The Bowls of God’s Wrath

16:1 Then1 I heard a loud voice from the temple declaring to the seven angels: “Go and pour out on the earth the seven bowls containing God’s wrath.”2 16:2 So3 the first angel4 went and poured out his bowl on the earth. Then5 ugly and painful sores6 appeared on the people7 who had the mark of the beast and who worshiped his image.

16:3 Next,8 the second angel9 poured out his bowl on the sea and it turned into blood, like that of a corpse, and every living creature that was in the sea died.

16:4 Then10 the third angel11 poured out his bowl on the rivers and the springs of water, and they turned into blood. 16:5 Now12 I heard the angel of the waters saying:

“You are just13—the one who is and who was,

the Holy One—because you have passed these judgments,14

16:6 because they poured out the blood of your saints and prophets,

so15 you have given them blood to drink. They got what they deserved!”16

16:7 Then17 I heard the altar reply,18 “Yes, Lord God, the All-Powerful,19 your judgments are true and just!”

16:8 Then20 the fourth angel21 poured out his bowl on the sun, and it was permitted to scorch people22 with fire. 16:9 Thus23 people24 were scorched by the terrible heat,25 yet26 they blasphemed the name of God, who has ruling authority27 over these plagues, and they would not repent and give him glory.

16:10 Then28 the fifth angel29 poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast so that30 darkness covered his kingdom,31 and people32 began to bite33 their tongues because34 of their pain. 16:11 They blasphemed the God of heaven because of their sufferings35 and because of their sores,36 but nevertheless37 they still refused to repent38 of their deeds.

16:12 Then39 the sixth angel40 poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates and dried up its water41 to prepare the way42 for the kings from the east.43 16:13 Then44 I saw three unclean spirits45 that looked 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. 16:14 For they are the spirits of the demons performing signs who go out to the kings of the earth46 to bring them together for the battle that will take place on the great day of God, the All-Powerful.47

16:15 (Look! I will come like a thief!

Blessed is the one who stays alert and does not lose48 his clothes so that he will not have to walk around naked and his shameful condition49 be seen.)50

16:16 Now51 the spirits52 gathered the kings and their armies53 to the place that is called Armageddon54 in Hebrew.

16:17 Finally55 the seventh angel56 poured out his bowl into the air and a loud voice came out of the temple from the throne, saying: “It is done!” 16:18 Then57 there were flashes of lightning, roaring,58 and crashes of thunder, and there was a tremendous earthquake—an earthquake unequaled since humanity59 has been on the earth, so tremendous was that earthquake. 16:19 The60 great city was split into three parts and the cities of the nations61 collapsed.62 So63 Babylon the great was remembered before God, and was given the cup64 filled with the wine made of God’s furious wrath.65 16:20 Every66 island fled away67 and no mountains could be found.68 16:21 And gigantic hailstones, weighing about a hundred pounds69 each, fell from heaven70 on people,71 but they72 blasphemed God because of the plague of hail, since it73 was so horrendous.74