Seven Angels
Notes
Transcript
Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and amazing, seven angels with seven plagues, which are the last, for with them the wrath of God is finished.
And I saw what appeared to be a sea of glass mingled with fire—and also those who had conquered the beast and its image and the number of its name, standing beside the sea of glass with harps of God in their hands. And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying,
“Great and amazing are your deeds,
O Lord God the Almighty!
Just and true are your ways,
O King of the nations!
Who will not fear, O Lord,
and glorify your name?
For you alone are holy.
All nations will come
and worship you,
for your righteous acts have been revealed.”
After this I looked, and the sanctuary of the tent of witness in heaven was opened, and out of the sanctuary came the seven angels with the seven plagues, clothed in pure, bright linen, with golden sashes around their chests. And one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God who lives forever and ever, and the sanctuary was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from his power, and no one could enter the sanctuary until the seven plagues of the seven angels were finished.
Then I heard a loud voice from the temple telling the seven angels, “Go and pour out on the earth the seven bowls of the wrath of God.”
So the first angel went and poured out his bowl on the earth, and harmful and painful sores came upon the people who bore the mark of the beast and worshiped its image.
The second angel poured out his bowl into the sea, and it became like the blood of a corpse, and every living thing died that was in the sea.
The third angel poured out his bowl into the rivers and the springs of water, and they became blood. And I heard the angel in charge of the waters say,
“Just are you, O Holy One, who is and who was,
for you brought these judgments.
For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets,
and you have given them blood to drink.
It is what they deserve!”
And I heard the altar saying,
“Yes, Lord God the Almighty,
true and just are your judgments!”
The fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and it was allowed to scorch people with fire. They were scorched by the fierce heat, and they cursed the name of God who had power over these plagues. They did not repent and give him glory.
The fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and its kingdom was plunged into darkness. People gnawed their tongues in anguish and cursed the God of heaven for their pain and sores. They did not repent of their deeds.
The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up, to prepare the way for the kings from the east. And I saw, coming out of the mouth of the dragon and out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits like frogs. For they are demonic spirits, performing signs, who go abroad to the kings of the whole world, to assemble them for battle on the great day of God the Almighty. (“Behold, I am coming like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake, keeping his garments on, that he may not go about naked and be seen exposed!”) And they assembled them at the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon.
The seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple, from the throne, saying, “It is done!” And there were flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, and a great earthquake such as there had never been since man was on the earth, so great was that earthquake. The great city was split into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell, and God remembered Babylon the great, to make her drain the cup of the wine of the fury of his wrath. And every island fled away, and no mountains were to be found. And great hailstones, about one hundred pounds each, fell from heaven on people; and they cursed God for the plague of the hail, because the plague was so severe.
The cry of the martyrs from Revelation 6 is now being answered. They asked ‘how much longer?!?’. The time has come.
But before the outpouring of the wrath of God we are given the encouragement of ‘those who did not love their lives unto death’. Those who did not follow the beast and the dragon. Those who overcame even during the tribulation!!
They sing the song of Moses and it has to remind us of the exodus! Protected and delivered by the blood of the lamb. Singing the song as they stood by the sea, for the exodus, the Red Sea and here the Sea of Glass. The Lord is my strength and my song, He is my salvation!
No matter how ominous the mood and language of the Apocalypse (Revelation), there is hope and glory of God’s victory throughout. He never leaves us without hope. He never leaves us. The coming kingdom will be glorious and complete. All nations will worship Him. But first, the great Avenger of justice will judge the earth, the beast and idolatry itself.
In the judgements poured out, let’s take note something of value to us living today. Back in ch9 we noted in the pain of the tribulation, men wouldn't repent of their sin. This will be a theme repeated in today’s text. Even these terrible judgments will not cause men to repent. William Newell used to say, ‘if men are not won by grace, they will never be won’.
Here’s why this is so valuable to us today: our message must be of grace. Truth? Yes! But with grace Instead of with judgement. When you are praying for the salvation of your kids, neighbors and the nations, let it be in compassion you pray for those lost souls. Judgement ultimately separates; grace covers, draws, woos those needing Jesus the most. London, Calvin sharing Jesus...
But the judgements are poured out and they are terrible. As the Euphrates dries up and prepares the way for the great battle in the Valley of Jezreel, surely we remember Gideon meeting the Midianites there. King Saul meeting the end of his life there. It was a battlefield for the Roman army, the crusaders and even played a role in WW1. Napoleon called it the most natural battlefield of the whole earth.
The Battle of Armageddon is not a biblical phrase. The place is called hill of the troops or place of slaughter, Armageddon; and there is a battle to be fought there. Zecharaiah 12 and 14 describe this event from Israel’s POV. Joel 3 and Isaiah 24 are good references here as well. Even this battle is fulfilling the ultimate will of God and accomplishing His purposes. Next week we will see
for God has put it into their hearts to carry out his purpose by being of one mind and handing over their royal power to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled.
The seventh bowl is poured out on the prince of the power of the air and it will shake the foundation of his system to its core. All of it is now being judged by God: the religious system, the prostitute, his political system, Babylon and his military system of the armies assembled there.
So what do we take from such a chaotic time on earth?
Be ready. v.15 behold I come as a thief. Blessed is he who watches...
Remember our hope. The beginning of our text today reminded us of the hope we have in Jesus. Every judgement described here was taken by Jesus on the cross. Only those who refuse His sacrifice, His salvation will have to experience this judgement. We do have great hope!
Receive the comforting of our spirit offered by His character. He is JUST. Wrongs will not go unrighted. The death of the martyrs will be justified, avenged. Their voice does not go unheard.
Neither does yours. If you are at a time of sorrow or grief or disappointment, He hears your heart cry.