Preparation for the Final Judgment

Rev. 15:1-8

Introduction:  The purpose of the Great Tribulation is not purification of the world but condemnation on sin.  God is going to remove the church before that time.  Jesus took all our judgment on sin when He went to the cross.  Titus 2:13 speaks of the Blessed Hope.  God is going to bring His final judgment here on earth. This is the worst of the others and God reveals His judgment in these next two chapters. 

The movement to these judgments are slow and deliberate.  Each judgment is purposeful and calculated.

I. The period of waiting vv. 1-4

A. The scene vv. 1-2

1. There are seven angels holding the bowls of God’s judgment.

2. The description is great and marvelous points to the intensity of this judgement. 

3. God has allowed His mercy to be extended to mankind but now the cup is full and His judgement will be given v. 1b

4. According to 14:10 the followers of the beast are going to drink the wrath of God-He will pour out His final judgment on sin during the Great Tribulation Period.

5. God knows those who never took the mark of the beast, who did not cooperate with the Satanic system, who did not sell out to the devil’s crowd, who depended on God’s daily provision, now they are going to be rewarded. 

6. The sea of glass refers to the throne of God Rev. 4:6-mingled with fire refers to the anger of God coming from His throne.

7. The Tribulation Saints will play before God at His throne.

  B. The song vv. 3-4

1.  They have not lost their song even in the bitterest of persecution, they kept their songs-the world may reject our song but we sing unto the Lamb.

2. The song has two parts: Song of Moses and Song of the Lamb-both correlate

a.  Song of Moses was sung at the Red Sea, and the Song of the Lamb at the crystal sea.

b. Song of Moses was song of triumph over Egypt, The Song of the Lamb over Babylon.

c. Song of Moses told how God brought His people across the Red Sea, the Song of the Lamb tells how God bring His people in.

d. Song of the Moses commemorated the execution of the foe, the expectation of the saints, and exaltation of the Lord, Song of the Lamb deal with character of God.

e. Song of Moses was sung by a redeemed people, Song of the Lamb is sung by the raptured people.

3.  The redeemed people will sing about the work of God: describing its greatness and direction: no complaints for their suffering.

4. King of the saints refer to the royalty ascribed to Him for all eternity.

5. The remnant v. 4-sing of the virtues of God: holy because of His defeat over the enemy and prophesies that all nations will worship Him during the Kingdom.

II. The place of worship vv. 5-8

A. The messengers vv. 5-6

1.  From the Holy of Holies emerge these angelic messengers acting in accordance with God’s will.

2. They will come out from His presence to face the world that has reached a climatic point of wickedness.

3. They are arrayed in which linen which characterize their divine righteousness.

B. The mediators v. 7

1.  One of the four gives the vials which act here for all four.

2. These living creatures are probably the cherubim, ever associated with God’s creation and redemption over the earth.

3. Their faces described early in Revelation are those of a lion, a calf, a man , and a flying eagle Rev. 4:6-8

C. The manifestation v. 8

1.  The shekinah glory that shined in the Old Testament temple will shine in its full power here.

2. Christ’s blood paved the way for us to get to heaven will be barred for this period of time as God judges the world. 

3. This glory burns so brightly that it fills the temple with smoke.

4. The judgement that God poured on His Son will be poured on the Beast and his followers.

Conclusion:  When God said His Spirit shall not always strive with man, here indicates God will bring His judgment.  God will deal with the sin in the world and bring His judgment on those who rejected His sacrifice on the cross.