Revelation 16:1-9

EIGHT CHAPTERS EXPLAINING THE SPIRITUAL BATTLES, PEOPLE, AND EVENTS

OF THE GREAT TRIBULATION TO THE RETURN OF KING JESUS

TO RULE THIS EARTH:

PART V – THE FIRST FOUR BOWL JUDGMENTS

OF YAHWEH’S FINAL WRATH

Revelation 16:1-9

As taught by Dave Lindstrom

I. The seven angels are commanded by Yahweh Himself to pour out their seven bowl judgments (Revelation 16:1).

A. The Day of Yahweh has been prophesied in Scripture for thousands of years

(Joel 2:28 – 3:2; Zeph. 1:14 – 2:3). The Day of Yahweh starts with wrath and ends with King Jesus bringing peace and restoration (Joel 3:1-21; Zech. 14:1-20; I Thes. 5:1-11; Rev. 6:16 – 22:21). The wrath of Yahweh starts after the sixth seal judgment (Rev. 6:16) and ends after the seventh bowl judgment (Rev. 15:1; Rev. 16:17).

B. Yahweh Himself gives the sacred and holy order to have these bowls poured out which finishes His wrath that has been delayed until this very moment in time (Deut. 32:35; Rom. 12:19). He is the only one left in the Heavenly Temple at this time due to the power of His glory! (Rev. 15:8)

C. At the time of the seven bowl judgments, the Great Tribulation (last 3 ½ years of Daniel’s 70^th week) appears to be over and so these are poured out between the 30 and 75 days before Christ sets up His earthly Kingdom (Dan. 12:11, 12; Rev. 11:1 – 14:13).

THOUGHT: Have we lost the ability in our day and age to be in thankful awe at Yahweh’s perfect justice and perfect wrath? The messages of sin, evil, depravity, Christ’s work, the believer’s purchased righteousness and Yahweh Jesus’ earthly and eternal reigns depend on it.

II. The first four bowl judgments are poured out upon the beast-marked, image worshipping, blasphemers on this earth (Revelation 16:2-9).

A. The first bowl judgment brings harmful and painful sores to the people who refused Yahweh’s long-suffering warnings. They had been warned by the two witnesses (Rev. 11:3), saints of Jesus (Rev. 12:11, 17, 13:8), and angelic messengers (Rev. 14:6-11) but refused to believe in truth. This is similar to what happened during the sixth plague of Egypt in Exodus 9:9-11 (Rev. 16:2).

B. The second bowl judgment brings complete destruction of all salt water life. This bowl turned the sea into something like “the blood of a corpse” and, therefore, it could no longer support life itself. This worldwide plague is much more extensive than the first plague of Egypt in Exodus 7:14-21 or the second trumpet judgment in Revelation 8:8, 9 (Rev. 16:3).

C. The third bowl judgment turns all the fresh water areas on the earth into blood

(Rev. 16:4-7)

1. This is similar to the first plague of Egypt (Exodus 7:14-21) and the third trumpet judgment (Rev. 8:10, 11) but much more extensive since it is global in scope.

2. The “angel of the waters” is either the third angel who poured the bowl out or another angel with some authority over water who was sent to proclaim this message of Yahweh’s righteous judgment (verses 5-7).

a. Yahweh is perfectly righteous (acts rightly according to a perfect standard), as the only eternal being, in His judgment (verse 5; Rev. 1:4, 8, 4:8).

b. The judgment is right and fair because these unbelievers have shed the blood of Yahweh’s saints and prophets (verse 6; Rev. 11:18, 12:11, 17). Since they shed blood, they will drink blood instead of pure water (verse 6; Rev. 11:18, Rev. 12:11, 17, 13:10, 14:13).

c. The heavenly altar, which has received every prayer of Old and New Testament saints, adds its witness as to Yahweh’s true and righteous judgments. This message has been confirmed by three sets of witnesses: The saints in heaven (Rev. 11:17, 18, 15:3, 4), an angelic being (Rev. 16:5, 6), and now the heavenly altar itself (verse 7; Rev. 5:8, 8:3-5).

D. The fourth bowl judgment intensifies the heat of the sun which scorches with fire. Rather than repenting and giving Yahweh glory (respecting and acknowledging His right to rule and reign), they were blaspheming (cursing or defaming) His name (verses 8, 9; Rev. 9:20, 21; 16:11, 21). 

THOUGHT: “Yahweh has bared His holy arm before the eyes of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.” Isaiah 52:10

“Seek Yahweh all you humble of the land… perhaps you may be hidden on the Day of the anger of Yahweh.” Zeph. 2:3

Revelation 15:1-8

EIGHT CHAPTERS EXPLAINING THE SPIRITUAL BATTLES, PEOPLE,

AND EVENTS OF THE GREAT TRIBULATION TO THE

RETURN OF KING JESUS TO RULE THIS EARTH:

PART IV – THE HEAVENLY CEREMONY OF THE BOWL JUDGMENTS

Revelation 15:1-8

As taught by Dave Lindstrom

I. Seven angels bring the seven last plagues from the heavenly temple which will finish up God’s wrath (Revelation 15:1).

A. This is a summary statement which reveals the ultimate purpose of the three heavenly signs given in Revelation 12:1, 3 and 15:1. The purpose of Yahweh’s three heavenly signs is the finishing up of Yahweh’s promised wrath on earth before Yahweh Jesus returns to rule and reign.

1. Yahweh’s work in this world has been carried out through His plans with believing Israel (the first sign, woman of Rev. 12:1), her male child the Messiah (Rev. 12:5), and His persecuted followers (Rev. 12:6-17, 13:5-10, 14:12, 13).

2. Satan’s work in deceiving this world and its empires (the second sign, great red dragon, Rev.12:3) has relentlessly persecuted believing Israel, the Messiah, and the Messiah’s followers. Before and during the Great Tribulation (the last 3 ½ years of Daniel’s 70^th week of 7 years) Satan formed a ten nation powerful confederacy. With the Antichrist as this confederacy’s leader, he would seek world domination and try to annihilate Yahweh’s name from off this earth (Revelation chapters 12 and 13).

3. The seven angels with the seven last plagues (the third sign, Rev. 15:1) brings an end to the war that has been happening on this earth due to Satan’s deceit, lies, and accusations. These seven angels bring Yahweh’s wrath to this earth.

B. The coming seven plagues finish up the wrath of Yahweh which was started between the 6^th and 7^th seal (Rev. 6:16, first time the term is used) and has already included all of the trumpet judgments (Rev. 8:1 – 9:20). The plagues seem to be specific to the trumpet and bowl judgments (Rev. 9:20, 15:1, 22:18).

C. The Pre-wrath tribulation position sees the seven bowl judgments taking place after the Great Tribulation has finished (since Rev. 11-14 is primarily dealing with this time period and

Rev. 15:2 discusses overcoming the beast in the past tense due to “standing” being a perfect participle). Therefore, these seven bowls would be poured out between the 30 and 75 days after the Great Tribulation and before Christ sets up His earthly kingdom (Dan. 12:11, 12).

THOUGHT: Christ’s work of redemption for this world was finished at the cross (John 19:30). Christ’s work of wrath for this world will be finished after the seventh bowl judgment (Rev. 15:1, 16:17). Read Isaiah 61:1-2 and Luke 4:18-20 and see how long Yahweh is willing to delay the execution of his wrath between Isaiah 61:2a and Isaiah 61:2b.

II. The song of the overcoming saints after the Great Tribulation (Rev. 15:2-4).

A. The overcoming saints of the Great Tribulation stand before Yahweh’s throne in heaven in all its splendor and majesty (sea of glass, also Ezekiel 1:22, Rev. 4:6) and because of these and the previous saints sufferings, the sea of glass is this time mingled with fire (the image of judgment Rev. 14:10, 19:20) (verse 2a).

B. The overcoming ones (Greek – Nikontas, from Nike meaning victorious or conquering ones) had been standing and continue to stand before Yahweh’s throne because they walked close to Him through it all (Revelation 11:2, 7; 12:6, 11, 17; Rev. 13:10; 14:1-5, 12, 13). They did take part with the beast, his image, or his number as found (verse 2b; Rev. 13:1-18; 14:9-13).

C. The overcoming ones now receive their reward in heaven with the rest of the saints (verse 2b-4).

1. They are given their share of what they have overcome (Rev. 2:7, 11, 17, 26-28; 3:5, 12,21).

2. They are given their reward at Christ’s judgment seat in heaven at the sounding of the seventh trumpet which is the beginning of the bowl judgments (Rev. 11:18; I Cor. 3:10-15; 2 Cor. 5:10).

3. They are given harps of God to sing songs to Yahweh (verse 2b).

a. They especially like to sing a song called “the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb.” The song of Moses deals with Yahweh’s rescuing and redeeming His saints of Israel (Ex. 15:1-19; Deut. 31:30 -32:43; Psalm 90). The song of the Lamb probably has to do with the ultimate rescuing and redeeming of both church and Israel saints from the time of the church through the Great Tribulation. Faithful service to Yahweh probably is also one of its themes (part of this song could be what’s recorded in Revelation 15:3b-4).

b. They sing of Yahweh Elohai Sabaoth’s (Lord God of Hosts or Almighty) (Amos 4:13; Rev.1:8, 4:8, 11:17) great and amazing deeds, just and true ways, and the fact that He is the King of the Nations (verse 3b, Psalms 2:10-12, 22:28, 47:8, 96:10, 110:5-7; Jer. 10:7).

c. They sing of the fear (reverential awe) and glory (respect and praise for His attributes) of His holiness (set apartness, transcendence, wholly otherness) and the fact that all nations will bow the knee to Yahweh Jesus (verse 4; Phil. 2:9, 10; Rev. 20:4, 21:22-27).

III. The ceremony of the seven angels with the seven bowls coming out of the temple in heaven (Revelation 15:5-8).

A. The seven angels are dressed in pure, bright linen (showing righteous purity) and golden sashes (sent by Yahweh’s kingly authority) and emerge from a part of the Heavenly Temple called the “tent of witness” or “tabernacle of testimony.” This seems to be similar to Rev. 11:19 and in the same place chronologically. The idea seems to be that humanity has fallen short of Yahweh’s law (located in the ark of Yahweh’s covenant or Testimony in the Holy of Holies), refuses Yahweh’s grace, and therefore will receive Yahweh’s perfect justice (verses 5, 6; Ex. 16:34, 25:16, 21, 27:21; Lev. 16:13; Deut. 10:1, 2).

B. The seven angels were commissioned by one of the four living creatures by giving each their golden bowl (Ex. 27:3; 2 Chron. 4:8) of Yahweh’s wrath. During this time of wrath, Yahweh’s glory cloud was so thick inside the Temple that no one could enter it probably due to the awesomeness of the situation (verses 7, 8; Exodus 40:34, 35; I Kings 8:10-12; Isaiah 6:1-4; Ezek.10:2-4).

Revelation 14:1-20

EIGHT CHAPTERS EXPLAINING THE SPIRITUAL BATTLES, PEOPLE,

AND EVENTS OF THE GREAT TRIBULATION TO THE

RETURN OF KING JESUS TO RULE THIS EARTH:

PART III – THREE EARTHLY SCENES SHOW YAHWEH JESUS AS THE

FAITHFUL ONE, THE GRACIOUS ONE, AND THE RIGHTEOUS JUDGE

Revelation 14:1-20

As taught by Dave Lindstrom

BACKGROUND: The Apostle John divides this section up into three scenes with the words “and I saw” (kai eidon – Greek) used in verses 1, 6, and 14. After discussing Satan (Rev. 12), the Antichrist, his rise to power and his persecution of Christ’s saints (Rev. 13), John now turns to Yahweh’s assured victory over all opposing forces of evil in this chapter.

I. Scene One – Yahweh Jesus (the Lamb) will be victorious over evil and will faithfully bring His saints through the difficulties of this world and into the promised inheritance (Rev. 14:1-5).

A. Mount Zion can be found in the Old Testament as being Israel, Jerusalem, or the Temple Mount. It is the prophesied area on this earth where Yahweh Father sets up Yahweh Jesus to rule and reign (Psalm 2:6, 48:1-14; Isa. 24:23; Joel 2:32; Obad. 17, 21; Mic. 4:1, 7; Zach. 14:10). It also can refer to a heavenly mountain or city where Yahweh, the angels, and the heavenly saints live right now (Hebrews 12:22) (verse 1a).

B. The 144,000 Jewish believers from Rev. 7:2-8 which were sealed before the Day of Yahweh are shown on Mt. Zion with Yahweh Jesus the Lamb (verse 1b).

1. The seal which they receive back in Revelation 7:2-8 is revealed now as the Lamb’s name and Father’s name written on their foreheads.

2. In contrast to this Yahweh seal on the 144,000 is the previously mentioned Antichrist (Beast) mark given to Satan and Antichrist worshippers during this time frame in Revelation 13:16-18.

C. The scene pictures the 144,000 Jewish believers successfully making it through to the other side of this horrendous, traumatic time of Satan’s anger and Yahweh’s wrath with their testimony intact and morally blameless (verses 2-5).

2. These 144,000 male Jewish believers will voluntarily abstain from sex and marriage because of their commitment to Yahweh Jesus during this time. Even though the marriage bed is undefiled according to Hebrews 13:4, there are times when some believers are led to voluntarily not partake in it for the Kingdom of God’s sake (Matt. 19:12; I Cor. 7:1, 32). They were a firstfruit offering (aparche – Greek) for God and the Lamb.

3. The 144,000 Jewish believers will not be deceived by Satan’s and the Antichrist’s lies during this time because they walk so close to the Lamb in true discipleship (2 Thes. 2:7-12; Rev. 13:7-18).

THOUGHT: How is our discipleship with Yahweh Jesus right now? Are we following Him and offering ourselves to Him alone?

II. Scene Two – Yahweh’s grace is seen during the Great Tribulation because He sends three angelic messengers to bring the Gospel and warn the world of impending judgment (Rev. 14:6-13).

A. The first angel of this scene is flying in mid-heaven (evidently visible and able to be heard by those on earth) giving out the Gospel (good news) to everyone on the earth. He was “another angel” to differentiate from either the mid-heaven voice of Rev. 8:13 or the last angel John talked about which was Michael in Rev. 12:7. His message involved fearing (reverencing) God, giving Him glory (involving respect and repentance Rev. 11:13), and worship (belief and praise). This could be Matthew’s whole world gospel found in Matt. 24:14 (verses 6, 7).

B. The second angel of the scene prophesies the destruction of the Satanically influenced world system (Babylon the Great) and specifically the Antichrist’s capital city. This will be discussed in detail in Rev. 17:1 – 19:21 (verse 8).

C. The third angel of the scene warns the people on the earth not to take the mark of the beast (Antichrist) because all who do will face judgment and eternal separation from Yahweh in hell (verses 9-11) (Rev. 20:11-15).

D. The saints in the midst of the Great Tribulation are encouraged to endure and be faithful in order to receive their full reward even if it involves death (vs 12, 13).

III. Scene Three – Yahweh Jesus is the prophesied King and judge who will fulfill His word concerning the harvest of this earth (Rev. 14:14-20).

A. Yahweh Jesus is both the coming King and the coming Judge of this earth. He is identified as the “Son of Man” coming on the “clouds of heaven” as King in Daniel 7:13, 14. He is also identified as the coming judge in Daniel 7:26, Joel 3:1-16, Matt. 13:30, and John 5:27-29. John identifies Jesus scripturally without naming Him as the “golden crowned” King and the “sickle handed” Judge (verse 14).

B. Earthly judgment throughout the book of Revelation has come from the throne and temple of Yahweh in heaven. The angel at the appropriate time gives the word from the Father for Jesus to reap the “fully ripe” crop and He does His part of the reaping in one swipe. This is the judgment symbolizing the wheat harvest. Up until this time, Jesus has been letting believers and unbelievers live together (Matt. 13:24-30). After the Great Tribulation, Jesus will start the separation process with the bowl judgments (Rev. 15:1 – 16:20) and the sharp sword from His mouth (Rev. 19:15) (verses 15, 16).

C. After Jesus starts the judgment, the angels take over (Matt. 13:30). They do the judgments symbolizing the grape harvest. To harvest grapes, they need to be trampled in a wine press (trough) to get the juice to flow out. The end time judgment of this world is going to produce a massive crop because so many people will still refuse to believe (vs 17-20) (Joel 3:1-16; Rev. 16:16, 19:17).