Revelation 15 thru 16

Chapter 15 is the shortest chapter in the book but gives important information.

            > It brings to a conclusion the events of Chapters 10 through 15.

            > It takes us from the Wrath of Man and the Wrath of Satan to the Wrath of God.

            > It reveals the third sign John saw: Seven angels before the throne of God.

The scene gives John another glimpse of events that take place in heaven.

            > Those standing on the sea of glass ARE NOT the raptured from The Church Age.

            > Those standing ARE people who accepted Christ during the Great Tribulation.

            > Revelation 7:9 told us of a mighty harvest of souls in the first half of Tribulation.

            > They’re victorious over the beast by death/resurrection or rapture (harvest).

            > They are singing about eternal redemption by the blood of the lamb.

In Hebrew thinking, every natural force of nature had its own angel appointed by God.

            > So, they believed there were angels assigned to rain, hail, lightning, wind, etc.

            > Remember 7 angels were assigned to each of the seven churches.

            > Remember 7 angels blew the seven trumpets.

            > Here 7 angels are each given a bowl containing the wrath of God to pour out.

These seven plagues are the seven judgments of seven Bowls which are poured out under the seventh. The seven angels are clothed in white (symbolizing God’s purity) and they each have a band of gold around their waist (symbolizing God’s righteousness). They come out from the Temple’s “Holy of Holies.” Thus, these seven judgments come directly from the throne of God but all the previous judgments have come indirectly from God. Chapter 16 closes the chronological account of the time of God’s direct wrath.       
Chapter 15

Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous: seven angels having the seven last plagues, for in them the wrath of God is complete.

2 And I saw something like a sea of glass mingled with fire, and 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. 3 They sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying:

“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 come and worship before You,
For Your judgments have been manifested.” (This ends the 3rd interlude)

Prelude to the Bowl Judgments

5 After these things I looked, and behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened. 6 And 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. 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. 8 The temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from His power, and no one was able to enter the temple till the seven plagues of the seven angels were completed.

The plans and actions of God will often be clouded to mankind because no one can see into the mind of God. Also, the fact that no one was able to approach God reminds us that it is always God that moves toward mankind first.

Chapter 16

The Seven Bowls

16 Then I heard a loud voice from the temple saying to the seven angels, “Go and pour out the bowls of the wrath of God on the earth.”

First Bowl: Loathsome Sores

2 So the first went and poured out his bowl upon the earth, and a foul and loathsome sore came upon the men who had the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image.

Second Bowl: The Sea Turns to Blood

3 Then the second angel poured out his bowl on the sea, and it became blood as of a dead man; and every living creature in the sea died.

Third Bowl: The Waters Turn to Blood

4 Then the third angel poured out his bowl on the rivers and springs of water, and they became blood. 5 And I heard the angel of the waters saying:

“You are righteous, O Lord, The One who is and who was and who is to be,
Because You have judged these things. 6 For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and You have given them blood to drink. For it is their just due.”

7 And I heard another from the altar saying, “Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are Your judgments.”

Fourth Bowl: Men Are Scorched

8 Then the fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and power was given to him to scorch men with fire. 9 And men were scorched with great heat, and they blasphemed the name of God who has power over these plagues; and they did not repent and give Him glory.

Fifth Bowl: Darkness and Pain

10 Then the fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom became full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues because of the pain. 11 They blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and did not repent of their deeds.

Sixth Bowl: Euphrates Dried Up

12 Then the sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up, so that the way of the kings from the east might be prepared. 13 And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs coming out of the mouth of the dragon, 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 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 am coming as a thief. Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame.”

16 And they gathered them together to the place called in Hebrew, Armageddon.

Seventh Bowl: The Earth Utterly Shaken

17 Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, “It is done!” 18 And there were noises and thunderings and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such a mighty and great earthquake as had not occurred since men were on the earth. 19 Now the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of all the nations fell. And great Babylon was remembered before God, to give her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of His wrath. 20 Then every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. 21 And great hail from heaven fell upon men, each hailstone about the weight of a talent. Men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail, since that plague was exceedingly great.

The general purpose of the Book of Revelation for now and The Great Tribulation later?

            > To bring about worldwide revival now and also then.

            > To so disorder mankind’s security that they would look to God.

            > To soften the stubborn will of Jews who refuse the Messiahship of Jesus.

            > To warn now and to destroy then the wicked followers of the Antichrist.

            > To show the coming fulfillment and promises of the Holy Bible.

            > To show encouragement to all who suffer persecution for serving God.

            > To prove that Jesus did have victory over the cross and the grave.

            > To show that we may not always know or understand what our God is doing.

            > To show that while God shows mercy and grace, He must execute justice.

The Bible clearly teaches that when people reject Jesus:

            > It is not because of philosophical doubts.

            > It is not because of unexplained answers to unanswered questions.

            > It is not because of hypocrites who live one lifestyle but claim another.

            > It is not because hurt feelings experienced when attending Christian Churches.

            > It is not because they feel un-appreciated for their service and/or donations.

            > It is because of hardness of heart and love of sin!!

Those who accept the mark of the beast will break the first 4 of the 10 Commandments.

Exodus 20: 2-8

2 “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.

3 “You shall have no other gods before Me.

4 “You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; 5 you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, 6 but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.

7 “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.

8 “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.