The First Bowl of Wrath

"Then I heard a loud voice from the temple, saying to the seven angels, 'Go and pour out on the earth the seven bowls of the wrath of God.' So the first angel went and poured out his bowl on the earth; and it became a loathsome and malignant sore on the people who had the mark of the beast and who worshiped his image." (Revelation 16:1,2 - New American Standard)

God's patience with man will once again run out. He will pour out judgment upon mankind because they rebel against him. These seven bowls of wrath are poured out one after the other in rapid succession over a period of a few weeks. Any longer and no one would be left alive at the end of the Tribulation.

The voice in verse one must belong to God. No one else is allowed in the temple during this time. The angels are ordered to pour out their vials or bowls. This shows the speed with which these things will happen. The angels go together one after another to pour out their bowls.

The sores of verse two are loathsome, foul, evil, malignant and painful. They are not treatable and last at least until the fifth bowl is poured out and likely until the end of the Tribulation when these people are cast into torments. These sours afflict the majority of mankind; those who worship the beast and his image. Those who have not accepted the mark of the beast will be spared.