Revelation Chapter 16

VERSE 4-7 “And the third (angel) poured out his bowl into the rivers and the fountains of the waters; and it became blood. And I heard the angel of the waters saying, Righteous art thou, who art and who was, thou Holy One, because thou didst thus judge: for they poured out the blood of the saints and the prophets, and blood hast thou given them to drink: they are worthy. And I heard the altar saying, Yea, O Lord God, the Almighty, true and righteous are thy judgments.”

The third angel was Arius the same individual who had sounded the third trumpet.

And the third angel POURED OUT HIS BOWL INTO THE RIVERS AND SPRINGS OF WATERS:

This third bowl appears to be a religious movement which would effectively challenge the sources and outlets of Babylon’s (supposed) “truths,” Perhaps we have been too close to it to notice, but the most active “event” accomplishing this on a worldwide basis has been the “Jehovah’s Witnesses” movement. Their organization has been phenomenal. Their system has been extremely effective. They have knocked on almost every door in Christendom leaving behind perplexing questions, which have caused many to question their religious leaders and authorities — EVEN THOUGH THEY DON’T ABANDON THEM.

Arius’ truths caused Rome great difficulties; he and his followers were rejected as dangerous heretics. In this plague, the Witnesses (who are considered apostates — and really are; but who have damaging truths to spread), can and do threaten the establishment.

This third plague affects the dispersal of “water” and its sources so that, THEY BECOME BLOOD: undrinkable. How often do we hear people say:

“I’m a Lutheran, but I don’t believe all that my church teaches.”

Traditional doctrine (orthodox doctrine) is undrinkable and more and more either avoided or repudiated (by serious students of the Word). This plague has, indeed, had its effect.

As the prophet Isaiah states in Isa 28:7,8:

“But they also (to whom the people look as leaders and teachers, viz.: the clergy) have erred through wine, and through intoxicating drink (intoxicating doctrines, errors and false teachings) are out of the way; The priest and the prophet (the leaders and teachers in Babylon) have erred through intoxicating drink, they are swallowed up by wine, they are out of the way through intoxicating drink; They err in vision, they stumble in judgment (And as such are unable to decern the “times and the seasons”, prophecy, thus they are truly as the Lord so describes them the Blind Guides of the blind). For all tables are full of vomit and filth; No place is clean.”

We need scarcely say that the table of the Lord’s people signifies their spiritual supply of food, nourishment; and as we look about us, we find in Churchianity many such tables, one to each denomination–its CREED.

The creed of each denomination represents what it claims God has set before it as the truth for its spiritual nourishment and refreshment; and for centuries each denomination has been busily inviting each other and the world to come to its table. Now, however, these tables are measurably deserted. Very few want to talk about the doctrine or creed of their sect; they generally prefer to ignore creeds.

Why?

Because many thinking Christians find them nauseating; their tables are spread with so many doctrinal monstrosities and misrepresentations of the truth, that even some of their own preachers and ministers have rejected them, “vomited” them up. They are as the Prophet declares, full of filthiness; there is no place clean.

All they have to offer is the same old vomit (errors) they have been placing on the tables for centuries and many thinking minds are repudiating such.

VERSE 5

AND I HEARD: Two times during this plague John takes us aside for editorial comments – presenting two distinct focuses as to the meaning of the plague, not to Babylon upon whom it is poured, but to the saints on BOTH sides of the veil.

THE ANGEL OF THE WATERS: — the glorified Arius gives praise to God for what is happening as well as for the opportunity to be a participant.

SAYING, RIGHTEOUS ART THOU WHO ART AND WHO WAS, THOU O HOLY ONE:

Arius is pointing out that this action is a righteous action; it compensates for what Arius and his followers had to face. They tried to impress truth over error and had little success; but now, truth over error is having an eating-away effect on error.

BECAUSE THOU DIDST JUDGE THESE THINGS: It would be UN-righteous to have let error continue without judgment.

VERSE 6

FOR THEY POURED OUT THE BLOOD OF THE SAINTS AND THE PROPHETS, AND BLOOD HAST, THOU GIVEN THEM TO DRINK: THEY ARE WORTHY:

Throughout the age Babylon has drained the life of the saints as much as possible. False doctrines were used to slay true faith. NOW, the reverse! Now they (the professing church, Babylon) must try to justify their own doctrinal and behavioral positions, and they are choking on it. How appropriate!

[Note: —Arius died under very suspicious circumstances. Some of his friends charged that his opponents had poisoned him.]

It seems one of those Divine subtleties of humor that the Witnesses make such a point about “drinking blood.” Here their own works are causing others to drink blood!

VERSE 7

AND I HEARD: This is John’s second re-focus editorial comment on this plague.

THE ALTAR SAYING, YEA, O LORD GOD, THE ALMIGHTY, TRUE AND RIGHTEOUS ARE THY JUDGMENTS:

Why should John re-focus our attention?

Because he has just given the feelings of those beyond the veil. Now he wishes to give the feelings of those still on this side of the veil — US. We are yet in the sacrificing condition (represented by the altar), and we agree heartily!

We will take another look at these verses in our next post.