Here is our next Revelation study: Revelation 15:1-8 Revelation 15:1 - I saw in heaven another great and marvelous sign: seven angels with the seven last plagues—last, because with them God’s wrath is completed. -John now announces in the Book of Revelation that 7 angels are about to release 7 last plagues upon the earth to complete God’s Wrath. Wait a minute! Chapter 14 told of the end of everything and the finish of the end times, so why are there 7 more plagues about to be done? John is now about to go back describe the ending and Christ’s second coming in greater detail. This is often done in scripture and no better example than in the telling of the creation of the world. Read Genesis 1 & 2. -Read Leviticus 26:21. These next and last 7 plagues are brought on after the people of the earth still would not repent and turn to God after all they have been through with the previous plagues described in previous chapters. They reject God’s final warnings and continue in their sins, and in turn choose the full and complete wrath of God. -The greek word for completed used here is “etelesthe” which means “to reach an end or an aim”. These are not warnings anymore like previous plagues, this is the end, the full and complete wrath of God. Revelation 15:2 - And I saw what looked like a sea of glass glowing with fire and, standing beside the sea, those who had been victorious over the beast and its image and over the number of its name. They held harps given them by God -We have seen the sea of glass before in chapter 4 and the multitude of victorious believers in chapter 7. They both were described as “before the throne of God”. The sea of glass was described as crystal clear and in our study back in chapter 4 we learned that it represented the righteous and cleansing purity of the gospel, but here in chapter 15 we see the sea is glowing with fire representing the righteous judgment of God. Those who are standing beside the sea are the great multitude described in chapter 7 where they are described as “they who have come out of the great tribulation”. Here in chapter 15 we learn that they have victory over the beast and its image and over the mark of the beast that has the number of his name on it. They are believers who lose their life at the hands of the Antichrist and the world in the last days. Read 1 Corinthians 15:55-57 & Philippians 1:21. They gain victory through the righteousness that is imparted to them through the death and resurrection of our Lord and Savior and their prayers in chapter 6:9-11 are answered. -“The ancient Greek word for beside (epi) can [also] mean on, over or beside. Many believe that in the architecture of heaven, the sea of glass is a physical representation of the Word of God, connecting to the idea of the tabernacles laver and the washing of water by the word (Ephesians 5:26). Perhaps we could say that these saints are ‘standing on the Word.’ ” (David Guzik) Revelation 15:3 - and sang the song of God’s servant Moses and of the Lamb: “Great and marvelous are your deeds, Lord God Almighty. Just and true are your ways, King of the nations. -Read Exodus 15:1-19. `This is the song of Moses and traditionally was sung on Sabbath evenings in the synagogue to celebrate Israel’s great deliverance from Egypt. It is also the picture or shadow of the risen Lord’s triumph over his enemies securing spiritual deliverance for His followers, the song of the Lamb. That song is most beautifully put by the multitude in the rest of this verse and the next. Revelation 15:4 - Who will not fear you, Lord, and bring glory to your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before you, for your righteous acts have been revealed.” -“All nations will come and worship before you”. The recognition of God by the unsaved is foretold throughout scripture. Read Pslams 86:9, Isaiah 45:22-23, Malachi 1:11, and Philippians 2:9-11. -Notice how many times “you” or “your” is used in these last 2 verses. Notice how many times the word ”I” is used. It is all about Jesus and it should only be about Him. Read 2 Timothy 4:3 & Titus 1:9. Many wonder what they can get out of Christianity or what’s in it for them. They ask how can it better their lives. Many teachers and pastors will lead people away from Christ (whether on purpose or not) and make them focus on themselves. We live in a day where this is rampant in Christianity as even some of the most well known pastors and teachers fall into this category. Beware of what you read and test everything and compare it to the scriptures. Read 1 John 4:1, 1 Thessalonians 5:21-22, & 2 Timothy 3:16. If it makes you focus on you, get rid of it. If it makes you focus on Christ, follow it. Revelation 15:5 - After this I looked, and I saw in heaven the temple—that is, the tabernacle of the covenant law—and it was opened. -Read Hebrews 8:1-5 & 9:11-12. Moses and the Israelites dwelt amongst the shadow or representation of the real heavenly tabernacle. Read Deuteronomy 10:5 & Revelation 11:19. The ark of the covenant was located in the Holy of Holies and held the stone tablets of the law. Once a year the high priest would enter the Holy of Holies and pour blood over the mercy seat of the ark of the covenant to atone for the peoples sins so God would have mercy on them from the penalty they deserved from transgressing the very laws that were stored in the ark of the covenant. Now the real tabernacle of the covenant law was opened and the punishment deserved from sin committed by the world would fall on those not covered by the blood of the Lamb. Revelation 15:6 - Out of the temple came the seven angels with the seven plagues. They were dressed in clean, shining linen and wore golden sashes around their chests. -7 angels come out with the 7 plagues of God’s wrath and they were dressed in clean and shining linen which represents the righteousness and purity of God, and also golden sashes which represent the sovereign lordship of God. Revelation 15:7 - Then one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls filled with the wrath of God, who lives for ever and ever. -The Greek word for bowls literally means just that. It describes a shallow, pan-like saucer that can be easily, quickly, and completely poured out. Revelation 15:8 - And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from his power, and no one could enter the temple until the seven plagues of the seven angels were completed. - Read 2 Thessalonians 1:6-9. In all of this we need to remember that God is just and righteous and needs to carry out punishment for sin. He is the One who is eternal and lives forever and ever and has complete rule and reign over all creation.
Posted on: Tue, 21 Jan 2014 02:30:41 +0000
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