Rev 15v5-16
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The first point is that has to be made as you read this chapters is that
The first point is that has to be made from these chapters is that
1 - God’s wrath is Painful
1 - God’s wrath is Painful
So, I’ve been thinking a lot about why we find these chapters in Revelation on God’s wrath and judgement so hard for us to hear.
painful to think about, The 7th bowl eternal
Painful to know about.
especially when the wrath and judgement of God are written in a way in Revelation,
that assumes we will be encouraged,
to endure in our faith, to proclaim Jesus.
and yet they seem to giv.
Do we really believe in a God who wilfully inflicts painful judgements across the world today.
A wrath that ‘may well be’ brought about by the sin and evil of those who reject God,
but which as we have seen is felt and experinecd by Christians as well.
Wars, famines, dictators, disease, economic distress.
And yes,
we have seen repeatedly how knowing that these things fall under the soverignty of God encourages us,
because we can see He is in control.
These things don’t deny the existance of God after all,
they show that he is very much present and active.
But the problem we are left with, is, do we like this God?
Do we love this God who brings pain to a fallen world.
Even if we acknowledge that we are sinful,
that we have lived life for ourselves,
well then we can see that there is cause for a rebuke from God.
But really? 15v7
Then one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls filled with the wrath of God, who lives for ever and ever.
Really, God is pouring out 7 bowlfuls of wrath on the earth!
Do we love and worship a God like that?
Not only is God’s wrath painful for us as Christians to comprehend in our culture today,
but God’s wrath is quite literally painful physically!
Then I heard a loud voice from the temple saying to the seven angels, “Go, pour out the seven bowls of God’s wrath on the earth.”
The first angel went and poured out his bowl on the land, and ugly and painful sores broke out on the people who had the mark of the beast and worshipped his image.
16 1-2
Those who reject the blood of the lamb,
the death and resurection of Jesus, in our place,
are those marked by default by Satan, will suffer painfully in this life.
And God wills it, it is his wrath being poured out!
We see it and feel it ourselves don’t we
- the rich never satisfied by their wealth,
The full never satisfied by food,
The addict never satisfied by more,
The educated never satisfied by intellect.
No peace, no satisfaction, to hope!
If you are a non-Christian then you will know you are never quite satisfied.
We always need just one more thing to be happy.
If only we had nicer kids,
If only we had nicer kids,
If only we had kids,
If only I had a little more money,
If only I had studied harder,
If only.
You’ll never be satisfied,
you will always have painful and ugly sores
- it is the wrath of God against you and your rejection of Him.
and because He hates all sin His anger burns against the sinner.
The commentator Brooks writes,
God’s wrath is His holiness stirred into activity against sin and it leads to His executing a sentence of judgement and punishment upon those who reject the gospel of His grace
J. I. Packer writes ‘Just as God is good to those who trust Him, so He is terrible to those who do not.’
In short, , continues Brooks, you do not have the God of the Bible if you exclude or refuse to reckon with His wrath!
What is it that we are missing that we can’t quiet compute the ‘God is Love’ side of God with the ‘God of wrath’ side!
We’re not immune to the sadness and tradgedy of God’s wrath upon the earth.
The difference is that it is no longer a wrathful punishment on us,
for Jesus made it clear as he prayed before his crucifixion - he was going to be drinking the cup of wrath on our behalf as he cries out!
“Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.”
Is this the God we claim to love?
Is this the God we claim to love?
Is this the God we want to patiently endure for, to maintain our testimony in, to obey?
The second angel poured out his bowl on the sea, and it turned into blood like that of a dead man, and every living thing in the sea died.
The third angel poured out his bowl on the rivers and springs of water, and they became blood.
rev 16
The bowls are escalating the wrath we saw in earlier chapters of Revelation with the 7 seals and the 7 trumpets.
Before, just a third of the sea was affected, now it’s all of it,
All the springs of water.
This wrath is becoming all consuming upon the earth.
The bowls are reminding us that time will not continue endlessly,
No, this world will stop.
The sin and evil will not continue indefinetly
God’s wrath will not dwindle along on the side lines forever,
no, it will come to a grande and terrible completion!
Rev 8a
8 The fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and the sun was given power to scorch people with fire. 9 They were seared by the intense heat and they cursed the name of God, who had control over these plagues,
verse 10-11
The Holy Bible: New International Version—Anglicised (1984) The Seven Bowls of God’s Wrath
10 The fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom was plunged into darkness. Men gnawed their tongues in agony 11 and cursed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores
then v12
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.
The symbolism of this verse would not have been lost on the origional readers of this book
- The mighty Euphrates river stood as a natural and significant defence
against those wanting to invade from the East.
For even Babylon, the ancient enemy of God’s people - Babylon the Great
- who becomes in the next chapters of this book the symbolic nation of all things evil -
Even they fell in history to an enemy to the east that managed to cross the Euphrates rivers.
God’s wrath did that!
And God’s wrath will continue to bring those who sin and do evil across the world, to their knees in pain.
He will dry up your protection that you think you have and cause you pain.
God’s wrath is painful.
Perhaps some think they are immune
- or that they have had a good life and escaped the wrath of God.
They are what v13 and 14 call the great kings of this world.
But in reality thay are actually all being gathered together to face the great and final battle,
the ulitmate wrath of God, the 7th bowl poured out.
Final judgement into an eternity of His wrath.
Then they gathered the kings together to the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon.
It’s a symbolic reminder of , where at a place called Megiddo, which in Hebrew is called Armageddon:
kings came to fight:
“Kings came, they fought;
the kings of Canaan fought
at Taanach by the waters of Megiddo,
but they carried off no silver, no plunder.
You may think you have won in this life - escaped God’s wrath - but in reality - you have carried off no silver.
The 7th bowl is prepared for you:
rev 16 17
The seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and out of the temple came a loud voice from the throne, saying, “It is done!”
This will be the final act in history : Final judgement:
Then there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder and a severe earthquake. No earthquake like it has ever occurred since man has been on earth, so tremendous was the quake. The great city split into three parts, and the cities of the nations collapsed. God remembered Babylon the Great and gave her the cup filled with the wine of the fury of his wrath. Every island fled away and the mountains could not be found. From the sky huge hailstones of about a hundred pounds each fell upon men. And they cursed God on account of the plague of hail, because the plague was so terrible.
8-
Is this the God we love?
Is this the God we’re prepared to endure this life for, to obey, to testify about?
Why does it seem so hard to us to hear all this?
Why is God’s wrath so painful - both to experience, but also to comprehend?
Pause
I think
I’m one of 5 siblings, and My Father was firm in his discipine while we were growing up.
I’ve dug God a big hole, so it’s time to realise we are at the bottom of it not him:
2 - God’s wrath is Patient and Purposeful
2 - God’s wrath is Patient and Purposeful
We find it painful to comprehend a God who shows painful wrath,
because we have believed,
more that we care to admit,
the deceit and infiltration of Satan into our culture.
The beast of chapt 13 is at large in England.
And I want to use the very controversial topic of parenting to make my point.
And yet that is my point.
I discipline my children.
I wi
I’m one of 5 siblings, and My Father was very firm in his discipline while we were growing up.
It didn’t matter if I had done something wrong or not, or if I understood his reasoning or not, when he told us to do something, we did it.
When we disobeyed, or misbehaved we’d get a smack.
It’s not the only form of punishment he’d give, but i want to focus on the issue of willinginly and deliberatly inflicting physical pain on a child as a form of punishment for disobedince.
It’s not the only form of punishment, but i want to focus on the issue
of willingly and deliberately inflicting physical pain
It didn’t matter if I understood his reasoning or not, when he told us to do something, we did it.
on a child as a form of punishment for disobedience.
We understood he was the Chief in the family - we had a fearful respect, and what he said was law.
Of course he will have got things wrong,
misunderstood situations, been unreasonable at times
But on the whole he was usually consistant and right.
We understood he was the Chief in the family - we had respect for his authority.
But
The question is why was he like that as a parent?
Today’s culture, would say,
what a terrible father.
Some of you will be thinking, yes, good old fashioned parenting, that’s what children need,
But most in today’s culture, will be thinking, what a terrible father.
Sounds like lazy, selfish parenting.
Sounds like lazy, self-ish parenting.
Mean and cruel,
And even if you think it’s right to physically punish a child for disobedience, or at-least punish them in some way, it’s not something you talk about socially.
Surely it’s never right to cause pain for a child for their disobedience,
Or even if you do think it’s ok,
it’s not something you talk about socially.
It’s become Politically incorrect to talk about it.
Because it’s wrong?
Or at least on the edge of being wrong, isn’t it?
Chidlren have a right to behave how they want to behave,
We shouldn’t force them into behaviour we believe to be acceptable,
they are their own person, with their own rights with freedom.
It’s not loving to smack, or to rebuke severly,
to discipline in a way that causes pain?
Is it?
He who spares the rod hates his son,
but he who loves him is careful to discipline him.
Folly is bound up in the heart of a child,
but the rod of discipline will drive it far from him.
Do not withhold discipline from a child;
if you punish him with the rod, he will not die.
Don’t misunderstand me or the bible - of course physical discipline can be abused by a parent.
But careful discipine that involves physical pain,
according to the bible is the way to
‘not hate your child’,
drive out their folly’
and instill the type of behaviour that leads away from death!
In other-words,
smacking is one of the most difficult and painful things a parent can do
- and yet I do it inorder to becasue I am deriven by my love for them.
physical pain can be used to loving our child and lead them to life and obedience to to us and God.
But I believe the bible teaches it is one of the most loving things as well.
It’s certainly not lazy or the easy option.
I have 4 of my own children now - and so now I realise
that to cause pain to your child is one of the most difficult and painful things a parent can do.
And yet I do it,
becasue I see from scripture that pain is a wonderfully loving form of discipline.
Of course I get it wrong at times - we’re human
The Holy Bible: New International Version—Anglicised (1984) The Seven Bowls of God’s Wrath
but they refused to repent and glorify him.
end of v10
rev 16 5-
Well I think it is absolutely
I’m not sure we really know the answer to that question in our cultural context.
They had authroity and deserved respect.
And disobedience was not acceptbale and deserved a painful punishement.
And that perhaps why, we are uncomfortable with the judgement and wrath of God that is most definitely intentionally painful.
- even if we don’t agree with it, that causes us to be uncomfortable with the judgement and wrath of God that is most definitely intentionally painful.
Becasue it goes against our culture.
I’m going to leave the parenting parked there for now, we’ll come back to it, becasue I want us to see how painful God’s wrath is, before we come back to whether or not parental discipline ought to involve pain for our children.
Not so that we are better parents - although I suspect we will be - but so that we can see how this parental analogy helps us see how much love, and effort our Heavenly Father has for each person in the world.
- but God never gets his painful wrath wrong.
You see how our culture has twisted our perspective on love?
So that we might see how our cultural experience may be stopping us fully understand the immense patience and love our heavenly Father has for the world when we read a chapter like this.
Even listening some of you will be uncomfortable with what I’m saying.
Perhaps this is why we do not see the love in action behind God’s wrath.
So that, we might learn to be incredibly grateful for a Father in heaven who will do the painful work of inflicting ainful discipine on the world, as I am for my earthly Father.
Prisoners today have rights and comforts never seen in the world before,
Teachers have very limited discipline options at school, so behaviour and respect is gone
Police-officers are disrespected - and that’s generally ok,
Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.
Respect for authority has rapidly deteriorated in exchange for ‘my rights’ my freedoms, my choices.
He who spares the rod hates his son,
but he who loves him is careful to discipline him.
Our culture is nervous of painful discipline
- If it painful it’s wrong is the lie behind our culture.
Folly is bound up in the heart of a child,
but the rod of discipline will drive it far from him.
Yes - much hurt is wrong - but satan has twisted that in Engalnd
to deny loving discipline at all levels.
r
Do not withhold discipline from a child;
if you punish him with the rod, he will not die.
What’s my point?
pro 23
If it hurts, it could be a sign of love.
Physical discipline is always done in love, never as a vent to the parent’s frustration. It is also just one part of discipline and should be used when the child shows defiance to a clear limit, not in the heat of the moment.
If it hurts, it could be a sign of love.
God instructs parents to parent their children the way He parents His children. tells us that God disciplines those whom He loves to perfect their righteousness. God only disciplines His own, which proves that Christians are His beloved children. Notice that David says that the Lord’s rod comforts him in his time of trouble ().
Finally, we know that no discipline feels good while it is happening, but afterwards the rewards are rich (). Godly character, fruit of the Spirit, and peace are rewards of God’s discipline. The same is true for our human children. Children who have learned how to take responsibility for their actions are much happier people (). The importance of the rod of correction is that it steers the heart of a child toward Jesus and the forgiveness of sin He offers. When parents trust God’s methods over their own, they will see the blessings for their children and themselves.
God’s wrath is not just part of his holiness
and he’s parked his characteristic of love to one side while he pours out wrath!
It is out of love that be shows his wrath!
end of v10
The Holy Bible: New International Version—Anglicised (1984) The Seven Bowls of God’s Wrath
Men gnawed their tongues in agony 11 and cursed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, but they refused to repent of what they had done.
end of v9
1 - God’s wrath is Painful
1 - God’s wrath is Painful
The Holy Bible: New International Version—Anglicised (1984) The Seven Bowls of God’s Wrath
but they refused to repent and glorify him.
Do you see the agony behind God’s statement there.
I discipline and rebuke,
I bring terrible pain on humanity,
He’s the loving father who smacks his child,
who cuts off an allowance,
who grounds their teenagers - praying that they will see reason and respond.
Pause,
Hebrews makes the point I am trying to make so much better,
These verses are aimed at Christians rather than non-Christians,
but the point is the same for both:
Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.
Perhaps our culture is stopping us appreciate how incredibly loving God is being by pouring out his wrath now on the world.
Painful to experience, The 6 bowls
God’s wrath is painfully present
Pleading through our pain - repent - honour me as I deserve - turn to my loving arms of grace and forgiveness,
For if you do not - I cannot go on forever ignoring your rebelion.
Get ready says v15.
Becasue one, God’s loving Holiness will have to bring an end to all sin and evil, all rebelion.
Every day that passes without that final bowl of wrath being poured out,
is loving patient kindness from God.
that he as we do to our chidlren - must find both just and right, but ever so painful.
God’s wrath is painful, yes
But,
God’s wrath is patient and purposeful
- It is God’s call of loving discipline
so that the world who is deceived by satan
may repent and glorify the God of Love.
In our present culture - it may be hard to accept -
but perhaps those that don’t believe in God,
need to hear that their suffering in this life,
is actually a loving God showing them the reality of their rejection of Him. - that they may escape death eternal!
We need not make excuses for suffering in this world - we need to They need to repent, to glorify Him.
And perhaps Christians,
we need to remember that pain is not wrong - it can be loving.
And if it’s from God - then it is always right.
And that’s our final and shorter point.
3 - God’s wrath is Perfectly Just,
3 - God’s wrath is Perfectly Just,
painful to think about, The 7th bowl eternal
Painful to know about.
Don’t get sidetracekd by your culture and human ideas that are tainted by satan -
2 - God’s wrath is Patient and Purposeful
2 - God’s wrath is Patient and Purposeful
God is just and right in what he is doing!
PArenting?
He’s God, He’s Holy, He’s loving
6th bowl It demands repentance v9,11 - it is loving, for it’s purpose is to point to and prepare the world for, final judgement.
God’s wrath is Patient
God’s wrath is Patient
Then I heard the angel in charge of the waters say:
“You are just in these judgments,
you who are and who were, the Holy One,
because you have so judged;
for they have shed the blood of your saints and prophets,
and you have given them blood to drink as they deserve.” And I heard the altar respond:
“Yes, Lord God Almighty,
true and just are your judgments.”
Almost as if God knows we will swallow hard reading about his wrath against humanity,
and especially final judgement,
16:1-
Almost as if God knows we will swallow hard reading about his wrath against humanity, and especially final judgement,
we hear a short dialogue in heaven worshipping God almighty - for he is just, he is holy.
God’s wrath is Perfectly Just,
God’s wrath is Perfectly Just,
So perhaps we need a change of perspective.
16v5
16v5
We perhaps we need a change of perspective.
God is not mean - he is just and holy.
We have no entitlement to his forgiveness and grace.
We don’t deserve the fact that Jesus drank the cup of wrath on our behalf on the cross.
This whole universe exists to bring glory to the Holy creator God,
And humanity has done nothing but try and mess that up!
We all deserve the wrath of God for all eternity.
And one day, God’s Holiness will demand an end to this evil world
‘It is done’ v17 declares the 7th bowl of wrath. Finished.
And yet, for all who are willing to bow the knee before the Lamb who is slain,
We don’t deserve our forgiveness and therefore it’s harsh on those that don’t respond!
In response to Gods loving, patient and purposful and discipline and wrath now,
Well - we are privileged to be given white robes of salvation,
Anyone can respond - but they don’t.
An eternity to live with the Almighty and Holy God,
So incredibly and lovingly, God saves some!
crying in the words of Rev7v10
And they cried out in a loud voice:
“Salvation belongs to our God,
who sits on the throne,
and to the Lamb.”
v5!!
rev 7
Bowl 1 - Sores
Bowl 1 - Sores
Bowl 2-3 Blood
Bowl 2-3 Blood
Bowl 4 - buringin sun
Bowl 5 - Darkness over the beast
Bowl 6 - dried river allowing invasion
v13-14 = 3 frogs gather the world’s kings to fight God
Bowl 7 - Airborne - everywhere/unavoidable - It is done
Be happy, young man, while you are young,
and let your heart give you joy in the days of your youth.
Follow the ways of your heart
and whatever your eyes see,
but know that for all these things
God will bring you to judgment.
Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you;
he rises to show you compassion.
For the Lord is a God of justice.
Blessed are all who wait for him!
The Lord will strike Egypt with a plague; he will strike them and heal them. They will turn to the Lord, and he will respond to their pleas and heal them.
Armegeddon
Armegeddon
The place Sung of by Deborah as the place kings came to fight, but would loose against God’s people:
“Kings came, they fought;
the kings of Canaan fought
at Taanach by the waters of Megiddo,
but they carried off no silver, no plunder.
Put some thought this week into
ju 5 19
how God’s wrath is a demonstration of His love to the world to bring about repentance.
how his Holiness will ultimately require an end, after a long time of patience
and how incredible God’s offer of forgiveness is,
that he himself in his son Jesus takes His wrath on our behalf,
So that we may join the Holy God of All for ever and ever.
Pray 1