The seventh bowl, the final judgment of the Tribulation
is actually a series of judgments that will be poured out
upon the whole earth. As the Tribulation is a time of
unprecedented trial or judgment, so the seventh bowl is the
most severe and totally devastating judgment of the whole
Tribulation, ending with the personal return of the Lord
Jesus Christ to earth. His personal return is not mentioned
in these verses or this chapter, but from the circumstances
and the sixth plague, the return of Christ has to be a part
of this judgment.
First, note that this bowl is poured out upon the air, a
reference to our atmosphere, the air we breathe. Remember,
Satan and his demon hosts have been, since chapter 12,
restricted to the earth, that would include our atmosphere.
Also, remember that according to Ephesians 2:2 Satan is
called “the prince of the power of the air.” This is the
domain and the base of operation for Satan and his spirit
hosts and their strategies. Further, in modern day our
atmosphere has become vitally important in military matters
over which Satan will have control. This series of
judgments, though its final effect is upon the earth, is a
final judgment upon Satan and his domain or rule.
Second, as John saw this bowl poured out, a voice is heard.
It is described as “loud” or “great.” It is the voice of
God, perhaps that of the Son Himself to whom all judgment
has been given (John 5:27). The voice comes “out of the
temple from the throne.” This is the smoke-filled temple
into which no one was able to enter because of the absolute
and undiluted wrath of God being poured out in these seven
bowls. Therefore, with the pouring of the seventh, John
hears “it is done.” A reference to not merely ended, but
which was brought to its appropriate end and with results
that continue. At this point, God’s purposes of judgment in
the Tribulation will be perfectly accomplished by this final
series of divine wrath.
If you recall, there was another moment in history when our
Lord made a similar statement. When on the cross, in those
final hours of darkness, he cried out “it is done” or “it is
finished.” At this point, Christ had borne our iniquities
and His substitionary work was complete. He had been judged
for man’s sin. This too was emphasizing that God’s work of
reconciliation was accomplished with nothing more to be done
other than for men and women to personally believe in the
Lord Jesus Christ (John 3:14-21, 36; 6:28-29).
But, as the above verses also show, if one rejects the work
of God in Christ and His judgment for our sin, then he is
under the wrath of God which must also be accomplished;
first in the Tribulation and then in eternal perdition in
the lake of fire (Revelation 20:11-15). As the author of
Hebrews asks us, “how shall we escape if we neglect so great
a salvation?” (Hebrews 2:3)
Before the mention of the great earthquake, John sees
“flashes of lightning” and hears “sounds and peals of
thunder.” As it has been throughout the Book, this is
preparatory and a warning of the extreme judgment that is
about to fall.
Then we read “and there was a great earthquake.” Several
things are important here: First, this earthquake is
unprecedented in history. The extent and effect of this
earthquake is worldwide devastation. In verse 20, we are
shown two results that are not only astounding, but also
mind boggling. (a) Every island disappeared into the ocean.
Imagine the tidal waves this will cause. (b) “And the
mountains were not found.” Perhaps as a result of the great
faults in the earth breaking open and shifting about, the
mountains will break up and fall into the cracks of the
earth. Zechariah 14:4 tells us that at Christ’s return to
earth the Mount of Olives will split or crack open and form
a great valley. Perhaps it is at this point, at Christ’s
return to earth, that this great earthquake occurs.
This points to three important facts:
(1) The world will be left in shambles. All man’s monuments
and his great buildings will literally crumble before his
very eyes.
(2) This judgment will drastically change the topography of
the earth.
(3) These events will cause a tremendous loss of life on a
worldwide scale that is impossible to calculate.
“And the great city was split into three parts.” Some see
this as a reference to Jerusalem because Jerusalem is called
“the great city” in Revelation 11:8. In addition, the
following two statements seem to indicate three different
areas are in view: “the great city,” “the cities of the
nations,” and “Babylon, the great.”
However, John could just as easily have had something else
in mind, the great city Babylon and those cities that come
under Babylon’s yoke. The fall of these cities will break
the yoke of Gentile world dominion referred to by the Lord
as “the times of the Gentiles” (Luke 21:24). This is “the
period of Gentile domination of Jerusalem, which probably
began under Nebuchadnezzar (587 B.C.), was certainly in
effect in A.D. 70 and continues into the Tribulation. This
should not be confused with what Paul spoke of as “the
fullness of the Gentiles” in Romans 11:25. The fullness of
the Gentiles refers to the completion of God’s purpose in
the church age during which time God is calling out from
among the Gentiles a people for His name, namely the church
(Acts 15:14; Ephesians 1:22-23; Romans 11:7-32). The fall of
these cities mentioned in Revelation 16 will bring to an end
the Gentile domination as it now exists over the nation
Israel.
In ancient times, Babylon was the chief center of Gentile
dominion, the seat of paganism. Here she will be judged and
her dominion ended including the times of the Gentiles. The
details and evidence for this will come in chapters 17-18.
In Revelation 16:21, we are told hailstones about 100 pounds
each will fall upon the earth and cause an awesome amount of
damage on earth. This judgment might be compared to that of
Sodom and Gomorrah or to that on the king of the north or
Magog mentioned in Ezekiel 38, only this will extend to the
whole earth.
This judgment is so severe that it is called a plague,
extremely severe. The amazing thing is that at this point,
all of man’s dreams will crumble, houses, fortunes,
kingdoms, mountains, everything, but man’s heart of stone.
His heart will have become so hard and rebellious from
continued rejection of God’s grace that he can only
blaspheme God.
The utter perversity of human nature, which will reject the
sovereignty of God in the face of such overwhelming
evidence, confirms that even the lake of fire will not
produce repentance on the part of those who have hardened
their hearts against the grace of God.
