Revelation 16:1 Then I heard a great voice from the temple saying to the seven angels, “Go and pour out the seven bowls of the wrath of God on the earth.”
2 So the first went and poured out his bowl upon the earth, and a foul and loathsome sore came upon the men who had the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image.
We are reminded that John was called to come up hither to the third Heaven thus he was seeing things in in the Spiritual realm. Man has tried to literalize the events purely in the external sense while setting aside the internal. This is what the ego does for it wants to stay in control and keep everything viewed in the external. The Old Testament Law focused primarily on external behavior whereas Jesus made it quite clear that the internal is where the Law must be written. Paul alerted us of the need to view things in the Spiritual as the Holy Spirit teaches us those things freely given to us by FATHER:
1 Corinthians 2:12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.
13 These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
A great voice from the Temple rang out for all to hear and this great voice is Our Lord Jesus Christ Who is the manifested Word of FATHER. John had ascended up to the third Heaven and was able to hear this great voice. The rest of mankind went about their daily business as John was receiving this revelation of Our Lord Jesus Christ. They were unaware of this impartation of wisdom, understanding, and knowledge being given to John because they did not have ears to hear. A great voice, shout, or trumpet are all an indication for us to come up higher.
The seven bowls of judgment are meant to bring forth a Spiritual completion and fulfillment to the earth dwellers. This time of judgment will leave no stone unturned but instead will fully reveal the vanity guiding the minds of those who inhabit the earth. It is directed to the soulish nature of those who follow religion and base their views according to man’s traditions. Since seven represents completion, we can be assured the full wrath of FATHER will be severe in the eyes of those who dwell in the earthy realm. However, we must remember that these seven bowls are directed from the intent of Love so the result will be restoration and reconciliation, not eternal pain and punishment. When a child has been hurt, the parent must clean the wound of dirt and debris in order to keep infection from setting in so that healing can occur. The child wants no part of the remedial process for fear of greater pain because the child has little or no understanding of necessity of treating the wound. We must trust FATHER’S Wisdom in bringing forth the seven bowls of wrath.
The first bowl of wrath is directed to those who took the mark of the beast and worshipped his image. These are those who subjected themselves to the religious systems of the world. The mark of the beast is a counterfeit to what is placed on the head and hand of the righteous. This is revealed in Exodus chapter 13 when the children of Israel are directed to observe the Feast of Passover:
8 And you shall tell your son in that day, saying, ‘This is done because of what the LORD did for me when I came up from Egypt.’
9 It shall be as a sign to you on your hand and as a memorial between your eyes, that the LORD’s law may be in your mouth; for with a strong hand the LORD has brought you out of Egypt.
And in the same chapter, in remembering the Law of the Firstborn:
16 It shall be as a sign on your hand and as frontlets between your eyes, for by strength of hand the LORD brought us out of Egypt.”
A man’s focus and his corresponding actions determine where his worship resides. Those who have ascended up higher will be “passed over” in the judgments at hand for they have the revelation of the Blood (Love) of Christ.
The first bowl of judgment speaks of sickness and disease. The skin is a protective covering for the body from external elements that would keep the body from functioning properly. Once the covering of FATHER has been removed from a nation, judgment comes forth. Those who trust in FATHER realize the importance of this covering:
Psalm 103:1 Bless the LORD, O my soul;
And all that is within me, bless His holy name!
2 Bless the LORD, O my soul,
And forget not all His benefits:
3 Who forgives all your iniquities,
Who heals all your diseases,
4 Who redeems your life from destruction,
Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,
5 Who satisfies your mouth with good things,
So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
Foul (wrong thinking) and loathsome (evil, hardship) sores (ulcers) come upon those who choose to follow man’s traditions and paths rather than FATHER’S. These people are constantly analyzing and assessing the issues that seem to have no solution or answer and thus they are plagued in their soul. They continue down the path of complexity hoping to find some formula that will solve their problem at hand and it seems to forever be out of their reach. They are in constant search of some soulish solution and they are unable to find peace. They live a life of regret and their problems only generate more questions. The beast they have worshipped and supported failed to sustain them in their quest for peace in their souls and in addition failed to heal them of their sickness and disease. The first bowl of judgment will reveal the failure of their path relying on the external religious practices. They ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and its fruit only produced death.
An ulcer is an open sore on an external or internal surface of the body, caused by a break in the skin or mucous membrane that fails to heal. A judgment of FATHER is to remove HIMSELF from their midst. Without HIS life-giving and sustaining presence, your body moves toward death and destruction. Once HIS Presence is lifted, judgment arrives.
Psalm 105:39 He spread a cloud for a covering,
And fire to give light in the night.
FATHER’S covering is for protection from the elements. Once it is lifted and removed, the scorching heat from the sun causes blisters to come forth. The religious church came forth with a doctrine of being under a pastor’s covering thus taking the place of Christ’s covering thus producing an “anti-Christ” doctrine. Whose covering do you wish to be under?
Let the Blood (Love) of the Lamb be on our doorposts as this first bowl is poured out!