CHRONOLOGICAL BIBLE STUDY LESSON 602 Revelation 15
Intro to Chapter 15 John has been piling horror upon horror There were the 7 seals The sounding of the 7 trumpets Now he tells of the pouring out of the 7 bowels The wrath of God Note the arrangement The apocalyptic writers tended to group things in 7 or 3 3 groupings of 7 would equal perfection and completeness
Intro to Chapter 15 How would you like to be John? Aren t there many days in our lives where we are called upon to serve and follow The Lord against the world? Chapter 14 ended with harvesting those who refused God s invitations C -15 is NOT a direct continuation of 14 But we do receive more information Information that leads to finality There will come a point of no return for some
1. C 15 -What did John see at the start of this chapter? Another great sign 7 angels w/ 7 LAST plagues NSRV For in them is filled up the wrath of God [1] NIV for with them God s wrath is complete Something that looked like a sea of glass mixed w/ fire Fire in the Bible is normally associated w/ purification from judgement
1. C 15 -What did John see at the start of this chapter? standing beside the sea the victorious over the beast This those who came thru with Christ They overcame his image and his mark Reflect back to escape from Egypt What was the mark then? What did they pass thru?
4. What was the song that they sung? Song of Moses Exodus 15 when God had safely led them thru The Red Sea The song comes almost entirely from OT & Psalms When you read the song in Revelation: There is no mention of the humans triumph The entire song is about the greatness of God Heaven is all about God not mankind
5. What do the following say in regards to the song: Jeremiah 10. 2 Do not learn the way of the nations, or be dismayed at the signs of the heavens; for the nations are dismayed at them. Psalm 86. 9 All the nations you have made shall come and bow down before you, O Lord, and shall glorify your name. Isaiah 66. 23 From new moon to new moon, and from sabbathto sabbath, all flesh shall come to worship before me, says the Lord. Revelation 19. 8 to her it has been granted to be clothed with fine linen, bright and pure
6. Verse 5 starts with After this after what? After this I looked, and the temple of the tent of witness in heaven was opened It is from here that he 7 avenging angels come This begins the process of the seven final plagues on earth They are called the "bowl judgments" by bible scholars since the judgment is poured out from a bowl
7. Now what did John see? Describe it? the seven angels with the seven plagues, robed in pure bright linen,with golden sashes across their chests Their appearance proves that they were sent by God They were dressed as Priests [i.e. Exodus 28] The priests in the Exodus tabernacle were always required to wear only pure linens
8. Why could no one enter the temple? 7 Then one of the four living creatures gave the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God, who lives forever and ever; 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 ended. The temple was filled with smoke Isaiah 6. 4 Exodus 40. 34-35
8. Why could no one enter the temple? 7 Then one of the four living creatures gave the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God, who lives forever and ever; 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 ended. The temple was filled with smoke
8. How do the following relate to verse 8? Isaiah 6. 1-4 In the year that King Uzziahdied, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lofty; and the hem of his robe filled the temple. 2 Seraphs were in attendance above him; each had six wings: with two they covered their faces, and with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew. 3 And one called to another and said: Holy, holy, holy is thelordof hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory. 4 The pivotson the thresholds shook at the voices of those who called, and the house filled with smoke.
8. How do the following relate to verse 8? 2 Chronicles 5. 13-14 13 It was the duty of the trumpeters and singers to make themselves heard in unison in praise and thanksgiving to thelord, and when the song was raised, with trumpets and cymbals and other musical instruments, in praise to thelord, For he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever, the house, the house of thelord, was filled with a cloud, 14 so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud; for the glory of thelordfilled the house of God.
8. How do the following relate to verse 8? Exodus 40. 34-35 34 Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of thelordfilled the tabernacle. 35 Moses was not able to enter the tent of meeting because the cloud settled upon it, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.
A Few Closing Thoughts Why would God "shut the door" to heaven at this point? Does this mean no one "new" can get saved at this point? Does this mean those in heaven couldn t enter God s Temple as they had to watch the earth judgment process? Sometimes we have to just accept the text at face value Perhaps it means God has to focus on the final judgment on earth God cannot compromise His standards He desires that ALL be saved - BUT