (Job 38:22-23).