Revelation 16:17-21--The Seventh Bowl

Revelation 16:17-21
English Standard Version

The Seventh Bowl
17 The seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple, from the throne, saying, “It is done!” 18 And there were flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, and a great earthquake such as there had never been since man was on the earth, so great was that earthquake. 19 The great city was split into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell, and God remembered Babylon the great, to make her drain the cup of the wine of the fury of his wrath. 20 And every island fled away, and no mountains were to be found. 21 And great hailstones, about one hundred pounds each, fell from heaven on people; and they cursed God for the plague of the hail, because the plague was so severe.

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I believe I mentioned yesterday that although the words "it is done" sound a lot like the words "It is finished" that were spoken from the cross, they are completely different words in Greek.  This has the connotation of both ending something old and beginning something new.  It sums up the rest of the book of Revelation in just a single word, just as how the work done at the cross is summed up in the single word that Jesus spoke right before He breathed His last breath, "It is finished," which has the connotation of a victory cry, adjudication of "not guilty," a debt that has been paid in full, or a sentence that has been completely served and the prisoner or slave being set free.  These are different words, each chosen carefully to convey exactly the right meaning.  This is the word of judgment that is finished and in so doing, it is the story of a new beginning.

When the Seventh Bowl is poured out on the earth there are flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, and a great earthquake (we've consistently seen this around the throne of God, and I think this is indicative of the imminent return of Christ to the earth that we'll see in chapter 19--the earth understands this and is responding appropriately).  The earthquake will be so valent, that all other earthquakes will pale in comparison to it--there has been nothing like this before and will be nothing like it again.

The city of Jerusalem will be split into three parts.  All the cities of all the other nations will fall because of the great earthquake, killing all who tried to take refuge in them.  God remembered Babylon the Great (the seat of government power for the Antichrist and his kingdom on earth), and He poured out the fullness of the cup of fury of His wrath down to the dregs on that city.

Because of the great shaking, there were no more islands and every mountain was brought down low (other than the mountain of God which is Mount Zion where Jerusalem will sit high and lifted up above all the earth).  Anyone who survived so far would be destroyed by great hailstones, each about 100 pounds, that fell on the rebellious people that still remained.  This will be no random event as these giant hailstones will only fall on those that the Lord intends them to fall on.  Each will hit its mark.  Even with all this, the few people that survive do not surrender or repent.  Instead, they continue to curse God because of the plague of the hail.  Even with how severe this plague was, this earthquake and plague of hail were just the opening salvos to make ready the way for the King of Kings and Lord of Lords who is also the Captain of the LORD's Army to return and conquer by the word of His mouth.  He, the very one who spoke everything into existence, will speak and destroy all of His enemies dare to stand against Him and His people, whom He will take as His Bride.

Before that, it is revealed to John just how destructive these plagues have been and how complete the destruction of the kingdom of Antichrist has been.  The next passage will tell us what we just assumed from this passage on the Bowls of Wrath, that all these final plagues feel on this wicked kingdom on a single day.  Therefore, the Lord will warn His people to withdraw to the place He has prepared for them and to come out from among these wicked people so that they will not be caught up with them in the day of judgment when His fury and wrath are poured out on Babylon the Great to repay them a double portion of what they have given to His people.