“The Final Bowls Of Judgment” • 11.1.20 • Calvary Christian Fellowship, Sunday Morning Service
Intro.
- We are coming to the end of the parenthesis that began with the announcement of the seventh trumpet judgment.
- In the intervening time between chapter 11 and 15, we have learned of the measures that God has employed to reach a planet of people who have largely rejected Him.
- We have witnessed the use of marvelous preachers, miraculous events and angelic intervention, all in hopes of gathering more "wheat," true believers in Christ, into the barn's safety.
- As we learned last week, while there will be a wonderful harvest of Christian souls, there will also be a final defeat of all who would oppose Him. The section before us explains how this will occur.
- We begin first in the realm of heaven and the prelude to judgment. Chapter 15.
Text
• Revelation 15:1,2 : "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. 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." : The last "sign" that John reported appeared in Revelation 12 with the vision of the Beasts. That vision was ghastly and grotesque.
- This sign is just as "great" in terms of significance but is also "marvelous," a word signifying that it is past all human comprehension! It is nearly unbelieveable from a human standpoint.
- First, John gets to witness the seven angels who are in possession of the seven last plagues or calamities that are about to befall the Earth and the people that oppose Him.
- The seventh trumpet judgment itself is the pouring out of these seven bowl judgments that we are about to examine.
- When they are poured out, God's wrath against rebel humanity will be complete. This will be the finale which ushers in a new era on Earth!
- What John sees next is also compelling as he looks upon a sea of glass, mingled with fire! - This water feature is not explained to us, except in the fact that it is represented on Earth by the bronze laver and Solomon's bronze "sea," which the priests used to wash themselves with.
- This is the method by which these believers have been made clean, by the water of the word and the fire of trial that purified their faith!
- These believers, these tribulation saints, stand upon this water, cleansed and whole!
- On Earth, they were seemingly "the conquered." In heaven, they are the conquerors! They stand victorious over the all that the Antichrist represents, ready before God to worship Him!
- The world mocked them and attempted to shake their faith by convincing them that this world was what was worth living for! Their death in Christ opened the door for them to enjoy Christ forever!
- Here they stand, bodies intact and harps in hand! At least one commentator mentioned that "harps" could just as easily be translated "guitars!"
- Whatever they hold, it is in their hands and it is "of" and "for" God's pleasure! Verse 3.
• Revelation 15:3,4 : "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! 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 song is not only public domain, it's available for all to hear and sing. They sing the "song of Moses!"
- This hearkens back to Exodus 15. God's people Israel have just crossed over the Red Sea.
- Their enemies are never to be seen again and the first thing that Israel does is commemorate the moment with a song of deliverance! Why would these people be singing this song particularly?
• Exodus 15:16,17 : "Fear and dread will fall on them; By the greatness of Your arm they will be as still as a stone, till Your people pass over, O Lord, till the people pass over whom You have purchased. You will bring them in and plant them in the mountain of Your inheritance, in the place, O Lord, which You have made for Your own dwelling, the sanctuary, O Lord, which Your hands have established." : God's people are now dwelling in THE Sanctuary which divine hands have made!
- They are singing this song, as well as the song of the Lamb! Two distinct songs, one being the first song sung in the Bible, the latter being the last recorded song in scripture!
- Moses, the servant of God, was the first deliverer of God's people! The Lamb is the Savior of God and the final deliverer of God's people!
- When these people address the Lamb, they praise Him for the great and nearly unbelieveable nature of His works!
- His ability to sustain and keep them, to deliver them home to heaven as He promised, rings clearly in their thoughts and song. Like the people of Israel, they are overjoyed at where they stand!
- There is no fear of the enemy and no further thought of sadness or loss! They are free to worship and give their praise to the Lamb, the "Lord God Almighty!"
- Much to the the Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses chagrin, heaven's occupants know only of the Jesus who is exalted as God, the One who has His hands in everything!
- The Lord's works are great and marvelous. The Lord's ways are righteous and true!
- This is sung by martyrs, most of which spent their final days in utter misery! In heaven, they don't have a single charge to file against their King!
- Questions, confusion, and contemplation are curses of a life without a clear vision of Christ.
- When we get there, the questions are answered, the confusion will be gone and the only contemplation is fixed upon how we can bring greater glory to Jesus!
- These are among the first to revere His Name, but they will not be the last! Their question presupposes a full and final victory. All will revere His Name, all will glorify the Holy One!
- Those in heaven do so with a heart of joy and celebration. Those in hell will do so through regret and sadness! Every single soul will confess His worth as the only Holy One!
- None will claim ignorance because His judgments will have been clearly displayed. Verse 5.
• Revelation 14:5-8 : "After these things I looked, and behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened. 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. 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. 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." : After listening to the worship service, John looks again toward the temple in heaven and uses his favorite word "Behold!"
- What is happening is monumental! The Holy Place that holds the testimony was opened! Remember that the earthly tabernacle was a copy of the heavenly one. (Hebrews 9:24)
- "The testimony" then is the existence of God's moral law! From that legal center come these seven angels who are holding the seven plagues which will satisfy justice.
- Rarely does one hear of the clothing of an angel, but we hear of it in verse 6. They are arrayed in bright linen with golden band accents over their chests.
- The priests of God on Earth wore linen to keep them from sweating. (Ezekiel 44:17,18) The golden band is reminiscent of the ephod that the High Priest would wear.
- The fact that they are clothed this way indicates that they are serving holy interest.
- The four living creatures handed these angels these golden bowls or saucers in order that they might carry out the full, the swelling out fury of God's wrath.
- Each one was filled to the top with the wrath God and His anger is so strong that nobody can approach the temple until everything is completed.
- There are two reasons for this, the first of which is that God's actions are displeasing to Himself! God wants to be men's Savior, but He must also be their Judge!
- Ezekiel 33:11 tells us that God takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that they would turn from their wickedness and live! This is why He bears this alone.
- The second reason is related to the first. The entire purpose of the Most Holy Place on Earth was to provide a place of atonement for the sins of the people.
- The fact that nobody is allowed to enter in at this time points to the determination of God to execute judgment upon rebellious mankind! There will be no further reprieve! Chapter 16.
• Revelation 16:1-4 : "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.' 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. 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. Then the third angel poured out his bowl on the rivers and springs of water, and they became blood." : When the command is given, the seven angels go immediately to work. The first bowl or vial was poured out and it specifically targeted the men that had taken the mark of the beast.
- "A foul and loathsome sore" developed upon these worshippers and these alone.
- The word "foul" is usually translated "evil" or "of a bad nature." The intention of God is to punish them for their crime of worshipping the devil.
- The second word, "loathsome" is the result, as the word denotes painful harm upon this person. This ulcer will be a festering wound upon these men and it will come from God.
- The Lord had warned them that their decision to receive the mark "marked" them out for a share in the same punishment that the Antichrist would receive! This is the beginning.
- The second angel's activity is more generic as he targets the sea. Earlier in the book, the Lord allowed His judgment to fall upon the sea.
- The second trumpet judgment involved a great mountain burning with fire, which caused a third of the sea to become blood, with a third of the marine life extinguished. (Revelation 8:8,9)
- This time, the entire sea is bloodied, like the lifeless blood of a dead person! All of the creatures in the sea will die. The third angel's bowl will affect the rivers and springs the same way.
- The ability to breath, given the oxygen depletion, and drink, is just about cut off.
- These natural wonders, formerly teeming with life, will remind men that their blessings come from the hand of Almighty God, who can give and just as easily, take away!
- God is no longer striking with precision. He has cast off all restraint! Verse 5.
• Revelation 16:5-7 : "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. For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and You have given them blood to drink. For it is their just due.' And I heard another from the altar saying, 'Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are Your judgments." : The angel has no objection to what God has done, even if, somehow, we might! It is very difficult for you and I to reconcile God's love with His Justice.
- Some will cry "foul" no matter how airtight the case is! That's why this Angel has to do the objective work for us of adding his witness! God has done what is right!
- He is righteous by virtue of the fact that He has punished them with less than they deserved!
- The world system, those that have opposed the Lord, were responsible for the death of the Lord's saints and prophets!
- The Antichrist government will execute believers, saints, spiritual siblings, at a rate that will be unparalleled in history! The same government will have assassinated Moses and Elijah.
- In response, the Lord has given them, at least symbolically, blood to drink! This was what their actions deserved and even if it was more, this second angel cries out in agreement!
- "Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are Your judgments!" The angels that have watched history unfold and know of the mighty restraint of God. "By the mouth of two witnesses!"
- They have watched God patiently endure insult and blasphemy. They have stood by and witnessed the many of His saints and prophets through history, be maligned and murdered.
- Whatever the Lord chooses to do in this particular moment is eternally justified! Verse 8.
• Revelation 16:8-11 : "Then the fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and power was given to him to scorch men with fire. 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. 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. They blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and did not repent of their deeds." : The fourth angel takes aim at the sun for the purpose of using it's heat to scorch mankind.
- We aren't told how the angel accomplished this, but unbelieving human beings will have a new definition of "global warming" and "sun burn!"
- The grace of God in shielding mankind from the sun's harmful rays will be removed and they will feel the direct result. Men are getting a preview of what lays ahead of them!
- They will be tormented with fire and brimstone for eternity and what is their response?
- Instead of turning to God in repentance and giving Him the glory that is due His Name, they insulted His Name! This is absolutely devastating to people who claim they need God to "do more!"
- People say, "Not unless I hear the gospel from a credible source!" These people have heard, potentially from Moses and Elijah themselves! "Not unless I saw a miracle!" They will rise from death!
- "Maybe if I saw an angel!" The men of the Great Tribulation will see angels and demons with some regularity! "Maybe if I sensed that God was either pleased or displeased with me!"
- Right here, men will know who has afflicted them! They will blaspheme the Name of the One who had power over these plagues and they will not repent or give Him honor!
- If you will not be converted by His grace, mercy and compassion, you will not be converted by His judgment either!
- The next, the fifth vial of judgment was directed at the very center of the Beast's kingdom.
- His kingdom, already the home of spiritual darkness, was now completely darkened physically. This is reminiscent of what the Lord did to Egypt.
- Exodus 10:21-23 records that this darkness that could be felt fell upon Egypt. It stood for three days and nobody was able to move around, except for the people of God who had light.
- Here, the judgment is intensified, as the people at the very center of the Beast's administration, "gnawed their tongues" on account of the pain.
- Josephus employs this exact same phrase when speaking of what happened in Egypt!
- Whatever was taking place in the darkness, whatever kind of personalized judgment was occuring, it caused a high level of pain. The next phrase mentions "pains and sores."
- God's angel will inflict these people with a degree of pain that will be enough for them to recognized God's hand in the matter, but will not produce the desired effect of repentance!
- These who are in the very "house" of the beast will refuse to repent of their deeds! They will regret their pain, but refuse to repent of the cause of it! This is utterly tragic! Verse 12.
• Revelation 16:12-14 : "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. 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. 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." : The sixth bowl doesn't seem to be on par with the other the other. The river Euphrates will be permanently dried on this day!
- According to a few commentators, this will likely be a result of the sun's scorching power, which will likely melt all the ice at the poles and on the mountains.
- The Euphrates river is fed by mountain water. This river that has been around since the very beginning of the Bible will be a dried up river bed and will be a new open highway.
- The Euphrates river today acts as a natural border that keeps armies from mobilizing west. It is 1800 miles long, 2 1/2 miles wide and thirty feet deep in spots.
- With the Euphrates gone, men will easily enter into a war! The "How" is answered, but the "why" is unclear. The answer will be demonic persuasion.
- John explains that there are three spirits that come from the mouths of the unholy trinity!
- These demons come forth from these people with all of the signs and wonders necessary to draw the Kings of the Earth into this final conflict.
- They believe that they are coming to conquer, but even here, the Lord is employing this demonic deception for His own ends!
- These nations are gathering, not to gain a victory, but to fall in judgment to Almighty God! They think it is their day, but it's very clear to John that it is His Day! Verse 15.
• Revelation 16:15,16 : "'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.' And they gathered them together to the place called in Hebrew, Armageddon." : This note is for you and I! Jesus is reminding us of what is only true for us! His coming will be as an unexpected thief. For those living in the Tribulation, there will be no surprise.
- Men will know the very hour in which they live and the events that will precede the Lord's Second coming. The Battle of Armageddon will be that final moment.
- For you and I we are to remain watchful and to be sure that our clothing is on! I mentioned some time ago about the training of elite soldiers in Rome.
- Another training method was to set fire to the clothing of men that fell asleep on their watch. If one fell asleep, by the time they woke up, their clothes were virtually gone!
- God wants His people to be ready, to hold themselves in such a way that they won't be ashamed at His coming! May that be true for each of us!
- As for the world, God will have gathered all of His enemies into the Valley of Megiddo. V. 17.
• Revelation 16:17,18 : "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!' 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." : The final vial of God's wrath is poured out into the atmosphere. The Prince of the power of the air is judged!
- With it comes a voice from within the Temple of heaven, from the very throne itself! "It is done!" While it is not the same word that Jesus used, it still reflects the fact.
- God's has wrath has been completed. As usual, when God speaks, there are noises, thunderings and lightnings, which seem to trigger an Earthquake that is unlike any other in history!
- This will be the true "big one and it will redefine and realign the planet! Verse 19.
• Revelation 16:19-21 : "Now the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. And great Babylon was remembered before God, to give her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of His wrath. Then every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. 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." : Babylon, the headquarters of the Antichrist, was split into three and the cities surrounding her fell.
- When the Bible speaks of God "remembering," it's never meant to imply that He forgot about them, but that it was time for Him to act upon His knowledge.
- Their wickedness called for a full dose of wine, known as God's fierce wrath! The picture behind "fierceness" relates to the heavy breathing of a person who is expending themselves!
- God is not holding back in any way and the world is His target! As a result of this Earthquake, the Islands sink into the rising sea and mountains vanish from sight!
- As if that wasn't enough, God will rain 75 pound hail to the ground! Some commentators have mentioned that this will be God's divine response to men's blasphemy! He will "hail" stone them!
- How will men respond? For the third time in this chapter, they will blaspheme God!
- They won't repent from their sin which is exceedingly great. They will regret that they must suffer the consequences of a plague that is exceedingly great!
Conclusion
- What is the end of this passage? What do you say here? What we are reading is the definition of what it means to fall into
the hands of the living God!
- What a fearful thing it is for human beings who have, by their own actions, to experience the hands of a wrath filled God!
- How much better is it now, TODAY, to run into the arms of a merciful, compassionate and gracious Savior who will in no wise turn away those that call upon the Name of Jesus!
- Maybe there are some in your lives that you know who are already spurning the advances of a God who calls them to Himself. This is their destiny!
- I pray that this sobers you as you consider their potential future! How much more should we re-double our efforts to call men and women to come to our compassionate Savior.
- I pray that this will be our resolve!
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