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SERVANTS' MINISTRY
www.godcannotlie.org
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The
Book of Revelation
Chapter
15
The Seven Angels
With Seven Plagues: The Bowl Judgments - Revelation 15:1-8
Rev. 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. (KJV) John sees
another great and marvelous sign in Heaven. Seven angels were
holding the seven last plagues, which would bring God's wrath
to completion.
John saw yet another sign in Heaven. This is the third and final
heavenly sign marking this part of Revelation. This sign follows
two others that John had seen in Rev.12:1, the woman clothed with
the sun and 12:3, a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten
horns, and seven crowns upon his heads.
“Another sign” connects this chapter with
chapter 12 (first sign, Israel). From chapter 12 to the return
of Christ, all that happens will be related, although not necessarily
in chronological order. Satan, having been cast down to Earth,
brings his fury on Israel. He will make one final try at dominating
the world through the Antichrist and the False Prophet (the two
beasts). But Almighty God, holy and pure, will have all He can
take, and will make a final display of His righteous and holy
wrath. He will end the world’s contemptible and sordid display
of sin. The 7 last plagues are called the 7 bowl (or vial) judgments.
They actually begin in Rev.16. Unlike the previous plagues that
were partial, these are universal and total, and will culminate
in the complete elimination of all evil; in which God’s
wrath will be completed, and this world as we know it will end.
We will see 3 very important ‘things’ in
chapters 15 & 16:
- (1) God’s righteousness.
- (2) God’s wrath.
- (3) Man’s response.
God is absolutely righteous in dealing with
mankind. This is firmly backed up in the Bible (Gen.18:25;
Deut.32:4; Ps.7:9-12; 18:30; 97:2; 119:137; 145:17; Rom.2:5-6).
Rev. 15:2 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. (KJV) John sees what seems to be a crystal
sea mixed with fire. On it stood all the people who had been victorious
over the beast and his statue and his number. They were all holding
harps that God had given them.
We saw a sea of glass in Rev.4:6, which was in front of the Throne
of God. Here, it is mixed with “fire” symbolizing
God’s wrath and judgment. Those who stand before it are
victorious over Satan and Antichrist. John does not see them as
defeated and slain, but triumphant and alive! “Harps”
symbolize praise (Rev.5:8; 14:2-3). The martyrs here before this
sea will praise, honor, glorify and adore God!
Rev. 15:3-4 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. (KJV) They all were singing the song of Moses,
the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb: "Great and
marvelous are your works, Lord God Almighty. Just and true are
your ways, O King of saints.
Who will not reverence You, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For
You and You alone are holy. All nations will come and worship
before you, for your righteous judgments have been revealed."
The song of Moses celebrated Israel’s deliverance from
Egypt (Ex.15). It is a song of God’s Law, a song of victory.
The song of the Lamb is a song of love, and celebrates the supreme
and ultimate deliverance of God’s people from the power
of Satan. Praises to His ways, His character and His acts are
all referred to. Don’t forget about Whom this Book is written!
It is Christ Jesus!
Keep your eyes on Jesus! Don’t let the four horsemenm or
the trumpets, or the beasts, or any of the ghastly judgments take
your eyes of Christ, for in it we see the unveiling of His awesome
holiness, power and glory. The more we know of God’s wonderful
works, the more we shall praise His greatness as the Lord God
Almighty, the Creator of the Universe; but His title of Emmanuel
(God with us), and King of saints, make Him most dear to us. Do
you truly consider the power of God's Holy wrath, the value of His love and favor and grace, His
faithfulness, and the glory of His holiness? Do you truly fear
(reverence) and honor and praise Him? Do you sing praises to Him
daily?
Rev. 15:5-6 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. (KJV) John now
sees that the Temple in Heaven, God's Tabernacle, was opened wide!
The seven angels who were holding the bowls of the seven plagues
came from the Temple, clothed in spotless white linen with gold
belts across their chests.
The Temple is referred to 16 times in this Book. In the first
3 chapters we see the “church” but no Temple.
After chapter 4 the church is no longer mentioned (it has been
taken to Heaven), but now we see the Temple. There is a Temple
in Heaven (Rev.7:15; 11:19; 14:15,17; 15:8; 16:1,17). and one
on Earth patterned after the one in Heaven (Rev.11:1-2). The “tabernacle
of testimony” (Ex. 40:34-35) is symbolic of God’s
Presence among His people. The angels coming out of the Temple
are clothed in clean, shining linen with golden sashes around
their chests. Their garments are similar to the high priest’s
clothing, symbolizing that they are free from corruption, immorality,
impurity and injustice.
Rev. 15:7-8 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. (KJV) One of the four living
beings handed each of the seven angels a gold vial (bowl) filled
with the terrible wrath of God, who lives forever and forever.
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.
These 7 angels are a series of 7 new angels. In John’s
vision, the Temple is a pattern of the earthly tabernacle (Ex.25:9;
Num.10:11; Heb.9:23). The last time John saw the Temple opened,
he saw the ark of the covenant (Rev.11:19), symbolizing God’s
faithfulness. This time we are not told what John saw. Most likely,
John’s focus was on the magnificent angels. The clouds of
“smoke” that fills the Temple (Ex.19:18;
Isa.6:4; Eze.10:4) represents God’s Presence, His glory
and power, and reveals there is NO escape from this upcoming judgment.
God, in all His power and glory is present in the Temple! Israel
had seen God’s glory in a similar way before in early history
(Ex.40:34-35; 1 Kings 8:10-11; 2 Chron.5:13-14).
Our eternal reign with Christ can’t and won’t begin
until ALL evil is destroyed by His judgment. God will execute
judment upon Antichrist and ALL his followers, God shall fulfill
ALL the prophecies and Promises in His Word! These angels are
prepared for their work; they are ministers of God’s Divine
Justice! The Temple nor the Tabernacle is ever associated with
the church; therefore God is dealing with Israel, NOT the church.
The TRUE church is already in Heaven (1 Thes.4:13-18). What saddens
me greatlly is that AFTER the Rapture, there will be many so-called
‘churches’ doing business as usual! Luke 18:8 I tell you that he will avenge
them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall
he find faith on the earth? (KJV) Jesus Himself
tells us that when He does come at the Rapture, there will be
“little faith” here on Earth! Look around
you. Faith in Jesus is less and less with each passing day. There
are more and more cults (any organization NOT teaching the TRUE
Gospel of Christ), and more and more devil worship (Ps.106:37;
1 Cor.10:20; 1 Tim.4:1; 2 Tim. 4:4; Rev.9:20; 13:4), and more
and more witchcraft (Lev.19:31; 20:6; Gal.5:20; Rev.21:8; 22:15).
ALL of these are HATED by God! Recently there have been seeker
friendly mega-churches spring up, offering many worldly allurements
to the unchurched. These churches will do anything to get the
unsaved into their congregation; rock concerts, malls, gyms, spas,
bowling alleys, resturants, etc. The Gospel CANNOT be sold to
unbelievers! Are these churches preaching the TRUE Gospel of Christ
to the massive congregations? Or are they preaching the watered
down Word (some Truth, but more false doctrine)? In my opinion,
IF they were to preach the Truth of salvation only through Christ,
and without Christ there is only the eternal agony of Hell, these
people would not stay long. If people have to be ‘led’
to church in this manner, it will not last.
As we read chapters 15 & 16 of Revelation, you will get the
impression that the end is very soon to come. Each judgment, starting
with the 7 seals, then the 7 trumpets, got more extreme and severe.
The last judgments, the bowl or vial judgments will be much worse!
God will pour out judgmeny on the entire world, such as never
been seen before. This series of calamities will ravage the Earth.
God will be dealing with Israel, but ALL people will be affected
by God’s judgment.
Book of Revelation
Ch.1. . Ch.2 . . Ch.3 . . Ch.4 . . Ch.5. . Ch.6 . . Ch.7 . . Ch.8 . . Ch.9 . . Ch.10 . . Ch.11 . . Ch.12 . . Ch.13 . . Ch.14 . . Ch.15 . . Ch.16 . . Ch.`17 . . Ch.18 . . Ch.19 . . Ch.20 . . Ch.21 . . Ch.22 . . Special Comments
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