Revelation #11 The Exultation of the Redeemed and The Bowls of Wrath Revelation 15 & 16

Revelation 15- The Exultation of the Redeemed In the last chapter we saw: Christ, the Lamb, victoriously atop Mt. Zion He gathered the righteous 144,000 with Him to heaven and then the wicked were harvested into the winepress of God’s wrath. We would next expect to see the scene of the New Heavens and New Earth which actually are later described….

Revelation 15- The Exultation of the Redeemed But we don’t. Instead we see: a series of judgments being rendered a review of sorts a more detailed and enlarged look at the general previous scene in two parts: >the glory of the righteous and>the plagues upon the wicked.

Revelation 15- The Exultation of the Redeemed The Redeemed and the Sea of Glass, 15:2 -those victorious over the Beast, his image, and his mark are pictured -standing on a sea of glass first seen in 4:6 upon which the throne of God sat >represented the transcendence of God >it then was a barrier of sorts >now it is the redeemed who are standing on it with Him, prepared to worship Him. (cf. 21:11)

Revelation 15- The Exultation of the Redeemed The Song of Moses and the Song of the Lamb, 15:3-4 -The Song of Moses was a song of victory, cf. Ex.15:1. It celebrated the Israelites delivery from Pharaoh & the Egyptians. -The Song of the Lamb is a song of righteousness and justice. Some think of God as a loving god but one without vengeance or punishment. He is loving, but also righteous and just. All are desired to be saved, 2Pet.3:9, but punishment will come to those who will not obey, Jude 15.

Revelation 15:1,5-8 The Last Plagues The Seven Bowls of Wrath, 15:1,5-8 -The plagues are called “the last” (v.1) because with these God’s judgment against the enemies of the saints (cf.6:9- 10) are complete. -Seven angels, robed in royal and priestly garments, come out of the temple and are given seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God by one of the four living creatures (cf.4:7-8), vv.5-8.

Revelation 16:1-21 The Seven Bowls of Wrath The First Four Bowls, 16:1-9 > first bowl- Sores upon Men of the Earth, v.2 (remember, the righteous have already been gathered, 14:14-16, and are singing God’s praises, 15:2-4.) Also, the trumpets of chps.8-9 were partial judgment calls to repentance. These bowls are punishment for those still disobedient. >second bowl- Sea becomes Blood, v.3 All living in it dies.

Revelation 16:1-21 The Seven Bowls of Wrath The First Four Bowls, 16:1-9 > third bowl- Rivers & Springs become Blood, vv.4-7 Fresh waters are now polluted as the salt had been contaminated, v.4. The punishment now fits the crime, vv.5-7. > fourth bowl- Scorching Sun, vv.8-9 Even under the punishment of scorching heat, the wicked blasphemed rather to acknowledge God.

Revelation 16:1-21 The Seven Bowls of Wrath The Remaining Three Bowls, 16:10-21 > fifth bowl- Darkness upon the Kingdom of the Beast, vv Those with the Beast’s mark suffered in darkness. So great was their torment and pain, that they gnawed their tongues, cf. Mt.25:30. Indeed, the “way of the transgressor is hard” Prov.13:15. Rome had lived in evil splendor, but such would lead only to destruction.

Revelation 16:1-21 The Seven Bowls of Wrath The Remaining Three Bowls, 16:10-21 > sixth bowl- Armies from the East, vv A lot of people speak of and have heard of the Battle of Armageddon. But did you know that this is the only biblical reference to it??? Several significant battles of the Old Testament took place at the Hill of Megiddo, which was in the valley of Jezreel. It was typically a battleground for the forces of good vs. evil.

Revelation 16:1-21 The Seven Bowls of Wrath Is/was Armageddon a literal battle? If so, then: -the generals will look like frogs, v.13 -the battleground will hold 200 million horseman from just one army, cf. 9:16 -the blood spilled will be 200 miles long, 14:20 Actually, >The battle is spiritual, not physical. >It is between good and evil. >Righteousness wins! cf. Rev.19 Revelation is to assure the righteous, v.15.

Revelation 16:1-21 The Seven Bowls of Wrath The Remaining Three Bowls, 16:10-21 > seventh bowl- It is done, vv Lightning, thunder, an earthquake, and hail punctuate the conclusion of the bowls of God’s wrath. They symbolize God’s judgments upon mankind. The earthquake was like none before. The great city (Rome, not the city per se but the Empire which persecuted the Elect) was destroyed.

Revelation 16:1-21 The Seven Bowls of Wrath Conclusions These seven bowls of wrath parallel the seven trumpets of chp.8. Each vision showed the causes which foreshadowed the downfall of Rome: Natural Calamities (first four trumpets and bowls highlighted plagues against nature) Internal Corruption (locusts from bottomless pit & darkness on the beast’s kingdom) External Invasion (army from Euphrates/East)

Revelation 16:1-21 The Seven Bowls of Wrath It would be difficult to interpret all of these bowls of God’s wrath with specific and corresponding events of history. They are instead symbolic pictures of the overall battle between good and evil. The saints of the first & second centuries needed to know that Satan and his beast Rome would not prevail. The message of the book of Revelations is still WE WIN!