Revelation 15-16

Revelation 15-16 …αἱ ἑπτὰ πληγαὶ τῶν ἑπτὰ ἀγγέλων… …the seven plagues of the seven angels… Outline: Chapter 15 I. JOHN SEES ANOTHER SIGN, VV. 1-2 II. THE SONG OF MOSES AND OF THE LAMB, VV. 3-4 III. SEVEN BOWLS ARE GIVE N TO THE SEVEN ANGELS, VV. 5-8 Chapter 16 I. THE SEVEN ANGELS ARE DISPATCHED, V. 1 II. THE FIRST BOWL, V. 2 III. THE SECOND BOWL, V. 3 IV. THE THIRD BOWL, VV. 4-7 V. THE FOURTH BOWL, VV. 8-9 VI. THE FIFTH BOWL, VV. 10-11 VII. THE SIXTH BOWL, VV. 12-16 VIII. THE SEVENTH BOWL, VV. 17-21 Chapter 15 I. JOHN SEES ANOTHER SIGN, VV. 1-2 A. This sign which John sees is the third and final of three in the book of Revelation. B. The word for sign is sēmeion in the greek and it occurs in two other places in the book with itʼs meaning being more than just a miracle or wonder but actually a sign which John saw. See Rev. 12:1, 3. C. “…great and marvellous…” 1. These words introduce to us the contrast between this chapter and the last verses of the last chapter. 2. It says in Revelation 14:14 “And I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the son of man…” These words are most solemn and somber because the remaining verses of chapter 14 show us the gathering of all nations to be judged by God. There is a great harvest that John sees and itʼs that of the men of the world being harvested and gathered to be crushed in Godʼs wrath. 3. In this chapter John sees a great a marvelous sign because he sees the saints in heaven worshiping and adoring their Lord and being vindicated for the wrong that was done to them. D. “…for in them is filled up the wrath of God…” 1. The phrase “is filled up” means finished or fulfilled. In the next chapter we will see the consummation of the wrath of almighty God being poured out upon man on earth and after that the seconding coming of Christ will occur. E. “And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire…” 1. The sea of glass or glassy sea speaks of the holiness of God or the Word of God. Either or works because the character of God and the Word of God are both holy. 2. The saints are seen as standing on this glassy sea so this is obviously not a typical sea that John sees. The fact that the saints are able to stand upon it speaks to us of Godʼs faithfulness in upholding His people. F. “…and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, [and] over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God.” 1. This company are no doubt the martyred dead who were destroyed by the beast of Revelation 13:1-10 2. They have harps by which they offer up worshipful music unto their worthy Lord. This and the trumpet are the only two instruments mentioned in Revelation. II. THE SONG OF MOSES AND OF THE LAMB, VV. 3-4 A. The song of Moses could be from Exodus 15 or Deuteronomy 32. In both of these references there is a song of Moses. Scholars disagree as to which one is being spoken of in Revelation 15. B. The fact is both really work! You can find all the elements of the song in Revelation 15 in both of the songs found in the books of Moses. C. “…Great and marvellous [are] thy works…” 1. This could refer to the past workings of God or probably looks ahead at what will take place not to long from now. D. “…Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name?” 1. This indicates to us that this is yet to happen in the future and a historical view to this passage and the book of Revelation canʼt be applied. The whole world will one day acknowledge Jesus Christ as Lord to the glory of the Father. This has yet to happen! Praise God for that we are told here and elsewhere in scripture that it surely will happen one day! 2. “God alone is the only true holy one (Greek hosios; not the usual word for “holy,” stressing absolute rightness). God alone is completely right–by very definition– and therefor, sooner or later, all must someday fear Him, glorify Him, worship Him.1 ” 3. God has said it plainly to us, “I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth [in] righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.” Isaiah 45:23 And “For it is written, [As] I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.” Romans 14:11-12 And “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That 1 The Revelation Record, Henry Morris, p. 287 at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of [things] in heaven, and [things] in earth, and [things] under the earth;” Philippians 2:5-10 III. SEVEN BOWLS ARE GIVE N TO THE SEVEN ANGELS, VV. 5-8 A. “…the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened:” 1. The “temple” refers to the inner holy place of the tabernacle. 2. The “tabernacle of the testimony” the whole tent like structure in which a small portion contained the Holy of Holies. 3. John sees through or past the veil into the holy place as the angles come forth! An amazing seen! B. “And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever.” 1. A cherub comes forth with the bowls which the angels will make use of to dispense the wrath and fury of almighty God. C. “And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God…” 1. See Exodus 40:34-38; 1 kings 8:1-11 Chapter 16 This chapter is called by some the “great chapter of the Bible.” The reason for this is because of the frequency at which the word great is used. In these 21 verse it can been seen no less than 11 times! This chapter and these judgments are different in the sense that there is nothing restrained and God is not seeking to turn the hearts of men unto himself. All is already signed sealed and delivered and there is only believers and those that have excepted the mark of the beast and thereby themselves consenting to the horrifying consequences of recievin his mark. These are the final moments of man and satanʼs dominion on earth. After the wrath the second coming of Christ will occur and all will be made right. I. THE SEVEN ANGELS ARE DISPATCHED, V. 1 A. These are the seven bowls mentioned in the previous chapter. II. THE FIRST BOWL, V. 2 A. “there fell a noisome and grievous sore upon the men…” 1. This speak of a running and open sore or ulcer. The word for sore used in the LXX and is translated boil or it is even used in reference to leprosy. III. THE SECOND BOWL, V. 3 A. The sea is devastated in blood. All water and sea life is destroyed. IV. THE THIRD BOWL, VV. 4-7 A. In the middle of this scene God is vindicated once again. There is incredible irony within this passage. B. The wicked of the earth that persecuted and put to death the people who follow the lamb will now be made to drink blood! They wanted blood shed so God will give it to them and it will be to their hurt. C. This is similar to Revelation 13:10 Which says “He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.” Now it is he who shed innocent blood will be made to drink blood! D. It says that they are worthy of it. The word worthy is axios it is the word used for the scales in the market place. It means to weigh as much as a corresponding thing. There judgment of drinking blood is in perfect corresponding weight to their horrific crimes. V. THE FOURTH BOWL, VV. 8-9 A. Men scorched by the sun. The sun earlier was darkened by a third (8:12) not itʼs cranked up . Amazing how the Lord can do what he wants when he wants. B. The ice caps will melt! Which itʼs estimated that if they were to melt the sea levels would rise some 200 feet.