REVELATION LESSON 31

    In this lesson we see the seven plagues. We will begin in
Revelation 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."

    These plagues are really the wrath of God which occurs the last 3
1/2 years of the seven years of great tribulation. This "...seven..."
just means this is the end. The only good thing about these plagues is
that the Christians are in heaven when this occurs. The wrath of the
devil is bad, but to fall into the hands of Almighty God and have His
wrath fall is the very worst thing that could happen.

    Revelation 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."

    We see here a "...sea of glass...".  I am told that there is an
atomic bomb so powerful that, if it were exploded, it could literally
turn seven states into a sea of glass. A "...sea..." symbolizes great
numbers of people sometimes.  This could be the meaning here. This
could also indicate the overcomers who have been baptized.

    The only way you can be victorious over the beast would be not to
take his number. These overcomers will be believers in the Lord Jesus
who were in heaven when this devastating thing happened.

    Now we see them standing on this "...sea of glass...". Every time
we Christians see these terrible things, God reassures us of our
position with Him. These believers have been up in heaven playing
their harps.  Notice here that these still have their "...harps...".

    Revelation 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."

    This "...they..." are the believers in Christ. The "...song of
Moses..." and the "...song of the Lamb..." are the same. This is the
song of redemption. God used Moses to redeem His people from bondage
in Egypt .  The Lamb (Jesus) redeemed us from bondage on the earth
(type of Egypt). Just as Moses took his people to the promised land,
Jesus is leading us to that promised land we call heaven.

    Who purchased this for us?  Who did all the work Himself? Jesus.
His works are "...marvellous...". It is beyond our imagination to see
a beautiful snow-capped mountain and realize that the one who created
that, also loved us enough that He climbed on the cross and suffered
for us. He has every right to be our King. Remember in all of this, He
is not just a loving God, but a "...just and true..." God as well.

    In V-3 it says "...Lord God Almighty..." this reminds me that
Jesus truly was and is our Savior, but until He becomes Lord of our
life we are miles apart from Him.  This name just tells us of His
overwhelming power.

    Revelation 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."

    In Proverbs 9:10 we read "The fear of the LORD [is] the beginning
of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy [is] understanding."

    We are not to fear the world or its people. We are "...to fear..."
(reverence) God.

    This, in V-4 that says "...all nations shall come and worship...",
is speaking of the time when Jesus will sit on a throne in Jerusalem
and rule the world. There will be a yearly pilgrimage by everyone to
worship. We see Jesus is the only Holy one. If for no other reason
than this, we should fear Him. He is just and "...all nations..." will
worship Him is two other very good reasons to fear and worship Him. It
is very wise to fear the God that holds your fate in His hand.

    Revelation 15:5 "And after that I looked, and, behold, the temple
of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened:"

    This "...tabernacle..." is the original tabernacle in heaven that
the one on the earth was patterned by. Moses was given instruction by
God how to build the earthly ones.  The tabernacle was opened by
Jesus, when the temple curtain was torn from the top to the bottom,
when Jesus died on the cross. This tabernacle belongs to Jesus. We see
here that it "...was opened..." (past tensed).

    Revelation 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."

    So many people in this new wave of believers think that all
punishment comes from the devil and no bad thing comes from God. They
better take another look at this Scripture right here. These
"...angels..." are operating under God's orders.  They have just come
"... out of the temple..." (which shows the origination). They are
clothed in white (which shows they are good angels and not demons).
The gold of their breasts show that they have been in the presence of
God.

    Revelation 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."

    Here, again, we see these "...vials..." are from God, because they
are gold. These "sevens" just show the completeness of it all.

    Here, again, we see the eternity of God in the forever and ever.
They are ready to pour the wrath out on the inhabitants of the earth.
One thing I notice over and over, is the patience of God, trying to
get even one more saved before it is poured out.

    Revelation 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."

    We know that in the tabernacle in the wilderness, no one could go
inside. God is a consuming fire as we read in Hebrews 12:29 "For our
God is a consuming fire."

    This "...smoke..." is from the Majesty of God. The children of
Israel were led by God Himself. We read that a fire led them by night
and a cloud by day, Exodus 13:21.  This is the very same presence we
read of here. No mere man can enter this holy place. Jesus enters here
for us and takes us with Him after we are covered by His (Jesus)
blood.  God sees Jesus' shed blood, instead of us, when we enter
(after we are a believer); and that shed blood is what keeps us from
being burned up in God the Father's presence.

    God's anger is kindled at those on the earth who have caused such
sorrow to the church and the true believers, and His fury has come in
His face. These plagues, as we said before, are from God. What a
terrible thing it is to fall into the hands of the Living God and be
judged by Him guilty and deserving of His wrath.

    In Hebrews 10:30-31, we read about just how terrible it is for the
sinner to fall into His hands.
    Hebrews 10:30 "For we know him that hath said, Vengeance
[belongeth] unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The
Lord shall judge his people."
    Hebrews 10:31 "[It is] a fearful thing to fall into the hands of
the living God."

    Scriptures to look up and study: Exodus 14:31, Psalms 111:2, 1
Timothy 1:17, Exodus 15:11, Exodus 25:16 and 21, Luke 16:19, Ezekiel
10:7, and Exodus 16:10.

    Memorize Hebrews 12:29 and Hebrews 10:30-31.














                        Revelation Questions 31


1.  Chapter 15 of Revelation deals with the seven what?
2.  What was filled with the wrath of God?
3.  When is the wrath poured out?
4.  What is the only thing good about the plagues?
5.  What is worse than to be attacked by the devil?
6.  What was the sea of glass mingled with?
7.  Who stands on the sea of glass?
8.  What can a sea be symbolic of?
9.  How is the only way to be victorious over the beast?
10. What is God constantly reassuring the believers of?
11. What is the song of Moses?
12. The song of whom is the same?
13. What does the song say?
14. What does this song call God?
15. Who is Jesus King of?
16. What is Egypt a type of?
17. What does Jesus need to be in our life besides our Savior?
18. Who shall come and worship before Him?
19. What is the beginning of wisdom?
20. What was opened in heaven?
21. What was the tabernacle in the wilderness a replica of?
22. Who gave Moses the plan to build it?
23. When was the way opened in the tabernacle?
24. How were the seven angels clothed when they came out of the
    temple?
25. How do we know these angels were in the presence of God?
26. What were the seven vials full of?
27. What was the temple filled with?
28. In Hebrews 12:29, we read that God is a --------   -------.
29. What do we have to be covered with to be in the presence of God
    without being destroyed?
30. In Hebrews 10:31 , we read that it is a -------------------to fall
    into the hands of the living God.
31. Write Hebrews 12:29.
32. Write Hebrews 10:30-31.
33. Write a description, in your own words, of what you believe the 7
    plagues are.