End Times-
putting the pieces in place
by Sonny Bowman
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Chapter 9
The Wrath of God
Revelation 16:1 (NKJV) Then I heard a loud voice from the
temple saying to the seven angels, "Go and pour out the
bowls of the wrath of God on the earth."
There is a time coming when God will judge the
world for rejecting His Son and for sin. It will be a day of
wrath and judgment. In the Bible, this time is descriptively
called the Wrath of God (Col. 3:6; Rev. 14:9-10, 19; 15:1,
7; 16:1). In some passages, it is called the Day of the Lord (Joel
1:15; 2:1-11; 1 Thes. 5:1-9). It will be a day of vengeance when
God’s wrath will be expressed in the form of seven plagues poured out upon the earth.
There will be much physical pain and trouble for the inhabitants
of earth at that time. Some have taught that the plagues of
God’s wrath are part of the Great Tribulation. That is not
the case according to the Bible (see the chapter
explaining the difference between the Great Tribulation and
the Wrath of God).
The seven plagues in the Book of Revelation
constitute the outpouring of the Wrath of God (Rev. 6:17; 11:18
with the following references). Details of the seven plagues are
first provided in Revelation 8:6-13, 9:1-21, and 11:15-19. The
seven plagues are described a second time in Revelation 16:1-21.
Notice that the plagues are poured out by angels of God (Rev.
8:6,10; 11:15; 16:1). Revelation 16:1 says, "Then I heard a
loud voice from the temple saying to the seven angels, ‘Go
and pour out the bowls of the wrath of God on the
earth.’" These plagues described in the Book of
Revelation are the outpouring of God’s wrath upon a sinful
world (Rev. 18:4, 8). Since the Great Tribulation is demonic
persecution (under the direction of the Beast) rather than godly
judgment, it should be clear that the seven plagues of God’s
wrath are not part of the Great Tribulation.
Failure to recognize that the same seven
plagues are described twice in the Book of Revelation can lead to
confusion about end-time events. Even though the plagues are
described from slightly different view points, the two different
descriptions for each plague can be compared to see that both
descriptions apply to the same event. There is only one set of
seven plagues, but they are described twice in the Book of
Revelation. (See the chapter on the seven
plagues of the Wrath of God for more information.)
Christians are not destined to suffer the Wrath
of God (Rom. 5:9; 1 Thes. 5:9; Rev. 18:4). Through faith in
Jesus, He has delivered us from the coming wrath (1 Thes.
1:9-10). Therefore, Christians will not suffer the Wrath of God.
The Beast and non-Christians will suffer
terribly during the Wrath of God (Rom. 1:18; 2:5-9; Eph 5:3-7;
Col. 3:5-6; Rev. 9:3-6; 16:9-11). Even though they refuse to
repent, they will be forced to acknowledge that Jesus is the Lord
of all (Rev. 9:20-21; 16:9, 11; 11:13; Rom. 14:11; Phil.
2:10-11). Since no one repents during the Wrath of God, it would
appear that no one is saved during the Wrath of God (Acts 3:19;
11:18). Like the flood of Noah’s days, the Wrath of God is a
time of punishment, not a time of correction (Mat. 24:36-39; Gen.
6:5-8, 13, 17; Gen. 7:13-24).
Summary
Term Definition:
The Wrath of God is a scriptural
term referring to a specific period of time when God will
punish the Beast and those who worship him (Rev.
14:9-11). This outpouring of God’s wrath will take
the form of seven plagues (Rev. 8:1-13; 9:1-21; 11:1-19;
15:1-21). The Wrath of God is sometimes called the Day
of the Lord (Joel 1:15; 2:1-11; 1 Thes. 5:1-9).
Significance of the Wrath of God:
The Wrath of God is a time of
punishment for the Beast and all those who worship him
and take his mark during the Great Tribulation (Rev.
14:9-11). The Wrath of God is God’s judgment upon
sin and sinners (Rom. 1:18; 2:5-9; Eph 5:3-7; Col.
3:5-6).
Source of the Wrath of God:
The Wrath of God comes from God (Rom.
2:5-9; 2 Thes. 1:6-10; Rev. 15:6-7). It is performed by
angels under His command (Rev. 8:1-2; 11:17-18; 15:6-8;
16:1).
Length of the Wrath of God:
The precise length of the Wrath of God
is not given in the Bible. One of the plagues lasts five
months (Rev. 9:5). Therefore the Wrath of God lasts at
least five months.
Events Prior to the Wrath of God:
The Great Tribulation
occurs before the Wrath of God (also see the Chronological Relationships
chapter). Immediately after the Great Tribulation (but
before the Wrath of God) certain signs
will occur in the sun, moon, and stars (Mat. 24:29;
Rev. 6:12-14). Also, Jesus will be seen by the people on
earth as He returns to gather His people (Mat. 24:27,
30-21; Rev. 6:15-17).
Events of the Wrath of God:
The primary events associated with the
Wrath of God are the seven plagues poured out in judgment
upon the earth and its inhabitants (Rev. 8:6-13; 9:1-21;
11:15-19; 15:1; 16:1-21).
God During the Wrath of God:
God’s judgment and punishment will
be poured out as seven plagues upon those who remain on
the earth after the Rapture (Rev. 8:1-13; 9:1-21;
11:1-19; 15:1-21). God will be a shelter for His people
(Joel 3:9-16).
Christians During the Wrath of God:
Most Christians will be in heaven
during the Wrath of God (Rev. 7:9-17; 15:1-4). There will
be 144,000 people who are sealed to protect them against
the plagues (Rev. 7:1-8; 14:1-5). These will participate
in the outpouring of the Wrath of God or possibly will
witness against the people of the earth by explaining the
reason for the plagues (Rev. 14:1-4). Two witnesses will
also testify against the people during the Wrath of God
(Rev. 11:3-13). The people of God will not suffer the
plagues of the Wrath of God (Rom. 5:9; 1 Thes. 5:9;
1:9-10; Joel 3:9-16; Rev. 7:2-3).
Satan During the Wrath of God:
The Bible does not describe many of
Satan’s activities during the Wrath of God. Satan
(the dragon) will gather the people of the earth at
Armageddon to fight against God during the Wrath of God
(Rev. 16:13-14).
Beast During the Wrath of God:
The Beast will suffer severe punishment
during the Wrath of God (Rev. 16:10-11). The Beast will
kill God’s two witnesses between the sixth and
seventh plagues (Rev. 11:7). The Beast, Satan, and the
False Prophet will gather the people together at
Armageddon to fight against God (Rev. 16:13-14).
Non-Christians During the Wrath of God:
Non-Christians will suffer punishment
during the Wrath of God (Rom. 1:18; 2:5-9; Eph 5:3-7;
Col. 3:5-6; Rev. 9:3-6; 16:9-11). They will blaspheme God
(Rev. 16:9, 11, 21). They will refuse to repent for their
evil (Rev. 9:20-21; 16:9, 11). They will be forced to
give God the glory due Him (Rev. 11:13; Rom. 14:11; Phil.
2:10-11).
Events Following the Wrath of God:
Satan will be bound for 1000 years and
the Millennium will begin (Rev.
20:1-4).
Scripture references for the Wrath of
God:
Mat. 24:36-39; Luke 17:22-30; Rom.
1:18; Rom. 2:5-9; Rom. 5:9; Rom. 14:11; Eph. 5:3-7; Col.
3:5-6; 1 Thes. 1:9-10; 1 Thes. 5:1-9; 2 Thes. 1:6-10;
Rev. 6:12-17; Rev. 7:1-17; Rev. 8:1-13; Rev. 9:1-21; Rev.
11:1-19; Rev. 14:7-12, 17-20; Rev. 15:1-21; Rev. 16:1-21;
Rev. 18:4, 8; Rev. 19:11-21; Joel 1:15; Joel 2:1-11,
28-32; Joel 3:12-16; Zech. 14:1-15; Isa. 2:10-21; Isa.
13:1-16; Isa. 24:1-23; Isa. 26:20-21; Isa. 63:1-6; Ezek.
7:1-27
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End Times - putting the pieces
in place
Unless otherwise stated, all Scripture quotations are from
the Holy Bible, New King James Version, copyright © 1982 by
Thomas Nelson, Inc.
NKJV indicates quotations taken from the Holy Bible, New
King James Version, copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
KJV indicates quotations taken from the King James Version
of the Bible.
Numbers associated with Greek (italic) or Hebrew (upright)
words refer to the corresponding words in the Strong's Exhaustive
Concordance of the Bible, by James Strong, S.T.D., LL.D.
Please make copies of this book to give to your friends. (A
searchable and printable version in Adobe Acrobat format is
available for download.) Your comments
and suggestion are also welcome. Thank you for helping others to
understand the Bible teachings on the End Times.
God bless you.
Sonny Bowman
If you have questions or comments, please contact
Sonny Bowman.
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