Revelation Friday Night Bible Study 19JUN26 (Revelation 16:8-11)

 

The Fourth Angel

 

“The fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and the sun was allowed to scorch people with fire. They were seared by the intense heat, and they cursed the name of God, who had control over these plagues, but they refused to repent and glorify him” (Revelation 16:8-9).

 

            At almost all large chain department stores and smaller chains, various types of sunscreens are sold over the counter. Pharmaceutical and medical grades can also be obtained with a prescription by one’s doctor and/or pharmacist. Sunscreen was first made available in the early 1930s. Australian chemist Milton Blake invented a commercial sunscreen in the late 1920s, leading to the launch of his brand with Hamilton Laboratories in 1932. Medical research says that sunscreen protects the skin from ultraviolet radiation (UV) and is essential in thwarting skin cancer, slowing premature skin aging, and preventing sunburn. Some medical professionals encourage its daily use, while others suggest using it primarily for when one goes swimming, at the beach, or extended exposure out in the sun.

 

John witnessed the fourth angel pouring out his bowl on the sun, which caused the people to be sunburned. This was the fourth judgment to be poured out on the people because of their rebellion against the Lord. He had given them His laws and decrees. He had given them continuous mercy and grace, but judgment is what they preferred. Unfortunately, this did not humble them and cause them to change. They cursed God rather than have a repentant heart. Therefore, God turned them over to their own devices and allowed the wicked to harden their hearts since they refused to acknowledge Him. This is a dangerous situation when a person refuses to acknowledge God and give Him the glory He deserves. The Bible says: “ If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God.  Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. How much more severely do you think someone deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified them, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know him who said, “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” and again, “The Lord will judge his people.” It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Hebrews 10:26-31). These verses lets us know the following:

a.       Judgment is brought on for those who deliberately sin.

b.      Judgment is rendered after truth has been rejected.

c.       God’s enemies can expect to be consumed by fire for their wickedness and rebellion.

d.      God is still the same God who rendered judgment during Moses’ day in front of the entire assembly.

e.       Those who treated the holy as unholy and blasphemed the Holy Spirit in thought, actions, and deeds will reap the consequences.

f.        God promises to repay the wicked with vengeance.

g.      God will judge the church and the world.

h.      Those who fall into God’s and do so unworthily will do so at their own peril.

         God will allow the wicked to swim in their self-made pool of deception when they refuse to accept the knowledge of His truth, and they will receive their due reward—judgment.

The Fifth Angel

 “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 agony and cursed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, but they refused to repent of what they had done”

(Revelation 16:10-11).

 

            The fifth angel poured out his bowl on the beast’s throne, and its kingdom was thrown into darkness. In eschatology the beast’s throne represents its seat of power on the earth, authority, and worldwide influence of the Antichrist (or the forces of evil) in opposition to God’s kingdom during the end times. The Antichrist or beast system demands worship, obedience, and allegiance from the people of the earth. The beast system is comprised of the dragon (Satan), the Antichrist (political leader), and the false prophet. The Bible says: “And he was given authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation. And all who dwell on the earth will worship the beast—all whose names have not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life belonging to the Lamb who was slain” (Revelation 13:7-8).

             People cursed God because they had painful sores but still refused to repent. Remember that the people had received judgments previously that caused painful sores that they seemed to have not recovered from. One can only imagine how the pain made them half-crazed but even then, they would not repent and turn to the Lord. They preferred to worship the devil and his taskmasters. The devil is the ruler of this world, so his throne is of this earth where his kingdom is evident. The Bible says: “The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God” (2 Corinthians 4:4). It is amazing how the devil can have people's minds so twisted that they would rather curse God than humble themselves and repent of their wicked ways. Unfortunately, this will be the case when these seven bowls are poured out. The wicked will have an increasing hatred and dislike for God and will, therefore, suffer the final judgment of being cast into the Abyss in the end.

 

Revelation Friday Night Bible Study 12JUN26 (Revelation 16:3-7)

The Second Angel

 

“The second angel poured out his bowl on the sea, and it turned into blood like that of a dead person, and every living thing in the sea died” (Revelation 16:3).

 

            On June 12, 2026, ZME Science published an article about San Carlos, a popular fishing lake in Arizona, which had to close its waters to public fishing due to a massive fish die-off. According to the San Carlos Recreation and Wildlife Department, the lake would remain closed until further notice due to the potential health risk to visitors. Experts say that this was caused by drought conditions combined with water releases from the dam, resulting in 100% of the fish dying.  To further explain, experts say that this resulted in fish being packed into shallow, warm water, which carries less oxygen than cold water, causing the crowded fish to consume it quickly, along with algae and other organic matter.[1]

 

The Apostle John witnessed the second angel pouring out his bowl on the sea. It turned to blood, and every living thing died in it. Man has refused to obey his Creator, and these judgments are a result of disobedience. Similarly, Pharaoh was given this same judgment as the penalty for his rebellion. The Bible says: “Then the Lord said to Moses, “Pharaoh’s Go to Pharaoh in the morning as he goes out to the river. Confront him on the bank of the Nile, and take in your hand the staff that was changed into a snake. Then say to him, ‘The Lord, the God of the Hebrews, has sent me to say to you: Let my people go, so that they may worship me in the wilderness. But until now, you have not listened. This is what the Lord says: By this, you will know that I am the Lord: With the staff that is in my hand, I will strike the water of the Nile, and it will be changed into blood. The fish in the Nile will die, and the river will stink; the Egyptians will not be able to drink its water’ ” (Exodus 7:14-18). Pharaoh had hardened his heart against the Lord, and many today have done the same. Therefore, one of the punishments that God gives to the wicked to get their attention and for them to know He is the true God is to allow sea life to die because this is a source of food, and the sea is also used for various means of travel for the distribution of goods, resources, and services. Nevertheless, God’s judgments are never meant to be cruel but to let the sinner know and understand the error of his ways.  Jesus Christ came to shed His blood for our sins. However, many in the world have rejected Him. Therefore, those who do not accept Him will suffer judgment due to their choices.

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[1] Tudor Tarita, "A Famous Arizona Fishing Lake Has Been Closed Indefinitely After Almost Every Fish Died," ZME Science, last modified June 12, 2026, https://www.zmescience.com/ecology/climate/a-famous-arizona-fishing-lake-has-been-closed-indefinitely-after-almost-every-fish-died/.

 

 

The Third Angel

 

“The third angel poured out his bowl on the rivers and springs of water, and they became blood. Then I heard the angel in charge of the waters say: ‘You are just in these judgments, O Holy One, you who are and who were; for they have shed the blood of your holy people and your prophets, and you have given them blood to drink as they deserve.’ And I heard the altar respond: ‘Yes, Lord God Almighty, true and just are your judgments”

(Revelation 16:4-7).

 

            John saw yet another angel emptying his bowl onto the rivers and other sources of water, which turned into blood. These contaminated springs would affect people even more because they would include drinking water, leading to waterborne illnesses, vomiting, diarrhea, skin irritations, and dehydration. Millions of people in homes, hospitals, prisons, jails, schools, long-term care facilities, and more would be affected. This is not to mention the homeless, who would be even more susceptible to hardship, but not because of injustice.

           The angel then proclaimed the holiness and justice of God because the wicked were receiving due punishment for their sins of rebellion and the shedding of the blood of the saints. God will punish all of those who killed His holy people. God will give them blood to drink because they shed the blood of innocent people who had done no wrong but only wanted to serve Him. The Bible says:  “There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a person who stirs up conflict in the community” (Proverbs 6:16-19). God detests those who shed innocent blood. In the news, some terrorists are shedding the blood of others just because they are Christians. Their ability to kill without any mercy is brutal. However, they will receive their due punishment in the end if they do not turn their hearts to God and repent of their wickedness. Not only will terrorists receive due judgment, but those who have been an accessory to abortion by murdering innocent children who may have been pastors, prophets, evangelists, nurses, doctors, or whatever else God would have led them to be. Regardless of what the government says, abortion is murder. There have been millions of babies killed through abortion who never got the chance to fulfill their God-ordained destiny. Every life is precious, and God values each one.

God will also deal with those who have killed people spiritually. Many leaders are guilty of spiritual malpractice and abuse. They have mishandled and withheld the truth from God’s people to pursue dishonest gain, thus killing people spiritually, emotionally, verbally, financially, and even physically. The Bible says: “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Woe to you shepherds of Israel who only take care of yourselves! Should not shepherds take care of the flock? You eat the curds, clothe yourselves with the wool and slaughter the choice animals, but you do not take care of the flock” (Ezekiel 34:2-3). False teachers and many of their congregants have persecuted the true believers of God for popularity, fame, greed, and deception. Yet, the day will come when they will be held to account for their wicked ways. The Bible says: “For God will not be mocked, and whatever a man sows, he will reap” (Galatians 6:7).