The answer is: The rivers and fountains of waters became blood

Rev 16 vs 4

When the third vial of wrath is poured out in Revelation 16:4, it symbolizes a moment of vivid imagery and dire consequence—a startling transformation of natural water sources into blood. This is more than just a puzzling spectacle; it recalls biblical images from the Exodus when God turned the Nile River into blood as a judgment against Egypt. This kind of divine action underscores a consistent theme in the scripture: a stark contrast between life-giving water and the chaos of death.

Isn't it fascinating how the notion of blood echoes throughout various biblical narratives? Blood often represents both a symbol of life and of sacrificial death. Just as the third vial brings judgment, we recall the blood signals God’s covenant with Noah after the flood—life persisted even after devastation.

Interestingly, in ancient cultures, rivers were often considered divine entities, filled with purity and life. To turn these into blood not only signifies judgment but also a reordering of power—God dethroning the very forces thought to sustain life.

Plus, the reaction to this event resonates with today’s ecological anxieties; just as the earth faces degradation, these vials remind modern readers of the consequences of our actions against the natural world. The vivid metaphor provokes reflection on how our environmental choices can have drastic consequences, perhaps echoing the warnings found throughout scripture about the treatment of God's creation.