Revelation 16:1

Chapter 16 - Seven last plagues poured out

John now describes the vial judgments that come from Father God on a world that is worshiping Satan as God. As strange as the judgments appear, these are actual events that happen on the earth just prior to the return of Jesus to set up the Kingdom of God on earth. These vial judgments probably begin about 6 months before His coming. I believe the judgments span the last 6 months or so because their descriptions make it certain that each vial affects the world for some length of time. The gathering of all the world armies to Armageddon after the sixth vial would appear to take some time even with the help of Satan’s angels. The judgments are certain to occur in the  last part  of the 3 ½ years because The Beast has had time to set up his counterfeit kingdom by forcing people to take his 666 mark.

1   And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth.

The great voice out of the temple is the voice of Jesus serving as high priest in the temple. He tells the seven angels to go in the order they were assigned to pour out the wrath of God upon the earth.

2  And the first went, and poured out his vial upon the earth; and there fell a noisome and grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and upon them which worshiped his image.

The first vial is poured out and terrible sores come upon all who have taken the mark of the Beast and on those who have worshiped his image. The sores are ulcers or boils. They are like what Egypt experienced in ancient days when God judged her (Exodus). The sores will warn people who have not worshiped Satan to turn to call on the God of heaven. It will also be an incentive for evil people who want Satan to be God, to find a reason to hate the God of heaven and to seek to fight against God.