The End of God’s Patience: Preparing to Judge the Earth

Read Revelation 15:1-8

Prayer

Introduction: One of the things I’ve always been leery of praying for is patience. Why(?), well, it’s because in order to learn to have patience you’ve got to go through trials in order to develop it! In other words, you’ve got to persevere. James says this about it, “2 … count it all joy when ye fall into divers (various) temptations; 3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing” (Jas. 1:2–4). I find it to be amazing that we want other people to be so patient with us and yet when we have to exercise the same skill with them, we find it so hard to do! I’m guilty of this myself, especially when it comes to my kids. When I get home from work in the evening and the house is a mess because the kids have been playing, sometimes I ask them to clean it up. Me, being the person I am, I expect them to do it right then. No questions asked! And when they don’t, guess what happens! My patience begins to get really, really, thin! How many of you are like that too? Maybe, however, you’re the type of person who has what older people used to refer to as the patience of Job. It seems like you never get mad about anything! Either way, there’s a point at which everyone’s patience will finally wear out, and for most of us, that’s when we erupt. ---- But that’s not the way God is, is it? Our heavenly Father is extremely patient with us. In fact, Peter tells us that, “9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some count slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (2 Pet. 3:9, NIV84). The world turns and things continue on as God sees fit, and all the while he’s there, calling; waiting; watching; and giving time for all who will to come, but there’s something you need to understand, God’s word also tells us that he has fixed a day when he will judge the world through his Son, Jesus (Acts 17:31), and friends, that’s the point at which God’s patience will have run out. ---- In the passage we’re going to take a look at today, Revelation 15:1-8, we’re going to see the very beginning of that day, when God’s patience runs and he prepares to judge the earth. These verses are going to point us to the truth that we’re moving toward the time when God will finally pour out his wrath on those who oppose him. Take a look at v.1.

15:1 God’s Wrath Will Be Completed

The first thing I want to point out to you in v.1 is that it begins with the phrase “And/Then I saw”, Καὶ εἶδον in Greek. We’ve seen that phrase over and over again in our study of Revelation, and by now you should know that it signals the fact that John is experiencing another vision. John says here that he saw “… another sign in heaven, great and marvelous …” This is actually the third time you find this wording concerning signs in Revelation with the first two being found in Rev. 12:1 & 2. I’d say that it’s probably important to take note of the fact that all three of the occurrences of this phrase place the events that are mentioned in them as taking place in heaven. I think this serves to emphasize the interplay between the earthly and heavenly realms. In other words, friends, spiritual warfare is a real thing and it’s something we would do well to remember because all too often we tend to relegate topics concerning the spiritual realm to fellow Christians who are more charismatic. ---- What does John see in heaven? ---- He says that there were “… seven angels having the seven last plagues …” How do we know they are the last? John says that it’s because “… in (or with) them in filled up the wrath of God”. In other words, these will be the final plagues of the eschatological judgement of God which began with the seven trumpets back in chapter 8. Now, it’s here that we need to be careful not being overly dogmatic about what these plagues will be, or what they will look like. Frankly, all interpreters of Revelation agree that the book is chock full of symbolism and the better part of wisdom probably tells us that we would be on firm ground not to over interpret what these judgements are their description is given to us in chapter 16. You see, we’ve got to understand that Revelation itself had to mean something to its original audience nearly 2000 years ago. What am I getting at with that comment? Well, it’s this, we need to be really careful when we come to the Bible and start reading about prophecy. It is not wise to interpret the Scripture through the evening news or the newspaper! ---- When you come to Revelation 15:1, the point is that John was given a vision of the time when God’s patience will have finally begun to run out, and my question to you today is this, when that happens will you be on the right side, that being God’s side, the side of Jesus? (Appeal) If you’re here today, or you’re listening to me online and this is something you’re unsure about, please speak to someone about it before it’s too late! Trust me, you want to be part of what’s described in vv.2-4. That said, let’s turn our attention to those verses now.

15:2-4 God’s People Will Worship Him & Receive His Protection

As we begin to look at vv.2-4, something you need to be aware of is that in the Greek text v.2 begins with the phase Καὶ εἶδον which means “And I saw …” Therefore, we’re dealing here with another vision, although it is related back to what we just read in Revelation 15:1. John begins v.2 by telling us that he saw “as it were a sea of glass mingled (mixed) with fire …” If you recall we’ve read about this sea of glass before in Revelation, way back in Rev. 4:6. Remember that in chapter four John was invited into the throne room of heaven where he got to witness heavenly worship as well as a council of twenty-four elders. In Rev. 4:5-6, described the scene and the throne by saying, “5 And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God. 6 And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal …” (Rev. 4:5–6a). In the throne room vision of chapter four John also saw angelic beings engaged in the worship of God, but here, in chapter 15, John sees something else (look at Rev. 15:2). “2 And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire, (here it comes) and them that that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image and over his mark and over the number of his name, (they) stand on the sea of glass having the harps of God.” Now, notice in v.3 how John describes these people, he says, “3 … they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying …” Now, listen to the words of their song, “3 … Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints. 4 Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest.” Obviously, this reference to Moses is taken from the OT, and it’s something we’ve seen time and time again in Revelation, John pulling from and alluding to the OT. ---- In the Exodus narrative (Exo. 15:1-21), after the Israelites had safely cross through the Red Sea and God had utterly destroyed the Egyptian army, Moses along with all Israel joined up in song to praise Yahweh (God) because of their miraculous deliverance. John’s point here is that just like way back there in the Exodus, God’s people will once more sing the song of their deliverance at the end of time, and guess what? If you’re a follower of Jesus Christ, one day when what we’re reading here in Revelation 15 comes to pass, you are going to be singing this song. (Application) Let me pause there and ask you a question. ---- If you’re a follower of Jesus today, and you know beyond a shadow of a doubt that what I’m telling you is one day going to come to pass, how should that illuminate the way you live in the here and now? ---- It should give you complete and total confidence that there is nothing, and I mean nothing, that you will ever face that God will not see you through! Rome may be crumbling, but God is still on the throne, where he’s always been, and that’s where he will always be! (Appeal) But ---- if you don’t Jesus as your Savior, if you’re not trusting in him today, then what’s written in these verses, Rev. 15:2-4, does not apply to you. If you want to know how to get it, I can tell you. ---- By calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and being saved! If you haven’t done that, won’t you do so today before it’s too late? ---- Let’s finish up by looking at vv.5-8.

15:5-8 The Beginning of the End of God’s Patience

How many of you are the type who will take, and take, and take until you’re just about to the breaking point? ---- I would definitely say I’m that type of person. You might say that that’s the point where our patience has reached its end. Well, for all of the patience God shows unbelievers in the book of Revelation, in vv.5-8 we begin to really get a hint at the truth that this is the beginning of the end of God’s patience. ---- These verses actually serve to do two things, let me explain. First, they, along with 15:1, act to form an inclusio around vv.2-4. Notice that in 15:1 the seven angles are mentioned, and also the fact that they’ve got seven bowls (vials) of God’s wrath. Then, in vv.5-8 the seven angels are mentioned again, but this time we’re given a little more information than we were back in v.1. Sandwiched in-between 15:1 & 15:5-8 stands vv.2-4 those verses we just looked at, and remember, 2-4 pertains to believers. What this does, placing 2-4 between v.1 & vv.5-8 is it acts to highlight God’s protection of those who are his, as well as to emphasize the victory of both God and his people over the powers of evil. Second, although vv.5-8 are part of chapter 15 and serve to illuminate the information we’re looking at in chapter 15, verse 5 in the Greek text begins with the words, “Καὶ μετὰ ταῦτα εἶδον”, literally, and after these things I saw … Now, that phrase after these things I saw is important because it lets us know that John is going to begin a brand-new series of visions. The last time this phrase, μετὰ ταῦτα εἶδον “After these things I saw”, was used was way back in Revelation 7:9. Here’s what this means; particularly in relationship to how you interpret the book. It means that all of the information from 15:5 through 17:18 is inter-related because that phrase, after these things I saw doesn’t occur again until 18:1. Now, I’m going to go ahead and tell you that this does have some bearing on how you read the book of Revelation, and it does lend itself to interpreting certain things in certain ways, but for now, suffice it to say that vv.5-8 are giving us a very brief introduction to what’s going to happen in chapter 16. But with that said, what is John trying to tell us in vv.5-8? ---- Well, here’s what I think is going on. In v.5 we’re told that “5 … the temple of the tabernacle of testimony in heaven was opened.” I would be willing to argue on the strongest terms that what said here is parallel with what John said in Rev. 11:19. (Put a finger in ch.15 and flip back a few pages to ch.11. Take a look at 11:19.) There John says, “19 And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail” (Rev. 11:19). (*FYI: This does mean that Revelation is NOT meant to be read chronologically! *) Now, flip back to ch.15 and look at v.6. There you read that the seven angels come out of the temple in heaven. Notice what v.6 tells us. It tells us that when these angels come out of the temple, they already have the seven last plagues with them! ---- You should be asking some really important questions about right now. Questions like these, “Why do the angels already have the plagues with them, and what are these plagues related to?” And even more importantly, “Why do the seven angels unleash these seven-last plagues upon the earth?” ---- Look at what v.7 says, “7 And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials (these are shallow bowls) full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever.” Do you realize what these “golden vials (shallow bowls)” are? ---- Put a finger in ch.15 and turn back to Rev. 5. ---- Take a look at what Rev. 5:8 says, “8 And when he (that is Jesus) had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and (here it comes, so listen carefully) golden vials (bowls) full of odours (aromas), which are the prayers of saints” (Rev. 5:8).” The bowls those angels with the seven last plagues are given contain prayers, your prayers! Don’t you ever, ever think that God doesn’t hear when you call out to him! When things get tough; when you don’t think you can take another step because of the weight of the world, Oh, God hears from heaven, and a day is coming when his patience with those who persecute and ridicule his people will come to a decisive end. And when that happens, Katie bar the door, you had better pray to God that you’re on his side because the outcome is secure. It was bought and paid for on a Roman cross! I’ve read the rest of the book and I know how it all turns out! ---- Verse 8 says, “8 And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled.” ---- Lord willing, church, next week we’re going to look at chapter 16 which is an expansion of what 15:8 is talking about, (Appeal) but in closing I want to ask you, where do you stand with the Son of God, Jesus? Is he your Savior, or are you relying on someone or something else to get you into heaven? God’s word tells us clearly that there’s no other way. You must place your faith in Jesus Christ. You know, that’s not a really a popular message now days is it, but it’s the only hope for a lost and dying word, and if you’re here today and you don’t know Jesus as your Savior it’s the only hope you have, and so I want to invite you to come. Place your faith in Christ.

Invitation

Closing Prayer