Seven Bowls 9.5: Tribulation of Israel
 
 


The second angel poured out his bowl on the sea, and it turned into blood like that of a dead man, and every living thing in the sea died.
This judgment brings to mind the first plague sent on Egypt in Exodus chapter 7:17, (water turned to blood) to persuade Pharaoh to free the Hebrew slaves (albeit that the water was that of the Nile River rather than the sea).
Do you remember the sixth trumpet judgement?
It involved two hundred million horseman killing one third of the world’s population (leaving two thirds alive – or in decimal notation .666).  
(Personal note to the reader: Don’t let that last, mischievous speculation upset you. I’m just messing with your mind.

Actually, just remember that all these things I am saying are just my attempt at making sense of a very confusing narrative. I have no divinely inspired insight into what the book is actually saying ).
Now think about by the second and third trumpet judgements. They turned a third of the seas and rivers into blood 

One possible interpretation of these judgments might be that the blood was that of the people who had been killed by the two hundred million horseman.  If that is the case, it would suggest the rest of the population (or that part of it that wears the seal of the beast - the 666) will be killed during the bowls judgments - presumably as a result of sixth bowl judgment - Armageddon.
3rd Bowl Judgment - rivers turn to blood
The third angel poured out his bowl on the rivers and springs of water, and they became blood.
Then I heard the angel in charge of the waters say: "You are just in these judgments, you who are and who were, the Holy One, because you have so judged; for they have shed the blood of your saints and prophets, and you have given them blood to drink as they deserve."
And I heard the altar respond: "Yes, Lord God Almighty, true and just are your judgments."

Of course this judgment brings to mind the first plague sent on Egypt in Exodus chapter 7:17, (water turned to blood) to persuade Pharaoh to free the Hebrew slaves.

4th Bowl Judgment - sun scorches people with fire
The fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and the sun was given power to scorch people with fire.
They were seared by the intense heat and they cursed the name of God, who had control over these plagues, but they refused to repent and glorify him.
I have suggested elsewhere the idea that references to the sun, moon and stars may be references to Israel. This idea is based on a dream of Joseph recorded in Genesis
So I would like to suggest that references to the sun scorching people would indicate that Israel, when delivered by Jesus from their tribulation, is the cause of great suffering and bloodshed to the nations that have attacked it.

Zechariah chapters 12 and 14 contain some graphic descriptions of the plight of the people in Jerusalem during the Great Tribulation and on the Day of the Lord.
Zechariah chapter 14:1-4 describes how Jerusalem will fall into the hands of the armies of the nations of the world
14:1-4 Behold, a day of the LORD is coming, when the spoil taken from you will be divided in the midst of you.
For I will gather all the nations against Jerusalem to battle, and the city shall be taken and the houses plundered and the women ravished; half of the city shall go into exile, but the rest of the people shall not be cut off from the city.
Then the LORD will go forth and fight against those nations as when he fights on a day of battle.
On that day his feet shall stand on the Mount of Olives which lies before Jerusalem on the east; and the Mount of Olives shall be split in two from east to west by a very wide valley; so that one half of the Mount shall withdraw northward, and the other half southward

Zechariah chapter 12:1 - 9 describes how the inhabitants of Jerusalem will put up a fight that will hurt their attackers. Judah will be like a blazing pot and a torch, setting on fire her enemies
12:1-9 An Oracle The word of the LORD concerning Israel: Thus says the LORD, who stretched out the heavens and founded the earth and formed the spirit of man within him:
"Lo, I am about to make Jerusalem a cup of reeling to all the peoples round about; it will be against Judah also in the siege against Jerusalem.
On that day I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all the peoples; all who lift it shall grievously hurt themselves. And all the nations of the earth will come together against it.
On that day, says the LORD, I will strike every horse with panic, and its rider with madness. But upon the house of Judah I will open my eyes, when I strike every horse of the peoples with blindness.
Then the clans of Judah shall say to themselves, 'The inhabitants of Jerusalem have strength through the LORD of hosts, their God.'
"On that day I will make the clans of Judah like a blazing pot in the midst of wood, like a flaming torch among sheaves; and they shall devour to the right and to the left all the peoples round about, while Jerusalem shall still be inhabited in its place, in Jerusalem.
"And the LORD will give victory to the tents of Judah first, that the glory of the house of David and the glory of the inhabitants of Jerusalem may not be exalted over that of Judah.
On that day the LORD will put a shield about the inhabitants of Jerusalem so that the feeblest among them on that day shall be like David, and the house of David shall be like God, like the angel of the LORD, at their head.
And on that day I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.

The book of Malachi is thought to have been written after the return from exile. It contains criticism of the observance of the sacrifices and other ethical matters. It then turns to the appearance of the Messiah in the temple. If you know George Frederick Handel’s oratorio, “the Messiah”, some of these words will be familiar to you. 

Malachi 3:1-3 "Behold, I send my messenger to prepare the way before me, and the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the LORD of hosts.
But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? "For he is like a refiner's fire and like fullers' soap; he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, till they present right offerings to the LORD.
Having purified Levi, he will then turn his heat on the Gentiles who are to be judged for their evil ways
Malachi 4:1-3 "For behold, the day comes, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble; the day that comes shall burn them up, says the LORD of hosts, so that it will leave them neither root nor branch.
But for you who fear my name the sun of righteousness shall rise, with healing in its wings. You shall go forth leaping like calves from the stall.
And you shall tread down the wicked, for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet, on the day when I act, says the LORD of hosts.

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Angel poured his bowl out on the sea
Lot of creatures died in that catastrophe

 





 Angel poured his bowl on the rivers and the springs
Water turned bitter with a bloody tinge
Angel poured his bowl out on the sun
Scorched the blackened souls of those accursed ones
 









Bloody Sea, Foul Rivers, Sun Burn, Darkness, War