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Hey, everyone. Dr. Michael Carey here. And today we're going to look at the second and third bowl judgments from Revelation 16, where God turns the waters of the world to blood. And I'm going to show you why. But before we jump into our topic, I want to take a moment and ask if you would stand with me by clicking the subscribe button on your screen. I know it sounds simple, but as believers, we have to stand together and let the world know that we believe that the word of God is true and that we are living in prophetic times. You know, there's an interesting passage in 1st Chronicles 12:32 that tells us that the sons of Issachar had understanding of the times that they were living in, and because of this, they knew exactly what they needed to do. And I believe that we need men and women today that will accept this same call of God to walk in this type of anointing. See, it's not enough to recognize that we live in a troubled world. We need the spirit of God to open our eyes to the spirit war that's behind the trouble. Because otherwise the times that we're living in are going to consume us. And we have to see that as believers, it's imperative that we stand as a voice of righteousness, that we stand as salt and we stand as light in the face of increasing wickedness. See, unless you push back in the Spirit and walk in the authority that belongs to you because of what Jesus Christ did, the trouble of the times is only going to be overwhelming. Now, with that said, let's jump into our discussion for today for context. As we come Into Revelation chapter 16, it's critical to understand that what's about to unfold is not something random or reactionary on God's part. In fact, the end of Revelation 15 sets the context as the temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony in Heaven is opened, revealing the source of God's authority. And what John's being shown is heaven and earth coming into alignment. And he sees that place where God's righteousness, where his covenant is and his eternal word all converge as judgment is about to be poured out. See, because by this point in the Tribulation, the world is left without excuse and God has extended mercy. In fact, he's extended mercy over and over and over again in ways that no one on earth will be able to deny. Think about it. During the seal judgments, the sky itself is rolled back like a scroll, and the whole world looks up to see the face of God and the Lamb. Through the ministry of the 144,000 witnesses and the great multitude from every nation, tribe, people and language who come to know Jesus Christ through their ministry. What about the two witnesses who stand in supernatural defiance of the Antichrist, the false prophet and the beast system? And then after this, God sends three angels who go to the whole earth, calling for men to turn towards God and repent. They condemn spiritual idolatry. They warn humanity not to take the mark of the beast. See, here's the thing. God will never judge apart from what he has already revealed about himself. And at this point, every line has been drawn. And there's not a person on earth who can honestly deny the existence of God or the grace that he's extended to them through His Son Jesus Christ. Check this out. Revelation 16:1 2 says, Then I heard a loud voice from the temple saying to the seven angels, go and pour out the bowls of the wrath of God on the earth. 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. See, at the heart of Revelation 16 is the sin of idolatry. And it's important to understand that idolatry is never just misplaced worship. It's a rejection of God's kingship, and that destabilizes the moral order that he set in place for this world. See, idolatry is creation trying to sit on the throne that only belongs to God. And from the very beginning, this has been the core rebellion of the human race. If you remember in the Garden of Eden, humanity wasn't just breaking a rule when they ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. What they were doing was reaching for the authority that only belongs to God by claiming the right to define good and evil on their own terms. And the result was that truth became something subjective, morality became self defined, and their righteousness before God collapsed under the weight of these sins. And by the time we reach the bowl judgments those who worship the beast in his image, those who've taken his mark have become exactly like what they serve. So when ulcerative sores are inflicted on those who worship the beast in Revelation 16, it's God exposing outwardly the corruption and the spiritual decay that this idolatry has produced inwardly. Which brings us to what we're talking about today. Revelation 16:3 7 says this. Then the second angel poured out his bowl on the sea, and it became blood as of a dead man. And every living creature in the sea died. Then the third angel poured out his bowl on the rivers and springs of water, and they became as blood. And I heard the angels of the waters saying, you are righteous, O Lord, the one who is and who was and who is to be. Because you have judged these things things. For they have shed the blood of the saints and prophets, and you have given them blood to drink, for it is their just due. Now, it's important to understand that these judgments are very literal acts of God, but at the same time, they also carry incredible spiritual significance and are very intentional in their scope as they directly confront very specific aspects of man's rebellion and hardness of heart towards God. And it's also important to recognize that whenever God sends judgment, he does it to bring about a correct spiritual balance and set things right as it pertains to divine justice. 2 Chronicles 13. Sorry about that. 2 Chronicles 36, 1516 says this. And the Lord God of their fathers sent warnings to them by his messengers, rising up early and sending them, because he had compassion on his people and on his dwelling place. But they mocked the messengers of God, despised his words, and scoffed at his prophets. And until the wrath of the Lord arose against his people, till there was no remedy. And then Hebrews 12:25 says this. See to it that you do not refuse him who speaks. For if they did not escape who refused him who spoke on earth, much more shall we not escape if we turn away from him who speaks from heaven. In other words, when God's judgment comes, it's not a warning, it's a verdict. And tragically, Revelation 16:8 later tells us, but they refuse to repent and glorify him. All right, let's go back to verse three in our text again. Then the second angel poured out his bowl on the sea, and it became blood as of a dead man. And every living creature in in the sea died. Now, there's some debate among biblical scholars as to whether the word sea in this passage simply refers to the Mediterranean Sea or to the greater oceans of the world. The problem is that biblical Greek doesn't distinguish between the two. And if there was any distinguishable difference, it had to be recognized through the context of what was being written. In this case, given the global scope of the tribulation and the Antichrist's reach, I believe that we're talking about the oceans of the world. See, if you remember back in Revelation, chapter 8, during the trumpet judgments, one third of the sea became blood. Now, in this second bowl, judgment, it impacts all of it, killing every living thing in it I mean, can you imagine the ramifications of this judgment? The stench alone would be horrific. And with the destruction of all the ocean's life, the world is going to very quickly face the prospect of mass starvation because billions of people depend on seafood as a food source. On top of that, entire industries like commercial fishing, shipping, global energy from offshore oil and gas platforms, port operations, and even the pharmaceutical, biotech industry would be decimated. Now the world's coastlines and every city on them would be crippled. Cities like New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Houston, and Vancouver, Rio de Janeiro, Buenos Aires, London, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Athens, Lagos, Cape Town, Tokyo, Singapore, Manila, Sydney, Brisbane, and Perth. And the list just goes on and on. What I'm trying to say is that the impact of the second bowl judgment reaches far beyond the natural sea and ocean. And this level of judgment only makes sense when you understand the spiritual ramifications behind it, when you understand what the seas represent. See, the sea doesn't simply represent great bodies of water spiritually. It represents the collective life and power of nations, and it represents humanity in motion. Isaiah 17:12 says this. Woe to the multitude of many people who make a noise like the roar of the seas and to the rushing of nations that make a rushing like the rushing of many waters. And the prophet Daniel told us that kingdoms and thrones come out of the sea. Daniel 7:2:3 says, Daniel spoke, saying, I saw in my vision by night, and behold, the four winds of heaven were strong, stirring up the great sea, and four great beasts came up from the sea. And the chapter goes on to tell us that the four great beasts are four kings representing four kingdoms. And what's interesting is that this symbolism continues all the way into Revelation itself. If you remember, In Revelation chapter 13, verse 1, it says, Then I stood on the sand of the sea, and. And I saw a beast rising up out of the sea. Think about that. The very system, the beast system that dominates the world during the tribulation emerges from what the Bible identifies as the sea. So when the second bowl, judgment is poured out, God is not simply judging the seas and the, and the, and the, the seas of the world. He's striking at the very realm from which the beast power arose. Even further, the nations that have given their allegiance to a false king. And in this judgment that God brings on them, he's judging the very source of that rebellion. In other words, Revelation 16 is showing us that no kingdom built in opposition to God can ultimately survive his judgment. Now let's go back to our text and keep reading Revelation 16. Four says this. Then the third angel poured out his bowl on the rivers and springs of water, and they became as blood. Again, this is a very literal judgment, but the spiritual significance behind it is essential to understanding what God's doing. The rivers and springs represent sources of life, and fresh water represents access to daily provision. That's why the scripture repeatedly identifies God as the true source of all living water. If you remember, Jeremiah 12:13 says this. For my people have committed two evils. They have forsaken me, the fountains of living water and hewn themselves cisterns, broken cisterns that can hold no water. And in John chapter four, Jesus himself said this. But whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up to everlasting life. Think about the contrast here. Think about the contrast that Revelation 16 is showing us all. Throughout the Bible, God has offered humanity living water through his word, through his prophets, and through his son Jesus Christ. But instead of drinking from the true source of life, the world has continued to choose another king and another source. It continues to choose the curse over the blessing, and death over life. See, God is not inventing something new in Revelation 16 with the second and third bowl judgments. These judgments are striking at the very heart of the global rebellion and idolatry that's at the core of everything that the antichrist and the beast system represent. If you remember, back In Exodus chapter 7, the Lord used Moses and Aaron to strike the waters of Egypt and turning them to blood. And he did this because Pharaoh claimed to be a God and he demanded worship. Now check this out. Exodus chapter 7, beginning in verse 21. And Moses and Aaron did so just as the Lord commanded. So he lifted up the rod and struck the waters that were in the river in the sight of Pharaoh and in the sight of his servants. And all the waters that were in the river were. Were turned to blood. The fish that were in the river died, the river stank, and the Egyptians could not drink the water of the river. So there was blood throughout all the land of Egypt. So when the seas and oceans turned to blood In Revelation chapter 16, it's a very intentional act of God that exposes an eternal fact that a world ruled by false kingship cannot sustain life. And when the rivers and springs are turned to blood, it's heaven's response to a world that has rejected God as their source. Now hold that thought and shift gears with me just a bit. When it comes to judgment, the Ancient rabbinic understanding is built on the theological concept of. Of measure for measure. In fact, the theme of innocent blood runs throughout the entire Bible. The very first murder in the Bible was Cain killing Abel. And after Abel's death, God tells Cain that the voice of his brother's blood is crying out to him. I mean, think about that. God hears the blood of the innocent. They literally cry out. And then when we come to Revelation 6, the martyrs of the ages beneath the altar call out and ask, how long, O Lord, holy and true, until you judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth? In other words, God has not forgotten a single martyr. He's not forgotten one prophet. He's not forgotten one believer who suffered for his name. Meaning that Revelation 16 is a part of God's answer to those cries for justice. And in heaven's economy, justice is always poured out in direct proportion to the sin that was committed. This is why the angelic declaration surrounding the second and third bowl judgments is so telling. Listen to this. Revelation 16, beginning in verse 5. And I heard the angel of the waters saying, you are righteous, O Lord, the one who is and who was and who is to be, because you have judged these things. For they have shed the blood of the saints and the prophets, and you have given them blood to drink, for it is their just due. And I heard another from the altar saying, even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are your judgments. Now, this is where a lot of people struggle. They read about the oceans being turned to blood and people dying, and they ask, how can heaven call that righteous? But you have to remember that heaven sees all the things that we don't. Heaven has witnessed every act of persecution, every imprisoned believer, every martyred saint, every murdered prophet, and every act of rebellion and heinous sin committed against mankind and committed against God. So the angels are not celebrating judgment. What they're doing is, is affirming justice. They're declaring that God has evaluated the evidence perfectly and that his verdict remains true and that these judgments are righteous. See, that's why they proclaim, true and righteous are your judgments. Essentially, the angels declaring that God's judgment is exact and that the world under the Antichrist has. Has not simply made a mistake, they've consciously rejected God and given their worship to another kingdom. And when worship is corrupted, see, the heart is corrupted with it. And that distortion turns around and it reshapes morality. It deadens conviction and eventually produces an intense hatred towards whatever belongs to God. And by this point of the tribulation, they have slaughtered the saints in droves. And they've filled the earth with the innocent blood of the righteous. And now God gives them a judgment that mirrors everything that they've become. In fact, the first three bowl judgments form the foundation of a progressive unraveling. A progressive unraveling of everything that sinful humanity has built apart from God. And one by one, God will dismantle the very lies that the Antichrist kingdom stands on. The first bull exposes the corruption. The second bull collapses false sources of life. And the third bull settles their blood guilt before God. In other words, God's saying, this wanted a world without me. You built a system opposed to me. You spilled the blood of those who belong to me. And because of that, you will drink in the full consequences of what you have chosen. And my prayer today is that while we're living in this time of grace, that we would never harden our hearts like the world does at that time, but that we would run to the grace and to the mercy that God has made available to us through his Son, Jesus Christ. Well, this feels like a good place to stop. But before you go, I want to speak a blessing over your life. Let's pray. The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you. The Lord lift his countenance upon you and give you peace. Amen. Well, God bless, and I look forward to seeing you next time.