Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

Revelation 1 - Introduction

Revelation 1:1-3 - Prologue & Benediction

Revelation 1:4-8 - Epistolary Introduction

Revelation 1:9-20 - A Vision of the Son of Man

Revelation 2-3 - The Seven Churches

Revelation 2:1-7 - The Letter to Ephesus

Revelation 2:8-11 - The Letter to Smyrna

Revelation 2:12-17 - The Letter to Pergamum

Revelation 2:18-29 - The Letter to Thyatira

Revelation 3:1-6 - The Letter to Sardis

Revelation 3:7-13 - The Letter to Philadelphia

Revelation 3:14-22 - The Letter to Laodicea

Revelation 4-5 - The Throne Room

Revelation 4:1-11 - A Vision of the Throne Room

Revelation 5:1-14 - The Lamb is Worthy

Revelation 6-8:5 - The Seven Seals

Revelation 6:1-8 - The First Four Seals

Revelation 6:9-17 - The Fifth and Sixth Seals

Revelation 7:1-17 - Who can Stand on the Day of the Lord?

Revelation 8:1-5 - Anticipation of Further Judgment

Revelation 8:6-11:19 - The Seven Trumpets

Revelation 8:6-13 - The First Four Trumpets

Revelation 9:1-21 - The Fifth and Sixth Trumpets

Revelation 10:1-11 - The End is Near

Revelation 11:1-14 - The Two Witnesses

Revelation 11:15-19 - The Seventh Trumpet

Revelation 12:1-15:4 - The Seven Visions

Revelation 12:1-17 - The Woman, Child, and Heavenly Hosts Versus the Great Dragon

Revelation 13:1-10 - The Beast out of the Sea

Revelation 13:11-18 - The Beast from the Earth

Revelation 14:1-5 - The 144,000

Revelation 14:6-13 - The Proclamations of the Three Angels

Revelation 14:14-20 - The Harvest and Judgment

Revelation 15:1-4 - The Glory of God fills the Heavenly Sanctuary

Revelation 15:1-4 - The Song of Moses and the Song of the Lamb

Revelation 15:5-16:21 - The Seven Bowls

Revelation 15:5-8 - The Glory of God fills the Heavenly Sanctuary

Revelation 15:5-8 - The Seven Bowls of God’s Wrath

Revelation 16:1-21 - Seven Bowls of God’s Wrath

Revelation 16:1-9 - The First Four Bowls of God’s Wrath

Revelation 16:10-11 - The Fifth Bowl of God’s Wrath

Revelation 16:12-16 - The Sixth Bowl of God’s Wrath

Revelation 16:17-21 - The Seventh Bowl of God’s Wrath

Purpose of Book

The purpose of Revelation is to challenge/encourage believers, who are expectantly awaiting the reign of Christ, to live faithfully for Him despite worldly circumstances, persecution, and the cosmic battle between God and Satan.

Main Point

The seven bowls of God’s wrath is poured out on those who have not repented.

Those in Christ are called to remain spiritually pure so they do not face the wrath of God.

Revelation 16:1-9 - The First Four Bowls of God’s Wrath

1 Then I heard a loud voice from the temple telling the seven angels, “Go and pour out on the earth the seven bowls of the wrath of God.”

1 Then I heard a loud voice from the temple telling the seven angels

The Lord Himself initiates the bowls of wrath

In context of Isaiah 66, those who will not listen to the Lord through His prophet will certainly face judgment

Those who do not listen to the Lord here through His prophet John will certainly face judgment

“Go and pour out on the earth the seven bowls of the wrath of God.”

Here is the question: Are these bowls apart of recapitulation of judgment from Christ’s ascension to His return or do these seven bowls come at the close of history?

There is weight behind both arguments, but it appears as though this series of seven is revealing what will happen at the close of history

2 So the first angel went and poured out his bowl on the earth, and harmful and painful sores came upon the people who bore the mark of the beast and worshiped its image.

2 So the first angel went and poured out his bowl on the earth,

The angel acts in obedience to the Father

And harmful and painful sores came upon the people who bore the mark of the beast and worshiped its image.

It is only those who follow the beast that have these sores come upon them

3 The second angel poured out his bowl into the sea, and it became like the blood of a corpse, and every living thing died that was in the sea.

3 The second angel poured out his bowl into the sea

The angel acts in obedience to the Father

And it became like the blood of a corpse, and every living thing died that was in the sea.

Water, signifying life, is taken away as the waters become full of blood and everything is killed

Unlike the plagues in Egypt, this plague is not local, but global

4 The third angel poured out his bowl into the rivers and the springs of water, and they became blood.

4 The third angel poured out his bowl into the rivers and the springs of water

The angel acts in obedience to the Father

And they became blood.

5 And I heard the angel in charge of the waters say, “Just are you, O Holy One, who is and who was, for you brought these judgments.

5 And I heard the angel in charge of the waters say

This celestial being has been given command over the earth’s waters at some level - this is especially evident in Jewish thought

Enoch 66:2

2 And the Lord of Spirits gave commandment to the angels who were going forth, that they should not cause the waters to rise but should hold them in check; for those angels were over the powers of the waters.

Notice the similarities here and the song of Moses/the song of the Lamb the ones who have overcome sang

Just are you, O Holy One, who is and who was, for you brought these judgments.

Here is the angel’s message - Voices that God’s judgments are just and fair

God is just in issuing out his judgments against sin, wickedness, evil, and bringing His wrath upon His enemies

In light of these judgments, He is the Holy One - His wrath/judgment is not flippant or undeserved, it is entirely deserved because they have committed sin AND they have slain His children

Notice the description of God - who is and who was contrasted with

6 For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and you have given them blood to drink.

It is what they deserve!”

6 For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and you have given them blood to drink.

Here is the reason why the waters have been turned to blood - they have killed the saints

It is what they deserve!”

Those who crush/oppose God’s people will ultimately be crushed by God Himself

7 And I heard the altar saying, “Yes, Lord God the Almighty, true and just are your judgments!”

7 And I heard the altar saying

The altar, corporate identity of the martyred saints, affirms the pleadings of the saints

“Yes, Lord God the Almighty, true and just are your judgments!”

The corporate identity of the martyrs agrees with the angel

Their deaths are being avenged by the righteous Lord - His judgments are true, just, and faithful

8 The fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and it was allowed to scorch people with fire.

8 The fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun

The angel acts in obedience to the Father

We’ve seen the bowls poured out on the earth and waters - now the sun