March 19, 2017
Evening Service

The last three chapters have been visions of the past that fill in some gaps for us from the beginning and also they have granted us some glimpses into the future.  As we now begin chapter 15, we again find ourselves at the final set of the 3 judgments of God.  We have seen the 7 seal judgments in chapters 6-8 and the 7 trumpet judgments in chapter 8-11.  Now we will see the final 7 bowl judgements poured out upon the earth that culminates with the destruction of evil and the end of this world. 

Revelation 15:1-2 And I saw another sign in Heaven, great and marvelous: seven angels with the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God.  (2)  And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire. And those who had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God.

·         This “sea of glass” resembles the throne area John described in chapter 4, only this time it is mixed with fire representing the judgement and wrath of God.

·         Those who have been victorious over the evils of the tribulation period are standing upon the sea of glass celebrating and worshiping their salvation with harps and they begin to sing.

 

Revelation 15:3-4  And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, “Great and marvelous are Your works, Lord God Almighty, just and true are Your ways, O King of saints.  (4)  Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You only are holy. For all nations shall come and worship before You, for Your judgments have been manifested.”

·         Moses’ song glorified God for their deliverance from Egypt, but this song glorifies Him for ultimate deliverance of His people from the power of Satan.

 

Revelation 15:5-8  And after these things I looked, and behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony was opened in Heaven.  (6)  And the seven angels came out of the temple, having the seven plagues, clothed in pure and white linen, and were tied at the breasts with golden bands.  (7)  And one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels’ seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who lives forever and ever.  (8)  And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from His authority. And no one was able to enter into the temple until the seven plagues of the seven angels were completed.

·         The imagery here resembles the tabernacle set up by Moses in the wilderness.  The angels are dressed just as the high priests’ robe in white with a golden sash representing purity and freedom from evil and corruption.

 

 

 

 

Revelation 16:1-2  And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, “Go and pour out the vials of the anger of God on the earth.”  (2)  And the first went and poured out his vial on the earth. And a bad and grievous sore fell on the men who had the mark of the beast, and on those who worshiped his image.

·         This is the true beginning of the end of God’s final judgment.  No one is excluded and all judgment s are complete with no call to repentance.  Here grievous sores are inflicted upon those who willingly took on the mark of the beast.

 

Revelation 16:3-7  And the second angel poured out his vial on the sea. And it became like the blood of a dead one, and every living soul died in the sea.  (4)  And the third angel poured out his vial on the rivers and fountains of waters, and they became blood.  (5)  And I heard the angel of the waters say, “Righteous is the Lord, who is, and was, and who will be, because You have judged these things, (6) since they have poured out the blood of the saints and prophets; and You gave them blood to drink, for they were deserving.”  (7)  And I heard another out of the altar saying, “Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are Your judgments.”

·         The 2^nd and 3^rd bowls turn all water into blood; again imaging one of the plagues of Egypt. An angel then defends the justice of the judgement of God by stating that those who spilled the blood of the saints now have only blood to drink.  It is the only true and righteous God alone that is worthy to bring judgment on mankind in this manner.   

 

Revelation 16:8-11 And the fourth angel poured out his vial onto the sun. And it was given to him to burn men with fire.  (9)  And men were burned with great heat. And they blasphemed the name of God, He having authority over these plagues. And they did not repent in order to give Him glory.  (10)  And the fifth angel poured out his vial on the throne of the beast, and its kingdom became darkened. And they gnawed their tongues from the pain.  (11)  And they blasphemed the God of Heaven because of their pains and their sores. And they did not repent of their deeds.

·         There is no escaping the suffering and pain that these bowl judgments inflict upon them, however their hearts are not softened to the point that seek God for help.  They are fully aware of where these judgments come because they curse and blaspheme God rather than cry out in repentance.

 

Revelation 16:12-16  And the sixth angel poured out his vial on the great river Euphrates. And its water was dried up, so that the way of the kings from the rising of the sun might be prepared.  (13)  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.  (14)  For they are spirits of demons, working miracles, which go forth to the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that day, the great day of God Almighty.  (15)  Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is the one who watches and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame.  (16)  And he gathered them into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon.

·         The Euphrates River was the only natural barrier protecting Jerusalem from the evil empires of the east (Babylon).  This sets the stage for final battle to begin.  The three frog like spirits are sent out from the unholy trinity to convince the armies of the world to come together for battle and fight against God together. 

·         Christ injects here more encouragement for those who watch faithfully for His sudden return (as a thief).  They gather for battle in a place called Armageddon.

 

 Revelation 16:17-21 And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air. And a great voice came out of the temple of Heaven, from the throne, saying, “It is done!”  (18)  And noises and thunders and lightnings occurred. And there was a great earthquake, such as has not been since men were on the earth, so mighty and so great an earthquake.  (19)  And the great city came to be into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. And great Babylon was remembered before God, to give to her the cup of the wine of the anger of His wrath.  (20)  And every island fled away, and mountains were not found.  (21)  And a great hail, as the size of a talent, came down out of the heaven on men. And men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague of it was exceedingly great.

·         The final judgement form God seems to be the worst.  An earthquake like none other utterly destroys the city of Babylon just as we were told in chapter 14.  The description of it falling into three parts symbolizes its final and complete destruction.  Islands disappear, mountains fall and hail weighing around 100 lbs. falls upon mankind. 

·         God has not forgotten the great sin and blasphemies of those in the evil empire of Babylon and at last His vengeance is strong and swift.  It is just as the writer of Hebrews explained:

 

Hebrews 10:26-31  For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remains no more sacrifice for sins,  (27)  but a certain fearful looking for judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.  (28)  He who despised Moses' Law died without mercy on the word of two or three witnesses.  (29)  Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy of punishment, the one who has trampled the Son of God, and who has counted the blood of the covenant with which he was sanctified an unholy thing, and has insulted the Spirit of grace?  (30)  For we know Him who has said, "Vengeance belongs to Me, I will repay, says the Lord." And again, "The Lord shall judge His people."  (31)  It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

·         This is the vengeance God has promised on those who rebelled against Him and refused to accept His gift of salvation.

·         Hollywood tends to glamorize the moment when the bad guys get paid back for the evil things they have done.  It is hard for me to find any sense of pleasure as this is described to us.  I thank God that He is the one who offers the punishment and I thank Him that we will not endure any of it.

 

Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

 

Thank you Lord that You alone are worthy to perform judgment and that we as Your children have been spared.