November 13: RAPID SUCCESSION

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. Revelation 16:3

Yesterday we were given a preview of a ‘pandemic’ that is to come upon all who have accepted the beast’s mark. This plague of foul and loathsome sores (v.2) will not be traceable to any test-tube virus or geographic location. But before it occurs, the world will be given very generous opportunities to accept and honor the seal of God. During this time of sealing, there will be tremendous pressure from the allied forces of religion and political leadership with the aid of sophisticated propaganda, legislation, and threats to accept the beast’s mark (13:17,15). It is possible that, before probation closes, some considering obedience to God will be deceived into accepting the beast’s mark instead, in spite of having been taught Biblical truth (Hebrews 10:29; 2 Peter 2:20). As last-day deceptions intensify (2 Timothy 3:13), it is more imperative than ever before in history to exercise and strengthen spiritual “muscle” through Bible study, prayer, and witnessing. Satan knows that his time is getting shorter by the minute.

This second of the final plagues is difficult to contemplate. The oceans of the world turning to blood hardly compares with previous plagues. But let us compare anyway. When the River Nile was turned to blood all of the fish died (Exodus 7:21). The scale of a disaster that causes every living creature in the sea to die is so far beyond any man-made disaster that it might compare with the worldwide flood of Noah’s day, only worse due to the unbearable stench. The world’s economy will instantly come to a grinding halt. The irony of this is that the coercive measure against God’s faithful remnant restricting their buying and selling (Revelation 13:17) as punishment for not going along with “the plan” will have totally backfired.

The second trumpet judgment (8:8-9) marked the fall of pagan Rome which had come to be nicknamed “Babylon” by the early Christians, due to the confusing mixture of beliefs that permeated Roman society. The sea has also been used as a metaphor for the multitudes (17:15) who have supported the Roman church which propagates numerous unbiblical doctrines (unfortunately inspired by Satan for the purpose of causing people to be lost). In comparing today’s verse with the second trumpet judgment, let us remember that the trumpet judgments occurred over long periods of time, whereas the final bowl judgments to come will be much quicker and in rapid succession. The trumpets revealed a series of divine interventions for redemptive purposes. The bowl judgments reveal to the watching universe the hardness of impenitent hearts and are strictly punitive. They fall upon those who have had abundant opportunity to lay their sins down and follow the Savior. Instead, they have become the oppressors and persecutors of God’s faithful people.

He established a testimony in Jacob, And appointed a law in Israel, Which He commanded our fathers, That they should make them known to their children; That the generation to come might know them, The children who would be born, That they may arise and declare them to their children, That they may set their hope in God, And not forget the works of God, But keep His commandments. Psalm 78:5-7