16:1 What does the pouring out of the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth signify?

The vials contain the seven last plagues - the final outpouring of God's wrath upon sinners - which will bring finality to the tribulation (cp Rev 15:1).

These are the last plagues emanating from the seventh trumpet judgment which will complete the seventh seal (cp Rev 8:1-2 with Re 11:15, 18). The first plague is directed to fall specifically upon all who take the mark of the beast and worship his image (cp Re 16:2). "Noisome and grievous sores" are ulcers, or boils. The second plague affects the sea. It will turn to blood and every living thing in it will die (cp Re 16:3).

This is the same plague that falls during the second trumpet judgment in Rev 8:8-9, but then only one third of the sea will turn to blood. Here, all the sea turns to blood (cp Rev 8:8-9). The third plague will fall upon the rivers and fresh-water streams and springs. They will also turn to blood and there will be no fresh drinking-water (cp Re 16:4-6).

The angel in V 6 declares God's judgment of this plague to be fair and proper because its recipients are only getting back their due recompense for the blood of the martyred saints and the prophets which they shed (cp Rev 6:9-11; 17:1-6; 19:1-2 with Re 11:3, 7-8).

The fourth plague is scorching heat from the sun (cp Rev 16:8-9). However, regardless of the intense sunburn they suffer, men still will not repent, even though they know who causes the suffering, and why. They will still blaspheme God for sending the plagues (cp Re 9:20-21). The fifth plague is darkness (cp Re 16:10-11).

This is a repeat of the ninth plague on Egypt in Moses' day, but it will be even worse here (cp Ex 10:21-23). The fifth plague in Rev 16, like the first, is directed to fall only on Antichrist's kingdom. His followers will be the only ones affected. Their sores and pains from the previous plagues will not be healed yet and being enveloped in impenetrable blackness will cause them to bite their tongues. But they still will not repent.

The sixth plague causes the River Euphrates to dry up (cp Rev 16:12). God has predestined this to enable the armies of the kings of the eastern kingdoms under the control of Antichrist to come to Armageddon where Christ will execute God's vengeance upon them (cp Re 16:13-16).

These three demon spirits go throughout all the other kingdoms of the world working miracles to induce their kings, who are not under the control of Antichrist, to cooperate with him at Armageddon with their armies, to fight Christ (cp Psa 2:1-3; Joel 3:1-4; Zech 12:2-9; 14:1-3; Rev 19:11-21).

In V15 of Rev 16 there is a blessing pronounced upon all those living at that time who remain faithful to Christ, watching for His return and taking heed to how they walk in the presence of the ungodly (cp Re 16:15). The seventh and last plague in the tribulation is a great earthquake followed by hail. The earthquake will be the most powerful and devastating earthquake in the history of the world.

It will split Jerusalem into three parts, destroy Babylon, the capital of Antichrist's kingdom, and radically alter the earth's topography. Every mountain and island will be moved from their position. This will be followed by an equally devastating hailstorm, with hailstones, each weighing about forty kilograms, bombarding the earth and killing men. They will blaspheme God because the hailstorm is so devastating (cp Re 16:17-21).

The assertion "... it is done" in V17, means that the outpouring of God's wrath upon the earth is now complete. All told, two thirds of the nation of Israel will die in the tribulation (cp Zech 13:8-9). The tribulation will shortly end with Christ's second coming and the battle of Armageddon.

Revelation:-