Contrasts Between Heaven & Hell on Earth

Introduction:

Read Revelation 15:1-16:21

Revelation 15:1–16:21 NKJV

Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous: seven angels having the seven last plagues, for in them the wrath of God is complete. And I saw something like a sea of glass mingled with fire, and those who have the victory over the beast, over his image and over his mark and over the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, having harps of God. 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 the saints! Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy. For all nations shall come and worship before You, For Your judgments have been manifested.” After these things I looked, and behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened. And out of the temple came the seven angels having the seven plagues, clothed in pure bright linen, and having their chests girded with golden bands. Then 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. The temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from His power, and no one was able to enter the temple till the seven plagues of the seven angels were completed. Then I heard a loud voice from the temple saying to the seven angels, “Go and pour out the bowls of the wrath of God on the earth.” So the first went and poured out his bowl upon the earth, and a foul and loathsome sore came upon the men who had the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. Then the second angel poured out his bowl on the sea, and it became blood as of a dead man; and every living creature in the sea died. Then the third angel poured out his bowl on the rivers and springs of water, and they became blood. And I heard the angel of the waters saying: “You are righteous, O Lord, The One who is and who was and who is to be, Because You have judged these things. For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, And You have given them blood to drink. For it is their just due.” And I heard another from the altar saying, “Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are Your judgments.” Then the fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and power was given to him to scorch men with fire. And men were scorched with great heat, and they blasphemed the name of God who has power over these plagues; and they did not repent and give Him glory. Then the fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom became full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues because of the pain. They blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and did not repent of their deeds. Then the sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up, so that the way of the kings from the east might be prepared. And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs coming out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. For they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. “Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame.” And they gathered them together to the place called in Hebrew, Armageddon. Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, “It is done!” And there were noises and thunderings and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such a mighty and great earthquake as had not occurred since men were on the earth. Now the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. And great Babylon was remembered before God, to give her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of His wrath. Then every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. And great hail from heaven fell upon men, each hailstone about the weight of a talent. Men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail, since that plague was exceedingly great.

The Setting

Revelation 15:1–2 NKJV

Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous: seven angels having the seven last plagues, for in them the wrath of God is complete. And I saw something like a sea of glass mingled with fire, and those who have the victory over the beast, over his image and over his mark and over the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, having harps of God.

Heaven (15:1-2)

As John sees this next sign, he once again describes what he sees. He clearly indicates this sign is taking place in “heaven” and there he sees SEVEN angels who have the SEVEN last plagues. We will find out later these SEVEN last plagues are reference as SEVEN bowls of God’s wrath—the SEVEN Bowl Judgments.

John also sees something like a “sea of glass.” You may remember he mentioned a “sea of glass” in...

Revelation 4:6 NKJV

Before the throne there was a sea of glass, like crystal. And in the midst of the throne, and around the throne, were four living creatures full of eyes in front and in back.

Many think this is the same sea, but rather than being clear as crystal as it was in an earlier vision, it is now mingled with fire—a probable reference to the impending judgment that is to come.

Standing on this sea of glass are the victorious believers...a heavenly choir loft of sorts, because momentarily singing is going to erupt from them.

Now let’s compare what’s going on in this “hell on earth.”

Hell on Earth

The scene is Heaven is awe-inspiring and amazing, but the scene that is beginning to unfold on earth is going to go from bad to worse. It is literally going to be a “hell on earth” of sorts. There are going to be SEVEN BOWL JUDGMENTS that are going to take place...sores on people’s bodies, water turning to blood, scorching heat, followed by an eerie darkness, and an earthquake like nothing the world has ever seen.

Now lets turn to...

The Atmosphere

Heaven

Heavenly Praise & Joy (15:3)

Revelation 15:3 NKJV

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 the saints!

Remember verse 2 told us WHO was singing...it was those who had VICTORY over the beast, over his image and mark...they may have been killed on earth, but now they are standing and singing VICTOROIUSLY in Heaven!

It’s interesting the Bible says they are singing “The Song of Moses.” The Song of Moses is found in Exodus 15 and this was a song of praise to Yahweh for His provision and deliverance to the Children of Israel from Egypt and the evil Pharoah. Just as they had been delivered THROUGH the Red Sea, these saints are STANDING ON A SEA OF CRYSTAL MIXED WITH FIRE!

Scripture also reveals they are singing the SONG OF THE LAMB! This may reference the song found in Rev 5:8-14

Revelation 5:8–14 NKJV

Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth.” Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice: “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain To receive power and riches and wisdom, And strength and honor and glory and blessing!” And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying: “Blessing and honor and glory and power Be to Him who sits on the throne, And to the Lamb, forever and ever!” Then the four living creatures said, “Amen!” And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped Him who lives forever and ever.

Hell on Earth: No Singing, Just Blasphemies

Instead of repenting of their sin and rebellion, they curse the name of God (Rev 16:9, 11).

Instead of repenting of their sin and rebellion, blaspheme God (Rev 16:21).

They had brought this judgment on themselves, but rather than take responsibility for their sin and rebellion they turn around and BLAME the ONE who made a way for them to escape!

Can you imagine a drowning man cursing the one who offers them a life presever?

Can you imagine a terminally ill patient cursing the doctor who is offering them the cure? Instead of accepting the vial of medication that can save their life, the crush it beneath their feet, and then curse the doctor who offered the cure as they take their final breaths.

Can you imagine a condemned prisoner on death row who receives a pardon, yet spits on the pardon, and curse the Governor on the way to the electric chair.

Can you imagine an arsonist trapped in a building that he set on fire, now he is unable to get out, but while firefighters come to extinguish the flame he viciously attacks them, all the while cursing them for not putting out the fire?

That is the scenario we have here. Over and over again, time and time again, God has offered a way for people to be free from judgment, free from sin, free from condemnation, yet they have rejected Him and then curse Him for the judgment and condemnation that Jesus died to set them free from!

Conclusion

In this message and in this passage we have seen and heard the glories of Heaven as well as the horrors of God’s judgment on sin. Yet, the vast majority of humanity DID NOT REPENT. They not only rejected the life preserver offered to them, but the cursed the ONE who offered it!

I hope that YOU have reached out by faith to embrace and trust Christ and if you have not, that you will do so TODAY!

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