Revelation 16:17-21

The seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple, from the throne, saying, “It is done!”  And there were flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, and a great earthquake such as there had never been since man was on the earth, so great was that earthquake.  The great city was split into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell, and God remembered Babylon the great, to make her drain the cup of the wine of the fury of his wrath.  And every island fled away, and no mountains were to be found.  And great hailstones, about one hundred pounds each, fell from heaven on people; and they cursed God for the plague of the hail, because the plague was so severe.

The end of an era is described in this section of Scripture.  The era of plagues, storms, and disasters that have fallen upon the earth throughout history are ending.  These will be disasters as the world has never seen before and will never see again.  Unfortunately, mankind will be hardened in their rebellion against God.

FINAL JUDGMENT: As the seventh angel pours out his bowl of judgment on the earth, a voice cries out from the temple saying it is done.  The voice must be that of God Himself as it comes from the throne.  The statement that “it is done” signals the finality of the series of judgments that have fallen upon the earth.  The history of the earth as we know it is coming to an end.  The return of Christ to rule and reign will bring fundamental change to the way the world works. Justice, peace, prosperity, and longevity will characterize the earth upon His return.

FINAL EARTHQUAKE: As the bowl is released there are crashes of thunder, flashes of lightning and the largest earthquake in history follows.  This is far more than a localized earthquake.  It seems that the epicenter will be in Jerusalem, the great city, which will be split into three parts.  The cities of the nations throughout the entire planet will be shaken and flattened.  The islands will sink into the ocean, and the mountains will be leveled.  This will bring about the total collapse of the world system referred to as Babylon the great.  The devastation will be enormous.

FINAL HAILSTORM: In addition to the earthquake this final judgment will bring about a hailstorm as never seen before.  Hail weighing one-hundred pounds will fall all over the face of the earth.  The boulders of ice will destroy anything and anyone they hit.  Today, hailstones the size of a baseball do terrible amounts of damage.  It is hard to imagine what these will do.  The response of rebellious man will be to curse God instead of falling before Him in repentance.  The hardness of heart that unbelieving men display is hard to comprehend.

APPLICATION: Thank God for the finality of both injustice and judgment.  Praise Him for His might, sovereignty, and mercy.  Repent of sin recognizing just how terrible the wrath of God is upon sinful men.  Worship the Creator and not the creation.  The creation will eventually ball but the Creator will reign forever.