Seven Bowls

Outline: Seven Bowls
Passage: Revelation 16
Discussion audio (1h21m)

The variety of interpretations of Revelation 16 may be as numerous as there are Christian denominations. What is found in Revelation is too often used as a fear motivator to bring people into the church, or keep them there. Our study shows the exact opposite: that fear never leads to repentance.

I began the session by reading a post on Provoketive, God in a Fear Factory. Any use of Revelation (or anything, for that matter) to raise fear, and then to capitalize on it to bring a decision is simply, abuse. It is a form of psychological control over another human being. It does not belong in the Christian church, or a believer’s life.

Revelation is a drama describing two entities, each claiming to be the source of power, authority, and deserving of worship. One is genuine; the other, a counterfeit. The genuine can only employ truthful persuasion. The counterfeit can employ whatever it wants: deception, injustice, manipulation, coercion, fear.

The message of Revelation is to the saints; it is not directed to those outside the church. The message of Revelation is for the saints to hang on, to endure, to remain faithful, because God is faithful and he will come through. It is not a message that was given to be used to scare unbelievers into the church.

Revelation describes a spiritual (not military) battle that has taken place, is taking place, and will continue to take place until sin implodes on itself, destroys itself, and all sees evil for what it is. The judgment is the ongoing and final revelation of what is true vs. what is false. Judgment is not some kind of punitive justice imposed upon the unrighteous.