Revelation 16:1-10 The righteous do not vouch for any leader who is immoral or corrupt no matter what they say

Revelation 16:1-10

Then I heard a loud voice from the temple, saying to the seven angels, “Go and pour out on the earth the seven bowls of the wrath of God.”

So the first angel went and poured out his bowl on the earth; and it became a loathsome and malignant sore on the people who had the mark of the beast and who worshiped his image.

The second angel poured out his bowl into the sea, and it became blood like that of a dead man; and every living thing in the sea died.

Then the third angel poured out his bowl into the rivers and the springs of waters; and they became blood. And I heard the angel of the waters saying, “Righteous are You, who are and who were, O Holy One, because You judged these things; for they poured out the blood of saints and prophets, and You have given them blood to drink. They deserve it.” And I heard the altar saying, “Yes, O Lord God, the Almighty, true and righteous are Your judgments.”

The fourth angel poured out his bowl upon the sun, and it was given to it to scorch men with fire. Men were scorched with fierce heat; and they blasphemed the name of God who has the power over these plagues, and they did not repent so as to give Him glory.

Then the fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom became darkened; and they gnawed their tongues because of pain, and they blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores; and they did not repent of their deeds.

Background

As a recap: God’s judgment is implemented in two phases. The first phase is manifested through the calamities associated with the trumpets. And the second phase involves more severe afflictions associated with the bowls.

During the first phase, disasters affect everyone on Earth except for two groups: those who are raptured and those who bear the seal of God (see 7:1-17). Those who bear the seal of God belong to the 144 thousand who will remain on the earth at the time of the rapture to assist in evangelizing the world. It is crucial to note that these two groups are not solely made up of Christians. A significant number are non-Christians who follow the teachings of Christ even though they have no prior knowledge of Him, will also be included in these groups. The proportion of Christians within these groups constitutes only a minor fraction of the broader Christian community.

In the second phase (which we will be discussing in this article), the disasters that come from the bowls are significantly worse than in the first phase. This time, the focus narrows down to those bearing the mark of the beast, who persecute the righteous. Those who support the beast will inevitably engage in the persecution of the righteous, either directly or indirectly.

Today’s devotion teaches us: The righteous do not vouch for any leader who is immoral or corrupt no matter what they say.

Observation

When the first bowl is poured out, malignant sores breaks out on the skin. It targets those who vouch for the beast and bear his mark. 

Following the outpouring of the second bowl, the ocean becomes contaminated by a substance that resembles blood making the water uninhabitable and undrinkable. This occurrence leads to a marine ecological catastrophe affecting areas of nations that have allied with the beast.

The outpouring of the third bowl extends the consequences caused by the second bowl. The contamination now reaches beyond the ocean to affect rivers and freshwater sources. This calamity targets those who have persecuted the righteous who have opposed their wrongdoings.

The outpouring of the fourth bowl unleashes an extreme heat wave against the followers of the beast. Despite knowing that this is caused by the celestial forces, they refuse to acknowledge God as the Lord or repent for their wrongdoings. They were adamant that these celestial forces are maliciously attacking them without a cause. 

The outpouring of the fifth bowl targets the inner circle of the beast. This assault by the celestial forces produces sores that causes excruciating pain. The skies over these nations are darkened and covered possibly by celestial forces blocking the light of the sun. This signifies a gathering of celestial forces indicating that a major battle is about to take place.

Truth

The righteous do not vouch for any leader who is immoral or corrupt no matter what they say.

There is a considerable portion of Christians who tend to support a leader despite clear evidence of immorality or corruption. Such often justify their position by highlighting the leader’s policies that are advantageous to them or resonate with their religious convictions. While I acknowledge the importance of a leader’s policies, I contend that their character holds even greater importance. A corrupt leader often change policies and positions to gain power for himself. Hence, there is no assurance a corrupt leader will keep to his word. Individuals who endorse corrupt leaders often do so with the hope of gaining personal advantages from the leader’s rise to power. However, the bible is crystal clear concerning the qualifications of a leader. Paul instructed…

“An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not addicted to wine or pugnacious, but gentle, peaceable, free from the love of money. He must be one who manages his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity (but if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of the church of God?), and not a new convert, so that he will not become conceited and fall into the condemnation incurred by the devil. And he must have a good reputation with those outside the church, so that he will not fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.” – 1 Timothy 3:2-7

The principles outlined in the Bible applies not only within the church but also across all communities, organizations, and nations. Therefore, it is essential for Christians to evaluate whether an individual seeking leadership meets these criteria. As the scripture suggests, “if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of the church… community or nation?” Old Testament history clearly shows that immoral leaders are likely to lead their people into sin and ultimately to ruin.

In the majority of countries, a leader must secure the support of the people to gain authority. Consequently, Christians should refrain from supporting an immoral or corrupt figure, as doing so would place them in opposition to God. Revelation 14:9 describes the consequences of worshiping the beast. The angel warned in Revelation 14:9-11, 

“If anyone worships the beast and his image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, he also will drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is mixed in full strength in the cup of His anger; and he will be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever; they have no rest day and night, those who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.” 

The Hebrew term for worship, “proskuneo,” encompasses both reverence and adoration. The calamities associated in the outpouring of the bowls suggest that God reserves His harshest judgments for those who endorse the beast. It is evident that God detests both the hidden and explicit endorsements of corrupt leaders. Then, John added a commentary:

“Here is the perseverance of the saints who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.” – Revelation 14:12

Indeed, of the entire human populace, only those who persevered in keeping God’s commands; who do not support the beast will be spared from the wrath of God. For those who support the beast or any corrupt leader become complicit to the ruin of the nation.

Historically, it is evident that nations governed by corrupt leaders often become centers of plutocracy, where power is predominantly held by the affluent. Such nations typically exhibit hyperinflation, severe poverty, internal conflict, and a breakdown of law and order throughout society. Individuals driven by greed or desperation, who disregard the importance of character, frequently fall victim to manipulation. The corrupt leader misleads them into believing that he has the answers to all their problems, ultimately leading to the complete ruin of both the leader and his supporters. This manipulation is how the populace is coerced into accepting the mark of the beast.

Application

• Pray for the leaders of your community and nation, that they may persist in their commitment to righteousness and compassion in their governance.
• It is essential to assess a leader through the lens of God and scripture. A person’s policies may change, but his fundament character will not.
• When you contemplate migrating to a different nation, stay clear of nations where the ethical standards of the leadership is corrupt.
• In situations where the integrity of the leadership of your own country is persistently corrupt, it may be wise to consider emigration.

Prayer

Dear Lord, I pray for the leaders of my country. Help them focus on the needs of the people instead of being swayed by money and power. Encourage them to truly understand the struggles faced by citizens, rather than just offering temporary solutions. May we see more leaders come from humble beginnings and keep negative influences away. Let there be harmony and respect among all races and religions. In Jesus’s name I pray. Amen.