Prophecy - 102

1995 Aug -- XXVIII -- 8(95) -- EXEGESIS OF REVELATION -- The Seven Last Plagues -- Part 4 --


In the pronouncement of the Third Angel a warning was given that if ANYONE worshipped the beast or his image, that one "shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God." (14:9-10)

Rev 14:9 And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,
Rev 14:10 The same shall drink of the wine of the WRATH OF GOD, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:


In the vision beginning with Chapter 15, this wrath is described as being the Seven Last Plagues. (v. 1)

Rev 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.

The format for the giving of this vision is the same as was the format of Revelation 12 - a great wonder is seen in heaven - the screen upon which the divine revelation is portrayed. (The Greek word for "WONDER" in Rev. 12:1, and "SIGN" in Rev. 15:1 is the same)

These plagues are defined as the seven last plagues.

The first reference to "plagues" in Revelation is in connection with the sixth trumpet. (9:20)

Rev 9:20 And the rest of the men which were not killed by these PLAGUES yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk

This would indicate that the fulfillment of the "trumpets" in the time sequence of the book of Revelation PRECEDES the final wrath of God, and therefore, is NOT a parallel prophecy.

The second reference to "plagues" is noted in reference to the Two Witnesses which are given authority "to smite the earth with all PLAGUES, as often as they will." (11:6)

Rev 11:6 These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all PLAGUES, as often as they will.

It is interesting to note that in the Greek text, the word "WOUND" is used to translate the "PLAGUE" received by one of the heads of the beast of Revelation 13.

In verses 3 and 12, the phrase is "plague of death," while in verse 14, it is "the plague of the sword."

Rev 13:3 And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his DEADLY WOUND was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.
Rev 13:12 And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose DEADLY WOUND was healed.
Rev 13:14 And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the WOUND BY A SWORD, and did live.

These previous plagues as described under the sixth trumpet, and the wound received by the beast are ministered by earthly forces--
while the seven last are directly ordered by God, and placed under seven angels who come from the Throne of God with their mandate. (15:5-6)

Rev 15:5 And after that I looked, and, behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened:
Rev 15:6 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.

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Verses 2 - 4 are interpolated like Rev. 16:15, and serve as an interlude as does Rev. 19:1-4.

In each of these interludes, we are taken back to the original vision given to John when "a door was opened in heaven" and John was instructed by "the first voice" to "Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter." (4:1)

He sees a throne "set in heaven" upon which sat the Eternal Majesty.
Around the throne sat 24 elders, while before the throne were "seven torches of fire burning" declared to be "the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth," representing the omnipotence (horns) and omnipresence (eyes) of the Lamb. (4:5; 5:6; Hab. 3:4; Zech. 4:10)

Hab 3:4 And his brightness was as the light; he had horns coming out of his hand: and there was the hiding of his power.

Zec 4:10 For who hath despised the day of small things? for they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel with those seven; they are the eyes of the LORD, which run to and fro through the whole earth.

Also before the throne, there is "a sea of glass like unto crystal." (4:6)
In the midst of the throne are four living creatures, and "a Lamb as it had been slain." (4:6; 5:6)

The interlude of Revelation 15:2-4 returns to the setting of the vision of the open door with its sea of glass; but here it is "mingled with fire" rather than merely being "clear as crystal."
(Compare 4:6 with 15:2)

Rev 4:6 And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto CRYSTAL: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind.

Rev 15:2 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.

Could the "fire" be symbolic of the means by which the ones standing on the sea of glass were victorious over the beast and his image and purified so as to be fitted to be in the presence of God? (See Mal. 3:2-3; Luke 3:16)

Mal 3:2 But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's FIRE, and like fullers' soap:
Mal 3:3 And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness.

Luk 3:16 John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with FIRE.

There are some parallels between THIS vision and the vision of Rev. 14:1-5, as well as some distinct differences.

Here it is stated that those who stand on the sea of glass are victors "over the beast and over his image," while such a conclusion concerning the 144,000 on Mount Sion can only be inferred.

The 144,000 sing an unique song, while those standing on the sea of glass sing the song of Moses and the Lamb, the words of which are given.

Another question arises, how far back in time must we go to find victors over the beast?

Is the "beast" only that phase of the beast which had a wound by the sword and did live?

That is the emphasis used in previous identification of the beast in connection with "his image." (13:12, 14)

Rev 13:12 And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.
Rev 13:14 And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.

However, the beast has "seven heads" which, depending on the interpretation given to the seven heads, could reach back to Egypt the first power to "persecute" the corporate people of God.

Of interest in this connection, "the song of Moses" is introduced. All of these factors must be programmed into any exegetical study of these verses.

After recording this interlude, John's attention is returned to the "seven angels having the seven last plagues."

He sees the open temple - "the tabernacle of the testimony" - from which these angels are to come.

This is none other than the Most Holy Place of the HEAVENLY SANCTUARY wherein is the ark of the covenant with the Law of God.

John has seen this tabernacle before as the vision of the trumpets was concluded. (11:19)

Rev 11:19 And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.

Another parallel between these two revelations is that God in Chapter 11 is declared to have taken His "great power, and has reigned," while in Chapter 15, "the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from His great power."

This assumption on the part of God brings forth His wrath in judgment, and no "man" is able to "enter the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled. (15:8)

Rev 15:8 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.

Intercession has CEASED, for there is but "One mediator between God and men, the Man, Christ Jesus." (I Tim. 2:5)

1Ti 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus

Next John hears a voice described as "a great voice out of the temple." (16:1)

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.

It is a mandate from the throne. (See 16:17)

Rev 16:17 And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done.

To the seven angels, the command is given - "Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth."

Little have we realized what the mercy of God has been, and what the wrath of God against sin is.

We have tried to reconcile the God of the Old Testament with how we perceive the God of the New Testament.

In our finite perceptions we have not realized the hatred God has toward sin, nor the significance of the separation that took place when on the cross, Christ became verily sin for us, nor the full significance of the fact that "in the midst of the throne" has "stood a Lamb as it had been slain." (5:6) But when that Lamb steps aside and when no longer His blood pleads for the sinful race, and the wrath of God unmixed falls upon the unsheltered heads of the devotees of the beast and his image, then will all know that the Eternal God is the same God as is revealed in both the Old and New Testaments.

*******

This is so TRUE!

We don't want to think that there WILL be a time when PROBATION IS OVER!!! We want to imagine that there won't be a split second between the last decided case and the coming of our Lord and Savior. The Bible tells us a different story though.

There will be a people SEALED and a people UNSEALED but MARKED!

This is FACT! This is NOT FICTION!

WAKE UP EVERYONE! You are either sealed by God or marked by the Beast! What decides? WE DO! We make the choice no one makes it for us, not a single person, not God, not Satan- WE MAKE THAT DECISION!

People are RESPONSIBLE for their own eternal life, or if they choose, eternal death.

WE decide whether or not to ACCEPT the offer of Salvation, the GIFT of Salvation through Jesus Christ our Lord, our Savior! If we do not accept this offer and this way of life in our Savior then we are not going to have salvation.

When we are sealed by God we are His and we will be able to live through the horrors of the seven last plagues and they will not touch us. We will be able to live through the all consuming fire of the wrath of God that is let loose upon those who choose to disobey Him, those who choose to receive the mark of the beast, those who choose to allow themselves to be deceived, by the GRACE and MERCY of our Savior we will be HIS, depending fully upon Him and His righteousness. Please Lord, please SEAL us as yours so we may live in the darkest times ahead. We do not deserve Your mercy and grace, we are sinners, filthy sinners.

Only through YOU!


Amen.