Then one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls filled with the wrath of God, who lives for ever and ever. – Revelation 15:7

Today's Scripture Reading (July 25, 2024): Revelation 15

It was a challenge back in Junior High. The question was, can you drink a medium-sized bottle of Coke in one swig? I think it was a sixteen-fluid-ounce bottle of Coke at the time. I remember kids trying to down the Coke bottle without removing it from their lips. Most had tears streaming down their faces long before reaching the bottle's bottom. From experience, trying to get the liquid down your throat like that could be painful. I was successful, but it wasn't a pleasant experience. (Maybe that is why I drink my pop so slowly now.)

I wonder if my mouth and throat have toughened or if the carbonation level in pop has decreased in recent years. I haven't taken the challenge in the last few decades, but it doesn't seem like it would be as hard now as it was when I was a kid.

The King James Version translates this verse: "And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever" (Revelation 15:7 KJV). At issue is the word "vial" or "bowl." And the NIV's bowl is probably a better translation, although both have a problem. The item in question is not a vial, often pictured as a deep container with fluid or a bowl but is much more like a shallow plate. We need to picture something that might be placed under burning incense or a shallow ashtray. The idea is that these bowls could be wholly and quickly emptied or poured out. It would be harder to keep a fluid in these bowls than to pour it out. And no residue would be left after the bowl or vial had been emptied.

It would be definitely much easier than trying to drain the bottle of Coke I drank as a kid. The wrath of God will be poured out on the planet quickly and effortlessly. In the past, when God poured out his wrath on our planet, there was a moment when God could relent and go no further, but this would be different. It is not that the wrath would be less, but that it would be completed much quicker.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Revelation 16