(Chapter 15)
Chapter 15 is introductory to these judgments. It is a scene of faithful Gentile martyrs in heaven praising the Lord. These judgments are poured out in answer to the cry of these martyrs who have suffered and died under the regime of the Beast. They have “gotten the victory over the beast” in that they would not yield to the pressure of worshipping its image, nor would they receive its mark, but remained faithful unto death. Now they are before God in the disembodied state, but in a fixed condition of purity and bliss.
It is significant that these Gentile martyrs sing of Christ as “the King of nations, and that they make mention of “all nations” coming to worship before Him (vss. 3-4 – J. N. Darby Trans.). This is in keeping with the focus of these vial [bowl] judgments whose effects will reach to the outlying Gentile nations. They are poured out on the prophetic “earth” (chap. 16:1), but their effect spreads out to the nations outside the prophetic earth.
A Two-Fold Song of the Martyrs
• “The song of Moses” pertains to the crushing of the faithful martyrs’ enemies (Ex. 15:1-191Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the Lord, and spake, saying, I will sing unto the Lord, for he hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea. 2The Lord is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father's God, and I will exalt him. 3The Lord is a man of war: the Lord is his name. 4Pharaoh's chariots and his host hath he cast into the sea: his chosen captains also are drowned in the Red sea. 5The depths have covered them: they sank into the bottom as a stone. 6Thy right hand, O Lord, is become glorious in power: thy right hand, O Lord, hath dashed in pieces the enemy. 7And in the greatness of thine excellency thou hast overthrown them that rose up against thee: thou sentest forth thy wrath, which consumed them as stubble. 8And with the blast of thy nostrils the waters were gathered together, the floods stood upright as an heap, and the depths were congealed in the heart of the sea. 9The enemy said, I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil; my lust shall be satisfied upon them; I will draw my sword, my hand shall destroy them. 10Thou didst blow with thy wind, the sea covered them: they sank as lead in the mighty waters. 11Who is like unto thee, O Lord, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders? 12Thou stretchedst out thy right hand, the earth swallowed them. 13Thou in thy mercy hast led forth the people which thou hast redeemed: thou hast guided them in thy strength unto thy holy habitation. 14The people shall hear, and be afraid: sorrow shall take hold on the inhabitants of Palestina. 15Then the dukes of Edom shall be amazed; the mighty men of Moab, trembling shall take hold upon them; all the inhabitants of Canaan shall melt away. 16Fear and dread shall fall upon them; by the greatness of thine arm they shall be as still as a stone; till thy people pass over, O Lord, till the people pass over, which thou hast purchased. 17Thou shalt bring them in, and plant them in the mountain of thine inheritance, in the place, O Lord, which thou hast made for thee to dwell in, in the Sanctuary, O Lord, which thy hands have established. 18The Lord shall reign for ever and ever. 19For the horse of Pharaoh went in with his chariots and with his horsemen into the sea, and the Lord brought again the waters of the sea upon them; but the children of Israel went on dry land in the midst of the sea. (Exodus 15:1‑19)).
• “The song of the Lamb” pertains to the redemption of the martyrs’ souls (chap. 5:9).
There is a definite correlation between the trumpet judgments and the vial [bowl] judgments. The 1st trumpet and 1st vial have to do with the “earth.” The 2nd trumpet and 2nd vial have to do with the “sea.” The 3rd trumpet and 3rd vial have to do with the “rivers.” The 4th trumpet and the 4th vial have to do with the “sun.” The 5th trumpet and the 5th vial have to do with the influence of “darkness.” The 6th trumpet and the 6th vial have to do with “the river Euphrates” and an invading army passing over it. The 7th trumpet and the 7th vial have to do with the personal intervention of Christ—His Appearing in judgment. It is significant that the trumpet judgments are on “the third part” of the earth, sea, rivers, etc.—a restricted area of the world (the western prophetic earth)—whereas the vial judgments have no such expression. This indicates that the vial judgments are much broader in their range.
Some have thought that these vial [bowl] judgments will occur after the trumpet judgments—just a few days prior to the Appearing of Christ. But this upsets the outline of the book and makes for problems in interpretation. For instance, then the drying of the Euphrates occurs twice and the land of Israel will be attacked and devastated by armies from the northeast twice—the sixth trumpet and the sixth vial! Moreover, the Lord will come out of heaven in judgment (His Appearing) twice!—the seventh trumpet and the seventh vial. A. C. Brown and others have pointed out that it makes much more sense to see the trumpet judgments and the vial judgments as going over the same ground, but from a different perspective. (This is indicated on the chart placed at the beginning of the sixth chapter.)
The First Vial [Bowl]
(Chap. 16:1-2)
Individual followers of the Beast in his empire (“the earth”) and also any followers who may be in the out-lying nations will be smitten with a “grievous sore” whereby they are afflicted with a guilty conscience that brings them constant misery.
The Second Vial [Bowl]
(Chap. 16:3)
The Third Vial [Bowl]
(Chap. 16:4-7)
The natural sources of joy and well-being of life (“the rivers”) will be taken away from those in the outlying nations.
The Fourth Vial [Bowl]
(Chap. 16:8-9)
A great governing authority in the outlying nations (“the sun”) will apostatize, causing a frightful oppression over men.
The Fifth Vial [Bowl]
(Chap. 16:10-11)
Moral and spiritual “darkness” will sweep over the subjects of the Beast, which will give them a deep sense of the abandonment of God. This will also be felt by many in the outlying nations.
The Sixth Vial [Bowl]
(Chap. 16:12-14)
The eastern border of the Beast’s empire (which drying of “the great river Euphrates” symbolizes) will be overrun by a vast army of attacking soldiers. This will be a confederacy of Moslem nations situated to the immediate north and east of Israel. It is the same company mentioned in chapter 9:13-21. These confederate armies will be led by “the King of the North” (Psa. 83:1-81<<A Song or Psalm of Asaph.>> Keep not thou silence, O God: hold not thy peace, and be not still, O God. 2For, lo, thine enemies make a tumult: and they that hate thee have lifted up the head. 3They have taken crafty counsel against thy people, and consulted against thy hidden ones. 4They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance. 5For they have consulted together with one consent: they are confederate against thee: 6The tabernacles of Edom, and the Ishmaelites; of Moab, and the Hagarenes; 7Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek; the Philistines with the inhabitants of Tyre; 8Assur also is joined with them: they have holpen the children of Lot. Selah. (Psalm 83:1‑8); Dan. 11:40-4240And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over. 41He shall enter also into the glorious land, and many countries shall be overthrown: but these shall escape out of his hand, even Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon. 42He shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries: and the land of Egypt shall not escape. (Daniel 11:40‑42)). They will sweep through the land of Israel and proceed into Egypt, destroying the mass of the Jews who will have received the Antichrist. The devil (“the dragon”) and his two human agents (“the Beast” and “the False Prophet” – the Antichrist) will be behind the drawing together of these confederacies to battle.
These “kings from the east” are not China and India, etc. W. Scott has pointed out that if China is in view here, it would say, “the kings of the east.” If those Far East nations are involved in these end of time battles, they would come up later with Gog—Russia (Ezek. 37:66And I will lay sinews upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and ye shall live; and ye shall know that I am the Lord. (Ezekiel 37:6) – “many peoples with thee”). Moreover, the King of the North is not Gog. Gog is from “the uttermost north” (Ezek. 38:1-61And the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, 2Son of man, set thy face against Gog, the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him, 3And say, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal: 4And I will turn thee back, and put hooks into thy jaws, and I will bring thee forth, and all thine army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed with all sorts of armor, even a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords: 5Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya with them; all of them with shield and helmet: 6Gomer, and all his bands; the house of Togarmah of the north quarters, and all his bands: and many people with thee. (Ezekiel 38:1‑6) – J. N. Darby Trans.).