(((Study from yesterday, I couldn't post it because we lost
electricity))))
The following study is from an excerpt from Watchman What of
the Night Aug 1995- my comments will be in parenthesis. May God bless us all as we begin this
in-depth study. All through Jesus Christ our LORD.
Please bear with the various tangents found in the study they
are all part and parcel of this study on the plagues.
*
The Seven Last Plagues
[Excerpt
from wwn8(95)]
In the pronouncement of the Third Angel a warning was given
that if anyone worshiped 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
(((People
will be given an opportunity to worship the beast and his image and receive the
mark of the beast-- This mark WILL NOT be obvious to the majority of people.
This mark is going to be hidden deep in deception just as the beast and the
image of the beast are covered in lies that millions and millions and millions
of people believe. This is going to be occurring in conjunction with the
'planting of his tabernacles' that we just study a few days ago. People are
going to be receiving an invisible mark - sealing their eternal future- and
human probation is over- our Savior is going to stand up and His interceding on
our behalf ends. Then… the time of trouble such as never was, the seven last
plagues will begin. It's all connected.))))
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
marvellous, 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) (((Not in connection with the seven last
plagues))))
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) (((Again, not the seven last plagues.)))
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."
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
plagues are directly ordered by God, and placed under SEVEN ANGELS who come
from the Throne of God with their mandate. (15:5-6)
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.
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.
Verses 2 - 4 are interpolated like Rev. 16:15, and serve as
an interlude as does Rev. 19:1-4.
(((Previous studies have revealed the facts stated here. If
you are confused, please take the time to study further. If possible you can
look back through my blogs/studies and find a full prophecy study- right now
I'm trying to focus on the seven last plagues. What is being expressed here in
this thought paper is what verses 2-4 are revealing. It is an interlude- a
section that is like a pause to reiterate the glory and perfection of God.))))
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,"
Page 2
representing the omnipotence (horns) and omnipresence
(eyes) of the Lamb. (4:5; 5:6; Hab. 3:4; Zech. 4:10)
Rev 4:5 And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and
thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the
throne, which are the seven Spirits of God
Rev 5:6 And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the
throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as
it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven
Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.
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)
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.
Rev
19:1 And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in
heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the
Lord our God:
Rev
19:2 For true and righteous are his judgments: for he hath judged the
great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged
the blood of his servants at her hand.
Rev
19:3 And again they said, Alleluia. And her smoke rose up for ever and
ever.
Rev
19:4 And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts fell down and
worshipped God that sat on the throne, saying, Amen; Alleluia.
Rev 4:1 After this I looked, and, behold, a door was
opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet
talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which
must be hereafter.
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 5:6 And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the
throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as
it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven
Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.
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) 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) Intercession has ceased, for there is but "One mediator
between God and men, the Man, Christ Jesus." (I Tim. 2:5)
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.
1Ti
2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man
Christ Jesus
(((Note
again- INTERCESSION HAS CEASED. When Christ stands up…His work of intercession
is over. We have to realize it is going to END. You no longer need to intercede
on someone's behalf once their case is decided, right? A lawyer, an advocate,
doesn't continue to work for someone once their sentence is passed and there
are no appeals allowed. We will not be
allowed any appeals once our Savior makes His determination- deciding to
forgive those who sincerely seek His forgiveness and salvation through HIM and
HIM only. When that temple is filled
with smoke and no "MAN" is able to enter the temple until the seven
plagues are fulfilled- Not even Jesus will be allowed in the temple at that
time- He is a MAN. Just as we read above in First Timothy- … the MAN Christ
Jesus. No more intercession for us and
the plagues begin. By the GRACE of God we will be SAVED and the plagues will
NOT touch us!))))
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.
(((When we read the Old Testament and realize how much God
allows- the wars, the killings of men, women, and children, we read of the
plagues sent to Egypt before Moses was allowed to guide God's people away from
there. We read of the flood and how God allowed all but eight people to be
destroyed. We read of Sodom and Gomorrah and know that only Lot and His two
daughters were spared the wrath of God. People have brought this up before how
much God allows and approves of in the Old Testament that seemingly isn't
allowed at all in the New Testament. The God of the Old Testament scarcely
seems like the God of the New Testament but they are one and the same. And
Jesus, as God with God in the beginning and through it all- the flood, Egypt,
Sodom and Gomorrah, all the way until His birth as a human child was there with
God the declared Father. They were there together through it all and yet people
want to pretend that Jesus didn't exist until He was born human. That Jesus
instilled compassion in God the Father, but that is not true at all. The wrath
of God is still in existence and people will know that sin has never been
acceptable, never, it can't be!))))
More tomorrow by the GRACE of our LORD and SAVIOR, through
His love always!!!! Now and
forever!!!!!!!
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