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The Bowl Judgements
- 1st – End of Wrath… vs. 1
- 1st – Sign in Heaven… vs. 1
- Then I saw another sign in heaven – great and marvelous!
- John saw ANOTHER [ἄλλος] sign in Heaven [the last of THREE sings in heaven]
- FIRST – was the SIGN of the WOMAN [Israel] given birth to the SON [Jesus] – Revelation 12:1
- SECOND – was the SIGN of the DRAGON [satan] – who went to WAR in heaven – Revelation 12:3
- But this THIRD and FINAL sign is different – it is GREAT [μέγας] and MARVELOUS [θαυμαστός]
- It is GREAT – because it will mark the END of the TRIBULATION!
- 2nd – Last plagues… vs. 1
- Seven angels having the seven last plagues – for in them the wrath of God is complete!
- John saw SEVEN angels – holding the SEVEN last [final] PLAGUES…
- These represent the FINAL effort by God to get the attention of a SINFUL world…
- Once they are DONE – the WRATH [θυμός] of God will be COMPLETE [τελέω]
- WRATH [θυμός] – 18x in NT – 10x in the book of Revelation!
- We tend to look at HARDSHIPS in a negative light – why would God allow BAD things to happen..
- But it is the HARDSHIPS of life – that bring us to the end of ourselves – II Corinthians 12:10
- God – desiring to get our attention – will allow life to FALL apart…
- But God will NOT strive with men forever – there is a LIMIT – Genesis 6:3
- And when God is DONE [τελέω] – the opportunity to call out for salvation will CLOSE…
- Jesus will ride out of heaven – to JUDGE all who have rejected Him – Revelation 19:15
- 1st – Sign in Heaven… vs. 1
- 2nd – Song of the Saints… vs. 2-4
- 1st – Sea of Glass… vs. 2
- I saw something like a sea of glass mingled with fire!
- John saw a SEA of glass – presumably around the THRONE of God – Revelation 4:6
- The first time we saw this SEA – it was CLEAR [crystal] – but now it is mixed with FIRE…
- FIRST – this could speak of the JUDGMENT of God – His FIERY wrath…
- SECOND – it could also be a reference to COLOR – it was the RED sea!
- This seems to better fit the context – as we will see the reference to MOSES – Revelation 15:3
- The idea being God had done the impossible AGAIN…
- He parted the SEA – to allow His PEOPLE to escape the wrath of the KING [beast]!
- God does NOT change – the same God who saved Israel from Egypt…
- Is the same God who can give us Victory in our lives today…
- And He is the same LORD – who saves the Tribulation saints from the Beast!
- Hebrews 13:8 – “Jesus Christ the same yesterday – and to day – and forever.”
- 2nd – The Victory… vs. 2
- Those who have the victory over the beast – over his image and over his mark…
- And over the number of his name – standing on the sea of glass – having harps of God!
- Standing on the SEA – are those who are VICTORIOUS [νικάω]
- VICTORIOUS – because they did NOT worship the IMAGE of the Beast – or take his MARK [666]
- Therefore – they were MARTYRED for their FAITH in Jesus – Revelation 20:4
- DEATH might not seem like much of a VICTORY – but everyone DIES…
- The question is where do we stand AFTER death!
- When Esther was urged my Mordecai to go and plead for her people before the KING…
- She hesitated – because to stand before the king uninvited – meant death – Esther 4:11
- To try and STAND in the presence of the LORD on our own merit – would mean DEATH…
- But those who come through Jesus – forgiven by His Grace…
- Will be able to not just STAND before His THRONE – they will WORSHIP [harps]
- Because through Jesus we have been given VICTORY over SIN and DEATH!
- I Corinthians 15:55-57 – “Death – where is your sting? Hell – where is your victory… Thanks be to God – who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
- 3rd – First and Last songs… vs. 3
- They sing the song of Moses – the servant of God!
- FIRST song that the Tribulation Saints sing – is the SONG of MOSES – Exodus 15:1-18
- It is worth noting – this is the FIRST song in the ENTIRE Bible…
- Written by MOSES after they crossed the RED sea…
- It is a SONG about how God delivered His people from a WICKED King!
- The song of the Lamb!
- SECOND song that the Tribulation Saints sing – is the SONG of the LAMB – Revelation 5:9-10
- A song about how God saves us by the BLOOD of the LAMB [Jesus]
- The combined SONG – Moses and the Lamb – is the LAST song in the ENTIRE Bible!
- When we put these two SONGS together they are the BOOKENDS of a great truth…
- God DELIVERS His people – through the BLOOD [sacrifice] of Jesus!
- They sing the song of Moses – the servant of God!
- 4th – What they Sing… vs. 3-4
- Works of God… vs. 3
- Great and marvelous are Your works – Lord God Almighty!
- FIRST – they sing about the WORKS of God – NOT in GENERAL…
- This is a SPECIFIC reference to the final SEVEN plagues…
- We know this because of the description – GREAT [μέγας] and MARVELOUS [θαυμαστός]
- The same description given of the final PLAGUES – Revelation 15:1
- PLAGUES given by the LORD [κύριος] – He is the one who is CONTROL…
- Who is the ONLY God [ὁ θεός] – the ALMIGHTY – all [πᾶς] powerful [κράτος]!
- Ways of God… vs. 3
- Just and true are Your ways – O King of the saints!
- SECOND – they sing about the WAYS of God – TWO things:
- JUST [δίκαιος] – the WAYS of God are RIGHT – He does nothing WRONG…
- TRUE [ἀληθινός] – the WAYS of God are TRUE – John 14:6
- And to those who are willing to follow His WAYS – make Him their KING…
- They will become SAINTS [ἅγιος] – called out of the world to live for God!
- We live in a WORLD that is upside down – a WORLD that does not know God…
- When it is a crime in some countries to pray in public places – or bring a Bible into school…
- But where homosexuality – and abortion are protected by the Law!
- The WORLD would love for us to question the TRUTH…
- What is right for you – may not be what is right for me – everything is RELATIVE…
- Event Pontius Pilate famously said to Jesus – what is TRUTH – John 18:38
- But it does not matter what MEN say – they are all LIARS – Romans 3:4
- The Bible is our GUIDE to show us the WAY in a backwards world – it is the TRUTH!
- John 17:17 – “Your word is truth.” – also Psalm 119:160
- Character of God… vs. 4
- Who shall not fear You – O Lord – and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy.
- THIRD – they SING about the Character of God…
- He alone is HOLY [ὅσιος] – meaning He has NO sin…
- Which is in direct CONTRAST to everyone else – we are ALL sinners – Psalm 14:3
- Which is why ALL will [οὐ μὴ subjunctive] FEAR the Lord [κύριος] – GLORIFY His name!
- There are NOT going to be any debates on about RIGHT and WRONG in heaven…
- God is RIGHT – and we are WRONG – case closed…
- The WISDOM is to recognize that NOW – and FEAR [passive] the LORD – Psalm 111:10
- Because today is the day of SALVATION – God does NOT guarantee tomorrow!
- Who will worship God… vs. 4
- All nations shall come and worship before You – for Your judgments have been manifested!
- FOURTH – they will SING about WHO will come to WORSHIP…
- The answer is ALL nations [ἔθνος] will come before the Lord…
- That does NOT mean that EVERYONE will be saved – but they will ALL bow!
- Romans 14:11 – “Every knee shall bow to Me – and every tongue shall confess to God.”
- There is a common teaching today that says that HELL does not exist…
- The TERROR of being eternally separated with NO hope of escape – is too much to accept…
- The common view is either that BAD people just cease to exist – annihilationism…
- Or that there is some sort of penance – purgatory – that gives them a SECOND chance!
- But HELL is very real – the New Testament references it FORTY times…
- It is called Hades [ᾅδης] – ELEVEN times – Gehenna [γέεννα] – TWELVE times
- Outer darkness – THREE times [Matthew] – the furnace of fire – TWO times [Matthew]
- Lake of Fire – FIVE times [Revelation] – Weeping gnashing of teeth – SEVEN times [Matthew]
- We do NOT get to choose whether or not to WORSHIP God…
- We only Get to choose WHEN – either now in SALVATION – or later in CONDEMNATION…
- When the LAST thing a person will ever see – is the WHITE throne – Revelation 20:11
- Before they are cast into outer DARKNESS forever – Revelation 14:11
- Works of God… vs. 3
- 1st – Sea of Glass… vs. 2
The FINAL judgement has begun – and it will conclude with the RETURN of Jesus Christ!
3rd – Bowls of Wrath… vs. 5-8
1st – Holy of Holies… vs. 5
The Tabernacle…
After these things I looked – and behold.
The temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened!
After the SONG [μετὰ ταῦτα] – John saw the TEMPLE open – behold [imperative]
Note – the TEMPLE [ναὸς] here is mentioned as part of the TABERNACLE of Testimony…
It would seem this is a reference to a room inside the TABERNACLE – the HOLY of holies!
God told Moses to build the TABERNACLE – it was patterned after heaven – Hebrews 8:5
The COURTYARD – was where the Altar of Sacrifice was – Exodus 40:6
It was where men were allowed to come and offer sacrifices for their sin…
The HOLY place– where the Menorah and Altar of Incense was – Exodus 40:4-5
Only the priests were allowed to enter – II Chronicles 23:6
The HOLY of holies – was where the Ark of the Covenant was [First temple] – Exodus 26:34
Was SEALED off from men by a CURTAIN – only the High Priest could enter – Leviticus 16
From the Holy Place…
The HOLY of holies was already open [aorist] – the SEVENTH trumpet – Revelation 11:19
When the ARK of the covenant was revealed [solving the mystery of what happened to it]
What John sees here is what comes OUT of the HOLY of holies!
2nd – Seven Angles… vs. 6
Seven plagues…
Out of the temple came the seven angels having the seven plagues…
Clothed in pure bright linen – and having their chests girded with golden bands!
SEVEN angels came out of the HOLY of holies…
Each of them was carrying on of the SEVEN final PLAGUES…
The ANGLES were clothed in LINEN [cloth] – that was CLEAN and BRIGHT…
With a GOLDEN band around their chests!
Wedding attire…
There is some speculation as to whom these ANGELS are…
Some say they are the same ANGELS who blew the SEVEN trumpets – Revelation 8:2
But the description of their clothes matches the BRIDE of Christ [church] – Revelation 19:8
And the golden band – is the same as what JESUS wears – Revelation 1:13
If you have ever gone to a wedding – the wedding party has special outfits…
The color coordinate to match the BRIDE and the GROOM…
It almost seems like these ANGELS – are in the WEDDING party…
They match their outfits to the CHURCH and JESUS…
The GIFTS they bring to the WEDDING – the final JUDGMENTS of God!
3rd – Bowls of Wrath… vs. 7
Then 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!
One of the four CHERUBIM – gave each of the SEVEN angels a golden BOWL…
BOWL [φιάλη] – a wide pan that can easily empty all its contents…
And the BOWLS were filled with the WRATH [θυμός] of God – who lives FOREVER and EVER!
We have already seen the SEVEN seal judgments – Revelation 6-8
We also seen the SEVEN trumpet judgments – Revelation 8-11
Thought to unfold over the last THREE and a HALF years of Tribulation!
4th – Glory of the Lord… vs. 8
The temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from His power…
No one was able to enter the temple till the seven plagues of the seven angels were completed!
The HOLY of holies [ναὸς] filled with SMOKE from the GLORY [δόξα] of God…
Making it so no one had the POWER [δύναμαι] to enter…
Until the SEVEN final BOWLS of wrath had been COMPLETED [τελέω]!
When the GLORY of LORD filled the TABERNACLE in the wilderness…
Even MOSES was not able to go inside!
Exodus 40:35 – “Moses was not able to enter the tabernacle of meeting – because the cloud rested above it – and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.”
The imagery is intentional – it tells us WHO will bring the final JUDGEMENT…
The ANGELS who came out of the TEMPLE – and the BOWLS they will pour out…
Are being sent by the LORD – whose GLORY will fill the TEMPLE…
And once it begins – NO one can come in and STOP it…
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