The Righteousness Of God

Revelation 16

“In righteousness God reveals chiefly His love of holiness; in justice, chiefly his hatred of sin . . . Neither justice nor righteousness . . . is a matter of arbitrary will. They are revelations of the inmost nature of God.” Augustus Hopkins Strong
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“Then I heard a loud voice from the temple telling the seven angels, “Go and pour out on the earth the seven bowls of the wrath of God.” 2 So the first angel went and poured out his bowl on the earth, and harmful and painful sores came upon the people who bore the mark of the beast and worshiped its image. 3 The second angel poured out his bowl into the sea, and it became like the blood of a corpse, and every living thing died that was in the sea. 4 The third angel poured out his bowl into the rivers and the springs of water, and they became blood. 5 And I heard the angel in charge of the waters say, “Just are you, O Holy One, who is and who was, for you brought these judgments. 6 For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and you have given them blood to drink. It is what they deserve!” 7 And I heard the altar saying, “Yes, Lord God the Almighty, true and just are your judgments!” Revelation 16:1–7 (ESV)

Despite what you hear, or the unbelieving world says or believes, no one can accuse God of being unfair. His judgments are always righteous. As hard as it is to accept , sinners reap what they sow. Because “righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne.” (Ps. 97:2).

“The fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and it was allowed to scorch people with fire. 9 They were scorched by the fierce heat, and they cursed the name of God who had power over these plagues. They did not repent and give him glory. 10 The fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and its kingdom was plunged into darkness. People gnawed their tongues in anguish 11 and cursed the God of heaven for their pain and sores. They did not repent of their deeds.” Revelation 16:8–11 (ESV)

Warren Wiersbe writes in his Word Commentary, “God’s judgments do not change men’s hearts. God judges sinners not to reveal His grace but to uphold His holiness. Sinners in the last days will be like Pharaoh in the days of Moses; they will harden their hearts more as God’s judgments increase.”

“The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up, to prepare the way for the kings from the east. 13 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. 14 For they are demonic spirits, performing signs, who go abroad to the kings of the whole world, to assemble them for battle on the great day of God the Almighty. 15 (“Behold, I am coming like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake, keeping his garments on, that he may not go about naked and be seen exposed!”) 16 And they assembled them at the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon.” Revelation 16:18 (ESV)

Against the dark background of judgment shines the promise of God. Jesus Christ is coming soon, and we must watch eagerly and walk carefully, so that we will be ready to meet Him.

“And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming. 1 John 2:28 (ESV)

Warren Wiersbe defines Armageddon in his Word Commentary like this: “Armageddon is Hebrew for “the hill of Megiddo”; and Megiddo means “place of slaughter.” It is the plain in the Holy Land where Barak defeated the Canaanites in Judges 5:19 and Gideon the Midianites in Judges 7. King Saul fought his last battle there in 1 Samuel 31. One of the greatest natural battlefields in the world, it is where the Antichrist will gather the world’s armies to fight against Jesus Christ (Isa. 24; Joel 3; Zech. 12–14). Revelation 19:11–21 records the outcome.”

“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.” Revelation 16:17–21 (ESV)

Dr. Tony Evans writes in his Study Bible, “It is done.” This bowl will complete God’s wrath (except for final judgment on the rebellion at the end of the Millennium; 20:7–10) and immediately precedes the second coming of Christ. It will usher in the worst calamity in the history of the world. The voice from the temple in heaven is undoubtedly that of God Himself. “It is done” is best translated, “It has been and will remain done” (cf. Jn 19:30). God will punctuate the completion of His wrath with a devastating earthquake—the most powerful in earth’s history.”

Dr. Evans continues his interpretation of this horrific and cataclysmic event, “Jerusalem will be split into 3 parts (Zec 14:4), not as a judgment (cf. 11:13), but as an improvement. The additional water supply (Zec 14:8) and topographical changes (Zec 14:4, 5) will prepare the city for its central place in the millennial kingdom. Jerusalem is the only city to be spared the judgment and will be made more beautiful (Ps 48:2), because of her repentance (see 11:13). cities of the nations. God’s purpose is very different for the rest of the world’s cities—they are to be destroyed. Babylon. The capital of the Antichrist’s empire will receive a special outpouring of God’s wrath as prophesied in Is 13:6–13. Chapters 17, 18 give details of its destruction... every island fled … mountains were not found. This powerful earthquake will radically alter all the earth’s topography, preparing it for the coming millennial kingdom. The huge size of the hailstones indicates unparalleled atmospheric convulsions. Such massive chunks of ice will cause unimaginable devastation and death.”

Know today that God’s judgment will one day be finished. God’s long-suffering will finally end, and His wrath will be revealed. What holds Him back today?
“The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance... And count the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him,” 2 Peter 3:9, 15 (ESV)

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