The following is taken from a recording of a Revelation Seminar- it has some really good insights I'd like to study. So if the wording seems odd it's because this was a live seminar transcript not written to be a paper.
May God bless us as we seek to study His word, as we seek to be blessed as we read the words of His prophecies.
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In your Bible turn to the 15th Chapter of Revelation.
This chapter serves as an introduction to the seven last plagues of God's wrath. Let's notice the first verse.
LOOK UP REV. 15:1
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.
LOOK UP REV. 15:5-8
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.
Rev 15:7 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.
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.
You'll observe that this introduction to the seven last plagues begins with another sign.
'I saw another sign' And the first reference to that was there in the 12th chapter as we began this section. 'And there appeared a great wonder in heaven' The margin will tell you the Greek 'sign' 'there appeared a great sign in heaven' and then in the 3rd verse 'there appeared another wonder' (or sign) in heaven. And now the final as far as this particular section is concerned, 'I saw another sign in heaven'. Thus we find that the sign of the display in heaven involves 3 things.
The representation of the gospel promise. The seed of the woman to bruise the serpent's head.
The revelation of the enemy, the dragon- Satan the Devil.
And then the 3rd, God's wrath.
Interestingly the source of God's wrath comes from the Most Holy Place of the Heavenly Sanctuary.
It says there in the 5th verse, (Rev. 15:5) 'And after that I looked, and, behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened'
Now what section of the Heavenly Sanctuary is the tabernacle of the testimony?
The Most Holy Place where the law of God is kept.
The tabernacle of the testimony and from that Most Holy Place the wrath of God goes forth in judgment.
In fact there in the 16th chapter the first verse -
Rev 16:1 And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels...
The voice comes from OUT of the temple from the Most Holy Place, from between the cherubim's.
The warning has already been given.
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
That's Rev. the 14th chapter 9th and 10th verses.
We find that intercession has CEASED.
Probation is CLOSED for the inhabitants of earth for all time. For if you notice that 8th verse of the 15th chapter-
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.
Now let me ask you this- what MAN had been in there?
There is ONE mediator between God and man. The man Christ Jesus.
1Ti 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus
Christ the divine intercessor, the God man, had been in the presence of God - when He steps out and no man goes in - what happens? The plagues begin, intercession has ceased, probation is closed. It's the end.
Now what is interesting from heaven's viewpoint there is a concurrence with God in this judgment. These fearful judgments. Verse 2 to 4.
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.
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.
Rev 15:4 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.
King of AGES/NATIONS the King James has 'saints' that is a very questionable source as far as the manuscripts are concerned and I think that your margin may indicate it's nations or ages.
Rev 15:3 And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvelous are thy works, O Lord God, the Almighty; righteous and true are thy ways, thou King of the AGES. RV
Rev 15:3 They sang the song of God's servant Moses and the song of the lamb: "Your deeds are spectacular and amazing, Lord God Almighty. Your ways are just and true, King of the NATIONS. ISV
King of nations, king of ages- but notice they concur 'just and true are thy ways thou king of saints.' From our human viewpoint we may not concur in the judgments of God. But from the heavenly viewpoint as they looked at the whole scene of the ages - just and true are thy ways.
You'll observe also here that there is a sea of glass mingled with fire. Where's the sea of glass that's spoken of before? We have to go back into the first section of Revelation - the fourth chapter sixth verse.
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.
A sea of glass. And it doesn't describe anybody on that sea of glass.
The individuals that are on that sea of glass are finally described in the 15th chapter as those who have gotten the victory over the beast, his image, his mark, and the number of his name and they sing the song of Moses and of the Lamb.
This is NOT the group that sings the song no man can learn in the 14th chapter.
They sing both the song of victory under Moses and the song of the Lamb.
In the book of Hebrews how many houses are brought to view? Two.
The house of Moses and the house of Christ. Hebrews the 3rd chapter.
Heb 3:2 Who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also Moses was faithful in all his house.
Heb 3:3 For this man was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who hath builded the house hath more honour than the house.
Heb 3:4 For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God.
Heb 3:5 And Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after;
Heb 3:6 But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.
Two houses, the house of Moses and here we are together one joining one song the song of Moses and the Lamb as they stand upon the sea of glass.
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.
Now we find also as far as the picture of Revelation in concerned in the concurrence of all these the 24 elders also join in the concurrence.
Back in the 11th chapter of Revelation beginning with the 15th verse ...
Rev 11:15 And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.
Rev 11:16 And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God,
Rev 11:17 Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned.
All the heavenly intelligences join in a concurrence of God's final, terrible judgments.
Now let us go to the plagues themselves in the 16th chapter. As we have noted every plague is justified. 'Just and true are thy ways thou King of nations, thou King of ages'
Now it's necessary that we understand so that we can fully perceive the significance of this part of the book of Revelation.
Every plague is justified.
And God gives the justification for it. But interestingly the events which justify God's reaction takes place in probationary time, except in the 3rd plague and interestingly there is a little difference in the 7th plague.
But everyone of the other plagues are justified by acts of man in PROBATIONARY TIME.
Let me just give you an illustration then we'll come back to it.
The first plague … 'a grievous and noisesome sore' ulcerous sore the revised version, the new King James. Now why is that given or who is it given upon? Who does it fall upon? Those who what?
Have the mark of the beast.
Now does the mark of the beast come after probation's hour closes? No.
Prior to.
This is God's reaction to what man has done in probationary time and we'll note this for each of the plagues , in other words I noted there the events which justified take place in probationary time and this is why they say just and true are they ways thou King of nations, King of ages.
Now we need to separate God's actions and God's reactions.
In salvation God acts.
'For God so loved the world..' that what? 'He gave.' He acts.
In the redemption of man He provides the means.
In judgment and in wrath He reacts.
He reacts in relationship to what man has done.
Interestingly also, we find that in His reaction we see how God views certain acts of man.
So let's briefly note each plague and the why for.
The first one though we'll read again starting with the first verse of the 16th chapter and the 2nd verse.
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.
Rev 16:2 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.
Now let's just note the warning given concerning this verse then we'll come back to that verse. Go to Rev. the 14th chapter and the 9th verse.
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
Now what's missing between the 14th chapter the 9th verse warning and the plague?
What's the difference there?
You have to read out, NOT read in.
Ahhh, there's something missing, a call about the worshipping of the beast and his image and receiving his mark. And you find also in the 13th chapter after the deadly wound is healed they worship the dragon and they worship the beast saying who is like unto the beast, but those who receive the first plague is upon those who have the mark of the beast and upon them that worshipped his IMAGE ...not those that worshipped the BEAST or the DRAGON. There IS a differentiation there.
Now let me ask you a question, are the plagues universal?
(Hesitation from audience) No.
Then the mark of the beast is NOT universal.
Now remember here the first plague is upon those who have received the mark of the beast, which had the mark of the beast and upon them which worshipped his image.
You see there are certain points there - you already answered the question 'Are the plagues universal'. But you have also evidentially, because of your hesitancy, believed that the mark of the beast was universal.
But you see, if the mark of the beast IS NOT universal or the plagues ARE NOT universal - the mark of the beast is not universal. You can't have one - one way and one the other way. Because it's very plainly here that the first plague falls on those who worship the IMAGE and who HAD the MARK.
Now let me ask you this... what are you going to do about this counsel that I read concerning the church. Here we see this is vol. 5 page 211 on the chapter of the seal of God. Here we see that the church the Lord's sanctuary was the FIRST to feel the stroke of the wrath of God. The church the first to feel the stroke of the wrath of God? Let me tell you this, if somebody warned me that I was in a building that soon somebody was going to come in with a machine gun and gun everybody down and I had a little bit of warning how long do you think I'd stay there? I'd get out the first way possible if I had to go out the window.
Alright, the Lord's sanctuary is the first to receive the stroke of the wrath of God. The first plague is gonna fall on the church. Because they had the mark of the beast and they worshipped NOT the beast but his IMAGE.
You know if we read the scriptures for what it says it starts to get startling doesn't it? We've got ourselves restricted because we're reading into the Scriptures certain concepts that we think certain things are.
I read a commencement address or a synopsis of a commencement address given at Southern College a number of years ago by Dr. Leaf Crete Obison (spelled wrong) And he used as his commencement address mind you the subject the mark of the beast. That's what attracted my eye because usually that topic is an evangelistic topic and you wonder why the sum of the commencement address to a group of college seniors he would talk about the mark of the beast. And he came right down and he read carefully the 18th verse of the 13th chapter of Revelation. Let's go back, and remember let's read first the warning in the 14th chapter the 9th verse.
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,
Now come over to the 18th verse of the 13th chap.
Rev 13:18 Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.
You worship the beast you get the mark of a man. Reliance upon man. Trusting man. The arm of flesh. And he brought out that after all the mark of the beast was the mark of conformity. The mark of conformity.
If all are required to worship at a particular time and they all do- isn't that conforming?
Also think about it, what did God in the beginning give us the power to do? To think. To choose between right and wrong. To think. And to think for ourselves. If I conform am I thinking for myself? Unless it's right. If it's not right and I conform it's what? I'm taking the road to the mark of the beast. And it says that they will have step by step yielded to worldly conformity, step by step moved in line until it will only be an easy step to take the last step.
Compromise starts out as just merely an adjustment, and it ends up as a sell out. God's people in the last hour will not compromise their faith in Christ. Here's the patience of the saints here are they that keep the commandments of God and have the faith of Jesus. Something to think about.
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More tomorrow by the grace and will of our Lord Jesus Christ and the Father God in Heaven!
All through Him, all through His love, all in His righteousness now and forever!
AMEN.
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