Introduction

My friends, let us proceed with our study of Revelation Chapter 16. Let us be entirely clear about this: even if you manage to survive one crisis after another, if your strategy is mere survival under the tyranny of the beast, the outcome is inevitable—you will suffer. The theme of this chapter is clear: "Just and true are the judgments of the Almighty!"

Seven Bowls of God's Wrath Poured on Earth

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." (Revelation 16:1)

There is a fundamental flaw in human nature: most people live merely for the sake of survival. They ask, "Pastor, if not for survival, what else is there?" This is a profound tragedy. To live without the awareness of inevitable mortality is sheer folly. When your final hour arrives, regret will be entirely useless.

Life is governed by choices. If you align your choices with the Almighty, blessings will follow as a matter of course. But let us be realistic: obedience to the Almighty requires a price—a price that often seems unreasonable to the worldly mind.

Make no mistake: in this world, demonic deception is a constant reality. The devil’s objective is simple: to lure you into the path of God’s wrath. Consider the Israelites after their exodus from Egypt. Their cowardice and obsession with survival were irrational. We must ask ourselves: are our thoughts aligned with God, or are they planted by demons? Most people lack the discernment to tell the difference.

Recently, I encountered someone who spoke at great length, yet said nothing of substance. I asked him point-blank: "Of all these arguments you have made, which one is the word of God?" None of them were. He did not even know the source of his own thoughts. The hard truth is that they came from the demonic realm.

If you allow yourself to be deceived, it is because you have accepted the devil's premise. You then follow his logic, and the inevitable result is God's wrath. God is merciful, but if you prioritize human logic and the trivialities of survival, you will be deceived. And when you suffer, you will bring your self-inflicted illnesses to Jesus, expecting His blood to cover your folly. The blood of Christ does not mean our sicknesses simply disappear; it means He bore them on our behalf. We must walk with greater caution. Do not provoke the wrath of God.

Do not harbor the illusion that you can delay repentance until the seven bowls of wrath are poured out. By then, it will be too late. Those who bear the mark of the beast will face unspeakable agony—longing for death, yet condemned to live in torment.

We must recognize that man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. If your speech is filled only with human arguments, you are not far from God’s wrath. We often argue our own cases, believing we are entirely justified, but upon closer inspection, we are merely defending our own interests, not God's word.

We must ensure that the Book of the Law does not depart from our mouths. We must act according to God's word throughout our lives. Even if it costs us our lives, we must not abandon His word. Our God is the living God, and He will lead us into eternity. In this life, you either please God or provoke Him. If you choose the latter, you deserve the consequences.

Some people live in total denial of their mortality. A sister’s husband died of cancer two months ago. Even after his diagnosis, he was busy maneuvering for political office. He was highly capable, securing his election even while bedridden. But what was the final result? He expired. Our team labored intensely to minister to him, but he remained stubborn. Why? Because he was deceived by demons. He chose the wrong camp, and consequently, he reaped the wrath of God. These seven bowls will claim lives. You wanted to survive, did you not? You refused to die for God? Then you shall enter the kingdom of the beast and receive his mark.

The First Bowl: Harmful and Painful Sores

So the first angel went and poured out his bowl on the earth, and harmful and painful sores broke out on the people who bore the mark of the beast and worshiped its image. (Revelation 16:2)

The first bowl is poured out. Instantly, foul and painful sores break out on everyone who bears the mark of the beast. Imagine the scene: you board a bus or enter a subway, and every face is covered in oozing, painful sores. This is the reality for those who worship the beast.

Will there be any need for PCR tests then? No. This is a spiritual plague manifested physically. Scientists will scramble to analyze the DNA, the bacteria, the virus. They will find no answers, and they too will break out in sores. The pain will be excruciating.

The severity of the sores will reflect the malice within. Some will have them on parts of their body; others will be covered from head to toe. And this is merely the first bowl. There is no escape. No pharmaceutical company in America can produce a cure against the wrath of God. This is the price of compromising for survival.

We see that God's wrath is constantly being revealed. Do not be surprised when hospitals are overwhelmed; none of those suffering are innocent. Their minds are consumed by worldly logic, completely blind to their own mortality. I have seen people on their deathbeds instructing their children to fight over property. What complete lack of wisdom.

The Second Bowl: The Sea Turns to Blood

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. (Revelation 16:3)

Look at the current geopolitical landscape: China, the Philippines, and Vietnam are disputing territories in the South China Sea. The Philippines even grounded a rusty ship to assert its claim. Why this obsession with the oceans? Because they represent vital economic lifelines and strategic assets.

Yet, when the second bowl is poured out, the sea turns to blood—coagulated, like the blood of a dead man. Every marine creature dies. The stench will be unbearable. The global economy, already crippled by the plague of sores, will collapse. Imagine a doctor covered in sores trying to treat a patient who is also covered in sores. Now, the oceans are dead. The Antichrist may unify the world, but it is utterly futile against God. You cannot defeat the Almighty.

Faced with this reality, I ask you: is it not better to be martyred by the beast and caught up into the air, rather than to remain on this earth? Personally, I would choose martyrdom over this survival.

The oceans are dead. There will be no seafood. Marine industries will collapse, and fishermen will be unemployed. Some might think they can survive on freshwater resources. But remember, this is only the second bowl.

The Third Bowl: Rivers and Springs Turn to Blood

The third angel poured out his bowl into the rivers and the springs of water, and they became blood. 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.
For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets,
and you have given them blood to drink.
It is what they deserve!"
And I heard the altar saying,
"Yes, Lord God the Almighty,
true and just are your judgments!"
(Revelation 16:4-7)

In warfare, the ultimate catastrophe is the disruption of water and power. If water treatment plants are destroyed, cities collapse. Now, imagine a global water shutdown. There is nothing to drink but blood—foul, putrid blood.

At this point, the angels and the souls under the altar will say, "Let us see how you survive now." If your instinct for survival is no different from that of a wild beast, then you are indeed no different from a beast. To blaspheme God is an act of supreme folly. God knows exactly how to cut off your resources. When even your hotpot broth turns to blood, what will you do?

The misery of dehydration is absolute. First come the sores, then the dead oceans, and now the fresh water is gone. This is a rapid succession of judgments—week one, sores; week two, blood in the seas; week three, blood in the rivers. Even if you are resilient, four more bowls await. This is the fate of those who know God but refuse to fear Him.

The Fourth Bowl: The Sun Scorches Humanity with Fire

With the waters turned to blood, humanity is parched. Then comes the fourth bowl, poured onto the sun, allowing it to scorch people with fire. Imagine the solar radiation increasing by twenty percent. Without water, under a scorching sun, survival becomes a living hell.

We complain when the summer heat is enough to fry an egg on the pavement. Under this bowl, stepping outside means being barbecued alive. Yet some still cling to the foolish adage, "A miserable life is better than a good death." So they continue to drink blood and endure the heat. Let me be clear: if you live merely to survive, you will not live well, even today. This is a hard truth.

The Fifth Bowl: The Kingdom of the Beast Plunged into Darkness

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. 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 and cursed the God of heaven for their pain and sores. They did not repent of their deeds. (Revelation 16:9-11)

Human beings simply cannot withstand natural disasters. Before the sores from the first bowl could even heal, they are forced to drink blood. This leads to widespread, festering sores, plunging the kingdom of the beast into absolute darkness. The pain is so excruciating that men gnaw their tongues. Yet, despite this agony, there is no repentance. Instead, "they blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores."

These people do not even realize where they have gone wrong. How can anyone expect a good outcome when they set themselves against God? Why have they degenerated to this point? Because they have been utterly deceived by demons. Even if they wanted to repent, they can no longer find the way. Besides, would they dare? Repent, and the police will take your life; do not repent, and you must simply endure the agony.

Meanwhile, the sun continues to scorch them, the sea remains blood, the sores persist, and all springs of water turn to blood. Amidst this, their tongues ache with pain, and in their agony, they blaspheme God. Can you visualize what this world will look like? This is far more catastrophic than what Pharaoh and the Egyptians endured when Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt.

The Sixth Bowl: Gathering the Kings to Battle Against the Almighty

Then the sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up, so that the way might be prepared for the kings from the east. And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs coming out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. For they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.

"Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame." And they gathered them together to the place called in Hebrew, Armageddon. (Revelation 16:12-16)

Even in such a dire state, the United Nations would probably still be holding conferences! Where are these kings gathering? They too are covered in sores, drinking blood, and barely surviving. Why then do they gather? Because they have swallowed a demonic lie. They might assemble to "solve problems"—perhaps to address carbon emissions—but carbon emissions will be the least of their worries. They gather at a place called Armageddon. For what purpose? To wage war on the great day of God Almighty.

I suspect these three demonic spirits will spin a narrative: "Martians are attacking Earth; all global leaders must unite." You have all seen the movies. When aliens arrive, leaders gather to debate: "How do we counter this extraterrestrial threat? This must be an alien biological attack—that is why our rivers have turned to blood!"

See how insidious these demons are. The purpose of the sixth bowl is to draw these kings into a futile war against the Almighty. Yet, these leaders will actually believe the delusion, thinking, "Yes, this must be an attack by intelligent beings from beyond our galaxy!" The masses will follow blindly. What will be the outcome? Many will still shout slogans of resilience, vowing to fight, completely oblivious to the fact that they are opposing God Almighty. They still think they can survive this.

Every soldier on that battlefield will be covered in painful sores. How can anyone fight under such conditions? Yet, this is human nature. My brothers and sisters, we must be extremely careful. I have observed that when some people fall ill, they do not soften; they harden their hearts and blaspheme the God of heaven.

Observe them closely. They may not say it aloud, but in their hearts, they harbor deep resentment against God. Their logic is simple: "Why did God let this happen to me?" Brothers and sisters, if your ultimate hope is merely to survive in this world, you will fight anyone who threatens that survival. You will ask, "What kind of God is this? Why does He allow such suffering to fall upon me?"

Many Christians must be on guard. We must understand that our only viable option is continuous repentance. Do not harden your hearts. Opposing God is a losing battle. Let us look at the hard facts: God can easily incapacitate you with a kidney stone, a cancerous cell in your liver, or by stopping your ability to urinate, defecate, breathe, or eat. One moment your hip fails, the next your knee gives out. If God decides to discipline a man, the methods are endless.

Therefore, is there any rational alternative to fearing God? None whatsoever. We must never live merely for the sake of survival. My brothers and sisters, we must be vigilant. These days are fast approaching. Even if they seem distant, our policy must remain the same: choose to fear God, choose to please Him, and avoid provoking His wrath. Otherwise, demonic deception will harden you completely. I have seen many Christians who are incredibly stubborn, refusing to admit their faults, only to demand of God, "Why, Lord?"

Take the case of a young man in his thirties who was serving God. He contracted cancer. The doctor prescribed a treatment, saying, "This drug has a 60% success rate and a 40% failure rate." The treatment failed. He questioned God: "Why did You put me in the 40% bracket?" The doctor then offered another specialized drug: "This has a 90% success rate and a 10% failure rate." Again, he fell into the 10% failure bracket. Once more, he complained, "Why, God?" Why did he not reflect on his own conduct instead?

Let me give you a piece of practical advice: do not cling to life out of fear of death. Do not live a cowardly existence just to survive. Death is inevitable for everyone. Do you understand? The only question is how you choose to face it. Whether you fear it or not, whether you seek treatment or not, you will eventually die.

I once met a Singaporean who told me, "Teacher, if I get cured, I will still die; if I don't, I will also die." I asked him to elaborate. He said, "If I go through with the treatment, all my savings will be depleted. At my age, how am I supposed to survive then?" This is a cold, hard truth. He added, "If I choose not to treat it, it is still death." Perhaps avoiding treatment is the wiser choice, sparing oneself from unnecessary suffering. Either way, the end result is the same.

Do not allow yourselves to be deceived by demons. Blessed is the vigilant man who keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and his shame be exposed.

Such delusions are common. A doctor might say, "This injection costs seventy thousand dollars and will extend your life by one month. Do you want it?" What happens after that month? Another injection, and another the month after. Some people will take it. Or the doctor says, "This medication will extend your life by a year," but fails to mention that you will spend that year hooked up to tubes, unable to breathe on your own.

Human beings are easily deceived. It is not merely a waste of financial resources; it is the sheer amount of suffering one must endure. So many are desperate to cling to life. Let me tell you, it is precisely because I do not fear death that I have escaped disaster time and again. My life is in God's hands. Why should I worry about such things?

The devil's primary deception revolves around this obsession with survival. This is a widespread folly. Do not be foolish; do not fall for demonic tricks. Demons can perform signs and wonders; they are highly skilled deceivers. They will help you climb the ladder, only to pull it away once you reach the top, leaving you to crash to the ground.

The Seventh Bowl: It Is Done

Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, "It is done!" And there were noises and thunderings and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such a mighty and great earthquake as had not occurred since men were on the earth. Now the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. And great Babylon was remembered before God, to give her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of His wrath.

Then every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. And great hail from heaven fell upon men, each hailstone about the weight of a talent. And men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail, since that plague was exceedingly great. (Revelation 16:17-21)

At that moment, people will still be busy holding meetings, debating how to salvage the economy, establishing research institutes, investing fifty billion to find a cure for the sores, five hundred billion to clean the oceans, and five trillion to treat the water sources. Before they can even finish, the skylines of all major cities will suddenly resemble the ruins of war-torn Syria.

A massive earthquake will strike. Who knows its magnitude? A magnitude 7 or 8 is already lethal; a magnitude 10 or higher is unprecedented. Your newly renovated apartments and freshly constructed skyscrapers will instantly be reduced to rubble.

This is no ordinary disaster; it is an earthquake equivalent to multiple nuclear detonations. As far as the eye can see, everything is destroyed. Governments will mobilize all resources—the military, the police—for disaster relief. Yet, following the earthquake comes a massive tsunami. Coastal cities will be devastated. How can anyone survive this? The casualties will be immense.

While people are clearing rubble to rescue survivors—themselves covered in sores, sick, dehydrated, and exhausted—huge hailstones will begin to fall. Whether they are made of ice or something else, we do not know, but each weighs about ninety pounds. Consider this: a suitcase falling from an airplane weighs about twenty kilograms, and that is already fatal.

Now imagine ninety-pound hailstones raining down. What structure can withstand that? Not even livestock can survive, let alone humans. Some might say, "I will hide in my car." Even if it is a sturdy Tesla, a ninety-pound hailstone falling from the sky will crush it completely. First the earthquake, then the giant hail. The world will be instantly devastated, though a few may still desperately cling to life.

What will become of this world? God will suddenly remember Great Babylon. History has shown us this pattern before. Have you seen the ruins of ancient coliseums or temples? These ancient structures were once magnificent, yet today they are nothing but ruins. Why? Because the wrath of God descended upon them.

It is hard for us to fathom, but ancient Pompeii was an incredibly prosperous city. Excavations show that their bathhouses were far more luxurious than anything we see today; they knew how to enjoy life. Yet, it was reduced to ashes. Why? Because the wrath of God descended upon it.

All investments will be wiped out. It does not matter if your property cost tens of millions or hundreds of millions; when the earthquake and hail strike, those great cities will be obliterated. If your mind is set on earthly things, you ought to study history. Even if the city somehow survives, you will not, and it will no longer concern you.

Therefore, I warn you: these are disasters that no human can endure. If a Christian remains preoccupied with earthly matters, it is an absolute tragedy. Even if the earth lasts forever, you will not. To spend your days worrying about this and that, consumed by earthly anxieties, only to end up sick and depart this world in misery—what a pathetic end.

Why does the scripture focus on great cities? Because they offer abundant investment opportunities; everyone goes there to chase wealth. Look at Guangdong—people gather there to make money, not to fight. They are not there to settle personal scores; they are there for economic gain. And where do you go to make money? The big cities.

Wealth is highly deceptive. In truth, the big city is a grand illusion. While we may earn our living there, we must not live for money. Let me assure you, a person who trusts in God will never lack resources. God orchestrates these events to teach mankind to rely on Him, yet the worldly choose to blaspheme Him instead.

This Is a Disaster Beyond Human Endurance

A loud voice came from the throne in the temple, saying, "It is done!" What does this mean? It means the judgments of the Almighty have been executed. His judgments are righteous and true!

We, as brothers and sisters, must have a sense of reverence. Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. You must understand the true purpose of existence; failure to do so will only provoke God's anger. Some may argue, "That person provokes God but still prospers." That is a short-sighted view. If you live long enough, you will see that those who live merely for survival always end in disaster.

These seven bowls are no laughing matter. If anyone thinks they can withstand them, they are sorely mistaken. We must not wait for the bowls to be poured out before we learn to fear God; we must fear Him now.

This scripture was not written for us to experience these plagues, but to warn us of the terror of God's wrath, the absolute justice of His judgments, and the unshakeable truth of His word. Righteous and true are His ways! Amen!

We will conclude our study here. May God bless you all.

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