The Third Angel Poured Out His Vial Revelation 16:4

As John continued to share concerning the events during the tribulation, He wrote about the antichrist, the false prophet and the angels who were involved in the reaping of the harvest of believers who received the Lord Jesus during that time. John saw when, “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 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. And the second angel poured out his vial upon the sea;

and it became as the blood of a dead man: and every living soul died in the sea”, and in chapter sixteen and verse four of Revelation John saw how “the third angel poured out his vial upon the rivers and fountains of waters” where we read:

And the third angel poured out his vial upon the rivers and fountains of waters;

and they became blood.

The verse reads, “And the third angel poured out his vial upon the rivers and fountains of waters;” John began with the words, “and third angel” which means “and the third messenger, envoy and one sent” “poured out” or “shed forth, bestowed and delivered largely” “his vial” which means “the angel's broad shallow bowl” “upon the rivers” or “on the streams, torrents and floods” “and fountains” which refers to “wells which are fed by a spring” “of waters” or “pertaining to water as if rainy”. John watched as the “third angel” distributed his “shallow bowl of God's wrath” on the “rivers” and “fountains” located on the earth.

The verse continues, “and they became blood.” John added the words, “and they became” which means “and the rivers and fountains happened, appeared and were made as” “blood” or “bloodshed”. In addition to the larger bodies of waters such as oceans, seas and lakes becoming like “blood”, the “rivers and fountains” became as “blood” also.

When we meditate upon John's words in this verse, we see the horrific effect of this “third vial” upon the springs, “rivers and fountains” which rise up across the lands of the earth. Drinking water will be affected, and even as “Moses” oversaw the turning of the waters into blood, this “third angel” will oversee the “rivers and fountains” becoming as “blood”. (See Exodus 7). God wants to keep people from this destructive time, and the only way to experience them is to reject His offer of “salvation” through a relationship with His Son Jesus. These warnings are meant not only to inform the readers of the events which shall occur during the tribulation upon the earth, but they also are meant to compel them to a protective relationship with God. May all who read these words take heed.

Next time John shares how “heard the angel of water say, you are righteous, O Lord”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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