In Revelation 15-16 we see the final outpouring of God’s wrath before Christ’s return. Chapter 15 begins the preparation for the last seven judgments of His wrath. His wrath begins in chapter 6; this chapter is an introduction to these last and final plagues on mankind. This covers the last 3½ years of the Tribulation that is described in chapter 16.
Revelation 15:1-4 – Heavenly Worship
Seven angels prepare to give out the last seven Tribulation judgments. These are called bowls that are full of God’s wrath. No one can enter the temple until the seven plagues are finished. (Rev. 15:8)
John saw seven angels with seven last plagues. “… the seven last plagues – last, because with them God’s wrath is completed.” – Rev. 15:1b Then he saw something like a sea of glass mixed with fire. Standing beside the sea where those who didn’t worship the image, but who had been faithful to God. They are Tribulation Martyrs who were beheaded because they refused to submit to the Antichrist. God had given the angels harps; they sang the song of Moses and the song of the Lamb. “Great and marvelous are you deeds, Lord God Almighty. Just and true are your ways, King of the ages. Who will not fear you, O Lord, and bring glory to your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before you, for your righteous acts have been revealed.” – Rev. 15:3-4.
They are celebrating God’s destruction of His enemies and the redemption of His people. They praise Him for His excellent and perfect ways. He is just and sovereign. We are not to fear the world. We are to fear God. Fear is to show reverence to God. “All nations will come and worship before you” refers to the time when Jesus returns and sits on the throne and rules the world.
Revelation 15:5-8 – Preparing for Judgment
After this John saw the temple in heaven. The tabernacle of the Testimony was opened. Out of the temple came seven angels with seven plagues dressed in clean linen and golden sashes. One of the four living creatures gave each of the angels a golden bowl filled with God’s wrath. The temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and His power. No one could enter the temple until the seven plagues were completed. (Rev. 15:5-8) This shows that there is serious and severe judgment in progress.
Some people, even some Christians think God is only a God of love, but these angels are operating under God’s orders. They are coming out of the temple and clothed in white indicating they are not demon angels, but God’s angels. Seven shows the completeness of it all. God will put an end to sin once and for all. When these seven plagues are over, Christ will return.
Revelation 16:1-14 – Six Bowls of God’s Judgment
John heard a loud voice from the temple, “Go, pour out the seven bowls of God’s wrath on the earth.” – Rev. 16:1 This is the voice of God, because He alone has the right to initiate judgment. He alone is holy, righteous, and just. These bowls contain the anger of God.
1st angel – his bowl is poured out on the land and ugly and painful sores broke out on the people who had the mark of the beast and worshiped his image. (Rev. 16:2) This shows God’s grace by not bringing judgment on believers. He will protect them just as He did the Israelites during the plagues of Egypt. In Exodus 9:8-11 God sent soot over Egypt and festering boils broke out on the people and animals.
2nd angel – his bowl was poured on the sea and it turned to blood and everything in the sea died. (Rev. 16:3) Now everything in the sea is dead. Can you image the stench and potential for disease? In Exodus 7:14-25 God turned the waters into blood.
3rd angel – his bowl is poured out on the rivers and springs of water and they became blood. (Rev. 16:4) This may or may not be literal blood, but if Christ can turn water to wine, He can turn water to blood. The important thing is the water will not be fit to drink and will breed disease. The angel tells us that justice is served and that He is just in these judgments because He is the Holy One.
4th angel – his bowl is poured out on the sun which scorched people with fire. The people refused to repent. (Rev. 16:8-9) Even with lack of water and this great heat people did not fall to their knees and repent. Have you ever had a bad sunburn? Well, I am sure it was nothing like this. They probably were covered with painful sores and blisters. In Deuteronomy 28:22 the people were struck with diseases, fever, inflammation, scorching heat and drought, blight and mildew.
5th angel – his bowl is poured out on the throne of the beast and his kingdom was plunged into darkness. Men cursed God because of their pains and sores, but still refused to repent. (Rev. 16:10-11) This will be world-wide. God sent darkness during the plagues of Egypt in Exodus 10:21-23. This is an illustration of their spiritual darkness, too. I am sure this brought depression, suicides and all sorts of evil attacks on the mind. Jesus predicted this, “But in those days, following that distress, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light.” – Mark 13:24 Where is their Antichrist now?
6th angel – his bowl is poured out on the great river Euphrates and its water dried up. Then he saw three evil spirits that looked like frogs come out of mouths of the dragon, the beast, and the false prophet. These spirits of demons perform miraculous signs and go out to the kings of the world to gather them for a great battle against God called Armageddon. (Rev. 16:12-16) These spirits will have power to do miracles just like the Egyptian magicians copied Moses’ miracles, but God has limited their power. This river was a boundary between the east and the west. The river was dried up so the kings of the east could cross for the “battle on the great day of God Almighty”, Armageddon. They would join forces with armies all over the world to battle the King of Kings. (We know who wins.) In Exodus 8:1-15 God sent the plague of frogs over the land.
What do these judgments say about God’s power? These judgments prove that God is all powerful and can do anything He wants over His creation. The beast’s followers are like Pharaoh; they harden their hearts and blasphemed God.
Revelation 16:15-21 – Seventh Bowl of God’s Judgment
Jesus Himself speaks in Rev. 16:15, “Blessed is the one who stays awake and remains clothed, so as not to go naked and be shamefully exposed.” We as believers must be alert as we wait for Him to return. Remain clothed means to remain true to Jesus. We have been clothed with His righteousness and we are to continue to live a transformed life. We are to remain clothes with His character. We need to be ready by repenting of sin and believe in Jesus for salvation.
7th angel – his bowl is poured out into the air which is the final judgment. A voice came out of the temple from the throne said, “It is done!” This voice is probably God Himself. Then lightning, thunder and earthquake occurred. No earthquake like it has ever occurred. The city split into 3 parts and the cities of the nations collapsed. Islands and mountains disappeared. Huge hailstone fell upon men. They cursed God. (Rev. 16:17-21) God’s final judgment will end with a great earthquake.
These judgments are like the ten plagues in Egypt when God got rid of their false gods. In this final judgment He will get rid of all untruths, all sin and all that is against Him. These judgments are clearly supernatural and everyone will know they are from God. Instead of falling down and repenting, they curse God. They refuse to change their ways. Their hearts are hard and stubborn. They should have turned from their sin and praised God. With all these plagues, deaths and sufferings the people still did not repent. Can you image? What were they thinking? Talk about being stubborn. God gave them every chance to repent. He gives people today every chance to repent, but some are too stubborn and do not repent.
We are to “stay awake”. Matthew 24:43-44 and Mark 13:32-37 tell us to keep watch, be ready, be on guard, and be alert, because we don’t know when Jesus will return. It will be when we do not expect Him. 2 Peter 3:10 tells us the day of the Lord will come like a thief; no one knows when He is coming.
To “remain clothed” means to stay godly and holy with kindness, humility, and patience. Keep your godly virtues. Behave decently. Continue to be like Christ.
God’s love and His wrath are hard to understand. God loves all people, but He cannot tolerate sin. God deals with sin through judgment. His wrath is His response to sin. His judgment is a part of His love. There can be no true love without judgment for sin. His judgment is an act of love with the purpose of restoring holiness and moral order in a fallen world.
Principle: God’s final judgment will be devastating, purposeful, and complete.
We all deserve these judgments, but Jesus stood in our place. Jesus will return! Will you be ready? I hope this study will open your eyes before it’s too late. God is patiently waiting for you to repent and surrender to Him. – I encourage you to trust in Jesus.
Next week we will continue our study of Revelation, which covers the specifics of when Babylon is destroyed.
__________________________________________
If you have enjoyed my post and have found if helpful, please leave a comment or share this post with the buttons below.
No comments:
Post a Comment