Sermon Tone Analysis

Revelation reveals that there is to be a terrible time coming upon the earth in the end time, a time so terrible that Christ Himself described it as the great tribulation (Mt.

24:21).

Revelation uses some descriptive language to describe this period of time.

It calls the judgments of the period trumpet judgments, picturing the blast of trumpets.

There have been seven trumpet judgments altogether.

But when the seventh trumpet blasted an amazing thing happened.

There was no blast of judgment, not immediately.

Instead an over-all picture of the end time was blown forth:

⇒ There was a picture of Israel being chosen as the nation through which God would send His Son into the world, the picture of Jesus Christ coming to the earth as the Savior of the world (Re.

12:1–5).

⇒ There was the picture of the dragon, that old serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, working to get men to be ungodly and evil—all because he wants to cut and hurt the heart of God (Re.

12:6–17).

⇒ There was the picture of the antichrist and of his right hand man coming upon the earth, the picture of how they will gain and consolidate power over the whole earth and launch the worst holocaust the world has ever seen (Re.

13:1–18).

⇒ There was the glorious picture of the very end of the world when Jesus Christ triumphs over all the ungodly and evil of this world, the picture of Jesus Christ harvesting the earth, of His taking believers to heaven with Him and judging unbelievers (Re.

14:1–20).

Now, the seventh trumpet blasts forth its judgments.

And the judgments come fast and furious.

Why?

Because they are the very last judgments.

God has decided to end human history.

He has decided to stop all the ungodliness and evil of the earth.

He can no longer take the rebellion, denial, cursing, immorality, stealing, drunkenness, sorcery, and murder of man.

Therefore, Jesus Christ will destroy all the ungodly and evil of this world and do it quickly.

Remember: the whole tribulation period will last seven years.

It will be divided into two periods: the first period will be three and one half years and is called the beginning of sorrows.

The last period will also be three and one half years and is called the great tribulation.

⇒ When the tribulation begins, during the first three and one half years, there will be seven seal judgments that will take place upon earth (Re.

6:1–7:17).

⇒ When the great tribulation itself begins, the final three and one half years, there will be seven trumpet judgments that will take place upon earth (Re.

8:1–14:20).

⇒ Then, at the very end of the tribulation period, there will be seven more judgments, the seven bowl judgments.

The bowl judgments will end human history as we know it.

This passage is the heavenly preparation for judgment.

This is the preparation that will be made for the launch of the judgments that will end all the ungodliness and evil of man upon earth.

1.

The sign of judgment in heaven (v.1).

2. The reason for the judgment: believers will be martyred by the beast or antichrist (vv.2–4).

3. The judgment of God will be sent forth (vv.5–8).

Notice the frequency in how things are being revealed to John.

After the seventh trumpet is blown, things are moving quickly.

The 144,000 and the Lamb were revealed singing a song only they knew, following the Lamb everywhere He went.

The three angels and their messages followed, and the harvest of the earth occurred and now, we are introduced to the seven angels that will dispense the seven final judgments or plagues, the seven bowls of wrath.

Notice what we are told in verse one - this is the end “For with them (the seven plagues) the wrath of God is finished” and the seven angels will be the one who bring the final steps of judgment to the earth.

Now, in the age of grace, God is withholding his wrath - waiting for any and all that would accept Jesus as their personal Savior.

In this verse, we see the end of the age of grace - when there are no more on earth who will repent of their sins and turn to the saving grace provided by Christ.

This final “sign” that we see is preceded by the great signs of the woman and the red dragon.

Opportunities had been given, opportunities had been ignored, now judgment is coming.

John saw what appeared to him to be a sea of glass mixed with fire.

This may be the same sea described in Revelation 4:6.

Beside the sea John saw the martyred dead described in Revelation 7:9-17.

These martyred saints were singing the song of Moses, which could have been the song of God’s faithfulness to Israel outlined like the song in Exodus 15.

Or perhaps it was like the song outlined in Deuteronomy 32.

In either one, we see the Israelites praising God for His faithfulness to His chosen people.

But notice there is a second song - the song of the Lamb.

where God is praised for His great deeds, justice, truth, glory, and holiness.

We are then told there will be a time when ALL nations will worship God.

When we read of the second coming of Christ, we are told that every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that He is Lord.

The time in which those on earth will be so wicked Christ has no choice but return will be followed by God’s judgment and holiness at the Second Coming.

As John watched this heavenly vision unfold before him, he saw the temple - the sanctuary - in the tent of witness would be opened.

We know of the splendor of the earthly temple built for sacrifice and atonement for sins, and for worship of God.

Now we see a temple of judgment.

As this temples is opened, the seven angels with the seven plagues come out.

They are described as clothed in bright linen, pure - with golden sashes around their chests.

These angels were not only pure, in the eyes of God, but the gold also pointed to their holy assignment given by the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

Notice it is one of the four living creatures that gave the angels the seven bowls of wrath that would be poured out on the earth.

What happens next is interesting - the sanctuary fills with smoke so that no one could enter until the plagues were finished.

Why? Was it because no person should worship or offer praise during this awful time of judgment and wrath?

We will never know this side of heaven, but one thing is for sure.

This chapter gives us a frightening picture of the divine judgment that will one day come to this wicked world.

The next chapter will describe just how bad things will get.

According to the Bible, we live in the age of grace.

God is withholding His judgment - for a period of time - because He does not want anyone to perish.

But someday the period of grace will suddenly be over and it will be time to “pay the fine” for the wages of sin.

During this age of grace, we have to acknowledge our sinfulness to God and put our faith in Jesus Christ, who has already taken the complete penalty on Himself.

But if we die without receiving Christ as Savior, or if He returns and we’ve rejected Him, the “grace period” will be over and we will be judged for our sin.

Have you asked Jesus Christ to forgive your sins and to be your Savior?

If not, don’t wait.

No one knows when their grace period will end.