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 70th
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 6th and
7th 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).
