Glimpse Of Glory 12

A Merciful Judgment

Text: Revelation 15

Introduction

Witnessing the destruction of all the evil and eventually the damnation of the evil one and his false trinity. We are also witness a global restoration. We are witness the extension of God’s grace to the world. We are witnessing God’s provision, protection, and grace upon grace and upon grace. All of these things are going on simultaneously.

Chapter 15 constitutes and interlude that serves as an introduction to the final plagues of which we will see in chapter 16 and bring to an end of all the death and destruction.

We are introduced to a scene of triumph in heaven specifically for those who withstood the beast and his mark. They will be before the throne extolling God’s majesty. The celebration surrounding these saints makes way for the angels who are waiting to serve the wrath of God.

ch 4-7, 14 we have witnessed a continual celebration in heaven. This heavenly scene

Last week we witnessed the 144,000 making their way into the heavenly celebration.

There was a global warning from Heaven to not follow the beast or take his mark. It is in this chapter celebrating those who heeded the warning.

1) A Merciful Celebration

Verse 1-4

Another sign in heaven — great and marvelous (first time describing as marvelous).

two words, “great” and “marvelous.” The Greek word for “marvelous” (thaumastos) emphasizes the quality of astonishment. Paige Patterson, Revelation, ed. E. Ray Clendenen, vol. 39, The New American Commentary (Nashville, TN: B&H, 2012), 298.

Seven angels held the seven last plagues.

There is a sequence of all the judgements we have been learning.

These are the final.

These contained the completion of God’s wrath!

Could you comprehend a time of life when sin and evil no longer existed?

How many times have you and saints from years ago who have prayed for justice?

There are an uncountable amount of prayers from God’s children for God to work out justice over the centuries across the globe.

Illustration: Have you ever watched a jury come out from deliberation and present to the judge their verdict? Maybe you’ve been in the courtroom. There is always a response from the crowd when the verdict is announced.

Even if they decide on your behalf, the hurt, the pain, the loss is not something they can heal for you.

Justice that we are familiar with is very much incomplete and fragmented.

Illustration — Have you ever watched those movies where time is turned back to a time when the hurt hadn’t happened?

God’s justice is a final and comprehensive justice and is something that is good and celebratory.

VERSE 2

John is not describing an actual sea of glass that is on fire.

Notice “as it were a sea of glass.”

The streets of heaven are of such purity they like transparent gold.

In my mind, the “mingled with fire” could easily be the mirror finished streets reflecting the amazing lights and colors surrounding the throne of God.

I also think that this is guiding our minds to understanding the purity from which God’s final judgements come from.

Who is the Beast?

A man who the devil empowers, who rises out of a peace agreement of a 10 nation coalition, who brings about a one world order and religion, and sets himself up as God.

They were victorious over the beast:

They were victorious over his image:

They were victorious over his mark:

How many do you think rejected the mark of the beast?

I believe it is probably like millions.

VERSE 3

The song of Moses

Exodus 15 & Deuteronomy 31:30 “30 And Moses spake in the ears of all the congregation of Israel the words of this song, until they were ended.”

“servant of God” — Hebrews 3:5 “5 And Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after;”

Song of the Lamb (relate to you and me).

Revelation 5:9 “9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;”

These songs seem to have converged into one glorious song that captures the redemptive acts of God throughout history.

“Great and marvellous”

“Just and true”

VERSE 4

“Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name?”

Suggesting that there might be someone who would not fear God but that such a thing is unthinkable. Paige Patterson, Revelation, ed. E. Ray Clendenen, vol. 39, The New American Commentary (Nashville, TN: B&H, 2012), 301.

“glory” = indicating something heavy; something of tremendous significance; ref. purity and worth.

“Glory” in the Bible comes to be understood as the outward manifestation of something of tremendous significance, and the expression anticipates that all will bring glory to his name. Paige Patterson, Revelation, ed. E. Ray Clendenen, vol. 39, The New American Commentary (Nashville, TN: B&H, 2012), 301.

“thou only art holy”

Deuteronomy 32:4 “4 He is the Rock, his work is perfect: For all his ways are judgment: A God of truth and without iniquity, Just and right is he.”

Hebrews 7:26 “26 For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;”

“all nations shall come and worship thee”

The idea that God is the King of the nations suggests both his preeminence in creation and his sovereignty over the nations of the world. Paige Patterson, Revelation, ed. E. Ray Clendenen, vol. 39, The New American Commentary (Nashville, TN: B&H, 2012), 301–302.

Philippians 2:9–11 “9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

“thy judgements are made manifest”

Aware of this concern, John explains that when the nations observe the righteous acts of God revealed in these plagues, all protests are effectively curtailed. Rather, recognizing that God is eminently righteous in his acts of judgment, the nations both fear God and bring glory to his name. Paige Patterson, Revelation, ed. E. Ray Clendenen, vol. 39, The New American Commentary (Nashville, TN: B&H, 2012), 302.

I realize that you who are in this room have past and even present hurt you are dealing with. I want this chapter to flood your soul with hope and peace.

If you belong to Jesus, there is a day coming when the great, marvellous, just, true, and holy One will heal your hurt and transcend you to a new reality where none of those injustices can exist ever again.

Every temptation Satan has enacted on you, he will pay for!!!

2) A Merciful Judgement

Verses 5-8

(v5) “the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven”

Quote: (Carry Schmidt) “This is the most intimate representation of God’s presence.”

There was an earthly rep. of this during the time of Moses and Joshua.

The most holy place is where God would be and nobody outside the high priest could go there.

In that space would be the “tabernacle of the Testimony.” The space itself could be referred too as the “tent of testimony.”

The “Testimony” was a clear witness of the holiness and unapproachableness of God except on his timetable and in his prescribed way. Paige Patterson, Revelation, ed. E. Ray Clendenen, vol. 39, The New American Commentary (Nashville, TN: B&H, 2012), 303.

Image a first century reader reading this!

They knew that the most holy place (the place of God’s presence) is not place they can go. HOWEVER…John is telling them there are people there!

The staggering thought is that they have access to God while on earth, but will have access to Him there also!

(v6) “seven angels come out”

“seven plagues” — “plagues” = blows; hitting, wounds, distress.

“by His stripes, we are healed”

The world who wounded our savior and have wounded the saints will face a divine and final course of wounding.

(v7) “the four beasts”

They give the angels bowls that are filled of what remains of God’s wrath.

“Wrath” is not to be seen as coming from God with God laughing about it in the background.

Ezekiel 33:11 “11 Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?”

However, God cannot deny himself. He must deliver judgement on the wicked.

(v8) We witness mercy and wrath in the same moment!

A luminous could obscures everything and gives the signal of the appearance of God.

“no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled”

This final wrath of God is being poured from the throne of God.

This about this…the throne is surrounded by those who have been redeemed.

It seems like God is both shrouding the saints and signaling that the wrath that is about to be released is coming from the One who is almighty, perfectly just, and worthy of glory.

You get this image of God protecting those in his presence until the plagues are over.

Illustration: Pagans would build a box and put on top of it an idol that they would worship. When God brought Israel out of Egypt, what box did He instruct them to build? The ark of the covenant. He did not have them build an idol on top, but dedicated it to being the seat of mercy.

At this moment in verse 8, the mercy seat turns into a judgement seat.

Conclusion

Here is the good news…you don’t have to miss the mercy of God! Don’t delay and experience God wrath! Turn to God in His mercy and be saved.