Chapter 15 16

• 1. REVELATION 15In chapter fifteen the stage is set for the finaldramatic action of the Apocalypse (Hinson).The description of the plagues poured outfrom seven bowls will be described in chaptersixteen, and the fall of Babylon in chapterseventeen, but in chapter fifteen, we see thebeginning of this judgment.

2. REVELATION CHAPTER 15 3. Verse 11 Then I saw another sign in heaven, greatand marvelous: seven angels having theseven last plagues, for in them the wrathof God is complete.John begins by saying that he saw another sign inheaven. The previous sign that John saw was inchapter 12 verse 1, which was of the woman and thesecond sign is seven angels having the seven lastplagues. We are not told, at this point, what thoseplagues are, but there is an ominous tone to the notethat in them the wrath of God is complete. 4. Verse 1 (cont.)That fact that Gods wrath is complete indicatesthat the objective of Gods wrath has been met,that is, the judgment of the unrighteous and thedeliverance of the Tribulation saints.1 Thess 5:9 For God did not appoint us towrath, but to obtain salvation through our LordJesus Christ, 10 who died for us, that whetherwe wake or sleep, we should live together withHim. NKJV 5. Verse 1 (cont.)Gods wrath is His judgment against theunrighteous--John 3: 36, Rom 1:18, 5:8, 1 Thess1:10.But his wrath and judgment is also the means bywhich He delivers His people. In Exodus, Godused wrath as judgment against Egypt, anddeliverance for His people. So here again, in thetime of Jacobs trouble, His wrath is bothjudgment and deliverance. 6. Verse 22 And I saw something like a sea of glassmingled with fire, and those who have thevictory over the beast, over his image andover his mark and over the number of hisname, standing on the sea of glass, havingharps of God.Notice the figures of speech used here by John.There is a significant typology being used here.Those who have victory are seen standing onthe sea of glass. It is as though they are crossingover to something better, while those left behindare subjected to the plagues. 7. Verse 2 (cont.)Mounce says, The plagues anticipate the finaloutpouring of divine retribution and are met withblasphemy by men whose hearts, like that of Pharaoh,are hardened against God.The triumphant stand upon the sea of fire, while thebeast, false prophet, and those who lived and died indisobedience to Christ, will be cast into the lake of fire(Rev. 19:20; 20:10, 14-15). This, is the typologicalfulfillment of the Exodus, as the Red Sea (which is thetype of the sea . . . mingled with fire) provides safepassage for the people of God, while also bringing defeatand judgment upon those who persecuted His people. 8. Verse 3a3a They sing the song of Moses, the servant ofGod, and the song of the Lamb, saying:They sing the song of Moses and the Lamb,recognizing the fulfillment of the Old Covenant inJesus. These people are saved by the work of Christ(the Lamb) on their behalf.Further, just as there was a mixed multitude that cameout of Egypt with Israel, there will be Gentiles savedduring the Tribulation Period, even though it isprimarily the time when the natural olive branches(Israel) are engrafted back into the vine. 9. Verses 3b-43b "Great and marvelous are Your works,Lord God Almighty!Just and true are Your ways,O King of the saints!4 Who shall not fear You, O Lord,and glorify Your name?For You alone are holy.For all nations shall comeand worship before You,For Your judgments have been manifested." 10. Verses 3b-4There is a confession of faith in this song:First, it acknowledges the greatness ofGod.Second, the song acknowledges thatwhat God has done is justified and true toHis holy character.Third, they ask, Who shall not fear You,O Lord, and glorify Your name? 11. Verse 55 After these things I looked, and behold,the temple of the tabernacle of thetestimony in heaven was opened.This is an intriguing use of wordsthetemple of the tabernacle of the testimony.This is Gods holy temple in heaven, butthe modifying phrase, of the tabernacle ofthe testimony is again a typological thatgoes back to Egypt. 12. Verse 5 (cont.)In the tabernacle in the wilderness, thetestimony was the Ten Commandments. Itreminds us that God is a God of covenants.There is the linking of the Old and NewCovenants, yet again. John sees into thetemple, into the Holy of Holies. Before thesacrifice of Christ upon the cross, such a viewwas impossible as this place was hidden fromthe view of the worshippers by the veil. 13. Verse 66 And out of the temple came the sevenangels having the seven plagues, clothedin pure bright linen, and having theirchests girded with golden bands.Again, seven angels are seen. Here, they comeout of the temple, which is to say that they arecoming out of the presence of God. They arewearing bright linen, signifying purity, as wellas, the radiating glory of God that resides uponthem, even as it did upon Moses after comingfrom Gods presence. 14. Verse 77 Then one of the four living creatures gave tothe seven angels seven golden bowls full of thewrath of God who lives forever and ever.The angels are said to have the plagues whenthey come out of the temple, but they are givenbowls full of the wrath of God. It is not theprerogative of the angels to punish man, butthey work only in obedience to God. Theplagues are Gods wrath, His judgment, Hisvindication of those who did not worship thebeast, his image or take his mark. 15. Verse 88 The temple was filled with smoke from theglory of God and from His power, and no onewas able to enter the temple till the sevenplagues of the seven angels were completed.When they receive the bowls, the temple is filledwith the glory, (Hebrew, kabod ) of God, that is,His glory filling the temple so powerfully that noone is able, not even the angels or creatures, toenter the temple until the judgment of God ispoured out and completed. 16. Revelation 16In chapter 16 the seven bowls introduced inchapter 15 are poured out. It is interesting tocompare the plagues on Egypt, the sevenseals, the seven trumpets and the seven bowlplagues. There are some obvious similarities,as well as some distinctions. 17. REVELATION CHAPTER 16 18. Chapter OutlineIntroduction: The Voice of God instructing the angelsI The First Three BowlsA. Bowl One: Malignant soresB. Bowl Two: Oceans become bloodC. Bowl Three: Fresh water becomes bloodInterlude:A. Song of the AngelB. Voice from the Altar 19. Chapter OutlineII The Second Three BowlsA. Bowl Four: Scorching heatB. Bowl Five: Darkness with painC. Bowl Six: Euphrates River dries up, armiesfrom the eastInterlude:A. Demonic spirits,B. Warning from JesusC. Armies at Armageddon 20. Chapter OutlineIII The Final BowlBowl Seven: Earthquake and hail 21. Verse 11 Then I heard a loud voice from thetemple saying to the seven angels, "Go andpour out the bowls of the wrath of God onthe earth."That this is the voice of God can be deducedfrom the fact that according to chapter fifteen,God is the only one left in the temple at thispoint. The time of some of the most severejudgment to ever be exacted upon mankind isabout to occur. 22. Verse 1Johnson makes an interesting observation withrespect to the bowls being filled with Godswrath by virtue of the rebellion of the wicked.Jesus used this analogy in Matthew 23:32 whenaddressing those who had hypocriticallydistanced themselves from their forefathers whohad killed the prophets, while they themselveswere conspiring to kill the Messiah. Jesus said,Fill up, then, the measure of the guilt of yourfathers. 23. Verse 2 : The First Bowl2 So the first went and poured out hisbowl upon the earth, and a foul andloathsome sore came upon the men whohad the mark of the beast and those whoworshiped his image.This judgment parallels that of the sixth plagueupon Egypt. In Egypt the Jews were exempt fromthe plagues while all the Egyptians were afflicted.In the first bowl judgment, the sores arerestricted to all those who had the mark of thebeast and those who worshipped his image. 24. Verse 3: The Second Bowl3 Then the second angel poured out his bowl onthe sea, and it became blood as of a dead man;and every living creature in the sea died.The second bowl also has a parallel in thetrumpet plagues. Only this time it is not a thirdbut the whole sea that is impacted. There is norestraint in this plague as every living creature inthe sea died. The reference to living creature inthe sea seems to indicate that it is the animal lifein the sea and not, for example, seamen who dieas a result of this plague. 25. Verse 4: The Third Bowl4 Then the third angel poured out hisbowl on the rivers and springs of water,and they became blood.Now the fresh water supply of the world isalso turned to blood. Every source of freshwater is polluted. Furthermore, while theuse of as does not occur here, it is surelyimplied from the previous verse where thesame reference to seas as blood is carriedover into the plague on the fresh water. 26. Verses 5-65 And I heard the angel of the waterssaying:"You are righteous, O Lord, The One whois and who was and who is to be, BecauseYou have judged these things. 6For theyhave shed the blood of saints andprophets, And You have given themblood to drink. For it is their just due." 27. Verses 5-6 (cont.)In the Greek the words, who is to be areabsent. Earlier in the book God is describedas the One who was and is and is to come.Now, however, the phrase is to come isirrelevant, because at this point in the visionGod has already come to execute judgmentand to pour out His wrath upon the wicked. 28. Verses 5-6 (cont.)Some argue that a loving God would not bringeternal punishment upon sinful man. Theysay that such a God is vindictive and acts inways that mirror an angry man getting evenwith those who have hurt his feelings orimpugned his character. The song of theangel here refutes such a view of God. God isnot acting in a way that is vindictive, but it isvindication for the saints who have suffered atthe hands of the wicked. 29. Verse 77 And I heard another from the altarsaying, "Even so, Lord God Almighty, trueand righteous are Your judgments."This voice is either the collective voice of themartyrs mentioned in chapter 6; the altar speaking,symbolizing the blood of every innocent sacrificeever offered in the place of sinful humanity; or it isthe voice of an angel. The voices of the martyrscome from beneath the altar (6:9). Whatever thesource, the declaration affirms that thesejudgments are true and righteous. 30. Verses 8-9: The Fourth Bowl8 Then the fourth angel poured out hisbowl on the sun, and power was given tohim to scorch men with fire. 9 And menwere scorched with great heat, and theyblasphemed the name of God who haspower over these plagues; and they didnot repent and give Him glory. 31. Verses 8-9One might expect that at this point the peoplewould cry out to God in contrition andrepentance, but instead, they blaspheme thename of God and they refuse to repent orgive God glory. In doing this they are usingthe Lords name in vain and are breaking thethird commandment. They are using Godsname in profane and impious ways when,instead, they should be repenting andacknowledging the glory of God! 32. Verses 10-11: The Fifth Bowl10 Then the fifth angel poured out hisbowl on the throne of the beast, and hiskingdom became full of darkness; andthey gnawed their tongues because of thepain. 11 They blasphemed the God ofheaven because of their pains and theirsores, and did not repent of their deeds. 33. Verses 10-11Darkness was the ninth plague and the last plagueinflicted upon the Egyptians before the death of thefirstborn.At this point in the Egyptian saga, the Pharaoh waswilling to let Moses and Israel go and worship theirGod, only without taking their possessions or theirlivestock. Moses refused to compromise and Godbrought Israel out with a strong arm. But here thepeople continue to blaspheme God and refuse torepent. 34. Verse 12: The Sixth Bowl12 Then the sixth angel poured out his bowl onthe great river Euphrates, and its water wasdried up, so that the way of the kings from theeast might be prepared.In this judgment the Euphrates River is dried up sothat kings from the east may have access to Israel.Morris notes that, In the Old Testament a mightyaction of God is frequently associated with thedrying up of waters, as the Red Sea (Ex. 14:21), theJordan (Jos. 3:16-17), and several times in prophecy(Is. 11:15; Je. 51:36; Zc. 10:11). 35. Verses 13-1413 And I saw three unclean spirits likefrogs coming out of the mouth of thedragon, out of the mouth of the beast,and out of the mouth of the false prophet.14 For they are spirits of demons,performing signs, which go out to thekings of the earth and of the whole world,to gather them to the battle of that greatday of God Almighty. 36. Verses 13-14From the mouth of Satan, the Antichrist andthe false prophet will go three lying spirits.These are demonic spirits that go out to thekings of the earth to entice them into going tobattle against God and His host. 37. Verse 1515 Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessedis he who watches, and keeps hisgarments, lest he walk naked and they seehis shame."Interjected into the scene is a warning fromJesus. His warning is that He is indeedcoming. 38. Verse 15 (cont.)This is a warning from Christ that He is comingto gather His Church and therefore they must beready. They must be watching, like the Israelitescoming out of Egypt with a belt on your waist,your sandals on your feet, and your staff in yourhand (Ex 12:10), ready to go at a momentsnotice. Those not ready will be exposed as Jesuscomes and they who are left behind are revealedto be naked, even as Adam and Eve were exposedthrough sin and rebellion. 39. Verse 16: Armageddon16 And they gathered them together to theplace called in Hebrew, Armageddon.The difficulty with the locating this place isthat there is no place called Armageddon inthe Hebrew. The closest we can get to it isHar-Magedon, which means, mount ofMegiddo. Megiddo is a broad plain inPalestine, about a two-day walk northeast ofJerusalem, which has been the site of severalwars. 40. Verses 17-18: The Seventh Bowl17 Then the seventh angel poured out hisbowl into the air, and a loud voice cameout of the temple of heaven, from thethrone, saying, "It is done!" 18 And therewere noises and thunderings andlightnings; and there was a greatearthquake, such a mighty and greatearthquake as had not occurred sincemen were on the earth. 41. Verses 17-18 (cont.)The seventh bowl brings cataclysmic naturaldisasters upon the earth. God has had the endin sight throughout human history and withthe final bowl that end is about to be realized.The result of the seventh bowl is storms andan earthquake of unparalleled proportionsand severity. 42. Verse 1919 Now the great city was divided intothree parts, and the cities of the nationsfell. And great Babylon was rememberedbefore God, to give her the cup of the wineof the fierceness of His wrath.The great city Babylon is literally broken. Itis divided into three parts and destroyedalong with all the other cities of thenations. 43. Verse 19 (cont.)Early scholars understood Babylon to be aveiled reference to Rome. More recently, withthe conflict in the Middle East, some arechoosing to take the reference to Babylonmore literally, that is, to Baghdad in Iraq,which is not Babylon but lies several milesnorth of ancient Babylon. Some earlyProtestant scholars took Babylon to refer toRome and the Great Harlot to refer to RomanCatholicism. 44. Verse 2020 Then every island fled away, and themountains were not found.The earthquake will be so severe thatislands will sink into the ocean andmountains will crumble into the earth.Earlier, we read of a time when people willpray for the mountains to fall on them(6:16) and here the prayer is answered. 45. Verse 21aVerse 21a And great hail from heaven fellupon men, each hailstone about theweight of a talent.Hailstone weighing about 120 pounds willfall to the earth and will destroy everythingthat they hit, crushing man, woman, beastand structure. Surely under this barragemen would fall to their knees inrepentance. Not so. 46. Verse 21b21b Men blasphemed God because of theplague of the hail, since that plague wasexceedingly great.Instead, men continued to blaspheme God.There is the warning that to the extent thata man or woman lives in rebellion againstGod, they are storing up for themselveswrath for the day of wrath. 47. ConclusionThere is the assurance that God knows whoare His. God knows how to reserve Hiswrath for the wicked, who are storing uptheir own judgment. God knows who hasthe seal of the Holy Spirit upon their heartsand He knows who is ready and waiting forHis appearing. 48. ConclusionWe have the assurance that there is an end insight, that life does have rhyme and reasonand that every day God is moving us towardthe end of time and the beginning of eternity.The only question is where we will spend it.