BEHOLD, I COME QUICKLY

BEHOLD, I COME QUICKLY A Study of Revelation LESSON 36 Revelation 15:1-8 16:1-7 PRELUDE AND BOWLS OF WRATH PART 1 Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book. (Revelation 22:7) LESSON 36 REV 15:1-16:7 Introduction Chapter 15 concludes the events of mid-tribulation and introduces the Great Tribulation. This is the beginning of God's grand finale of the wicked, the bowl judgments. 1 Seven Angels With Seven Plagues REV 15:1 And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvellous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God. 2 And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God. We have seen two preceding signs in heaven presented in Revelation chapter 12. In the first of these signs we saw the sun-clothed woman representing Israel. Next we were introduced to the great red dragon representing Satan, or more precisely the empire under Satan s control. Now we're told of another sign in heaven. This third sign will be that of seven angels that bring the seven last plagues and will be the harbinger of the full wrath of God that will cause the fall of Satan and his henchmen. 2 These plagues are termed last because in them is filled up [completed] the wrath of God. This indicates that the preceding seal and trumpet judgments are also judgments of God. That they are connected reinforces the idea that they all represent God s wrath the seventh seal contains the seven trumpets and the seventh trumpet contains the seven bowls. 3 In Rev 4:6 we learned that "sea" symbolizes the masses of humanity. We also learned that a glassy sea is a calm sea. In Revelation 15:2 the calmness of humanity assembled before the throne of God is "mingled with fire," possibly indicating that the Holy Spirit has produced the sea of glass, and is responsible for its presence at the throne of God. 4 This sea of glass reflects God s glory and majesty and is symbolic of His purity, holiness, and separation from creation. Being mingled with fire may symbolize the divine judgment about to be poured out on wicked humanity. 5 This sea of glass may represent the Tribulation Saints that have been redeemed from the fiery persecution. "Fire" represents judgment. The Tribulation Saints resisted the beast and were martyred and obtained victory over death. 6 The victory these Saints obtained was through fire, not avoiding it. 7 These 1 Levy, REVELATION: Hearing the Last Word, p. 171. LaHaye, REVELATION ILLUSTRATED AND MADE PLAIN, p. 204. 2 Levy, REVELATION: Hearing the Last Word, p. 172. Walvoord, THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST, p. 225. Duck, Richards, REVELATION: GOD'S WORD FOR THE BIBLICALLY-INEPT, p. 221. 3 Levy, REVELATION: Hearing the Last Word, p. 172. Walvoord, THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST, pp. 225, 226. 4 Sutton, THE BOOK OF REVELATION REVEALED: Understanding God's Master Plan for the End of the Age, p. 79. 5 Levy, REVELATION: Hearing the Last Word, p. 172. Walvoord, THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST, p. 227. 6 Duck, Richards, REVELATION: GOD'S WORD FOR THE BIBLICALLY-INEPT, p. 222. 7 Lindsey, THERE'S A NEW WORLD COMING, pp. 197, 198. 1

Tribulation martyrs will receive their rewards and their resurrection bodies and will return with Christ at the Second Coming to rule and reign during the Millennium. 8 Resisting the beast will be what those who are left behind at the Rapture will need to do, that is, hold fast to the word of God and resist compromise with the beast and his system. The martyred Tribulation Saints have harps. Only four groups in heaven have harps: living creatures, elders (Rev 5:8), heavenly singers (Rev 14:2), and the martyred Tribulation Saints (Rev 15:2). 9 REV 15:3 And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints. 4 Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest. The martyred Tribulation Saints sang two songs. The first is the song of Moses that the Israelites sung for the victory they received when God brought them out of Egypt. 10 God miraculously saved them by allowing them to cross through the Red Sea on dry land, while drowning the pursuing Egyptians taking the same route. EXO 15:1 Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the LORD, and spake, saying, I will sing unto the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea. 2 The LORD is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father's God, and I will exalt him. 3 The LORD is a man of war: the LORD is his name. 4 Pharaoh's chariots and his host hath he cast into the sea: his chosen captains also are drowned in the Red sea. 5 The depths have covered them: they sank into the bottom as a stone. 19 For the horse of Pharaoh went in with his chariots and with his horsemen into the sea, and the LORD brought again the waters of the sea upon them; but the children of Israel went on dry land in the midst of the sea. The second song is the song of the Lamb which celebrates God's victory over the nations. This song speaks of the "great and marvelous" deeds of Christ, because He died for our sins and will defeat Satan. It speaks also that He is just and true, that is, His judgments are righteous and His words are trustworthy. It says that Christ is the eternal King and the eternal God. 11 REV 5:9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; Revelation 15 verses 3 and 4 give the outline of the song of the Lamb. Isaiah 45:23 and Philippians 2:10 confirm this verse and indicate that all nations shall bow and worship before God. ISA 45:23 I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear. PHI 2:10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; REV 15:5 And after that I looked, and, behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened: 6 And the seven angels came out of the temple, having the seven plagues, clothed in pure and white linen, and having their breasts girded with golden girdles. 7 And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials [bowls] full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever. 8 And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled. 8 9 10 11 Duck, Richards, REVELATION: GOD'S WORD FOR THE BIBLICALLY-INEPT, p. 223. LaHaye, REVELATION ILLUSTRATED AND MADE PLAIN, pp. 207, 208. 2

Inside the Temple of Israel was the Holy of Holies. Inside the Holy of Holies was the Ark of the Covenant. Inside the Ark of the Covenant were the stone tablets of the Ten Commandments which no one can keep.. Those who reject God's grace and mercy that was offered by the death, burial, and resurrection of His Son reject God and leave themselves open to be judged by the Law of Moses of the Old Testament. 12 If you accept Christ, then His atoning blood saves you. If you reject Christ, then your salvation depends on obedience to the Ten Commandments which condemns you already. No one can keep the Ten Commandments. The angels are dressed in pure and white linen symbolizing their righteousness, and the righteousness of what they are about to do. They come out of the Temple away from the Mercy Seat because the earth is about to receive God's wrath without mercy. Additionally, they wear Golden girdles, symbolic of God s riches, beauty, greatness, and majesty. The dress is similar to what the Israelite priests wore in the temple, and what Christ wore in Revelation 1:13. These angels will be sent to perform a duty remarkably similar to the temple priests of Israel. 13 "Vials" are shallow bowls, shaped like a saucer, used in temple worship. They are here used as containers for God's wrath, and are to be poured out on the earth. 14 In the Old Testament, once a year on the Day of Atonement, the priest would enter the Holy of Holies with the blood from a sacrificial animal and sprinkle it on the Mercy Seat to offer atonement for the sins of the people. Since the Antichrist and his followers will not accept the blood of Jesus as atonement for their sins, the angels will be given bowls filled with God's wrath instead of the blood of Jesus, to be poured out, not on the Mercy Seat but on the earth. 15 According to Alfred Edersheim: For the death of the sacrifice was only a means towards an end, that end being the shedding and sprinkling of the blood, by which the atonement was really made. The Rabbis mention a variety of rules observed by the priest who caught up the blood all designed to make the best provision for its proper sprinkling. Thus the priest was to catch up the blood in a silver vessel pointed at the bottom, so that it could not be put down, and to keep it constantly stirred, to preserve the fluidity of the blood. 16 John Phillips says that this is "the manifestation of God's wrath:" The awesome Shekinah fire resided within the Holy of Holies in Israel's Temple. Once a year, a priest was permitted to enter there carrying a bowl of blood in his hand. Since Calvary, the way into the holiest in heaven has been opened to all, because the blood of Christ blazed a highway to the heart of God. But now, for a brief spell, that royal road is barred. God's wrath, once poured out upon His Son on man's behalf, is to be outpoured again. The world that crucified the Lamb and that now has crowned its rebellions with the worship of the Beast, is to be judged to the full. So bright glory burns within the Temple, filling it with smoke and standing guard at the door. The way into the holiest is barred again for a while. 17 Daymond Duck writes: Once the angels leave the temple smoke from God's glory will fill the temple preventing anyone from seeking mercy and obtaining one last chance. 18 LEV 16:14 And he shall take of the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it with his finger upon the mercy seat eastward; and before the mercy seat shall he sprinkle of the blood with his finger seven times. 15 Then shall he kill the goat of the sin offering, that is for the people, and bring his blood within the vail, and do with that blood as he did with the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it upon the mercy seat, and before the mercy seat: 16 And he shall make an atonement for the holy place, because of the uncleanness of the children of Israel, and because of their transgressions in all their sins: and so shall he do for the tabernacle of the congregation, that remaineth among them in the midst of their uncleanness. 12 Duck, Richards, REVELATION: GOD'S WORD FOR THE BIBLICALLY-INEPT, pp. 224, 225. Levy, REVELATION: Hearing the Last Word, p. 176. 13 Duck, Richards, REVELATION: GOD'S WORD FOR THE BIBLICALLY-INEPT, p. 225. Levy, REVELATION: Hearing the Last Word, p. 176. 14 Phillips, EXPLORING REVELATION, p. 189. Levy, REVELATION: Hearing the Last Word, p. 177. 15 Duck, Richards, REVELATION: GOD'S WORD FOR THE BIBLICALLY-INEPT, pp. 225, 226. 16 Alfred Edersheim, THE TEMPLE: Its Ministry and Services as they were in the Time of Jesus, Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, Reprinted November 1988, p. 115. 17 Phillips, EXPLORING REVELATION, p. 189. 18 Duck, Richards, REVELATION: GOD'S WORD FOR THE BIBLICALLY-INEPT, p. 227. 3

Interestingly, the blood was sprinkled on the Mercy Seat seven times. God will pour out the bowls of His wrath seven times. That the bowls were full indicates the comprehensive, complete, and totally devastating character of the wrath (anger) to be poured out. Smoke, symbolic of God s glory and power, filled the Temple making it impossible to enter, or come near the Mercy Seat, until His wrath is complete. 19 Once these bowl plagues begin, atonement will be impossible until they run their course. The Seven Bowls of God's Wrath The First Bowl, Sores REV 16:1 And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth. 2 And the first went, and poured out his vial upon the earth; and there fell a noisome and grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and upon them which worshipped his image. Noticed the similarity to the sixth plague in Egypt when Moses was seeking to free the Hebrew slaves: EXO 9:8 And the LORD said unto Moses and unto Aaron, Take to you handfuls of ashes of the furnace, and let Moses sprinkle it toward the heaven in the sight of Pharaoh. 9 And it shall become small dust in all the land of Egypt, and shall be a boil breaking forth with blains upon man, and upon beast, throughout all the land of Egypt. 10 And they took ashes of the furnace, and stood before Pharaoh; and Moses sprinkled it up toward heaven; and it became a boil breaking forth with blains upon man, and upon beast. 11 And the magicians could not stand before Moses because of the boils; for the boil was upon the magicians, and upon all the Egyptians. 12 And the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh, and he hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had spoken unto Moses. Blains refers to violent ulcerous inflammations, foul smelling, painful, and malignant, which will not heal. 20 This may be a worldwide epidemic, such as AIDS, Ebola, or some new disease, raging out of control. 21 Like the first trumpet judgment this bowl is directed at earth, but the judgment here is more intense. Where each of the bowl judgments parallels the trumpet judgments we see that the intensity of the judgment is increased. 22 Where the Trumpet judgments affect a third of the earth, these bowl judgments affect the entire earth. The trumpet judgments begin near the midpoint of the Tribulation. The seventh trumpet contains the bowl judgments which thus commence near the end of the Great Tribulation before the Second Coming of Christ. 23 That the bowl judgments take place near the end of the Great Tribulation is confirmed by the statement that it is poured out on those which had the mark and worshiped the image of the beast. 24 The Second Bowl - Blood REV 16:3 And the second angel poured out his vial upon the sea; and it became as the blood of a dead man: and every living soul died in the sea. This will be worse than the second trumpet judgment when a third of the sea creatures died. However, in this judgment all in the sea will die severely impacting the world s food supply. The sea will become like blood becoming a thick, coagulated mass producing a putrefying stench like that of a decaying corpse. 25 REV 8:8 And the second angel sounded, and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea: and the third part of the sea became blood; 9 And the third part of the creatures which were in the sea, and had life, died; and the third part of the ships were destroyed. The Third Bowl - Pollution REV 16:4 And the third angel poured out his vial upon the rivers and fountains of waters; and they became blood. 19 Levy, REVELATION: Hearing the Last Word, p. 177. Walvoord, THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST, p. 230. 20 Levy, REVELATION: Hearing the Last Word, p. 182. Sir William Smith, F. N. and M. A. Peloubet (revisionists and editors) SMITH S BIBLE DICTIONARY, Blains, Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1986, William Smith (1813-1893). Walvoord, THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST, p. 232. 21 Duck, Richards, REVELATION: GOD'S WORD FOR THE BIBLICALLY-INEPT, pp. 230, 231. 22 H. A. Ironside, REVELATION, Neptune, NJ: Loizeaux Brothers, 1920, 1996, p. 180. 23 Levy, REVELATION: Hearing the Last Word, p. 182. 24 Walvoord, THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST, p. 232. 25 Levy, REVELATION: Hearing the Last Word, pp. 182, 183. Walvoord, THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST, p. 233. 4

5 And I heard the angel of the waters say, Thou art righteous, O Lord, which art, and wast, and shalt be, because thou hast judged thus. 6 For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and thou hast given them blood to drink; for they are worthy. 7 And I heard another out of the altar say, Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are thy judgments. This judgment is similar to the first plague in Egypt. The earth's remaining fresh water will be polluted causing worldwide suffering and death. 26 "The very sources of life are destroyed." 27 EXO 7:19 And the LORD spake unto Moses, Say unto Aaron, Take thy rod, and stretch out thine hand upon the waters of Egypt, upon their streams, upon their rivers, and upon their ponds, and upon all their pools of water, that they may become blood; and that there may be blood throughout all the land of Egypt, both in vessels of wood, and in vessels of stone. 20 And Moses and Aaron did so, as the LORD commanded; and all the waters that were in the river were turned to blood. 21 And the fish that was in the river died; and the river stank, and the Egyptians could not drink of the water of the river; and there was blood throughout all the land of Egypt. 24 And all the Egyptians digged round about the river for water to drink; for they could not drink of the water of the river. Men will go insane digging for water and only finding blood. judgment. This judgment also parallels the third trumpet REV 8:10 And the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters; 11 And the name of the star is called Wormwood: and the third part of the waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter. Men often question God s judgments, but the angel of the waters confirms the unrighteous deeds of man while affirming that God s judgments are righteous. Since these wicked men shed the righteous blood of the martyrs, it is only fitting that they should have blood to drink. 28 The similarity of these Bowl Judgments to the Trumpet Judgments end with the intensity. Notice that even though they are similar it appears that the judgments are increasing in intensity. The various judgments beginning with the Seal Judgments increase in intensity to the very end. 26 Duck, Richards, REVELATION: GOD'S WORD FOR THE BIBLICALLY-INEPT, p. 231. 27 Ironside, REVELATION, p. 180. 28 Levy, REVELATION: Hearing the Last Word, p. 183. 5