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| Earl Gillespie |
A Verse by Verse Study
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Revelation 15:1-8:
The book of Revelation exists, it has been presented down through generations as a part of the bible. Revelation reads like a scary book and its authentic and application has been debated down through the history of the church as a part of the devil's plan of deliberate confusion. To even attempt to understand Revelation without spiritualizing the entire book one must be prepared to step across the barriers set up by denominations. Revelation uses a symbolic language, (the only language possible) to describe the supernatural forces or power of a supernatural God.
We ought to remember that deliberate confusion first reared its sinful head in the Garden of Eden concerning what God said and what God meant. Deliberate confusion caused the Children of Israel to wander in the wilderness for forty years. It manifested itself in the first church council meetings concerning the application of the law as pertaining to grace, which Paul explained so eloquently in his dissertations. It was the tool used to divide the church in it infant days, and the devil is still using his favorite tool to destroy the credibility of the Word of God and turn people away from God.
We ought to remember that deliberate confusion first reared its sinful head in the Garden of Eden concerning what God said and what God meant. Deliberate confusion caused the Children of Israel to wander in the wilderness for forty years. It manifested itself in the first church council meetings concerning the application of the law as pertaining to grace, which Paul explained so eloquently in his dissertations. It was the tool used to divide the church in it infant days, and the devil is still using his favorite tool to destroy the credibility of the Word of God and turn people away from God.
Revelation 15:1 And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous, 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.
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. {saints: or, nations, or, ages}
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.
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 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.
In this chapter we will see the seven angels who have the seven last plagues. John sees
the vision of the angels with the bowls of the wrath of Almighty God. It should not be hard to visualize huge bowl or buckets fill with the wrath of God. Revelation 12:1 John saw a great sign in Heaven, a woman. In Revelation 12:3
he saw another sign, a red dragon. Now in Revelation 15:1 there is another
sign, this one being “great and marvelous”. What makes this third sign so
great and marvelous is that the “full wrath of God ” is about to be poured out
upon the persecutors of the woman (Israel) not the church.
There are three numbered groups of angels mentioned in the book of
Revelation:
2. Revelation 8:2, 15:1 and 16:1 mention seven angels.
3. Revelation 21:12 mentions twelve angels.
The seven angels who have the seven trumpets must undoubtedly be
Angels of a very high order: “They stand before God.” This is not said of the
vial angels in our present chapter. The vials held by these seven angels are filled
with the full fury of God’s wrath, and they are ready to pour out this fury
upon the earth. The actual pouring out
of the vials begins in 16:l. After the
vials of God’s fury are all poured out, Jesus comes in flaming fire, taking
vengeance on them that know not God.
This is the time when every eye shall see Him, when He comes in person to finish the judgment against the
ungodliness of earth’s dwellers. Every eye shall see Him, and all the kindreds
of the earth shall wail because of Him (Revelation 1: 7).
In verse 2, John saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire, and those who
had gained the victory over the Beast, over his image, over his mark and the
number of his name are standing on the sea of glass, “having the harps of God.” The use of the words, "as if" is the key that indicate the symbology of Revelation is in effect.
In Revelation 13 we studied the Beast and his power. He went forth
conquering and killing all who would not worship him and who refused to receive
his mark. At that time he was victorious over the saints; he butchered them by
the millions. But now all those who were martyred by him are victors on high,
and the Beast is about to receive the fullness of the vengeance of Almighty
God. The Bible is foolproof - no loopholes, no untied ends. John saw “as it was (it appeared as) a sea of glass mingled with fire .” That must have been
a sight to behold!
In chapter 4 John saw “a sea of glass like unto crystal.” Here again "like unto" indicate this is a symbolic language. There is no need to spiritualize a symbolic language. The sea was
unoccupied when John saw it in chapter 4, but here we see those who have been
victorious over the Beast; they are standing on the sea and they have something
in their hands: “harps of God.” There will be music - such music as our ears
have never heard! Please note: These are
standing. Their position denotes victory. They sealed their testimony with their
life’s blood. They are now victors. They have “harps of God,” and they will
share a martyr’s crown. (Read Hebrews 2:12 and Exodus 15.) Can you imagine the
music that will come from this great company of heavenly musicians playing on
harps of God? What a day that will be for the victorious hosts as they stand
upon the calm sea of glass mingled with fire!
Verse 3 reveals the song they play and sing: “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.” The song of Moses celebrates God’s mighty deliverance of His people
Israel - God’s elect. The song of the Lamb celebrates the great
redemption purchased by the Lamb on Calvary by the victorious shedding of His
precious blood; and had the Lamb of God not laid His life down, had He not shed
His precious blood, the Blood offered by the high priest in the Old Testament
era would have been void. All the shed
blood of the Old Testament pointed to the Blood of the Lamb. Old Testament
saints looked forward to the shedding of
the Blood, while we look back to Calvary. Without blood there is no salvation:
Hebrews 9:22: “ Without shedding of blood is no remission.” I John 1:7b: “ the
Blood of Jesus Christ, (God’s) Son, cleanseth us from all sin .” The opening
words of the song are “Great and marvellous are thy works!” These words also occur
in verse one . . . John saw a sign which was “great and marvelous ”, great
and wonderful because of the great and wonderful victory which is made
available through the accomplishment of that which John beheld.
In verse 1, the sign of the
closing judgments is “great and marvelous ,” and in verse 3 the works of God
are also “great and marvellous.” The pouring out of the vials of wrath will be
brief - but terrific, stupendous and wonderful in power. This work is ascribed
to Jehovah, Almighty God, the self-existent Creator of all things,
who is “from everlasting to everlasting ” (Psalm 90:1,2). The judgments in
these vials are terrible. Words cannot describe the pain, the woe, the anguish,
the misery they will bring; but they are “true and righteous.” God deals in
righteousness - whether it be with His own, His enemies, or whosoever. God
cannot be untrue, He cannot be unrighteous. His judgment is righteous.
The nations here are about to be dealt with in final fury and
righteous judgment; therefore, Jesus Christ is declared “King of nations.” He
will put down all enemy rule and resistance (Jeremiah 10:7). Verse
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.” In this verse we
have three reasons why all should fear the Lord and glorify His name:
1. “For thou art holy .” The Hebrew word here denotes that God alone
is worthy of worship. The nations have
been at this time worshipping the Beast. The cry to the nations is “Fear God!”
2. “For all nations shall come and worship before thee .” All nations
of earth have never in the past worshipped before God, and they will never all
worship before God until this time; but there is a day coming when all nations
will bow at His feet (Zechariah 14:16,17; Isaiah 2:2-4, 56:6,7; Psalm 100 and
Psalm 148).
3. “Thy judgments (thy righteousnesses) are made
manifest .” Note, please, the plural of the word “ judgments ,” signifying the
righteous acts of God in these terrible, horrible judgments contained in the
vials of wrath. Here God is declaring Himself to be righteous in judgment - and
certainly that is reason enough for all peoples to fear God. “ O, God, deal
with me in mercy!” is my humble prayer. I seek the mercy of God, God’s grace, not my just desserts.
Verses 5-7: “And after that I looked, and, behold, the temple of the
Tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened: 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.
And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full
of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever.” After “these things” in verse five, note a break a change of procedure
in the judgments. The vials of God’s wrath are in a group all to themselves.
Two things about the vial judgments differ from the seal and the trumpet
judgments:
1. The throne in Heaven is the source of the seal and trumpet
judgments. But the temple is the source of the vials. What are vials? The temple takes the
place of the throne in the vial judgments, introducing therefore an even more
violent judgment than ever before witnessed on this earth. These vials, filled with judgment, come from God in His
holy and righteous character.
2. These vials (containers) contain the wrath of God against the organized systems of evil, which are in power here upon the earth at that time; and the pouring out of these vials of God’s wrath will mean the consummation of all evil power here upon earth. God’s judgments upon evil men and their systems are being completed in order that the Millennium can begin, and there will then be peace on earth and good will toward men for the space of one thousand glorious years of peace. There is a beautiful scenario here if we spiritualize this, but why not let it say what it say?
In verse 5 we learn that John saw the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in Heaven, opened. From Revelation 11:19 to Revelation chapter 19, it is the “temple in Heaven” from which action on earth proceeds, and not the throne. Here - and also in Revelation 11:19 – the temple John saw is in Heaven, and is open. The temple in Heaven is the residence of Almighty God and God’s angels.
2. These vials (containers) contain the wrath of God against the organized systems of evil, which are in power here upon the earth at that time; and the pouring out of these vials of God’s wrath will mean the consummation of all evil power here upon earth. God’s judgments upon evil men and their systems are being completed in order that the Millennium can begin, and there will then be peace on earth and good will toward men for the space of one thousand glorious years of peace. There is a beautiful scenario here if we spiritualize this, but why not let it say what it say?
In verse 5 we learn that John saw the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in Heaven, opened. From Revelation 11:19 to Revelation chapter 19, it is the “temple in Heaven” from which action on earth proceeds, and not the throne. Here - and also in Revelation 11:19 – the temple John saw is in Heaven, and is open. The temple in Heaven is the residence of Almighty God and God’s angels.
In Revelation 11:19 the ark of the covenant is seen. This ark is the
token of God’s presence with, and interest in, His people - the elect; but here
in verse 5 we see the tabernacle of the witness (testimony). This was a
testimony really to the “rights of God” - which has been openly denied by the
Antichrist, who claimed to be God and who announced from the temple that he was God; but now he is about to be put down by Jehovah God, and all of the ungodly
systems of Antichrist will fall with him. “The covenant” was the sign of
Israel’s security (Psalms 105:8; 106:45; 111:5). “The witness” testifies to judgment
according to the holy nature of God, judgment
upon His enemies and the would-be destroyers of God’s elect - Israel. What a sight John saw when the temple was
opened! John did not see
the priest of God ministering in the holy place, nor did he see the high priest
ministering in the holy of holies, but the seven mighty angels with bowls, vials,
containers . . . filled to the brim with the fury and the wrath of God. He did
not see priests (the ministers of grace), but angels (the ministers of
judgment). God Himself has commissioned and equipped these angels for the
terrible job they are to perform. God’s temple of old was a temple of grace . .
. a temple of mercy . . . a temple of longsuffering. Here His temple is open
for judgment such as the world has never known.
The wickedness of earth’s dwellers deserves judgment in all of its
bitterness and fury, because they have insulted God as far as it is possible to
insult God. God’s holiness demands righteous judgment, and it is therefore
imperative. There is no alternative. Since God made Adam, God has desired to
bless mankind, reason with men, forgive them. But since Adam, men have decided against
God, have made their own plans - and like Judas, they have gone “their way.”
Therefore God has no alternative. He must destroy wicked men; and in
the final judgments He will completely rid this earth of all wickedness. The
righteous character of the mission of seven
angels with the vials is signified by their apparel: “pure and white linen.”
(See also Revelation 19:8.) They are wearing golden girdles, which signify
divine righteousness in their action (Isaiah 11:5, Revelation 1: 13). When John
saw the Lord in Chapter One, He wore a golden girdle. The word “beasts ” in
verse 7 does not refer to an evil or wild beast as heretofore in chapter 13.
One of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels the vials filled with God’s
wrath.
Verse 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.”
There are three distinct steps in this judgment of the seven angels who held
the seven vials and came out of the temple of God, which was opened in Heaven:
1. The angels are commissioned and equipped in the temple - the
sanctuary of Almighty God (verse 6). That does not sound like the lovely “grandfather-God”
the liberals and modernists talk about today, does it?
2. One of the living creatures gives to each of the angels a golden
bowl . . . a vial . . . filled with the fury of the wrath of Almighty God. That
does not sound like the God of modernists of today,
does it?
3. The angels cannot act until God gives them the command to move and
to pour out their vials (Revelation 6:1). The eternal, ever-living God is the God of judgment. That
does not sound like the tender, heavenly “Father of all men, all men are
brothers, no one is bad, all men are good.” That does not sound like some of the Sunday
morning essays of today, does it? God is
longsuffering. He is patient. He is good. He is kind; but He is also a consuming fire. Paul
warns us in Romans 11: “ Behold the goodness and the severity of God.” The Psalmist cries out, “God is angry with the wicked every day”
(Psalm 7:11). Nahum warns, “God will not acquit the wicked” (Nahum 1:3). And
Paul the Apostle thunders out, “God is a consuming fire ” (Hebrews 12:29).
Please read these words slowly and carefully, and give heed to this
statement concerning God’s power and
God’s judgment: “See now that I, even I, am He, and there is no god with me. I
KILL, I MAKE ALIVE; I WOUND, I HEAL: Neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand.
For I lift up my hand to heaven, and say, I live forever. If I whet my
glittering sword, and mine hand take hold on judgment; I will render vengeance
to mine enemies, and will reward them that hate me. I will make mine arrows
drunk with blood, and my sword shall devour flesh; and that with the Blood of
the slain and of the captives, from the be ginning of revenges upon the enemy.
Rejoice, O ye nations, with His people: for He will avenge the Blood of His
servants, and will render vengeance to His adversaries, and will be merciful
unto His land (Palestine - the land given to Father Abraham for an everlasting
possession) and to His people ” (Deuteronomy 32:39-43).
Modern preachers do not like to preach about a God of judgment - only a God of love. No, there is entirely too much blood here to fit the modern Sunday morning sermon. But whether they preach it or not, whether they believe it or not, God is the same, yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8). God deals in blood and fire, and if you are not covered by the Blood, then you will be engulfed in the fire. If you fail to receive His mercy and grace, then you will suffer His wrath and fury, and you will be judged when God performs “HIS STRANGE WORK” (Isaiah 28:21). It makes no difference what you have heard, what you have read, what preachers have said, nor what seminaries have taught: The Bible is God’s Word, and that Word is forever settled in Heaven. All hell cannot change it. There is a hell . . . a hell of fire and brimstone. There is a judgment day, and all will be there.
Next
Chapter 16
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