Bowl 1 of 7 · Revelation 16:1–2
The First Bowl
John hears a loud voice from the temple. It tells the seven angels to go and pour out the seven bowls of God's wrath onto the earth.
The first angel pours his bowl onto the earth. Painful sores afflict the people who bear the beast's mark and worship its image.
Understand the words
A sore is a painful place on the body. John describes these sores as harmful and painful.
The beast's mark and the worship of its image were described in Revelation 13:11–18. This scene returns to those who follow and worship the beast.
Wrath means anger. In this vision, the bowls express God's judgment against evil.
Pause and notice
Where does the first angel pour his bowl? Who is affected?
Look back at the passage
The bowl is poured onto the earth. The affected people bear the beast's mark and worship its image.
Explore the Scripture and artwork
The bowl poured onto the earth and the painful sores follow John's description. The angel's wings, golden stream, town, clothing, and statue's appearance are artistic choices.
The passage describes a loud voice from the temple without explicitly identifying the speaker in these verses.
This vision does not establish that an illness today proves someone bears the beast's mark. This exhibit does not identify a modern person, device, or product as that mark.
Read Revelation 16:1–2 ↗Scripture opens in a new tab.
Next: The bowl is poured into the sea. Revelation 16:3.
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