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Revelation 15. part I
January 28th 2018
Meat
Okay, chapter 15 has a close connection in its design with the previous chapter.
What I mean by this is it pledges and assures that all the enemies of religion would be cut off, that Christ would be ultimately triumphant, and most particularly that that formidable Antichristian power represented by the “beast” would be destroyed.
Remember, to the seven churches this was a real time threat and situation and that what is described here WAS happening to them – Saints were being tortured in that little area BY NERO and those who supported him in his ways.
So the chapter, while really short, begins with a statement that says where these promises would be accomplished, and this statement is pursued through the subsequent chapters and giving us (in detail) what is promised here generally.
Remember too, that we began with Seven Seals, which opened and where the last seal introduced to us the seven trumpets (and between the sixth and seventh trumpets we read that seven thunders were inserted as described in chapter 10) and then the seventh trumpet introduced us to the seven vials or bowls – which are the final set of outpourings before the end.
So here in chapter 15 we are introduced to the a new sign or wonder in heaven.
What is it? Seven angels appear, having the seven last plagues that fill up or complete the wrath of God; representing the wrath that is to come upon the beast, or the complete overthrow of this formidable Antichristian power.
As a bit of necessary reiteration:
The seven seals came first and are described in Revelation 6:1–17; 8:1–5.
The seven trumpets came next and are found in Revelation 8:6–9:21; 11:15–19.
And seven bowls/vials are described in Revelation 16:1–21 our next chapter.
These are three series of end-times judgments from God and the judgments get increasingly worse and more devastating as the end-times progress.
As we have pointed out before the seven seals, trumpets, and bowls are all connected and overlapping to one another meaning the seventh seal introduces the seven trumpets and the seventh trumpet introduces the seven bowls (which is happening in part here in chapter 15.)
And just as a refresher, the seven seals include the appearance of the Antichrist, tremendous warfare, famine, plague, the martyrdom of believers in Christ, a horrible earthquake causing terrible devastation, and astronomical upheaval.
Those who survive the six seals are right to cry out, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?”
When we covered them we saw that most of the contents described therein were supported by historical reports from non-Christian writers pertaining to that day and age.
The seventh seal introduces the seven trumpet judgments and the trumpets include hail and fire that destroys much of the plant life in the area, the death of much of the areas aquatic life, the darkening of the sun and moon, a plague of “demonic locusts,” that torture the unsaved, and the march of a demonic army that kills a third of humanity in Israel.
It is hear that the seventh trumpet calls forth seven angels who carry the seven bowls of God’s wrath (which we touched on in chapter 11:15–19 and will now be revisited here in chapter 15:1–8).
The bowl judgments include painful sores afflicting humanity (which we will read about in Revelation 16:2), the death of every living thing in the sea (which we will read about in 16:3 and should be interesting in terms of explaining from a full preterist position), the turning of rivers to blood, an intensifying of the sun’s heat, great darkness and an intensification of the sores given when the first bowl was poured out. There will also be the advance the Antichrist’s armies at Armageddon, a devastating earthquake which will be followed by giant hailstones.
Together, the seals, trumpets, and bowls of the end times comprise “the great day of [God’s] wrath” (as Revelation 6:17 says) and serves to judge the Antichrist’s kingdom of wickedness.
We will read, in the face of these final bowl judgements that following words in Revelation 16:5–7 which says of God,
“You are just in these judgments, you who are and who were, the Holy One, because you have so judged; for they have shed the blood of your saints and prophets, and you have given them blood to drink as they deserve. . . . Yes, Lord God Almighty, true and just are your judgments.”
Even these words seem to really speak to them of that age more than they could EVER speak to us in ours.
We will also read here about those who (in former times) had “gotten the victory over the beast,” will now appear standing on a sea of glass, rejoicing and rendering thanks for the assurance that this great enemy of the bride was now to be destroyed, and that now all nations were to come and worship before God.
Then we will read about how John sees into or sees the interior of the temple opened in heaven, and the seven angels, having the seven plagues, issuing forth to execute their commission.
They come (or came) clothed in pure and white linen, and girded with golden girdles. At this point we will read how one of the four beasts (that was before the throne forthwith gives them the seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, to empty them upon the earth or better put, to bring upon the beast his predicted destruction.
The temple is immediately filled with smoke, so that no one might enter (which seems to mean that no longer could any one make intercession), and the destruction of this great enemy’s power is now certain, as described by verses 5-8.
This chapter, therefore, is merely introductory to what will follow in chapter 16. So let’s read the FULL CHAPTER and WORK THROUGH IT TOGETHER IN ONE SINGLE SESSION as John writes!
Revelation 15:1 And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvellous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God.
2 And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: 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.
3 And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints.
4 Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest.
5 And after that I looked, and, behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened:
6 And the seven angels came out of the temple, having the seven plagues, clothed in pure and white linen, and having their breasts girded with golden girdles.
7 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.
8 And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled.
Okay, back to verse 1.
1. “Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and amazing, seven angels with seven plagues, which are the last, for with them . . . the wrath of God is finished.”
According to the Futurist view, the sign John saw signifies God’s final judgments on earth dwellers during a future 7-year Tribulation.
And obviously the Preterist view generally sees these plagues as those which fell upon apostate Israel during the Roman-Jewish War as it led up to Jerusalem’s destruction in 70 AD.
We have seen in other parts of Revelation where there is a prelude to what will happened in the next chapter and here we have the prelude chapter to the judgment of the seven bowls (which as I said is described in chapter 16).
There was a “heavenly scene of victory” (in chapters 4-5) just prior to the breaking of the seven seals, and then there was a similar prelude in chapter 8:1-6 in anticipation of the seven trumpets.
Where verse one says that these are last many commentators believe last does not mean last ever but only last in terms of Johns Revelation.
He notes that some understand the reference to these plagues as “the last” to mean that the time for repentance for them was now past.
Noted Full Preterist David Chilton writes,
“There is no reason to assume that these must be the “last” plagues in an ultimate, absolute, and universal sense; rather, in terms of the specifically limited purpose and scope of the Book of Revelation, they comprise the final outpouring of God’s wrath, His great cosmic Judgment against Jerusalem, abolishing the Old Covenant world-order once and for all.”
But I take the line:
“Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and amazing, seven angels with seven plagues, which are the last, for with them . . . the wrath of God is finished.”
To mean exactly that. Jesus has had the total victory over the earth, the fall, the effects of Satan, the evil through His birth, life, death and resurrection, and the WRATH OF GOD IS FINISHED.
No more wrath. The world did not come down with Aids because God is angry. It came down with aids as a natural result of our actions – and God, having loved us so much that He gave His Son – can only reach out His hands and be there when we experience the fall out – of everything.
I suggest this because if God is still angry and the actions of Man, and is still punishing the earth through His wrath, then Jesus propitiation for sin was not enough for Him – simple as that.
In any case, and whatever you might think, the text ties the meaning of this phrase to the fact that with these seven plagues “the wrath of God is finished,” OR, as some translations read, “the wrath of God is complete.” (Verse 2)
2. “And I saw what appeared to be a sea of glass mingled with fire—and also those who conquered the beast and its image and the number of its name, standing beside the sea of glass with harps of God in their hands.”
In Revelation 4:6 we were introduced to a sea of glass that surrounded the throne of God and I would guess that this is the same sea.
The difference is that in this case “Those who had conquered the beast, its image, and the number of its name” stand beside the sea holding harps of God and the sea is mingled with fire.”
Some think that fire is added here as some sort of tell that God is now getting ready to pour His wrath down upon the earth or that fire is about to proceed from Gods throne.
There is also the strong belief that these saints with the harps, though NOW in heaven, are the 144,000 mentioned in the preceding chapter, except they are no longer on ‘Mount Zion’ but now with God ready to play a song of victory, which chapter 14 tells us “only they are the ones who are able to learn it.”
Verses 3 and 4 “And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, ‘Great and amazing are your deeds, O Lord God the Almighty! Just and true are your ways, O King of the nations! Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship you, for your righteous acts have been revealed.’”
Now, we know that the original “song of Moses” was the song of deliverance sung by the Israelites in Exodus 15.
Interestingly only one song seems to be sung, but this song goes by two titles here (not just “the song of Moses,” but also, “the song of the Lamb”).
Apparently, they are one in the same. This little addition is also indicative that this was all happening then as who on earth among the Christian would ever know the “song of Moses” today?
We might wonder why there is a single song with two different names? We might suggest that here we discover a perfect union between the law (which came by Moses) and grace and truth and love (which came by Jesus Christ) or more simply – a union of the Old Covenant and the New Covenant.
This supposition is also directly tied to the people of that time and age and Nation for why on earth would anyone today be singing the Song of Moses when we have lived in the dispensation of grace and truth for almost 2000 years.
Another factor that may be in play here is just as the Nation of Israel escaped Egypt (which was a type for sin and bondage) Revelation 11:8 tells us that Jerusalem had now become “the new Egypt.”
See, the original “song of Moses” which was sang in Exodus 15 was a song of deliverance that was sung by the Israelites when they found themselves permanently free from their former oppressor.
We have read far enough into Revelation to have a tenor for what God is doing among the Nation. The themes found herein (and compared to the themes found in Exodus) echo off each other wonderfully and for this reason I am going to read the Song of Moses to give us an opportunity to apply its contents to what is happening here in Revelation.
As I read it try and see if you can understand why here in Revelation the song is also called “the Song of the Lamb” to them in that age. Here we go:
Exodus 15:1 Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the LORD, and spake, saying, I will sing unto the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously: (which is what is happening here in Revelation) “the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea.” (last chapter we read how the horses were up to their bridles in blood which might truly be the best definition of a Red Sea, right?)
2 The LORD is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father’s God, and I will exalt him. (which is a passage that honors Christ as King to them in that age)
3 The LORD is a man of war: the LORD is his name.
4 Pharaoh’s chariots and his host hath he cast into the sea: his chosen captains also are drowned in the Red sea.
5 The depths have covered them: they sank into the bottom as a stone.
6 Thy right hand, O LORD, is become glorious in power: thy right hand, O LORD, hath dashed in pieces the enemy.
7 And in the greatness of thine excellency thou hast overthrown them that rose up against thee: (Meaning Nero here) thou sentest forth thy wrath, which consumed them as stubble.
8 And with the blast of thy nostrils the waters were gathered together, the floods stood upright as an heap, and the depths were congealed in the heart of the sea. (Four references to Gentile and Gentile nations in one verse)
9 The enemy said, I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil; my lust shall be satisfied upon them; I will draw my sword, my hand shall destroy them.
10 Thou didst blow with thy wind, the sea covered them: they sank as lead in the mighty waters.
11 Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?
12 Thou stretchedst out thy right hand, the earth swallowed them.
13 Thou in thy mercy hast led forth the people which thou hast redeemed: thou hast guided them in thy strength unto thy holy habitation.
14 The people shall hear, and be afraid: sorrow shall take hold on the inhabitants of Palestina (very applicable).
15 Then the dukes of Edom shall be amazed; the mighty men of Moab, trembling shall take hold upon them; all the inhabitants of Canaan shall melt away.
16 Fear and dread shall fall upon them; by the greatness of thine arm they shall be as still as a stone; till thy people pass over, O LORD, till the people pass over, which thou hast purchased.
17 Thou shalt bring them in, and plant them in the mountain of thine inheritance, in the place, O LORD, which thou hast made for thee to dwell in, in the Sanctuary, O Lord, which thy hands have established.
18 The LORD shall reign for ever and ever.
19 For the horse of Pharaoh went in with his chariots and with his horsemen into the sea, and the LORD brought again the waters of the sea upon them; but the children of Israel went on dry land in the midst of the sea.
So, here in Revelation is seems that John is declaring to be great, marvelous, righteous, and true are God’s judgments against the unbelieving world…
So . . . the wrath of God against apostate Israel is now finished (verse 1), and the end of the old covenant age has come (Matthew 24:3).
I think in light of this it’s fitting that John would hear the song of Moses at this time as the old covenant age was initiated with the giving of the law through Moses and now that age was now coming to a dramatic end but the new covenant age was shining forth.
This was also a marvelous work of the Lord, and the nations were being gathered to worship Him.
Verses 5-6 Where John says:
“After this I looked, and the sanctuary of the tent of witness in heaven was opened and out of the sanctuary came the seven angels with the seven plagues, clothed in pure, bright linen, with golden sashes around their chests.”
In Leviticus 26 it says (four times by the way) that God wouldl judge Israel ‘seven times’ if she is unfaithful (verse 18,21,24,28).
Here in Revelation we also have “four sets” of seven judgments, namely “seals, trumpets, thunders, bowls”.
This likely reference to Leviticus 26 is one more indication (among many that we’ve seen) that these judgments recorded by John were indeed intended to fall upon faithless Israel in his day.
In verse 6 we see that “the seven angels with the seven plagues” (the bowl judgments) are “clothed in pure, bright linen.”
In Revelation 19 we read the following at verse 14,
“…And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following Him [Jesus] on white horses…”
Most interpret this as describing Jesus and His second coming. We will talkm about that then.
Next, it is often assumed that these armies must be the saints of God, especially in light of Revelation 19:8, which speaks of Christ’s Bride:
“…it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure’—for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.”
So it may very well be that those armies are indeed the saints of God. So it is interesting that here in chapter 15 we have the angels arrayed in the same way. We will get into this more in chapter 19 but are we getting an insight into what the dress is of angels and saints in heaven from this?
Verse 7: “And one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God who lives forever and ever…”
We remember that back in Revelation 4:6-7 John wrote:
“And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind. And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle.
So we know what four beasts his is seeing again. Interestingly, we don’t know which beast it was but we do know what it did.
It . . . “gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God who lives forever and ever…”
I thin its important for us to point out something here.
In Revelation 5:8 we read:
“And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odors, which are the prayers of saints.”
And if we combine this with Revelation 8:3-5 (which says)
3 And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne.
4 And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel’s hand.
5 And the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire of the altar, and cast it into the earth: and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake.
And then combine that with what Revelation 6:10 says
“And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?
Then we might see that there is a verbal similarity between ‘the seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God’ here in 15:7 and the ‘golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints’ in 5:8, which suggests that the contents in the bowls of God’s wrath are there in part (at least) because of the “saints’ prayers for vindication” which are now being fully answered.
And the last verse
Verse 8: “…and the sanctuary was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from his power, and no one could enter the sanctuary until the seven plagues of the seven angels were finished.”
John sees the temple, or sanctuary in heaven, opened for the second time in his visions (the first was in Revelation 11:19).
So right before the outpouring of the bowls, “the temple fills with smoke from the glory of God.”
This imagery harks back to the dedication of the tabernacle (in Exodus 40:34-35) and then again in Solomon’s temple (I Kings 8:10-11), in both of which cases, as here, no one could enter the sanctuary.
What this meant back in the Old Testament (when it occurred) is that nobody was able to then enter the temple, symbolic of the fact that the time and opportunity to offer up sacrifice was over.
That in this case the day of God’s mercy and grace was past and no intercession by anyone could be done.
Steve Gregg points out:
“The seven plagues to follow (in chapter 16:1-21) will re-enact several of the Exodus plagues on Egypt, but because these are the last plagues (v. 1), the order of the Exodus events is reversed.
And with that let’s read through chapter 16 to begin our analysis of this chapter describing the last plagues God will pour out upon the nation.
Revelation 16:1 And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth.
2 And the first went, and poured out his vial upon the earth; and there fell a noisome and grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and upon them which worshipped his image.
3 And the second angel poured out his vial upon the sea; and it became as the blood of a dead man: and every living soul died in the sea.
4 And the third angel poured out his vial upon the rivers and fountains of waters; and they became blood.
5 And I heard the angel of the waters say, Thou art righteous, O Lord, which art, and wast, and shalt be, because thou hast judged thus.
6 For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and thou hast given them blood to drink; for they are worthy.
7 And I heard another out of the altar say, Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are thy judgments.
8 And the fourth angel poured out his vial upon the sun; and power was given unto him to scorch men with fire.
9 And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which hath power over these plagues: and they repented not to give him glory.
10 And the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast; and his kingdom was full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues for pain,
11 And blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and repented not of their deeds.
12 And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared.
13 And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet.
14 For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.
15 Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.
16 And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon.
17 And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done.
18 And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great.
19 And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath.
20 And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found.
21 And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent: and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof was exceeding great.
And we will stop here for today. Comments/Questions/Insights
