A High Price For Rebellion

Many years ago, the prophet Elijah stood on Mt. Carmel and cried out to the children of Israel. . . “How much longer will you waver, hobbling between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him! But if Baal is God, then follow him!” But the people were completely silent.” (1 Kings 18:21)

Today there are some of you who have not yet yielded your life to Jesus Christ. You have halted in indecision. . . It is time to make a choice!

The word of God, in Revelation, tells of a time when God will judge this world. Satan and his demons will suffer total defeat. Who will you choose to follow, Satan or Christ?

Our text shares the facts upon which to base your decision.

I- THE BELIEVER WILL HAVE THE ULTIMATE VICTORY OVER SATAN AND HIS EVIL SYSTEM. (Revelation 15:1-4)

Revelation 15:1–4 (NLT)

1 Then I saw in heaven another marvelous event of great significance. Seven angels were holding the seven last plagues, which would bring God’s wrath to completion.

2 I saw before me what seemed to be a glass sea mixed with fire. And on it stood all the people who had been victorious over the beast and his statue and the number representing his name. They were all holding harps that God had given them.

3 And they were singing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb: “Great and marvelous are your works, O Lord God, the Almighty. Just and true are your ways, O King of the nations.

4 Who will not fear you, Lord, and glorify your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before you, for your righteous deeds have been revealed.”

A- The believer has defeated Satan in the battle for his soul. (Revelation 15:2).

Revelation 15:2 (NLT)

1- Satan is making war against all men, trying to destroy their souls (I Peter 5:8)

1 Peter 5:8 (NLT)

8 Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.

a- During the tribulation period, he will destroy the souls of men by causing them to accept his mark and worship the beast.

1 ) Once the mark is taken, his work in that person’s life is accomplished.

2 ) Those who refuse his mark will be martyred but will live eternally— they are the true victors for they have defeated Satan in the battle for their eternal souls.

b- Here, today, Satan is making war with you who know not Christ.

1) You can either leave here a victor by receiving Christ, as a Savior and Lord; or as a victim of Satan, locked in his destructive grasp!

B- The believer has defeated the world and become an overcomer. (Revelation 15:3-4)

1- The believer is the only one who can be an overcomer. (1 John 5: 4-5).

1 John 5:4–5 (NLT)

4 For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith.

5 And who can win this battle against the world? Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God.

a- Do you want to have victory over Satan and the world? Then accept Christ as your personal Lord and Savior.

1) Then you can sing the victor's song with the saints in verses 3 and 4.

II- THE PLACE OF MERCY WILL ONE DAY BECOME THE PLACE OF JUDGEMENT (Revelation 15:5-8).

Revelation 15:5–8 (NLT)

5 Then I looked and saw that the Temple in heaven, God’s Tabernacle, was thrown wide open.

6 The seven angels who were holding the seven plagues came out of the Temple. They were clothed in spotless white linen with gold sashes across their chests.

7 Then one of the four living beings handed each of the seven angels a gold bowl filled with the wrath of God, who lives forever and ever.

8 The Temple was filled with smoke from God’s glory and power. No one could enter the Temple until the seven angels had completed pouring out the seven plagues.

A- The tabernacle is now the place to obtain mercy and pardon.

1- The tabernacle is the place of the altar of God.

a- The altar has always been a symbol of mercy for all who were willingly and humbly kneel.

1) Adonijah laid hold of the horns of the altar to plead for mercy. (1 Kings 1:51-53)

1 Kings 1:51–53 (NLT)

51 Word soon reached Solomon that Adonijah had seized the horns of the altar in fear, and that he was pleading, “Let King Solomon swear today that he will not kill me!”

52 Solomon replied, “If he proves himself to be loyal, not a hair on his head will be touched. But if he makes trouble, he will die.”

53 So King Solomon summoned Adonijah, and they brought him down from the altar. He came and bowed respectfully before King Solomon, who dismissed him, saying, “Go on home.”

2) The publican sought for mercy (Luke 18:9-14)

b- The altar of God can be your place for mercy and pardon if you will humbly kneel and ask for his mercy and pardon

( Romans 10:13)

Romans 10:13 (NLT)

13 For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

B- The tabernacle will one day be the place from which proceeds the judgements of God.

(Revelation 15:6-8)

Revelation 15:6–8 (NLT)

6 The seven angels who were holding the seven plagues came out of the Temple. They were clothed in spotless white linen with gold sashes across their chests.

7 Then one of the four living beings handed each of the seven angels a gold bowl filled with the wrath of God, who lives forever and ever.

8 The Temple was filled with smoke from God’s glory and power. No one could enter the Temple until the seven angels had completed pouring out the seven plagues.

1- Judgements will be sent forth in the hands of God's messengers.

2 - The alter of mercy will be inaccessible (Revelation 15:8)

Revelation 15:8 (NLT)

8 The Temple was filled with smoke from God’s glory and power. No one could enter the Temple until the seven angels had completed pouring out the seven plagues.

a- There is a limit of time to obtain mercy from God

(Genesis 6:3)

Genesis 6:3 (NLT)

3 Then the Lord said, “My Spirit will not put up with humans ...”

(Proverbs 27:1)

Proverbs 27:1 (NLT)

1 Don’t brag about tomorrow, since you don’t know what the day will bring.

b- You must come for mercy now, while there is time.

(2 Corinthians 6: 2)

2 Corinthians 6:2 (NLT)

2 For God says, “At just the right time, I heard you. On the day of salvation, I helped you.” Indeed, the “right time” is now. Today is the day of salvation.

III -THE SIN OF REBELLION BRINGS WITH IT AN EXPENSIVE PRICE-TAG (Revelation 16:1-21)

A- Rebellion is a serious sin. (1 Samuel 15:23)

1 Samuel 15:23 (NLT)

23 Rebellion is as sinful as witchcraft, and stubbornness as bad as worshiping idols. So because you have rejected the command of the Lord, he has rejected you as king.”

1- It was for rebellion that Satan was cast of his place in heaven.

2- It was rebellion that cost King Saul his dynasty.

3- Rebellion is refusal on our part to hear and obey God's Word and Will for our lives .

a- His first word for you is to be saved!

B- Rebellion is costly. (Revelation 16:1-21)

1- It will bring on -the bowl judgements of God

a- Pesti1ence (Revelation 16:1-2)

Revelation 16:1–2 (NLT)

1 Then I heard a mighty voice from the Temple say to the seven angels, “Go your ways and pour out on the earth the seven bowls containing God’s wrath.”

2 So the first angel left the Temple and poured out his bowl on the earth, and horrible, malignant sores broke out on everyone who had the mark of the beast and who worshiped his statue.

b- The Sea turned to blood (Revelation 16:3)

Revelation 16:3 (NLT)

3 Then the second angel poured out his bowl on the sea, and it became like the blood of a corpse. And everything in the sea died.

c- Rivers and springs become blood (Revelation 16:4-7)

Revelation 16:4–7 (NLT)

4 Then the third angel poured out his bowl on the rivers and springs, and they became blood.

5 And I heard the angel who had authority over all water saying, “You are just, O Holy One, who is and who always was, because you have sent these judgments.

6 Since they shed the blood of your holy people and your prophets, you have given them blood to drink. It is their just reward.”

7 And I heard a voice from the altar, saying, “Yes, O Lord God, the Almighty, your judgments are true and just.”

d- Extreme heat (Revelation 16:8-9)

Revelation 16:8–9 (NLT)

8 Then the fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, causing it to scorch everyone with its fire.

9 Everyone was burned by this blast of heat, and they cursed the name of God, who had control over all these plagues. They did not repent of their sins and turn to God and give him glory.

e- Darkness (Revelation 16:10-11)

Revelation 16:10–11 (NLT)

10 Then the fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom was plunged into darkness. His subjects ground their teeth in anguish,

11 and they cursed the God of heaven for their pains and sores. But they did not repent of their evil deeds and turn to God.

f- River Euphrates dried up (Revelation 16:12-16)

Revelation 16:12–16 (NLT)

12 Then the sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great Euphrates River, and it dried up so that the kings from the east could march their armies toward the west without hindrance.

13 And I saw three evil spirits that looked like frogs leap from the mouths of the dragon, the beast, and the false prophet.

14 They are demonic spirits who work miracles and go out to all the rulers of the world to gather them for battle against the Lord on that great judgment day of God the Almighty.

15 “Look, I will come as unexpectedly as a thief! Blessed are all who are watching for me, who keep their clothing ready so they will not have to walk around naked and ashamed.”

16 And the demonic spirits gathered all the rulers and their armies to a place with the Hebrew name Armageddon.

1) In preparation for Armagedon.

g- The Great Earthquake and Hail (Revelation 16:17-21)

Revelation 16:17–21 (NLT)

17 Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air. And a mighty shout came from the throne in the Temple, saying, “It is finished!”

18 Then the thunder crashed and rolled, and lightning flashed. And a great earthquake struck—the worst since people were placed on the earth.

19 The great city of Babylon split into three sections, and the cities of many nations fell into heaps of rubble. So God remembered all of Babylon’s sins, and he made her drink the cup that was filled with the wine of his fierce wrath.

20 And every island disappeared, and all the mountains were leveled.

21 There was a terrible hailstorm, and hailstones weighing as much as seventy-five pounds fell from the sky onto the people below. They cursed God because of the terrible plague of the hailstorm.

1) Babylon and cities destroyed

2) islands and mountains disappear

3) 100 lb. hail

2- It is impossible to rebel and get away with it. (Hebrews 2:3)

Hebrews 2:3 (NLT)

3 So what makes us think we can escape if we ignore this great salvation that was first announced by the Lord Jesus himself and then delivered to us by those who heard him speak?

3- Must come to the place that Paul did… (Acts 9:5)

Acts 9:5 (NLT)

5 “Who are you, lord?” Saul asked. And the voice replied, “I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting!

CONCLUSION :

My friend, don’t continue in rebellion against God. He offers you grace and pardon through the shed blood of Jesus Christ. Won't you respond to his love and receive him as your personal Savior and Lord ?

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