Revelation 16:12-16 - Homiletics

The sixth bowl.

In the prophetic parables of this book there is, as we have before remarked, a manifest moral progression, although the varied attempts to indicate in detail an exact historic progression, with dates assigned, has resulted, and must result, in repeated and disappointing failure. We should also note that at about this part of the book many of the historical interpreters stop short, and give considerable scope to conjecture. But while on their method we always find ourselves "at sea," if we adhere to the plan of exposition we have thus far adopted, no extreme difficulty will present itself, since all falls in with the general tenor of the Word of God. In this paragraph there are two distinct parts, in each of which the imagery is drawn from Old Testament history. We have here indicated:

1 . A great providential preparation for the overthrow of huge and mighty forms of evil. We see in this paragraph that the sixth angel poured out his bowl upon the great river, the river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way might be made ready for the kings that come from the sunrising, i.e. from the east. £ In olden time there had been a great city, Babylon. It was doomed. It was to fall by means of "the man from the east" ( Isaiah 41:2 , Isaiah 41:25 ; Isaiah 46:11 ). There was a river that ran through Babylon—the river Euphrates. Long outside the city gates the invader waited. The bed of the river was dried up, through the river itself being turned into another channel. Thus the way of the man from the east was prepared, and he entered in and took the city. While in this paragraph we have a prophetic parable, in those events we have the historic parable on which the prophetic one is based. "Babylon the great" (what that is we have yet to see) is doomed. And as of old the way was prepared for the destruction of "great Babylon," so will there be preparations (perhaps prolonged ones) for the downfall of this mystic Babylon. We have here:

2 . A great onrush of the hosts of evil for a mighty conflict, which will be to their own downfall. The seer further descries a new outbreak, and apparently a simultaneous one, on the part of the three enemies of the Church already named—the dragon, the first beast, the second beast (the latter here named "the false prophet"). Out of their mouth go forth "three unclean spirits, as it were frogs," i.e. loathsome and detestable; these, we are told, are the spirits of demons, doing wonders (cf. Matthew 24:1-51 .; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-17 .). The effect of these seducing agencies will be to gather together to their culmination the forces hostile to the Most High. This daring, aggregate attempt will be the final one, for it will be one that shall end in most utter defeat. Again we are thrown back for illustration on ancient incident and on familiar name. This final struggle is at Har-Magedon, or the mountain of Megiddo, "which more, perhaps, than any other spot, is celebrated in the history of Israel as a scene of judicial and decisive conflict." £ Here was there a decisive conflict between Deborah and Sisera. Here Josiah was slain ( 2 Kings 23:29 ; also cf. Zechariah 12:11 ). Here Ahaziah died of his wounds, But mainly, on the mountain of Megiddo, i.e. Mount Carmel, took place that decisive contrast between Jehovah and Baal, which forced conviction on the people, and ended in the destruction of the spurious prophets and priests. A notable name, indeed, for suggesting disaster and overthrow. And by no more significant symbolism could the truth be suggested— evil is hastening to its own defeat. We are not to think simply of literal warfare. The sacred seer gives us only "the outward sign, the corporeal type. Under Christianity we can only see the broad line which will finally separate the righteous and the wicked." £ Here, however, we meet (shall we say unexpectedly?) with a gracious word of monition, in Revelation 16:15 . As a writer £ strikingly says, "Suddenly the Spirit takes the reader aside, and whispers, 'Behold, I come quickly,'" etc. Thus we gather that this final struggle is to precede the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ; and so we are taught

In anticipation of his coming we are to watch; we are not to take off our garments as if preparing for repose, but we are to stand "with our loins girded about, and our lights burning." We are to be ready at a moment's notice for any duty that may be required. Hence we have a theme as plain and practical as any other part of the Word of God supplies.

I. WHATEVER MAY HAVE BEEN THE TROUBLES AND CONFLICTS OF THE CHURCH OF GOD IN THE PAST , SEVERER ONES ARE YET IN THE DISTANCE . Even if this were not indicated here, it would be clear from other parts of Scripture. The parable of the wheat and the tares would, indeed, involve all this. For if both are growing, that means that the good will get better, and the bad worse; thus antagonisms will become sharper, and conflicts fiercer and more daring.

II. ALREADY TO CHRISTIAN FAITH AND HOPE THIS FINAL CONFLICT OF EVIL IS REPRESENTED as " that great day of God Almighty ." It will be a day in which the old word concerning human agency shall again be accomplished, "Howbeit he meaneth not so" ( Isaiah 10:7 ). Man means one thing; God intends and fulfils another. The outcome of the whole will be as the prophet declares, "Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not."

III. THE CRISIS HERE INDICATED WILL PRECEDE THE COMING OF THE SON OF GOD . ( Revelation 16:15 .) We cannot doubt who the speaker is that says, "Behold, I come as a thief." "He is coming" is, indeed, the thesis of the entire Apocalypse. He will come:

1 . To consume evil.

2 . To complete his reign of righteousness, by consummating the kingdom of grace and ushering in the kingdom of glory.

3 . To make his people glad in him. "When Christ, who is our Life, shall be manifested, then shall ye also be manifested with him in glory."

IV. CERTAIN EVENTS MAY HERALD HIS APPROACH , BUT YET HIS ACTUAL COMING WILL BE " AS A THIEF ." This is the repeated teaching of the Word of God. It will be at the last moment sudden. "As it was in the days of Noah, so also shall the coming of the Son of man be." There are obvious reasons for this. Did we know precisely the moment, such knowledge would instantly paralyze society. Our Lord intends that the break up of things should be instantaneous. A sudden stop will be put to the world's machinery.

V. IN VIEW OF THIS ISSUE — CERTAIN IN FACT , THOUGH UNCERTAIN AS TO TIME — WE ARE TO KEEP ON THE WATCH . We are to be ready for the last moment by being ready at every moment. It is not in perpetually rushing to the door and peeping out to see if the master is near, that a servant's readiness for him consists; but in so attending to every duty that, let him come when he may, he finds the house in perfect order, awaiting his return.

VI. CONSEQUENTLY , BEING ON THE WATCH MEANS STANDING READY TO DO ANY DUTY WHATEVER , THE MOMENT IT IS REQUIRED . When a soldier enlisted in the Roman army, he had, before the tribune, to take a triple oath, viz.:

"Think not of rest; though dreams be sweet,

Start up, and ply your heavenward feet.

Is not God's oath upon your head,

Ne'er to sink back on slothful bed,

Never again your loins untie,

Nor let your torches waste and die,

Till, when the shadows thickest fall,

Ye hear your Master's midnight call?"

VII. ON WHOMSOEVER IS STANDING IN THIS ATTITUDE OF SERVICE , THE MASTER 'S BLESSING IS PRONOUNCED . "Blessed is he," etc.

1 . He has the Lord's approval now.

2 . The "signs of the times," so portentous to the ungodly, are for him full of hope.

3 . The coming of the Lord will usher him in to the blessedness and glory of a new and renovated state of being.

Then let each one inquire—How am I standing at this moment in the sight of my Savior Judge? Am I so living that, if he were to come now, he could truthfully say, "Well done, good and faithful servant"?