Leading The Way - Devotional for October 2
October 2, 2026
The Just Wrath of God
By Michael A. Youssef, Ph.D.
Read Revelation 14:1-16:21.
The public confrontation between God and Satan recorded in Exodus was the dress rehearsal for a greater confrontation between God and Satan at the end of time. Like the plagues of Exodus, in the last confrontation, God will exact seven global plagues upon the Antichrist and his followers—a complete, perfect judgment. God has been patient for so long (see 1 Timothy 2:4). But the door has finally closed in Revelation 16, where we see the ultimate collision between God’s justice and man’s disobedience.
The first bowl of judgment, a plague of malignant sores, is poured out on all who worship the Antichrist—the globalization of the plague in Exodus 9:8-12. The second bowl is poured upon the sea, turning it to blood so that every living sea creature dies—the globalization of Exodus 7:17-18. The third bowl is poured on the rivers and springs, the drinking water, which is turned to blood as well. The fourth bowl is poured on the sun so that it burns fiercely and sears the people. The fifth bowl of judgment is directed at the throne of the Antichrist. His entire satanic empire is plunged into darkness. It will be a spiritual darkness the whole world will experience—the globalization of Exodus 10:21-23. This sixth bowl is poured on the Euphrates River, drying up the water and unleashing the kings of the East (Satan’s spiritual hierarchy)—this is the same event described in Revelation 9 with the release of four angels. The Euphrates is the cradle of civilization, the site of the Garden of Eden, and at the end times, it will be the gravesite of civilization.
Finally, the seventh bowl is poured into the air so that a voice from the throne of heaven declares, “It is done!” (Revelation 16:17). Islands will sink into the sea; mountains will crumble; hail will crush people to the ground—yet all this destruction will be just a warm-up to the battle of Armageddon.
Now, God’s agenda is perfect. No matter what happens, we are on the winning side. Two thousand years ago, when Jesus hung on that cross, He cried out, “It is finished” (John 19:30). Now here in Revelation 16, our Lord cries out, “It is done!” (v. 17). Jesus paid the price for our redemption, and He is triumphant over Satan.
Prayer: Jesus, thank You that You have redeemed me and taken on the judgment I deserve. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.
“Look, I come like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake and remains clothed, so as not to go naked and be shamefully exposed” (Revelation 16:15).
Learn more in Dr. Michael A. Youssef’s sermon An End-Times Warning for the Modern-Day Church, The Verdict (Part 1): LISTEN NOW
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