The Pulpit Commentary — Revelation — Section 358

There is one feature common to all the bowls-they are "the bowls of the wrath of God." By" the wrath of God" we understand nothing like revenge, malice, or vindic- tiveness; but that pure and holy indignation against ein, which is a necessity of nature in a Being of perfect love. As, however, we have so freqnently found the scenes of the Old Testament furnishing material for the gorgeous imagery of this book, so it is here. The student can scarcely help noticing the similarity in the effect of the bowla with that of the plagues of Egypt. 'J'hUB they one and all seem to say, M the Lord once "put a difference between the Egyptians and Israel," so it will be again, The first deliverance Wll,8 from the hosts of Egypt. The second was from the hosts of hell, when Jesus died. The third shall be the final one-from the hosts of earth and hell, when the Lord shll appear in his gloryl 1 While we reverently.refrain from attempt- ing an interpretation in detail of the effects of the pouring out of the several bowls, we can as little refrain from pointing out the manifold distinctive features of them, PS illustrating permanent truths concel'lling the government of God. L ERE THE END COMETH, Goo's JUDGMENTS OF WRATH WILL BE POUBED OUT UPOII THE· WORLD. Our Lord, in his sermon on the mount, as well as in his parables, teaches us that up to the time of the end there will be impenitent men; and that the clashing of gOQd with evil will go on to the time Qf the great harvest-day, The Old Testamenj; prophets .indicate the same, and they repeatedly declare that on the wicked the wrath of God will fall. The Lord did of old "put a difference between the Egyptians and I~r~l;" and he will, in his own time and way, show the difference between the Church ind the world. The wicked shall be "broken to shivers." II. Goo BATH HIS "BOWLS" IN WHICH ARE THE CONTENTS 011' ms WRATH WAIT- ING TO BB OUTPOURED. "'l'he 'vials' 119int to the metaphor in eh. xiv. 10, 'the cup (,f God's anger,' The 'vial' (cf. Amos vi. 6) was the shallow' bowl' in which they drew from the lllol'ger goblet." 3 There are many weapons hidden in God's armoury, Apocalypse," 'lhndes Bibliqne,' deuxil!me eerie, p. 295. · 1 .. E.ssa.i sur l' 1 "Thf> statement that these are the last plagues seems to ahow that the set of vlsion■ now commencing carry us down to the end of the age ..• they are strokes upon the wilful and h,ndened; they are directed against those who are deliberately hostile" (Bishop Boyd Carpenter). . • • Speaker'• Commentary,' in loo. ciit. :r.v-1. 1-21,l TllE REVELATION OF ST. JOUN THE DIVINE. 899-