Rejoicing Over and Preparation for the Seven Last Plagues Revelation 15:1-8

Rejoicing OverRejoicing Overandand

Preparation forPreparation forthe Seven Last Plagues the Seven Last Plagues

Revelation 15:1-8Revelation 15:1-8

What We Have Covered Thus What We Have Covered Thus FarFar

Rev 1“the thingswhich you have seen”

Rev 2-3“the thingswhich are”

Rev 4-5 “the things which shall take place after these things”

Rev 6 Rev 7 Rev 8-9

Introduction,John’s visionof theglorified Christ& commissionto write

Letters tothe sevenchurches

Visions of theOne who sits upon the throneand the Lambwho is worthyto take the scrolland break its seals

Breakingof the first sixseals

The slavesof God whoare not harmedby the wrathof God

Blowing of thefirst sixtrumpets

Rev 10 Rev 11 Rev 12-14 Rev 15Announcementof the end ofdelay & John’sre-commissioning

Templemeasurement,two witnesses,and blowing ofthe seventhtrumpet

Backgroundto the sevenbowls

Rejoicingover and preparationfor the sevenlast plagues

The Structure of Daniel’s 70The Structure of Daniel’s 70thth WeekWeek

(aka The Day of the Lord)(aka The Day of the Lord)

3.5 Years 3.5 YearsBeginning of Birth Pangs

The Great Tribulation

Abomination of

Desolation

Rapture of the Church

Return of Christ

You arehere.

Outline of RevelationOutline of Revelation Publication of the Prophecy: Its Future Publication of the Prophecy: Its Future

Expectation (4:1 – 22:5)Expectation (4:1 – 22:5) Opening of the Seven-Sealed Scroll Opening of the Seven-Sealed Scroll

(4:1 – 8:1)(4:1 – 8:1) The Sounding of the Seven Trumpets The Sounding of the Seven Trumpets

(8:2 – 11:19)(8:2 – 11:19) Pouring Out of the Seven Bowls Pouring Out of the Seven Bowls

(12:1 – 18:24)(12:1 – 18:24) Background of the Bowls (12:1 – 14:20)Background of the Bowls (12:1 – 14:20)

The woman, the male-child, and the dragon (12:1-17)The woman, the male-child, and the dragon (12:1-17) The beast out of the sea and the beast out of the The beast out of the sea and the beast out of the

earth (13:1-18)earth (13:1-18) The Victorious Followers of the Lamb (14:1-5)The Victorious Followers of the Lamb (14:1-5) Four Climactic Announcements and the Harvest and Four Climactic Announcements and the Harvest and

the Vintage (14:6-20)the Vintage (14:6-20) Rejoicing over and Preparation for the Seven Last Rejoicing over and Preparation for the Seven Last

Plagues (15:1-8)Plagues (15:1-8)

Correspondences between Correspondences between Rev 14 and Rev 15 - 16Rev 14 and Rev 15 - 16

Rev 14:1-5 Rev 15:2-4Rev 14:1-5 Rev 15:2-4 Rev 14:6-11Rev 14:6-11 14:14-2014:14-20

Rev 15:1,5; 16:1-Rev 15:1,5; 16:1-2121

The Rejoicing over the Seven The Rejoicing over the Seven Last Plagues (15:1-4)Last Plagues (15:1-4)

Following the earlier signs of the woman clothed in Following the earlier signs of the woman clothed in the sun and the great, fiery-red dragon, John sees the sun and the great, fiery-red dragon, John sees another sign in heaven, described as “great and another sign in heaven, described as “great and marvelous”.marvelous”.

The awesomeness of this vision stems from the The awesomeness of this vision stems from the goal of the 7 angels’ mission, which is the goal of the 7 angels’ mission, which is the completion of God’s wrath upon the earth.completion of God’s wrath upon the earth. Five of these plagues recall 5 of the 10 Egyptian plagues Five of these plagues recall 5 of the 10 Egyptian plagues

in Exodus 7-10; the first and third bowl plagues are in Exodus 7-10; the first and third bowl plagues are particularly reminiscent of what God did in punishing particularly reminiscent of what God did in punishing Egypt and delivering His people. He is doing the same Egypt and delivering His people. He is doing the same thing here, on a much larger scale.thing here, on a much larger scale.

The earlier series of seals and trumpets were temporal The earlier series of seals and trumpets were temporal punishments to warn people of the severity of God’s punishments to warn people of the severity of God’s wrath, but the bowl judgments are the climax of them all. wrath, but the bowl judgments are the climax of them all.


In contrast to the impending doom of the 7 In contrast to the impending doom of the 7 bowl judgments, John sees a vision of victory bowl judgments, John sees a vision of victory and worship.and worship. The sea of glass, like the one we encountered back The sea of glass, like the one we encountered back

in 4:6, symbolizes the splendor and majesty of in 4:6, symbolizes the splendor and majesty of God’s throne that sets Him apart from all His God’s throne that sets Him apart from all His creation.creation.

““Those who come off victorious from the beast” Those who come off victorious from the beast” are the ones who have refused the mark of the are the ones who have refused the mark of the beast out of loyalty to the true God and His Christ. beast out of loyalty to the true God and His Christ. They stand on the sea which leads to the throne of They stand on the sea which leads to the throne of God, holding harps for the purpose of worshipping God, holding harps for the purpose of worshipping God. God.


In celebration of the moment that has arrived, In celebration of the moment that has arrived, these overcomers sing two songs:these overcomers sing two songs: ““The song of Moses” is the celebratory hymn of Exodus 15, The song of Moses” is the celebratory hymn of Exodus 15,

after God had delivered the Israelites and drowned the after God had delivered the Israelites and drowned the Egyptian army in the Red Sea. A tremendous victory and Egyptian army in the Red Sea. A tremendous victory and demonstration of God’s power!demonstration of God’s power!

““The song of the Lamb” is in the remainder of vv. 3 and 4, The song of the Lamb” is in the remainder of vv. 3 and 4, giving praise to God for His mighty works, His giving praise to God for His mighty works, His righteousness, and the truth of His judgment, and righteousness, and the truth of His judgment, and asserting His sovereign rule as “King of the nations”… a asserting His sovereign rule as “King of the nations”… a prominent theme in this book.prominent theme in this book.

This latter song goes on to assert the inevitability of This latter song goes on to assert the inevitability of fearing God and giving Him glory, for there is no fearing God and giving Him glory, for there is no one like Him in all the earth.one like Him in all the earth. The word translated “holy” (The word translated “holy” (o[sioj), is not the usual word ), is not the usual word

for holy in the NT. This term describes God’s holiness not for holy in the NT. This term describes God’s holiness not so much in the sense of His sinlessness as in His so much in the sense of His sinlessness as in His unapproachable majesty, His distinctness from His unapproachable majesty, His distinctness from His creation.creation.


After God has purged the earth through the final After God has purged the earth through the final outpouring of His wrath, all the survivors will outpouring of His wrath, all the survivors will respond positively to Him.respond positively to Him.

In the Messianic age (and not before!) all nations In the Messianic age (and not before!) all nations will worship the God of Israel and glorify Him – a will worship the God of Israel and glorify Him – a very familiar theme in the Psalms and the very familiar theme in the Psalms and the Prophets.Prophets.

Though the initial fulfillment of this age will be in Though the initial fulfillment of this age will be in the millennial kingdom, it will be marred by a revolt the millennial kingdom, it will be marred by a revolt at the end of the 1000 years (Rev 20:7-9). at the end of the 1000 years (Rev 20:7-9).

The full realization of the universal worship of God The full realization of the universal worship of God by the nations will not occur until the eternal state. by the nations will not occur until the eternal state. The last clause of v. 4 provides the reason for why all the The last clause of v. 4 provides the reason for why all the

nations will come. It is the manifestation of His righteous nations will come. It is the manifestation of His righteous judgments in purging the earth of its rebels.judgments in purging the earth of its rebels.

The Preparation for the Seven The Preparation for the Seven Last Plagues (15:5-8)Last Plagues (15:5-8)

The 7 angels whom John saw in the previous The 7 angels whom John saw in the previous vision now become the main characters. vision now become the main characters. They come out from the tabernacle in heaven, They come out from the tabernacle in heaven,

emphasizing that God Himself is the source of the 7 bowl emphasizing that God Himself is the source of the 7 bowl judgments.judgments.

These angels are:These angels are: clothed in clean, bright linen, appropriate to their clothed in clean, bright linen, appropriate to their

mission of purification.mission of purification. clothed with golden girdles, positioned the same way as clothed with golden girdles, positioned the same way as

Christ’s golden girdle in 1:18 and signifying judgment.Christ’s golden girdle in 1:18 and signifying judgment. Having left the Temple, these angels each receive Having left the Temple, these angels each receive

from one of the four living creatures a golden from one of the four living creatures a golden bowl, filled to the brim with the wrath of God.bowl, filled to the brim with the wrath of God. Their fullness speaks of the devastating character and Their fullness speaks of the devastating character and

the finality of this coming divine judgment.the finality of this coming divine judgment.

The Preparation for the Seven The Preparation for the Seven Last Plagues (15:5-8)Last Plagues (15:5-8)

Once the angels receive the bowls, the Once the angels receive the bowls, the temple undergoes a dramatic temple undergoes a dramatic transformation. transformation. It is now accessible only by God. The smoke It is now accessible only by God. The smoke

from His glory and power is so intense that no from His glory and power is so intense that no one else can enter the temple. one else can enter the temple.

This again points to God’s hot and righteous This again points to God’s hot and righteous anger, and emphasizes that no one can anger, and emphasizes that no one can approach Him when He judges in this way. approach Him when He judges in this way.

The temple remains in this state until the The temple remains in this state until the completion of the outpouring of the bowls. completion of the outpouring of the bowls. This will carry through to the replacing of the This will carry through to the replacing of the old order with the New Jerusalem (21:1-2).old order with the New Jerusalem (21:1-2).

Next Week: Pouring out of Next Week: Pouring out of the Seven Bowlsthe Seven Bowls

Read Rev 15 - 16Read Rev 15 - 16

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Rejoicing Over and Preparation for the Seven Last Plagues Revelation 15:1-8