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Alpha and Omega |
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"They received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so." ~ Acts 17:11
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This is an Israel friendly site! |
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From the Rapture to the Second Coming
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Revelation 15: "A Glimpse Inside The Temple"
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Link to Printer Ready PDF Version of this document. |
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Chapter Highlights
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Chapter Aids
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Topical Index
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Chapter 15 is the shortest chapter in Revelation. Most scholars believe it should be combined with the next chapter because it is the introduction to the seven bowl judgments of Chapter 16. It predicts what will go on in heaven just before the final judgments fall.
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Revelation 15:1 I saw in heaven another great and marvelous sign: seven angels with the seven last plagues — last, because with them God's wrath is completed.
This will be the third of three great signs in heaven: first, the sun-clothed woman (Israel); second, the great red dragon (Satan); now, seven angels with seven last plagues. This sign will be great and marvelous because of its terrible nature and amazing result. It will bring on the full wrath of God which will cause the fall of Satan and his devilish crew.
What Others are Saying:
- Wim Malgo: This is the complete fulfillment of prophecy. When this last unimaginable judgment of the bowls of wrath has passed over the earth, the seventh angel proclaims its accomplishment, It is done (Revelation 16:17). 15-1
- Tim LaHaye: Revelation becomes much more understandable when one recognizes that the word "sign" really means a "symbol of revelation." That is, it is a symbol or picture or prophetic event that conveys some great truth or principle of God which he wants to convey to his people. 15-2
Remember This…
- The Three Great Signs from Heaven
- the sun-clothed woman (Israel)—Revelation 12:1
- the great red dragon (Satan)—Revelation 12:3
- seven angels with seven plagues—Revelation 15:1
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Revelation 15:2 And I saw what looked like a sea of glass mixed with fire and, standing beside the sea, those who had been victorious over the beast and his image and over the number of his name. They held harps given them by God.
This will be the second glassy sea to appear in heaven. The first glassy sea will be clear as crystal (Revelation 4:6). This one will be mixed with fire. The sea symbolizes the masses (Revelation 17:15) of humanity, and the fire represents judgment.
The Tribulation Saints will come up out of the sea of humanity. They will have been in a fiery persecution. They are those who had been victorious over the beast and his image and over the number of his name. They will not be deceived by the Antichrist or his False Prophet. They will be tracked down and ordered to take the Mark of the Beast but will refuse. For their refusal they will face retaliation in the form of torture and death. Victory (1 Corinthians 15:55-57), however, will still be theirs because they will lose their earthly life but will gain (Philippians 1:21) an eternal one.
When they reach heaven God will give them harps. Their earthly trials will have caused a lot of crying, but when they get to heaven they will sing and play.
Key Symbols:
- The Second Glassy Sea
- sea of glass
- mixed with fire
What Others are Saying:
- Tim LaHaye: Death at the hands of a murderous dictator or anti-Christian persecutor is only defeat as man looks upon the situation. People living during the Tribulation will think the Antichrist is overcoming the saints, but in reality he is sending them out into eternity to be with the Lord… If man does not incur blessings in this life, he considers that defeat, not realizing that what man gains in this life is inconsequential in comparison to what he gains in the life to come. 15-3
- Hal Lindsey: Real victory is not found in seeking to avoid conflicts and living a don't-rock-the-boat kind of life. The cemetery is full of people who fit that category. The kind of triumph these martyrs of the Tribulation will experience will be deliverance through fire, not out of it. 15-4
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Revelation 15:3 and sang the song of Moses the servant of God and the song of the Lamb: "Great and marvelous are your deeds, Lord God Almighty. Just and true are your ways, King of the ages.
The Tribulation Saints will sing two songs:
- the song of Moses
- the song of the Lamb.
The song of Moses (Exodus 15:1-19) is found in the Old Testament. It celebrates the victory God gave Israel when he brought her out of Egypt. Pharaoh's army chased after the Hebrews to recapture them, but his troops were drowned in the Red Sea.
The song of the Lamb is found in this verse. It celebrates God's reign and victory over all the nations. The deeds of Jesus are great and marvelous because he died for the sins of the world and will defeat Satan. The ways of Jesus are just and true. He is never unjust, never untruthful. His judgments are righteous. His words are accurate and reliable. Jesus is the King of the ages. He is the eternal King. The one who has reigned, is reigning, and always will reign.
What Others are Saying:
- J.R. Church: Just prior to the seven vial judgments, the saints in heaven will sing the song of Moses. They await the victory. Soon, Satan will be bound and the Messianic kingdom will be established. 15-5
- Peter and Paul Lalonde: Those who reject God will grow closer and closer to a very subtle but real decision to join forces with the spirit of Antichrist, blaspheme God, and fight against Christ in this hopeless battle. You are already on one of only two roads. There is no other option. 15-6
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Revelation 15:4 Who will not fear you, O Lord, and bring glory to your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before you, for your righteous acts have been revealed."
Today, few people speak of having a reverential fear of the Lord or of giving glory to him. We seem to think there is something wrong with these. However, these are of the utmost importance now and in heaven for three reasons:
- Jesus should be feared and glorified because he alone is holy. He is the only one to live by all of God's standards, the only one worthy of our worship, the only one who never sinned. He has been hallowed or set apart for God's special purpose: an atonement for our sin.
- Jesus should be feared and glorified because he will be worshipped by all nations. The day will come when he will deal with the godless leaders of this world. He will do away with them, and every nation will worship him.
- Jesus should be feared and glorified because his righteous acts will be revealed. The terrible judgments of the Tribulation Period will be righteous acts of Jesus. He will deal with those who do not accept his mercy.
What Others are Saying:
- Peter and Paul Lalonde: According to opinion polls, an overwhelming majority of North Americans believe they will spend eternity in heaven (about 93 to 95 percent). Yet it is obvious from the moral decay and decadence in the West that such a majority do not have the love of Christ in their hearts. 15-7
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Revelation 15:5 After this I looked and in heaven the temple, that is, the tabernacle of the Testimony, was opened.
The Temple in heaven will be opened. Then the Holy of Holies inside the Temple will be opened, followed by the Ark of the Covenant inside the Holy of Holies. The Ark of the Covenant contains the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:2-17), which are sometimes called the Law or the Testimony.
Those who reject the grace and mercy God offers through the death, burial, and resurrection of his Son will be judged under the Law (the Ten Commandments). In rejecting what God offers, they also reject Jesus. Many, including the Jews, do not realize this most important point. By rejecting Jesus, they reject God, and leave themselves open to be judged under the Law of Moses in the Old Testament.
Key Point
- Those who will not accept Jesus will be judged under the Law.
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Revelation 15:6 Out of the temple came the seven angels with the seven plagues. They were dressed in clean, shining linen and wore golden sashes around their chests.
Seven angels will come out of the Temple. They will be dressed in clean, shining linen signifying their righteousness. They will wear golden sashes around their chests (see Illustration) signifying their royal priesthood.
These seven angels will move away from the Temple and the mercy seat. They are royal and powerful priests preparing to pour out the wrath of God. Those on earth will receive judgment without mercy. Because they have flouted God, followed the Antichrist, took the Mark, worshipped his image, and rejected Jesus, they will face the full fury of God (Hebrews 10:31 kjv).
Key Symbols:
- Seven Angels
- seven plagues
- clean, shining linen
- golden sashes
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Revelation 15:7 Then one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls filled with the wrath of God, who lives for ever and ever.
The four living creatures will hand the seven angels seven bowls filled with the wrath of God. Some Bible translations call these bowls "vials," but that does not do justice to the meaning of this verse. When a vial is turned upside down the liquid bubbles out slowly, but when a bowl is upset the liquid is suddenly dumped out. That is the picture we have here. God's wrath will be suddenly dumped out on the inhabitants of earth.
In the Old Testament, once a year on the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16:14, 15 kjv), the high priest would take a bowl of blood from a sacrificial animal into the Holy of Holies and dump it on the mercy seat over the ark of the covenant. God had him do that to offer atonement for the sins of the people. Since the Antichrist and his followers will not accept the blood of Jesus as an atonement for their sins, these priestly angels will be given bowls filled with God's wrath instead of the blood of Jesus. And instead of dumping the bowls on the mercy seat, they will dump them on the earth.
Key Symbols:
What Others are Saying:
- J. Vernon McGee: Notice, they are not filled with the love of God but with God's wrath. 15-8
Remember This…
- First, the four living creatures (Revelation 6:1-8) summon the four horsemen.
- Now the four living creatures summon the seven angels of God's wrath.
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Revelation 15:8 And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from his power, and no one could enter the temple until the seven plagues of the seven angels were completed.
Things just keep getting worse for those who reject God. When the priestly angels leave the Temple, it will be filled with smoke (Isaiah 6:4) from the glory and power of God. No one will be able to go back in or enter the Holy of Holies. No one can change their mind and pour blood on the mercy seat. There will be no more mercy, no more delays, and no more opportunities to repent until the seven plagues have passed.
This is a warning to those on earth who won't listen to the pleas of God made through his messengers, the 144,000 Jews, the two witnesses, the angel, and others. At some point in the Tribulation Period, God will say, "It's over. The destiny of those who keep rejecting my Son is sealed forever." He will pour out his wrath, keep people away from the mercy seat, and refuse to hear the pleas of those crying out for one more chance.
Key Point
- There will be no more mercy, no more delays, and no more opportunities to repent until the seven plagues are over.
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- How are the actions of angels in this chapter contrary to our concept of angels?
- Is God unjust or unrighteous for sending the Tribulation Period?
- What is meant when the Bible says, You alone are holy?
- What will the golden bowls contain?
- Why will smoke fill the Temple?
Go to Answers
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- The third great sign John will see will be seven angels carrying the seven last plagues which will complete God's wrath. (Revelation 15:1)
- Standing beside the sea of glass mixed with fire will be those who will be victorious over the Antichrist. They will receive harps and sing about the deeds of Christ. (Revelation 15:2–4)
- Those who overcome the Antichrist will sing the song of the Lamb. They will sing about: his marvelous deeds, his just and true ways, and his holiness. (Revelation 15:3, 4)
- Anyone who rejects Christ and his gift of eternal life will be judged according to the Law of Moses (the Ten Commandments). (Revelation 15:5)
- When the heavenly temple opens, the seven angels with the seven last plagues will come out of it. Once the angels leave the temple smoke from God's glory will fill the temple preventing anyone from seeking mercy and obtaining one last chance. (Revelation 15:5–8)
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Link to Printer Ready PDF Version of this document. |
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