REVELATION 15

We have come to the third and final series of judgments of God upon the earth. In Revelation 6 there were the seal judgments. In Revelation 8:1-11:13 there were the trumpet judgments. Now, in Revelation 15, we come to the final series of judgments, known as the “bowl” or vial judgments.

This is the shortest chapter in the book of Revelation. It is a kind of reprieve from the description of the horrific judgments on earth. The fifteenth chapter of Revelation is, as it were, an introduction to Revelation 16. It sets the background scene from which the judgments in Revelation 16 will emerge, and brings us to the final judgment of God upon the earth prior to the return of Jesus Christ.

 

1 And I saw another sign (Gr. wonder) in heaven, great and marvelous (wonderful), seven angels having the seven last plagues (Gr. wound or blow); for in them is filled up (completed, executed, concluded) the wrath of God.

• John sees another sign in heaven. The previous signs are recorded in chapter 12, verses 1 & 3.
• The terms great and marvelous express the enormous importance of this sign as it contains the final outpouring of God’s wrath on the wicked, unrepentant sinners of the earth.
• The sign is called great because of the awesome power of the judgments. It is called marvelous because it represents the final vindication of God’s people and His divine judgment against everything evil and wicked.
• There are 3 series of 7 judgments in the Revelation: 7 seals; 7 trumpets; 7 vials or bowls. During the tribulation period, the judgments (the seals, trumpets, and bowls) are progressive, each worse than the last. However, these last seven judgments, the bowl judgments, are in a category of their very own. Jesus described the tribulation period this way:
  • Matt 24:21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. 22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.
• The Greek word for the English word plaques are not to be understood as diseases, but deadly blows.
• When these final plaques are poured out, the wrath of God will be filled up completed, executed, concluded or reaches it’s goal rather than “comes to a complete end or over.” This does not mean that the wrath of God has been non-existent prior to this point, for it most certainly has since the fall of man.
• It means that the wrath of God prophesied for this period of time is brought to completion with these plaques or bowls. Once this judgment is over, Christ will come back with His Church to set up His kingdom (Rev 19.11-20.1-10). The final and ultimate expression of God’s wrath are recorded in the very sobering words found in (cf. 20:10-15).
• The exact phrase the wrath of God is found 9 times in the NT and 5 out of those 9 times it is used in the book of Revelation. The Greek word for the Eng word wrath is thumos, and it is a word that carries the idea of fierce indignation. A careful examination of those 9 references reveals that the wrath of God is reserved for the enemies of Jesus Christ, not His bride, the church.
• The judgments that read about in the Revelation are the wrath of God and they come from heaven and from God and are directed to those who oppose His Son Jesus Christ.
  • Zeph 3:8 Therefore wait ye upon me, saith the LORD, until the day that I rise up to the prey: for my determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them mine indignation, even all my fierce anger: for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy.

 

2 And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory (overcome, conquer) over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name (666), stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God.

• In Revelation 4.6, John said the sea of glass was clear "like unto crystal". But here John sees it as "mingled with fire." This could be a foreboding of the impending fiery judgment of God when the seven vials are poured upon the earth.
• John sees a group of people in heaven standing on the sea of glass mingled with fire, having the harps of God. They chose to follow God and despite the inevitable consequences that they knew awaited them, they refused to bow their hearts to the kingdom of the antichrist and paid the hefitiest price possible for any human being…they gave up their lives.
• Often those who have been persecuted the most worship the most. Why is this? Typically, it is because these saints arrive at the realization that they have nothing or no one but God. The things of this world pass away. They are seen as fleeting and empty. This explains why often believers in other parts of the world worship with such fervency. The Lord is their life!
• In my visits to India and conversations with saints that are being persecuted, I have never heard them pray that the persecution for their faith would stop, but that God would grant them the grace to be faithful to Jesus through it. That is the correct perspective we need to have beloved.
• Remember that during the tribulation period, the false prophet sets up an image of the beast, which he will order everyone to worship on the pain of death. We also learned from Rev 13 that the false prophet will also require everyone to receive a mark representing either the beast’s name or the number of his name, without which people are unable to buy or sell.
• These are the believers that will be redeemed and then martyred during the tribulation period. They will be victorious over the beast, and over his image and over the number of his name. Remember that we read earlier these words: Rev 12:11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
• Even though they were martyred for their faith in Jesus Christ, they are in heaven standing and praising God. Beloved, the Scriptures tells is that to live is Christ and to die is gain (Phil 1.21).

3 And they sing the song of Moses (Exodus 15 when the Red Sea was parted) the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb (Rev 5.9-14), saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints. 4 Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest.

· The Song of Moses was a celebration of God’s miraculous deliverance from the wrath of the angel of death in Egypt, by means of the blood of lambs applied to the doorframes of their houses (Exod 15). It was also a celebration of God’s deliverance from the Egyptian army as they passed through the Red Sea and their enemies were swept away. This great deliverance under Moses was a foreshadowing of the great deliverance that was accomplished by the true Lamb of God, Jesus Christ, whose blood must be applied by faith, to the heart of every man and woman who desires to be spared the wrath of God and delivered from His enemies.

· The song of The Lamb is most commonly believed to be the one recorded in Rev 5.9-14. Both songs, the Song of Moses and the Song of the Lamb, are the response of grateful hearts celebrating God’s merciful deliverance.

· The words used here extol God’s character as being The omnipotent, immutable, sovereign, perfect Creator and Judge Who alone is holy in all of His works and attributes. Please note that this song focuses on

o God’s works (Great and marvelous are Your works; Psa 11.2,3)

o God’s ways (Just and true are Your ways; Psa 145.17)

o God’s worthiness (Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name?  For You alone are holy; Ex 15.11)

o God’s worship (For all nations shall come and worship before You; Psa 86.9,10).

§ This is the recipe for worship. We cannot worship the Lord until we know something about His person and work. Beloved, look all of the personal pronouns directed to God in this song….this is the very essence of heavenly worship…..You, Your….worship is all about God not us.

All nations shall come up and worship before The Lord. Speaking of the 1,000 year kingdom, we read Zec 14:16 And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles. 17 And it shall be, that whoso will not come up of all the families of the earth unto Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, even upon them shall be no rain.

• Please note that God will not pour out His rain upon the people who refuse to go up to Jerusalem and worship The King during the kingdom reign. Without rainfall, they will dry up.
• Likewise, God does not demand that we come here or any other house of worship to worship Him and listen to His Word, but I have learned in the 30 years of ministry that when people have a hit and miss attitude towards gathering together with God’s people to praise His Name and hear His Word, they get spiritually dry. They get critical of “the organized church”….
• The day of Pentecost was a manifestation of the daily activities of a Christ exalting, Spirit filled, Father glorifying community of believers: Acts 2:42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. Ac 2:43 And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. 44 And all that believed were together, and had all things common 45 And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. 46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, 47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

Another observation about this song: Who is singing this song? The ones singing are the same ones that had been martyred for their faith in Jesus. In Rev 7.14 we know that they suffered hunger and thirst for their faith in Christ. In Rev 13 we know that because they refused to bow down to the image of the beast and receive his mark they could not buy or sell anything. We also know that one of the methods of martyrdom during this period of time will be beheading.

Note the words here; They do not say, “If you love us Jesus and we love you, then why did we have to go through what they went through?” They did not say why did you allow us to go hungry and thirsty? They did not say why didn’t you stop the beast and his followers from beheading us?.

In the presence of God, they have no questions and no complaints….no murmurings….only worship. When you and I are going through the proverbial pits of despair in this life and are tempted to question the love or goodness of God…remember 2 things….the lyrics of the song in this heavenly scene and most importantly The Son of God hanging on the cross of Calvary.

5 And after that I looked, and, behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened:

• Although this is debated, the Bible seems to indicate by this passage and others that there is a literal temple in heaven. Hebrews 8 and 9 reveals that the earthly tabernacle was a “copy” of the heavenly (cf. 8:2, 5; 9:23-24).
• The earthly tabernacle that God commanded Moses to build was to be patterned after the heavenly temple and included the various courts, the holy place, with the Holy of Holies in the center of the temple where God dwelled, and the mercy seat.
• Jesus, as our High Priest, did not enter into the earthly tabernacle built by hands but entered into that heavenly place to offer His blood as an atoning sacrifice for our sin.
• Please note that the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened after these saints worshipped and praised the Lord God Almighty. Many times God opens our hearts and minds to the reality of His mercy, love, greatness of sovereignty as we worship His holy Name.

6 And the seven angels came out of the temple, having the seven plagues, clothed in pure and white linen, and having their breasts girded with golden girdles.

• They come directly from heavenly temple, from the presence and throne of God.  They do not act on their own authority, but God’s. Again, this is God’s wrath.

7 And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever (This ascribes eternality to God).

8 And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled.

• When the cloud of glory fills the temple in heaven, no one can enter.  It was the same when Moses could not enter the Tabernacle when the smoke of the cloud of God’s glory, sometimes called the Shekinah filled the tent (Exodus 40:34-35).
• What fallen man needs to see is the glory of God. It is not enough to theologically agree with the truth concerning the glory of God. As we mentioned last week from Isa 6,…it is the revelation of the holiness and glory of God that causes us to come to terms with sin in our own hearts and realize that we need a Mediator between us and The Almighty. When we confess, not explain away our sinful condition and our need for His mercy, He then through the merits of His Son, Jesus Christ, purges us of our sin and commission us to live for Him by walking in holiness and purity.

 

Let me close with a few comments and an invitation.

• Because God is holy, God cannot overlook sin. If He did, He would be violating His holiness. Sin must be punished, and the wages (or payment) for sin is death. That is why Jesus had to die on the cross. It was necessary to punish sin. The only way in which God can be both merciful to sinners and maintain His holiness was for God to punish our sin in Christ.
• By God’s grace and faith in the sinless sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ, you and I have the opportunity and the means to come to God and be with Him eternally. But this you must know as well; if you persist in rejecting God’s grace in Jesus Christ, then you must eternally face God’s wrath (14:11).
• The great revivalist Jonathan Edwards wrote these words: almost every natural man that hears of hell flatters himself that he shall escape it. He depends upon himself for his own security. He flatters himself in what he has done, in what he is now doing, or what he intends to do. Every one lays out matters in his own minds how he shall avoid damnation, and flatters himself that he contrives well for himself, and that his schemes will not fail.
  • Is that you this morning….have you truly understood that the gospel of the grace of God is the only remedy for your sin and your only hope of escaping the eternal wrath of God?
    • John 3:36 He that believeth (trusts in, clings to, relies on) on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
• Have you personally trusted the forgiveness of God by calling upon the Name of The Lord Jesus Christ? Do you have full assurance that you will spend eternity with God? What are you basing that assurance upon?
• 3 times we find the phrase full assurance in the NT. Heb 10:22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.
• The Bible makes it clear that salvation and assurance only come through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Today, will you trust in person and work of Christ? I urge you to come forward and pray with one of the pastors, elders or deacons…..there will someone ready to pray with you in the prayer room as well.