Make Way for the Wrath of God

Revelation 15 is the shortest chapter in this book, but do not think it is the least important! In this chapter we see the chronological order of events resumed, we are now moving forward with the judgments of God. The Seals have all been opened, the trumpets have all sounded, and now its time for the final judgments of God to be poured out, but these are different. Read verse 1…Revelation 15:1

Revelation 15:1 KJV 1900

1 And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvellous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God.

The scene shifts and we are again looking at what is happening in heaven. John sees, “…another sign in heaven, great and marvellous..”. There have already been two signs in heaven descried in chapter 12, the woman clothed with the sun (Israel) and the great red dragon (Satan). Here the superlatives “great and marvellous” are attached to the sign, indicating that the sight John now sees is spectacular and amazing, even compared to everything he has already witnessed. What is that he sees? The seven final plagues, and when he sees them his jaw drops at what is about to happen.

Friends, I’m going to use a word today to describe God that our culture is not pleased with, but I’m going to do it anyway. Are you ready? This chapter describes the wrath of God.

There are two words translated as wrath in this book. One is used to describe the outpouring of divine judgment, the other speaks of anger, wrath and rage. Guess which one is used here? Here the word refers to the holy anger of God, and my friends, when John saw it, his jaw dropped!

John saw Jesus when He walked this earth mocked, ridiculed, falsely accused, beaten, crucified and killed - but He did not get angry. The one time Jesus did let His anger out, he overthrew the money changers tables and drove the animals from the temple, but He did not call done fire from heaven. What John writes about the wrath of God is a much needed lesson for us today.

What will it be like when God’s wrath is unleashed on the earth? This passage answers this very question. When God lets loose his wrath we will notice that His wrath will be...

Justified v. 1-2

“How can a loving God do such a thing?” That is the wrong question! The real question ought to be “How can a holy God, not turn loose His wrath?” I say to you that the wrath of God that will be loosed on those sinful people is because of His love for His children! Notice who is present here:

Seven Angels

Not much is mentioned here, but there is enough to know that these angels have a special purpose

They are given the responsibility of delivering the wrath of God

Literally the text reads that John sees, “…seven angels having seven plagues the last” or the final judgments of God on this sinful world.

Interesting is the phrase, “for in them is filled up the wrath of God”

The word “filled” is the same root word used by Jesus on the cross when He declared, “It is finished” - meaning nothing else could be done to secure the payment for sin and salvation of man.

Here the word means that wrath of God is complete, full, and there is no room for any more wrath.

Let that sink in for a minute.

God who is longsuffering, is not ignoring the sinful activities of man today.

Every sinful act committed, every sinful deed performed is being recorded, and for each day they do not repent, a little more of God’s wrath is being poured up for them, waiting for this coming day.

Church, this is no laughing matter! This is serious stuff!

The angels are present and given a task, but in addition to the angels are the..

Tribulation Martyrs

John’s attention is drawn away again to something else, a sea of glass

He’s already descirbed this in Revelation 4, but here now, at a much later time, there are people present who were not here before - the tribulation saints.

These are the ones we read in verse 2, that have “…gotten the victory over the beast, over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name

But that is not all that attracts John’s attention, there is another addition…

The sea of glass is mingled with fire.

The fire that is seen most likely represents the anger of God.

For what is God angered?

For the treatment of His children.

Church I want you to know that when this world attacks you, attacks the church, attacks the Bible God sees it and takes note. When I stop and think about what Jesus went through on the cross, and how God in His mercy and grace made a way for sinful man to be saved, only for those sinful men to reject the payment made by Jesus…I can understand how God’s wrath in this coming day can be justified!

You say, “Will God’s wrath be quenched when these are dead?” Charles Spurgeon reminds us “The wrath of God does not end with death.”

God’s wrath is justified because it will be righteousness acting against unrighteousness. Not only is it justified but God’s will be...

Welcomed v. 3-4

This song of praise is a song of deliverance, either a recitation of Exodus 15 in which Moses praised God for his deliverance from Pharaoh and his army. On that day God vindicated His righteous wrath on Egypt for 400 years of slavery, imagine what God’s wrath will be on this coming day after 2000 years of sinful man rejecting Jesus!

Why will this be welcomed? Because these saints will have been delivered from the enemy to heaven. You say, “Won’t they have to die to get there?” Yes, but no more will they face the evil in the world. Listen to their reflection on the goodness of God: Revelation 15:4 “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.”

It’s a rhetorical question! When God’s wrath issues forth, everyone will fear Him. When at last his wrath is completed, the Bible tells us, “Every knee shall bow, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.”

Every unbeliever will worship Him, but it will be too late for them to be saved. But for the saints of God in heaven the wrath of God will be a welcomed sight, but not without reservation, because as John has already stated it will be “great and marvelous”. We will be humbled at the sight of the power of God. God’s wrath will be justified, it will be welcomed, but God’s wrath will be...

Terrible v. 5-8

Read Revelation 15:5-8

Revelation 15:5–8 KJV 1900

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

Chapter 15 is the introduction of the bowl judgments, but chapter 16 is the description of their devastation. What is about to happen is the most frightening series of events ever recorded. Terrible is not descriptive enough a word to fully grasp what is about to happen, but know this, these judgments are decreed by God as punishment for those who have rejected His Son. These judgments are as righteous as they are destructive. These judgments are as holy as they are devastating. God will not be mocked.

Conclusion: Do you know the worst part of these plagues? They’re avoidable.

See, God’s wrath has already been poured out on sinful man. “When was His wrath poured out?” you ask. It was poured out on Calvary.

I’m thankful that God’s wrath was poured out for me on Calvary. I’m thankful that I’ll never face the penalty for my sins, nor will I ever be on the receiving end of God’s wrath. I wonder, can you say that today? Let’s bow for prayer…as Gwen makes her way to the piano...

Just two questions today with our heads bowed, do you know today that you’ll never face the wrath of God because Jesus faced it for you? Will you raise your hand saying, “I know I’m saved and I have Bible reasons to prove it.”

Second question, just now you couldn’t raise your hand that you know you are saved, would you today admit to God you are a sinner and ask Jesus to forgive you of your sins? Today would you say, “Pastor, I don’t know for sure that I’m saved, but I’m sure I don’t want to face the wrath of God. Would pray for me pastor?” is there one like that here today?