what are the 7 bowls in the book of revelations?

Question

in the 17 chapter of the book of revelations NIV version

Answer 1

The seven bowls (vials) are:

1. boils upon men
2. sea turns to blood
3. rivers and fountains of water, turn to blood
(all water sources will turn to blood)
4. sun will scorch men with fire
5. seat of the beast will gnaw their toungues for pain
6. Euphrates will dry up, make way of the kings of the east. Frog like creatures will come out of the mouth of the dragon, of the beast, and the false prophet.
7. out of the air... a great earthquake will come, and hail will fall from heaven upon all those who blasphemied God. The hail will weigh a talent ... common talent is 75 pounds, royal talent is 150 pounds.

King James Version

don't use the NIV at all other than a source. That bible is missing over 300 passages.

Answer 2

They are steroid versions of the plagues of Moses amped up to reflect the growing chaos w/in the Roman Empire and to encourage Christians to standfast in their faith.
The Bible tends to re=use imagery for purposes of authenticity, easy remembrance in an oral society, and re-enforcing the unchangeable will of God for purity and faithfulness.

Answer 3

They're the bowls of God's wrath described in the previous chapter.

Revelation 16:1 Then I heard a loud voice from the temple telling the seven angels, "Go and pour out on the earth the seven bowls of the wrath of God." (2) So the first angel went and poured out his bowl on the earth, and harmful and painful sores came upon the people who bore the mark of the beast and worshiped its image.

(3) The second angel poured out his bowl into the sea, and it became like the blood of a corpse, and every living thing died that was in the sea.

(4) The third angel poured out his bowl into the rivers and the springs of water, and they became blood. (5) And I heard the angel in charge of the waters say, "Just are you, O Holy One, who is and who was, for you brought these judgments. (6) For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and you have given them blood to drink. It is what they deserve!" (7) And I heard the altar saying, "Yes, Lord God the Almighty, true and just are your judgments!"

(8) The fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and it was allowed to scorch people with fire. (9) They were scorched by the fierce heat, and they cursed the name of God who had power over these plagues. They did not repent and give him glory.

(10) The fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and its kingdom was plunged into darkness. People gnawed their tongues in anguish (11) and cursed the God of heaven for their pain and sores. They did not repent of their deeds.

(12) The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up, to prepare the way for the kings from the east. (13) And I saw, coming out of the mouth of the dragon and out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits like frogs. (14) For they are demonic spirits, performing signs, who go abroad to the kings of the whole world, to assemble them for battle on the great day of God the Almighty. (15) ("Behold, I am coming like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake, keeping his garments on, that he may not go about naked and be seen exposed!") (16) And they assembled them at the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon.

(17) 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!" (18) 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. (19) 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. (20) And every island fled away, and no mountains were to be found. (21) 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.