In Revelation 16 we have the final climactic wave of judgement, pictured here in the seven bowls of God’s wrath that are poured out on the earth. Yet again these visions correspond with others from the Old Testament prophets. Isaiah (51) and Jeremiah (25) pictured all the guilt incurred by the sin of mankind being stored in a cup, the cup of God’s wrath. And, though God is holding off the judgement (to give people a chance to repent and be saved), he promises that one day people will have to swallow the consequences of their choices. They will be handed the cup of God’s wrath and will have to drink it. Here we have the same kind of imagery, this time in bowls, but still alluding to the infamous cup of Isaiah and Jeremiah. And what follows are visions of great anguish, symbols of the terrible fate of those who will have to face the consequences of living in conflict with God. But it need not be so for everyone, or anyone for that matter. On the night before his suffering Jesus pictured himself holding this very same cup of judgement. He had come to drain it himself for those who would believe in him. He prayed: “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.” It was not possible for our punishment to be taken away unless Jesus did this, and so he did. What you see here in the seven bowls symbolises the judgement that Jesus took upon himself for us. As a result, we will not have to face what John saw here.
Thank God for what he has done for you in Christ.
Read Revelation 16:1-14, Matthew 26:36-42
