The First Angel's Vial Revelation 16:2

As John continued to share concerning the events during the tribulation, He wrote about the antichrist, the false prophets and angels who were involved in the reaping of the harvest of believers who received the Lord Jesus during that time. John also wrote, “seven angels came out of the temple, having the seven plagues, clothed in pure and white linen, and having their breasts girded with golden girdles. And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who lives for ever and ever. And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled. And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth”, and in chapter sixteen and verse two of Revelation John saw how “the first went, and poured out his vial” where we read:

And the first went, and poured out his vial upon the earth; and there fell a noisome and grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and upon them which worshiped his image.

The verse reads, “And the first went, and poured out his vial upon the earth;” John began with the words, “and the first went” which means “and the first angel proceeded and departed”, “and poured out” or “and shed forth, bestowed and delivered largely” “his vial” which means “the angel's broad shallow bowl” “upon the earth” or “on the arable land, country, territory and region”. John watched as the “first angel” which came from God's temple “delivered” his “bowl of God's wrath” “upon the earth”.

The verse goes on to say, “and there fell a noisome and grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and upon them which worshiped his image.” John added the words, “and there fell” which means “there came into existence, happened and came to pass” “a noisome” or “a bad natured, troublesome, injurious, pernicious, destructive and baneful” “and grievous” which means “full of labors, annoyances, hardships, toils and perils” “sore” or “a wound producing a discharge or ulcer” “upon the men” which refers to “on people whether males or females” “which had the mark” which means “who received the sign, imprinted mark and graven stamp” “of the beast” or “pertaining to the living being which was the antichrist”, “and upon them” which refers to “and on the people whether males or females” “which worshiped” or “who prostrated themselves to do homage and make obeisance in order to express respect or to make supplication” “his image” which means “the antichrist's figure, likeness, statue, profile, representation and resemblance”. When the “angel poured out” his “vial” upon “the earth”, “pernicious oozing ulcers” came upon those who “worshiped” the antichrist and received his “mark”.

When we think through John's words in this verse, we see the results of this “first angel” delivering his “vial” “on the earth”. “Oozing sores or ulcers” came upon the people who rejected Jesus Christ as their “Savior and Lord” because they “worshiped” the antichrist instead. They took his “mark” upon them, and they disregarded the warnings of God though He made appeal to them over and over again. The result for refusing God's offer of “salvation” through His Son Jesus was these “oozing sores”, and no one was able to stop them. Let all who read these words take heed and receive Jesus Christ as their personal “Savior” today before these things come to pass.

Next time John shares how “the second angel poured out his vial upon the sea ”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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