Lesson 35: The Seventh Bowl of Judgment

Revelation 16:17-21
17 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.

In the next several chapters of Revelation we will see the details of what has been named in this chapter as happening; we will see the effects of these “bowl” judgments.

But we take this time to look at the words in verse 17 above, “It is done.” These are the words of Jesus just before He died on the cross and there are more than 2000 years between the two statements. Someone might ask “if Jesus said it was done on the cross, why is it said again here?” The answer is that Jesus’ statement on the cross was that the sacrifice for sin, the payment for sin, was done. Everyone who accepts that payment no longer faces judgment for their sin. He has completed it!

Then why is there this judgment happening in these verses? It is judgment for sin that has intentionally not been covered by Jesus’ blood. Even though Jesus paid for the sin of the world, He still gives each person the choice of accepting or rejecting His payment. Those who choose to reject His payment will face the judgment due for their sin. Also, since Satan and his demons were never given a second choice, the judgment for sin is also on them for their sin.


Then why are there still believers on earth when this judgment takes place? God’s promises to different people at different times in history were not the same. For example, God promised the land of Israel to His people forever. He did not promise that to the Church. His promise to the Church was the promise of the Holy Spirit to live in them as teacher and guide…forever. His promise to the Tribulation saints was comfort after judgment. All of us are promised eternal life (see Jesus’ parable in Matthew 20:1-16).

Movies and entertainment today try to show us terrible volcanos and earthquakes and their effects; but in every case they tell us people will survive because of their own wisdom or work. In the volcanos and earthquakes described here, the devastation will be terrible beyond anything we have imagined. Every city on earth, every mountain, every island in the sea – all will be destroyed. All, that is, except for Jerusalem.

But God has a plan….

*How much do you trust God when everything around you falls apart or is destroyed?