Beloved, I am glad to share with you today the above theme from Rev 16:1 and following. This chp 16 presents the effects of the seven cups poured on the earth. It is no longer the “third” part that is struck, as under the trumpets; the action of judgments is no longer restricted to the Western Roman Empire. The whole sphere of the apostate world suffers the effects, with more intensity than under the trumpets. The land, the sea, the rivers and fountains of the waters, then the sun, are successively the objects of divine judgments when the first four cups are poured. The different parts or domains of nature are visited by the wrath of God, regardless of the objects they symbolize, and the meaning is clear. For the last three cups, as well as the three trumpets of misfortune, have a more intimate significance in relation to man.
“And the fifth poured his cup on the throne of the beast.” So, we have before us a kind sphere, which fits perfectly with the scene that opens chapter 15 and is like an introduction to what we see here. “The fifth poured his cup on the throne of the beast; and his kingdom became dark; and in pain they bit their tongues: and they blasphemed the God of heaven, for their pains and ulcers, and did not repent of their works. And the sixth poured his cup on the great river Euphrates; and its water dries up, so that the way of the kings who come from the East may be prepared.” The Euphrates was the eastern border of the empire. It separated it from the numerous hordes of uncivilized nations of the northeast, destined to come into conflict, in the last days, with the powers of the West. The way is open for them to move forward and take part in the final struggle. This seems to be the significance of the drying up of the great river.
“And I saw out of the mouth of the dragon, and from the mouth of the beast, and from the mouth of the false prophet, three filthy spirits, like frogs; for they are spirits of demons performing miracles, who go to the kings of the entire inhabited earth, to assemble them for the battle of this great day of God the Almighty”. This confirms what we have just alluded to. A universal uprising is taking place and a fight to the death is about to begin between East and West. But the Lord has purposes that are ignored by both parties and that they take no account of; he does not remain an indifferent spectator: “Behold, I come like a thief. Blessed is he who watches over and keeps his clothes, so that he does not walk naked and that one does not see his shame. And they assembled them at the place called in Hebrew Harmagedon.”
Finally comes the seventh angel who, by pouring his cup into the air, exerts on the world an even more pronounced and universal action. “And the seventh angel poured his cup into the air; and he came out of the temple of heaven a great voice proceeding from the throne, saying: Done! And there were lightning, and voices, and thunder; and there was a great earthquake,” not only great, but without example, “an earthquake such, so great, that there has never been a similar one since on men are on earth.” Thus it is clear that the judgment of heaven becomes even more inexorable in the blows of which it strikes man here on earth. “And the great city was divided into three parts; and the cities of the nations fell; and the great Babylon came into remembrance before God.” This explains the warning about the fall of Babylon, mentioned in the complete series of God’s ways in chapter 14, and as for time, this chapter leads us to.
The following verses have been compiled for your edification and grouped together for your better understanding.
The seven cups:
- Divine Justice:
Ps 103:6 Jehovah does justice, He gives right to all the oppressed. So 3:5 The Lord is right in her midst, He does not commit iniquity; Every morning he produces in the light his judgments, without ever lacking in them; But he who is iniquitous does not know shame. Jn 5:30 I cannot do anything with myself: according to what I hear, I judge; and my judgment is just, because I seek not my will, but the will of the one who sent me. Rom 2:2 We know, in fact, that God’s judgment against those who commit such things is according to the truth.
- Hardening Warning
Ec 8:11 Because a sentence against evil deeds is not carried out promptly, the hearts of the sons of man are filled in them with the desire to do evil. Jer 7:13 And now, since you have committed all these deeds, says the Lord, Since I have spoken to you in the morning and you have not listened, Since I have called you and you have not answered, Am 4:6 And I have sent you famine in all your cities, The lack of bread in all your homes. Despite this, you have not returned to me, says the Lord. Ag 2:17 I have struck you with rust and nielle, and with hail; I have hit all the work with your hands. Despite this, you have not returned to me, says the Lord. Mt 1:20 As he thought, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, and said: Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take with you Mary, your wife, for the child she conceived comes from the Holy Spirit;
- Torments of the wicked
Luke 16:23 In the sojourn of the dead, he looked up; and, while in torment, he saw Abraham, and Lazarus in his womb from afar. Rev 14:11 And the smoke of their torment rises centuries to the ages of ages; and they have no rest day or night, those who worship the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name. Rev 16:10 The fifth poured his cup on the throne of the beast. And his kingdom was covered with darkness; and men bit their tongues in pain, Rev 18:10 keeping away, in fear of his torment, they will say: Woe! misfortune! The big city, Babylon, the mighty city! In just one hour came your judgment! Rev 20:10 And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night, centuries and centuries.
- The bad guys will drink the Cup of Wrath
Ps 75:9 There is in the hand of the Lord a cup, Where ferments a wine full of mixture, And he pours some: All the wicked of the earth suck, drink to the dregs. Isa 51:17 Wake up, wake up! rise, Jerusalem, Who drank from the hand of the Lord the cup of his wrath, Who drank, sucked to the dregs the cup of stunning! Ez 23:33 Thou shalt be filled with drunkenness and pain; It is the cup of desolation and destruction, the cup of your sister Samaria. Za 12:2 Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of stunning for all the peoples around, and also for Judah in the siege of Jerusalem. Rev 16:19 And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell, and God, remembered Babylon the great, to give him the cup of wine of his ardent wrath.
From all of the above, we note that the seven cups poured on earth are reminiscent of the plagues on Egypt: ulcer, waters changed into blood, darkness, frogs, thunder, hail, and fire (Ex 9:22-26). Instead of repentance, these calamities give rise to blasphemy. But a threefold testimony is given to the Just God, by the company of the overcomers (Rev 15:1-4), by the angel of the waters, and by the altar itself. The first four plagues strike the same spheres as the first four trumpets respectively (Rev 8:7-12). The 5th reached the throne of the Roman leader. The 6th prepares “the fight of the big day”. Finally, with the last cup sounded the great voice coming from the throne: “it is done”. How different it is from the cry that foretold for us the end of God’s wrath against sin, after the Son of God had drunk on the cross the cup we had earned: “All is finished” (John 19:28-30). These solemn events are closer than we think. “May we never consider the world except as a judged scene, aware of the frightening anger from which it cannot escape. This will protect us from being indifferent either to the evil that is in the world or to the divine judgment that awaits it.” Our prayers are with you all.
PRAYER OF ACCEPTANCE OF JESUS CHRIST AS LORD AND PERSONAL SAVIOR
I now invite every person who wants to become a new creation by walking in the truth, to pray with me the following prayer:
Lord Jesus, I have long walked in the lusts of the world ignoring your love for humans. I admit to having sinned against you and ask your forgiveness for all my sins, because today I have decided to give you my life by taking you as Lord and personal Savior. I recognize that you died on the cross of Calvary and rose from the dead for me.
I am now saved and born again by the power of the Holy Spirit. Lead me every day to the eternal life that you give to all who obey your Word. Reveal yourself to me and strengthen my heart and faith, so that your light may shine in my life right now.
Thank you, Lord Jesus, for accepting me into your divine family, so that I may also contemplate the wonders of your kingdom.
I will now choose a nearby waterpoint to baptize myself by immersion, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
All adoration, power and glory are yours, now and forever and ever. Amen!
I would be happy to react to any questions and comments you may have, before sharing with you tomorrow “the fall of Babylon, the great prostitute. »
May the Lord Jesus Christ bless you abundantly.
David Feze, Servant of the Almighty God.