178    The Bible and the Future of the World 

    This darkness was foreshadowed by the three days of darkness which God 

sent upon the Egyptians through Moses and Aaron (Exodus 10:21 23), and 

by the three hours of darkness when Jesus was on the Cross (Mark 15:33), 

and by the three days of darkness at the end of the Forty Years. I don't know 

how long this darkness will last; perhaps it will be three days, as in the time 

of Moses and in the time of the Forty Years, or perhaps it will be longer. It 

will be a part of the suffering of the wicked that they will not know how long 

the darkness will last. 

    The angel pours this bowl on the beast's throne, not all over the earth. 

Only the wicked will be in darkness. Wherever God's faithful will be, there 

shall be light, just as when God sent darkness on the Egyptians, the Israelites 

had light. 

    This event differs from the Three Days of Darkness at the end of the Forty 

Years (late 2039 or early 2040). This darkness in the 25th century (about the 

year 2438) is not accompanied by the death of all those outdoors. During 

this darkness, those who remained faithful during the time of the Antichrist 

will have nothing to fear. They will all be safe. 

The Sixth Bowl of God's Wrath (Rev 16:12 16) 

     The sixth angel poured his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its 

water was dried up, to prepare the way for the kings from the east.... And 

they assembled them at the place which is called in Hebrew Armageddon.  

(Rev 16:12.16). 

    The river Euphrates is dried up to prepare for a war. Armageddon is the 

place where the armies assemble; it is not the name of a war or catastrophe. 

The kings of the earth (along with the Antichrist and the false prophet) 

gather to make war against Jesus Christ, His angels, His Church, and all His 

followers. Instead of repenting and turning to God to obtain His great 

mercy, they decide to fight against Christ Jesus and  against  everything 

belonging to Christ. The result of this attempt to make war against Christ is 

described in detail later in Revelation (Rev 19:17 21). There will be no 

actual war; the wicked who gather to make war will simply be destroyed by 

God (Rev 19:19 21). 

The Seventh Bowl of God's Wrath (Rev 16:17 21) 

     The seventh angel poured his bowl into the air, and a great voice came 

out of the temple, from the throne, saying, `It is done!'   (Rev 16:17). 

    The events of the seventh bowl complete the seven plagues of the seventh 

trumpet of the seventh seal. Thus, all of the events of Revelation are 

connected and are part of one plan by God to firmly establish His kingdom