Revelation 15-16
Notes
Transcript
7 Angels and Plagues
7 Angels and Plagues
Good morning my friends, I hope and pray you all are well today.
Let me ask you a question: Did you give or express your thanks, thanksgiving this week?
During the course of each day, we have much to be thankful for… We have life and so many things given to us each day that we are thankful for;
God loves us, has redeemed us by making His own Son a curse for us, He has given us eternal life, He never leaves us nor forsakes us and His Holy Spirit has sealed us until the day of redemption…
We have so much to be thankful for, and this should cause us to give thanks.
And even as we walk through the Book of Revelation, we see that God is preparing the scene for the final days as He reconciles the world to Himself.
So this morning lets look at Revelation chapter 15. In the previous chapters we have seen God at work, we have seen Him, help, encourage, and at times punish people because of sin, and their failure to be obedient, and loyal to God.
Chapter 15 lays out God’s final bowls of wrath that are to be poured out upon this world in chapter 16.
So lets begin with the first thought for today.
1. Seven Angels...
As we open these two chapters (15 and 16) we find a new sign that is displayed for all in heaven to witness.
Let look at verse 1.
1 Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and amazing, seven angels with seven plagues, which are the last, for with them the wrath of God is finished.
John tells us that he sees a great sign in heaven, Listen to His words, they are “great and amazing.....” 7 Angels in heaven and with them, we are told of they are holding or possessing 7 plagues.
The idea of those words “great and amazing” or some translations might say “marvelous and astonishing.” Those angels, they are a spectacular sight, bold and powerful
Now these angels are important, these are the the angels of the last judgment that is being poured out on the world.
Now this is a new time, we have not see these angels before, they have been reserved for a time such as this...
And examine the last words of verse 1. “…which are the last, for with them the wrath of God is finished.”
What does that mean? The word “last” there is key, it is the word “eschatos” it is from it that we get our word Eschatology, meaning the study of last things. John says at the end of the verse, they are finished. These 7 plagues will be the last, the final expression of God’s wrath.
These plagues will be blows, strikes against those who have rebelled and remained in their sin even in these last days.
Remember these are the days of the great Tribulation, not our current time frame, we know this because the church is still here, we have not been carried away to heaven yet.
But people always want to inquire about the events , storms, earthquakes, flooding etc, are these part of God’s wrath… well here is what we can say about that my friends, Nothing, we are not told and as such we need to be careful in what we say is the hand of God. If the Bible doesn’t clearly speak it, refuse, do not say it is this or that.... be very careful there.
Instead Remember my friends, God hates sin and will pour out his wrath against those who have rebelled. Point people to Jesus
God loves humanity, and has sent his Son to redeem making to himself, but we know not all will come to God, not all will repent of their sin. And those who reject God will be punished.
In fact the Lord God says in Nahum 1:3a, 3 “The Lord is slow to anger and great in power, and the Lord will by no means clear the guilty....”
These final 7 angels will pour out 7 plagues-bowls upon the earth, they will bring upon the earth the finality of God’s judgement during the Tribulation period.
People express at times that they wrestle with God being both a God of love and God of wrath. How can He do both???
My friends, let me suggest this to you. Our understanding of God and his nature, the world and sin are finite, limited in our ability to understand all that God knows about us and this world past, present and future.
I have to trust God, He is holy, without sin and so his ways are prefect and just. He acts in justice and righteousness.
I know, believe that his actions toward mankind and sin are perfect and right in all that he does.
2. A Heavenly Choir...
You know there are two types of people in churches, there are those who love every moment of church. They love the music, they love to sing and praise the Lord with their brothers and sisters and they love the Preaching of the Word of God.
And there are some who tolerate Singing and praise, but all they want to hear is the Word of God preached.
And please don’t judge a brother or sister for what they like or don’t like… everyone has their preferences
But what will heaven be like....??? I think there will be a lot of praise and worship in heaven… Yet remember, Heaven is perfect and we will be like Jesus at that point in time.
So I think what ever is happening in heaven, we will be rejoicing with and alongside of because of our nature, bodies and souls will be fully redeemed and perfect.
Now look at verses 2-4 Rev 15:2-4
2 And I saw what appeared to be a sea of glass mingled with fire—and also those who had conquered the beast and its image and the number of its name, standing beside the sea of glass with harps of God in their hands. 3 And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying,
“Great and amazing are your deeds,
O Lord God the Almighty!
Just and true are your ways,
O King of the nations!
4 Who will not fear, O Lord,
and glorify your name?
For you alone are holy.
All nations will come
and worship you,
for your righteous acts have been revealed.”
Now there John tells us that he sees a sea of glass, but it is not exactly like the sea of glass He mentioned back in chapter 4, verse 6.
Fire here mingled with the sea of glass, seems to again represent God’s judgment. Speaking to the plagues that are soon to be poured out upon the earth.
But look at who is there.... those who conquered the beast, who did not take his mark upon their lives…this can speak to the 144,000 and to others who trusted God during the Tribulation. But in either case, they are there with golden harps and they are preparing to sing
And there are two songs for them to sing… And there are those two great words, “Great and Amazing… speaking to the greatness of God.
So first ....
A. The Song of Moses.... is the very first song written to God. It was written by Moses after the children of Israel passed through the Red Sea. This song is shared in Exodus 15, verses 1-18.
The children of Israel passed through the Red sea on dray ground while God drowned all of Pharoah’s army as they sought to chase after God’s people.
It is a hymn to God for God and about our great God. He is the one true God, the God who saves and redeems, who delivers us from peril and blesses our lives graciously.
Oh dear friends, what has the Father done for you? What song could you sing to him… What has God brought you through? What valley or wilderness did He see you through safely?
But not only a song of Moses, there is a second song, a song to the lamb that they will sing.
B. A Song to the Lamb… How beautiful is the song to the lamb…
This song is almost entirely quotes throughout the Old Testament Scriptures.
It speaks of a greater redemption, When Christ returns and reveals His righteous acts all the nations will come and worship Him before the throne of God.
We are talking of the 1000 year millennial kingdom.
But look my friends, there is a relationship between these two songs…
One theologian said the Song of Moses was sung at the Red sea, but the song of the Lamb is sung at the crystal sea.
The song of Moses is a song of the triumph over Egypt, but the song of the Lamb is a song of triumph over the evil kingdom of the devil and his work.
The Song of Moses tells how God brought his people out of the land of captivity but the song of the Lamb tells how He has delivered his children from sin and has brought us into the family of God.
The Song of Moses is the first song in Scripture but the song of the Lamb is the last, for this song is the song of the redeemed.
These songs my friends, reminds us of the joy there is to be found in the body of Christ.
I believe my friends when we stand in front of the Lamb that was slain, to redeem us from our sin, I think we will fall to our faces and cry worthy is the Lamb to receive all glory and honor and praise. --->
For He has redeemed us from the cruse of the law by becoming a curse Himself, dying on the cross so that I might have life.
Praise be to our God, to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
Praise Him today and every day my friends..
Now lets move forward
3. The Wrath of God
As we move forward this morning we come to the point where God is calling the angels to pour out their wrath...
Lets begin with verses 5-8 Rev 15:5-8
5 After this I looked, and the sanctuary of the tent of witness in heaven was opened, 6 and out of the sanctuary came the seven angels with the seven plagues, clothed in pure, bright linen, with golden sashes around their chests. 7 And one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God who lives forever and ever, 8 and the sanctuary was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from his power, and no one could enter the sanctuary until the seven plagues of the seven angels were finished.
When we look at this text we come across the phrase where John says he saw the “sanctuary of the tent of witness in heaven is opened.”
This phrase gives us something special…The word for sanctuary is the word here, and it is the Greek word “Naos,” which is rather selective in that instead of speaking to the temple as a whole.
That one word Naos, pertains to the holy of holies it self, the station where where ark of Covenant was placed. The ark itself contained three things, the tablets of law given to Moses, written by God himself, a container of the precious manna that the children ate in the wilderness, and the staff or Aaron that had budded.
And since the tablets of the law were placed in there., this is where we come with the phrase being said.... “tabernacle of the testimony.”
So sacred was this place, (the room with the Ark of the Covenant), the high Priest could only enter the area once a year on the day of atonement, Yom Kippur.
(Remember to explain this)
And it is from this holy place that John sees the 7 Angels and the 7 plagues come from the presence of God.
And look at their description, they are clothed in white linen, symbolizing holiness and purity,, with golden sashes or belts speaking to God’s divine nature.
Now back to verses 7-8, one of the four living creatures that are before the throne of God, they are seen giving each of the 7 angels who have a plague are giving a bowl.
The plague they have and the bowl of God’s wrath is received by each angel and they prepare to pour the contents of their bowl out upon the whole earth.
And at this point the entire temple is filled with smoke from the glory of God. The wrath of God, his judgments are inevitable, the clock begins to count down to the time they are released...
Now, look at chapter 16..
Verse 1 Rev 16:1
1 Then I heard a loud voice from the temple telling the seven angels, “Go and pour out on the earth the seven bowls of the wrath of God.”
A loud voice from the temple is heard, most likely the voice of God as he commands the angels to go and pour their judgments out upon the earth.
So look at these angels...
Angel 1. verse 2 Rev 16:2
2 So the first angel went and poured out his bowl on the earth, and harmful and painful sores came upon the people who bore the mark of the beast and worshiped its image.
Friends, the people receive painful sores, like ulcers break out on the skin of those who worshipped the beast and took his mark. i tis a terrible scene.
Make no mistake God will punish those who rebel against him, who turn from what is good and right.
Listen, people will believe they can rebel against God and there is no price to pay will be sadly mistaken, God’s wrath will come..
In verse 3 the second angel is sent out Rev 16:3
3 The second angel poured out his bowl into the sea, and it became like the blood of a corpse, and every living thing died that was in the sea.
The second angel pours its bowl out and the seas become like the blood of a dead man, it is dark, clotting and not only kills all the inhabitants of the sea, with death would come a foul stench.
And the third angel pours out his bowl and look verse 4 Rev 16:4
4 The third angel poured out his bowl into the rivers and the springs of water, and they became blood.
This angels judgment effects all the fresh water of the rivers and streams upon the earth, and it also becomes like blood.
Outside of Jesus Christ, water is the greatest physical need of mankind and now it is taken away, it is ruined and cannot be drunk.
And look at verse 5 Rev 16:5-6
5 And I heard the angel in charge of the waters say,
“Just are you, O Holy One, who is and who was,
for you brought these judgments.
6 For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets,
and you have given them blood to drink.
It is what they deserve!”
The angel who has poured out this judgement upon the fresh waters of the land begins to praise God.
God is righteous in his punishment of evil humanity, they have lived and served self and they not get what they deserve.
There are some who refer to this as the law of retribution. Where by it is an eye for and eye and a tooth for a tooth. In the New Testament we see the same, remind us that we reap what we sow. Look at Gal 6:7
7 Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.
Humanity has sowed its wicked and terrible nature out in this world and they will reap destruction.
Look at verses 8-9 as we see the fourth angel pouring out his bowl of judgement. Rev 16:8-9
8 The fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and it was allowed to scorch people with fire. 9 They were scorched by the fierce heat, and they cursed the name of God who had power over these plagues. They did not repent and give him glory.
Here the sun is allowed to get much hotter than it has ever before and its heat bares down and it will scorch the unbelievers.
We are not sure what God does to achieve this punishment, but please understand he is omnipotent, he is all powerful
And sadly, instead of repentance, instead of desperately seeking God and His forgiveness they curse God, and they do not repent.
How sad my friends to have the opportunity to look to God but they do not… it reminds us of Pharoah in the land of Egypt who hardened his heart against God.
Now we come to the 5th bowl, look with me at verses 10-11 Rev 16:10-11
10 The fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and its kingdom was plunged into darkness. People gnawed their tongues in anguish 11 and cursed the God of heaven for their pain and sores. They did not repent of their deeds.
This punishment was poured out specifically upon the beast. And with this punishment, His kingdom is plunged into darkness. This punishment, so large, so widespread and so harsh, we see people suffering, gnawing on their own tongues in suffering and yet again they cursed God, they cursed and refused to repent of their transgressions and sins...
Now we move to the Sixth bowl being poured out upon the great river Euphrates and its water dried up… Look with me at verses 12-16
12 The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up, to prepare the way for the kings from the east. 13 And I saw, coming out of the mouth of the dragon and out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits like frogs. 14 For they are demonic spirits, performing signs, who go abroad to the kings of the whole world, to assemble them for battle on the great day of God the Almighty. 15 (“Behold, I am coming like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake, keeping his garments on, that he may not go about naked and be seen exposed!”) 16 And they assembled them at the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon.
The Euphrates in the Greek means sweet water, it’s water as at first turned to blood, the fish there in dead and now it has been dried up.
This prepares a way for the coalition of the kings from the east to march across the the dry river bed on their way to Jerusalem.
And as we look forward, John said he saw three three unclean spirits like frogs … these are demonic spirits, they are like frogs in the sense they are dirty, unpleasant to look at it..
And these demons follow the instructions of the Satan, the Anti-Christ and the false prophet. And what do they do, they gather the kings of the earth for a great battle against God at Armageddon.
These spirits are able to deceive, to lead people astray and they convince many to hate God even if death would come....
And sadly we come to the final bowl of destruction, lets look at Rev 16:17-21
17 The seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple, from the throne, saying, “It is done!” 18 And there were flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, and a great earthquake such as there had never been since man was on the earth, so great was that earthquake. 19 The great city was split into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell, and God remembered Babylon the great, to make her drain the cup of the wine of the fury of his wrath. 20 And every island fled away, and no mountains were to be found. 21 And great hailstones, about one hundred pounds each, fell from heaven on people; and they cursed God for the plague of the hail, because the plague was so severe.
We look at this, and we cannot imagine all that is happening..
This last judgement is poured out upon the air and with it there is loud voice, the voice of the Father saying it is done.
And with it there was thunder and lighting and a earthquake greater than man had ever experienced...
A earthquake so great that the great city, that Jerusalem is split into three parts. I think that is unique, right now there are 4 sections to Jerusalem, the Christian, Muslim, Armenian and Jewish ...
But here the city is divided into 3 parts… and God remembers Babylon, not just the old nation but the spirit of Babylon, this new world order that is upon the land. And His wrath is poured out upon this earth and this false deceptive kingdom of Satan.
And look at the result.... the islands are done the mountains are tore down and hailstones, hailstones so great, at 100 pounds each they bring massive destruction upon the land.
Hail is often a mark of God’s judgment, and the unbelievers cry out and curse God, blaspheme his name instead of turning to God.
How heartbreaking my friends, how heart breaking to see all that is taking place and there is no hope, just death for man’s heart is so twisted and broken in sin.
When we look at all of these judgments my friends, we can see clearly that God will judge sin. Sin separates and separates us from God,
But to know sin, and yet refuse to repent is a sad thing, for that condition only leaves one open for judgment, and this judgment is hell.
Hell will be a terrible place, it is will be a place of suffering and judgment, and consider it will be a place that is absent from God.
But my friends there is still time, there is time to repent, time to turn from sin and to seek the Lord’s help.
Lets pray
