Questions about prophecy
What does the Bible say about the end?
Each answer comes from the books of Dr. Mary Banks, with the scriptures it rests on and the books it is drawn from.
The Seven Vials of Wrath
The last plagues poured out on the kingdom of the beast.
What are the seven Vials of wrath?
The seven vials of wrath are the final bowl judgments poured out upon the earth in Revelation 16, representing the full and undiluted outpouring of God's anger on a rebellious world just before the return of Christ.
Who receives the Vials of wrath?
The seven vials of God's wrath, poured out by seven angels, fall in turn upon the earth, the sea, the rivers and fountains of water, the sun, the seat (throne) of the beast, the river Euphrates, and the air, striking those who bear the mark of the beast and worship his image, together with the peoples and lands under Antichrist's dominion.
What is the first Vial and the noisome sore?
The first vial is poured out upon the earth, causing a noisome and grievous sore to break out on all who have the mark of the beast and who worship his image.
Why does the sea turn to blood?
The sea turns to blood because God pours out the second vial (bowl) of His wrath directly upon it, an act of divine judgment that kills every living creature in the sea.
Why do the rivers and fountains turn to blood?
The rivers and fountains turn to blood as God's righteous judgment on the wicked because they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, so He gives them blood to drink in return.
What happens when the sun scorches men with fire?
When the fourth vial is poured out, the sun scorches men with intense fire and heat, causing severe burns, yet instead of repenting, people blaspheme God's name rather than give Him glory.
What is the darkness on the kingdom of the beast?
When the fifth angel pours out his vial upon the seat of the beast, his kingdom is plunged into a total, thick darkness, and the people suffer such pain from their sores that they gnaw their tongues yet still refuse to repent.
Why is the river Euphrates dried up?
The river Euphrates is dried up by the sixth angel's vial so that the way is prepared for the kings of the east to march their armies toward the final battle.
What is the greatest earthquake at the seventh Vial?
At the seventh vial, Revelation describes an earthquake so mighty and great that nothing like it has ever happened since men have been on the earth, splitting the great city into three parts and causing every island and mountain to vanish.
What is the great hail from heaven?
The great hail from heaven is the plague poured out in the seventh vial of God's wrath, when hailstones weighing about a talent (roughly 75 to 100 pounds each) fall upon the earth, and men respond by blaspheming God rather than repenting.