Revelation 16:1–2 (ESV)
The Seven Bowls of God’s Wrath
16 Then I heard a loud voice from the temple telling the seven angels, “Go and pour out on the earth the seven bowls of the wrath of God.”
2 So
the first angel went and poured out his bowl on the earth, and harmful and painful sores came upon the people who bore the mark of the beast and worshiped its image.
The first bowl of wrath is poured by the first angel. As the bowl is poured out on the earth, the wrath works itself on the unbeliever… those who bore the mark of the beast and worshiped the beast. What is the wrath? They get
harmful and painful sores. We see this wrath carried out several times in the Bible. One in particular is when the Philistines stole the Ark of the Covenant. They quickly decided that they did not want the Ark or the sores and sent it back.
I don’t think this is an option in today’s reading.
I pray: O Lord, help us to keep our eyes and hearts focused on you. Help us to flee
actions that are not God pleasing. Forgive us when we do. Amen.