Rivers of Blood – Phenomena – Fulfillment Biblical Prophecy?

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There’s a lot of panic and outcry in the media whenever a river somewhere on this planet turns blood red. Loud cries of “fulfillment of biblical prophecy” immediately follow. Yet even a cursory glance at the Bible is enough to correctly classify these blood phenomena. The danger of misleading information always remains.

When rivers turn red

When a river somewhere in this world is colored red, perhaps even flowing into the sea, transforming the water near the shore into something “blood red,” the immediately following phenomenon is the loud cries of evidence of the fulfillment of biblical prophecies. Impressive images of these natural spectacles and the memory of similar descriptions in the Bible literally startle many people.

Recently, there have been several phenomena involving red-colored rivers. This occurred in February 2025 in Argentina. However, it was a “classic environmental pollution incident.” In March 2025, rain fell on the coast of the island of Hormuz, belonging to Iran. Striking images circulated online of a “blood rain” that poured over the coast, as blood-red liquid flowed down and also colored the sea blood-red. However, this phenomenon is generally known to the local people and always attracts onlookers whenever such a “blood rain” is announced. However, it is not even “blood rain” that falls on this island, but rather normal rainwater. It is the high concentration of iron oxide in the soil that causes the water to have a “blood-red” color.

In Brazil, there is the river “Rio Vermelho.” The river’s name, “Red River,” already reveals its distinctive quality. However, when the water is particularly red, with the sun ideally positioned to create the impression of ruby-red water, smartphone cameras are pointed at it, the images are shared on social media, and tagged “prophecy fulfillment.” High click counts are guaranteed, and one can consider oneself an important bearer of biblical messages.

Where such a “fulfillment of prophecy” is conjectured, references to a soon-coming Jesus Christ are not far behind. Indeed, this is not wrong, for all the signs point to His imminent return. But at this point, the extremely important question arises: where one will stand when Jesus returns, and especially in what condition.

The prophetic “blood phenomena” in the Bible

In den Endzeit-Prophetien der Bibel gibt es durchaus markante Stellen, die von blutrot gefärbten Gewässern sprechen.

The description of the first trumpet in Revelation 8:7:
“The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up.“

Immediately followed by the second trumpet in Revelation 8:8-9:
“And the second angel sounded, and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea: and the third part of the sea became blood; And the third part of the creatures which were in the sea, and had life, died; and the third part of the ships were destroyed.“

Another passage is the second bowl of wrath in Revelation 16:3:
“And the second angel poured out his vial upon the sea; and it became as the blood of a dead man: and every living soul died in the sea.“

Here too, the third bowl of wrath is immediately followed by the next “blood phenomenon”, Revelation 16:4:
“And the third angel poured out his vial upon the rivers and fountains of waters; and they became blood.“

Blood-red rivers according to trumpets

First, it must be noted that the phenomena of the seven trumpets are symbolic. An objective, thoughtful, and pragmatic reading of the descriptions was sufficient to determine that the observed “rivers of blood” cannot really be the second or third trumpet, regardless of whether they are interpreted literally or symbolically.

The observed phenomenon: A blood-red river and this also colors the sea water near the shore blood-red.
Description of the first trumpet: Hail, fire mixed with blood, a third of the trees burned, all the grass burned.
Accordance: Apart from the color red, nothing here fits together.

Description second trombone: A burning mountain falls into the sea, a third of the sea turns to blood, a third of the sea creatures die, and a third of the ships sink.
Accordance: No mountain was observed falling into the sea. The seawater near the shore, where the river flows, turned to blood, not a third of the (world) seas. Nor did a third of the sea creatures die. Which ships sank?

Blood-red rivers according to bowls of wrath

Attempting to connect the blood-red rivers with the vials of wrath according to Revelation 16 fails because the vials of wrath are part of the “last seven plagues.” These are the final events, after all judgments have been passed on every person. It is the final judgment. Before then, several prophetic events must have occurred that have not yet occurred. This includes, most notably, the introduction of the mark of the beast (Info).

Description of the second bowl of wrath: The (entire) sea turns to blood and all(!) living creatures in the sea die.
Accordance: Nothing.

Description of the third bowl of wrath: Rivers and water sources turn to blood.
Accordance: Not one or two rivers, but all rivers and water sources. Thus, the blood color of all fresh water.

Ergo: Classic scaremongering, placed in a biblical-prophetic context. This is particularly explosive considering that the first two trumpets have long since been sounded. Currently, the world is well into the time of the sixth trumpet! (Info).

Danger of disorientation

The quasi-advancement of the vials of wrath, even in a false understanding, also has the potential to place people in a completely wrong time during the course of the prophetic announcements. What is striking, however, is that such calls for panic, in conjunction with the misinterpreted “blood phenomena,” fit perfectly with the widely believed narrative of a (secret) pre-rapture of the Christian community and a subsequent appearance of an “Antichrist” (Info).

In addition, the adversary will appear as an “angel of light” (2 Corinthians 11:14) and present himself as the “Savior of this world.” The misleading of the people will likely go so far that, in their false belief, they will mistake the adversary for their Savior and join forces against those who still hold fast to God’s commandments and have the testimony of Jesus (Revelation 12:17). For, and this brings us to the time after the sixth vial of wrath, kings and armies will gather to make war against the Lamb.

Revelation 16:13-14:
“And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.“

Therefore, simply study the Bible yourself, calmly and pragmatically. Read it in context and thereby understand that these hoax reports like “blood-red rivers and prophecy fulfillment” only serve the purpose of sending the bleating sheep in a direction that ultimately leads to a precipice.

Bible verses from King James Version (1611)