The bowl Judgments:
We will see that John's vision accurately depicted the wrath that came upon Judea.
Revelation 16
3The second angel poured out his bowl (G)into the sea, and it became blood like that of a dead man; and every living [a]thing in the sea died.
Josephus Wars of the Jews Book 3 chapter 9 section 3
And much lamentation there was when the ships were dashed against one another, and a terrible noise when they were broken to pieces; and some of the multitude that were in them were covered with waves, and so perished, and a great many were embarrassed with shipwrecks. But some of them thought that to die by their own swords was lighter than by the sea, and so they killed themselves before they were drowned; although the greatest part of them were carried by the waves, and dashed to pieces against the abrupt parts of the rocks, insomuch that the sea was bloody a long way, and the maritime parts were full of dead bodies; for the Romans came upon those that were carried to the shore, and destroyed them; and the number of the bodies that were thus thrown out of the sea was four thousand and two hundred. The Romans also took the city without opposition, and utterly demolished it.
Revelation 16
9Men were scorched with fierce heat; and they (U)blasphemed the name of God who has the power over these plagues, and they (V)did not repent so as to (W)give Him glory. 10Then the fifth angel poured out his bowl on the (X)throne of the beast, and his kingdom became (Y)darkened; and they gnawed their tongues because of pain,
Josephus Wars of the Jews Book 3 Chapter 4 section 1
By this means he provoked the Romans to treat the country according to the law of war; nor did the Romans, out of the anger they bore at this attempt, leave off, either by night or by day, burning the places in the plain, and stealing away the cattle that were in the country, and killing whatsoever appeared capable of fighting perpetually, and leading the weaker people as slaves into captivity; so that Galilee was all over filled with fire and blood; nor was it exempted from any kind of misery or calamity, for the only refuge they had was this, that when they were pursued, they could retire to the cities which had walls built them by Josephus.
Revelation 16
12The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the (AD)great river, the Euphrates; and (AE)its water was dried up, so that (AF)the way would be prepared for the kings (AG)from the east.
13And I saw coming out of the mouth of the (AH)dragon and out of the mouth of the (AI)beast and out of the mouth of the (AJ)false prophet, three (AK)unclean spirits like (AL)frogs;
Tacitus Histories book 5
Early in this year Titus Caesar, who had been selected by his father to complete the subjugation of Judaea, and who had gained distinction as a soldier while both were still subjects, began to rise in power and reputation, as armies and provinces emulated each other in their attachment to him. The young man himself, anxious to be thought superior to his station, was ever displaying his gracefulness and his energy in war. By his courtesy and affability he called forth a willing obedience, and he often mixed with the common soldiers, while working or marching, without impairing his dignity as general.He found in Judaea three legions, the 5th, the 10th, and the 15th, all old troops of Vespasian's. To these he added the 12th from Syria, and some men belonging to the 18th and 3rd, whom he had withdrawn from Alexandria. This force was accompanied by twenty cohorts of allied troops and eight squadrons of cavalry, by the two kings Agrippa and Sohemus, by the auxiliary forces of king Antiochus, by a strong contingent of Arabs, who hated the Jews with the usual hatred of neighbours, and, lastly, by many persons brought from the capital and from Italy by private hopes of securing the yet unengaged affections of the Prince. With this force Titus entered the enemy's territory, preserving strict order on his march, reconnoitring every spot, and always ready to give battle. At last he encamped near Jerusalem.
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I will briefly interject that this is a work describing actions about the Parthia which competed for the region. This was an action that went poorly for Rome as I recall However the context of the Kings of the East is quite clear. We have three Kings of the East involved in the Judean war stationed about the river Euphrates. This better identifies who these were in Tacitus Histories. A perfect fit for one of the bowl judgments.
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BOOK XIII. - Publius Cornelius Tacitus, The Works of Tacitus, vol. 2 - Annals (Books 4-6, 11-16) [120 AD]
Whilst these and the like discourses employed the public, Nero, to supply the Legions in the East, ordered recruits to be raised through the neighbouring provinces, and the Legions themselves to be posted near to Armenia; as also that the ancient Kings, Agrippa and Antiochus should make ready their forces, such as might enable them to invade the territories of the Parthians; and that bridges should be forthwith made upon the Euphrates. To Aristobulus he moreover committed the lesser Armenia, and the region of Sophenes to Sohemus, with the ensigns of Royalty and title of Kings. There arose likewise to Vologeses a competitor for his Crown, even his own son Vardanes. Hence the Parthians withdrew from Armenia, yet so as if they meant to return, and only postponed the war.
Revelation 16
17Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl upon (AX)the air, and a (AY)loud voice came out of the (AZ)temple from the throne, saying, "(BA)It is done."18And there were flashes of (BB)lightning and sounds and peals of thunder; and there was (BC)a great earthquake, such as there had not been since man came to be upon the earth(land), so great an earthquake was it, and so mighty.
Tacitus book 5 Histories
the temple illuminated by a sudden radiance from the clouds. The doors of the inner shrine were suddenly thrown open, and a voice of more than mortal tone was heard to cry that the Gods were departing. At the same instant there was a mighty stir as of departure
Revelation 16
19(BE)The great city was split into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell (BF)Babylon the great was (BG)remembered before God, to give her (BH)the cup of the wine of His fierce wrath.
Josephus Wars of the Jews Book 5 Chapter 1
4. And now there were three treacherous factions in the city, the one parted from the other. Eleazar and his party, that kept the sacred first-fruits, came against John in their cups.
Revelation 16
21And (BJ)huge hailstones, about [c]one hundred pounds each(a talent), came down from heaven upon men; and men (BK)blasphemed God because of the (BL)plague of the hail, because its plague was extremely severe.
Josephus Wars of the Jews book 5 chapter 6
Now the stones that were cast were of the weight of a talent, and were carried two furlongs and further. The blow they gave was no way to be sustained, not only by those that stood first in the way, but by those that were beyond them for a great space. As for the Jews, they at first watched the coming of the stone, for it was of a white color, and could therefore not only be perceived by the great noise it made, but could be seen also before it came by its brightness; accordingly the watchmen that sat upon the towers gave them notice when the engine was let go, and the stone came from it, and cried out aloud, in their own country language, THE STONE COMETH (15) so those that were in its way stood off, and threw themselves down upon the ground; by which means, and by their thus guarding themselves, the stone fell down and did them no harm. But the Romans contrived how to prevent that by blacking the stone, who then could aim at them with success, when the stone was not discerned beforehand, as it had been till then; and so they destroyed many of them at one blow. Yet did not the Jews, under all this distress, permit the Romans to raise their banks in quiet; but they shrewdly and boldly exerted themselves, and repelled them both by night and by day.
We will see that John's vision accurately depicted the wrath that came upon Judea.
Revelation 16
3The second angel poured out his bowl (G)into the sea, and it became blood like that of a dead man; and every living [a]thing in the sea died.
Josephus Wars of the Jews Book 3 chapter 9 section 3
And much lamentation there was when the ships were dashed against one another, and a terrible noise when they were broken to pieces; and some of the multitude that were in them were covered with waves, and so perished, and a great many were embarrassed with shipwrecks. But some of them thought that to die by their own swords was lighter than by the sea, and so they killed themselves before they were drowned; although the greatest part of them were carried by the waves, and dashed to pieces against the abrupt parts of the rocks, insomuch that the sea was bloody a long way, and the maritime parts were full of dead bodies; for the Romans came upon those that were carried to the shore, and destroyed them; and the number of the bodies that were thus thrown out of the sea was four thousand and two hundred. The Romans also took the city without opposition, and utterly demolished it.
Revelation 16
9Men were scorched with fierce heat; and they (U)blasphemed the name of God who has the power over these plagues, and they (V)did not repent so as to (W)give Him glory. 10Then the fifth angel poured out his bowl on the (X)throne of the beast, and his kingdom became (Y)darkened; and they gnawed their tongues because of pain,
Josephus Wars of the Jews Book 3 Chapter 4 section 1
By this means he provoked the Romans to treat the country according to the law of war; nor did the Romans, out of the anger they bore at this attempt, leave off, either by night or by day, burning the places in the plain, and stealing away the cattle that were in the country, and killing whatsoever appeared capable of fighting perpetually, and leading the weaker people as slaves into captivity; so that Galilee was all over filled with fire and blood; nor was it exempted from any kind of misery or calamity, for the only refuge they had was this, that when they were pursued, they could retire to the cities which had walls built them by Josephus.
Revelation 16
12The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the (AD)great river, the Euphrates; and (AE)its water was dried up, so that (AF)the way would be prepared for the kings (AG)from the east.
13And I saw coming out of the mouth of the (AH)dragon and out of the mouth of the (AI)beast and out of the mouth of the (AJ)false prophet, three (AK)unclean spirits like (AL)frogs;
Tacitus Histories book 5
Early in this year Titus Caesar, who had been selected by his father to complete the subjugation of Judaea, and who had gained distinction as a soldier while both were still subjects, began to rise in power and reputation, as armies and provinces emulated each other in their attachment to him. The young man himself, anxious to be thought superior to his station, was ever displaying his gracefulness and his energy in war. By his courtesy and affability he called forth a willing obedience, and he often mixed with the common soldiers, while working or marching, without impairing his dignity as general.He found in Judaea three legions, the 5th, the 10th, and the 15th, all old troops of Vespasian's. To these he added the 12th from Syria, and some men belonging to the 18th and 3rd, whom he had withdrawn from Alexandria. This force was accompanied by twenty cohorts of allied troops and eight squadrons of cavalry, by the two kings Agrippa and Sohemus, by the auxiliary forces of king Antiochus, by a strong contingent of Arabs, who hated the Jews with the usual hatred of neighbours, and, lastly, by many persons brought from the capital and from Italy by private hopes of securing the yet unengaged affections of the Prince. With this force Titus entered the enemy's territory, preserving strict order on his march, reconnoitring every spot, and always ready to give battle. At last he encamped near Jerusalem.
---
I will briefly interject that this is a work describing actions about the Parthia which competed for the region. This was an action that went poorly for Rome as I recall However the context of the Kings of the East is quite clear. We have three Kings of the East involved in the Judean war stationed about the river Euphrates. This better identifies who these were in Tacitus Histories. A perfect fit for one of the bowl judgments.
---
BOOK XIII. - Publius Cornelius Tacitus, The Works of Tacitus, vol. 2 - Annals (Books 4-6, 11-16) [120 AD]
Whilst these and the like discourses employed the public, Nero, to supply the Legions in the East, ordered recruits to be raised through the neighbouring provinces, and the Legions themselves to be posted near to Armenia; as also that the ancient Kings, Agrippa and Antiochus should make ready their forces, such as might enable them to invade the territories of the Parthians; and that bridges should be forthwith made upon the Euphrates. To Aristobulus he moreover committed the lesser Armenia, and the region of Sophenes to Sohemus, with the ensigns of Royalty and title of Kings. There arose likewise to Vologeses a competitor for his Crown, even his own son Vardanes. Hence the Parthians withdrew from Armenia, yet so as if they meant to return, and only postponed the war.
Revelation 16
17Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl upon (AX)the air, and a (AY)loud voice came out of the (AZ)temple from the throne, saying, "(BA)It is done."18And there were flashes of (BB)lightning and sounds and peals of thunder; and there was (BC)a great earthquake, such as there had not been since man came to be upon the earth(land), so great an earthquake was it, and so mighty.
Tacitus book 5 Histories
the temple illuminated by a sudden radiance from the clouds. The doors of the inner shrine were suddenly thrown open, and a voice of more than mortal tone was heard to cry that the Gods were departing. At the same instant there was a mighty stir as of departure
Revelation 16
19(BE)The great city was split into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell (BF)Babylon the great was (BG)remembered before God, to give her (BH)the cup of the wine of His fierce wrath.
Josephus Wars of the Jews Book 5 Chapter 1
4. And now there were three treacherous factions in the city, the one parted from the other. Eleazar and his party, that kept the sacred first-fruits, came against John in their cups.
Revelation 16
21And (BJ)huge hailstones, about [c]one hundred pounds each(a talent), came down from heaven upon men; and men (BK)blasphemed God because of the (BL)plague of the hail, because its plague was extremely severe.
Josephus Wars of the Jews book 5 chapter 6
Now the stones that were cast were of the weight of a talent, and were carried two furlongs and further. The blow they gave was no way to be sustained, not only by those that stood first in the way, but by those that were beyond them for a great space. As for the Jews, they at first watched the coming of the stone, for it was of a white color, and could therefore not only be perceived by the great noise it made, but could be seen also before it came by its brightness; accordingly the watchmen that sat upon the towers gave them notice when the engine was let go, and the stone came from it, and cried out aloud, in their own country language, THE STONE COMETH (15) so those that were in its way stood off, and threw themselves down upon the ground; by which means, and by their thus guarding themselves, the stone fell down and did them no harm. But the Romans contrived how to prevent that by blacking the stone, who then could aim at them with success, when the stone was not discerned beforehand, as it had been till then; and so they destroyed many of them at one blow. Yet did not the Jews, under all this distress, permit the Romans to raise their banks in quiet; but they shrewdly and boldly exerted themselves, and repelled them both by night and by day.
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