Now Mount Sinai was all in smoke because the Lord descended upon it in fire; and its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and the entire mountain quaked violently. - Exodus 19:18
Good morning. In today’s sermon we are going to discuss the events described in Revelation 15. This chapter has fewest verses in the entire book - only 8. Therefore, we will easily be able to cover the entire chapter in a single message. The events we’re about to consider take place in the heavenly throne room and temple. They serve as an introduction to the 7 bowls of wrath, the final series of God’s tribulation judgments, which will be poured out upon the earth.
I. A SONG OF TRIUMPH (Revelation 15:2-4)
John looked and saw something “like a sea of glass mixed with fire”. Standing on this sea were all of those who had been victorious over the beast, his image, his number, and his name. They were holding and playing harps while singing the song of Moses and the song of the Lamb.
There are various opinions about the make-up of this “sea of glass”. Though we can’t be certain, it seems to be some vast, brilliant, and translucent plane or surface upon which people could stand. Perhaps it is the floor of Heaven, through which events on the earth can be seen. John originally mentioned it back in Revelation 4, when he gave his overall description of the heavenly throne room.
There is a striking similarity between the details given here and those from Revelation 14:2-3. John had previously described a heavenly choir playing harps and singing a new song in heaven as the Lamb of God set foot on Mt. Zion. He saw the 144,000 believing Jews singing along with those in heaven as they welcomed Jesus’ return to the earth. Could it be that the group singing in heaven was the Tribulation Saints who had overcome the Antichrist? Might this “new song” be that of Moses and the Lamb? Perhaps these 2 passages speak of the same event, one from an earthly and the other from a heavenly perspective. It’s possible…
Moses wrote 3 full-length songs that are recorded in Scripture. The first was sung after the Children of Israel crossed the Red Sea (Exodus 15:1-21). The second anticipated Israel’s future apostasy and declared the Lord’s faithfulness (Deuteronomy 32:1-43). The third was a melodious prayer included with the songs of David, Solomon, and others (Psalm 90:1-17). The song of Moses and the Lamb, which John recorded in this passage, is a condensed chorus that combines many elements found in these 3 longer songs.
II. 7 ANGELS PREPARE (Revelation 15:1,5-7)
Next, John described seeing the heavenly temple being opened and 7 angels coming out of it. These angels were dressed in clean, bright linen and wore golden sashes on their chests. One of the four living creatures gave each of these angels a golden bowl, full of the wrath of God. These 7 bowls were synonymously referred to as the 7 plagues, and were to be God’s final series of judgments upon the earth.
The language used in these verses seems to place this scene near the end of the Great Tribulation. As we will see starting next week, when we move into chapter 16, the severity of these 7 plagues almost certainty necessitates that they occur not long before the Second Coming of Christ. They are absolutely devastating and serve as the culmination of God’s furious wrath. Following these judgments, the earth will be all but destroyed…
III. SMOKE FILLS THE TEMPLE (Revelation 15:8)
After watching the 7 angels come out of it to receive their golden bowls, John saw the heavenly temple being filled with the smoke of God’s glory and power. No one was allowed to enter the temple until the 7 plagues of the 7 angels were complete. In other words, the temple was off limits to everyone throughout the entire outpouring of the bowl judgments (possibly a period of several months).
In Old Testament times, after King Solomon had completed building it, God’s shekinah glory filled the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem (2 Chronicles 7:1-3). As a result, the priests were temporarily unable to enter it. Isaiah envisioned a similar occurrence when he saw the temple being filled with smoke (Isaiah 6:4) prior to his calling. The smoke represents the presence of God. Some readers have suggested that the smoke also served, in part, to prevent anyone from entering the heavenly temple to possibly intercede for mercy on behalf of the Antichrist or his kingdom.
CONCLUSION
As we have stated before, the largest portion of Revelation covers the 7-year tribulation period (chapters 6-19) which includes 3 series of 7 judgments - the 7 seals, the 7 trumpets, and the 7 bowls or plagues. The Bible also mentions 7 undisclosed “thunders” (Revelation 10:3-4) which may or may not refer to yet another set of judgments. Sticking with the 3 that we are certain of, there are 2 prevailing views about their timing. Some believe that they will occur in chronological order (one set after the other) while others believe they will occur simultaneously (in layered fashion). Personally, I think both of these theories have some merit. In my opinion, they will be "chronologically layered".
The seals describe events that begin during the first part of the tribulation and persist throughout. For the most part, they are somewhat broad in nature and gradually become more severe over time. They are not exclusively attributed to the Devil or the Antichrist, but rather characterize the general condition of the earth during the last days.
The trumpets describe events that occur during the early and middle years of the Great Tribulation, when the Antichrist’s power and dominion are at their peak. They are much more specific, but are still limited in scope and extent. These judgments will be inflicted directly by the hand of God and/or through the wicked devices of the Antichrist.
The bowls describe events that occur during the final year or perhaps even months of the Great Tribulation, as the Antichrist’s kingdom and “Babylon the Great” begin to crumble. They are all-encompassing and merciless. These horrible judgments will fall upon all of the earth, including the Antichrist and his hapless followers.
The Tribulation Saints, who have overcome the beast (Antichrist), will sing the victors’ song. The heavenly temple will be filled with smoke while God’s final judgments are poured out on the earth. Next week we will begin discussing the bowl judgments. Get ready. It's going to be brutal...
Good morning. In today’s sermon we are going to discuss the events described in Revelation 15. This chapter has fewest verses in the entire book - only 8. Therefore, we will easily be able to cover the entire chapter in a single message. The events we’re about to consider take place in the heavenly throne room and temple. They serve as an introduction to the 7 bowls of wrath, the final series of God’s tribulation judgments, which will be poured out upon the earth.
I. A SONG OF TRIUMPH (Revelation 15:2-4)
John looked and saw something “like a sea of glass mixed with fire”. Standing on this sea were all of those who had been victorious over the beast, his image, his number, and his name. They were holding and playing harps while singing the song of Moses and the song of the Lamb.
There are various opinions about the make-up of this “sea of glass”. Though we can’t be certain, it seems to be some vast, brilliant, and translucent plane or surface upon which people could stand. Perhaps it is the floor of Heaven, through which events on the earth can be seen. John originally mentioned it back in Revelation 4, when he gave his overall description of the heavenly throne room.
There is a striking similarity between the details given here and those from Revelation 14:2-3. John had previously described a heavenly choir playing harps and singing a new song in heaven as the Lamb of God set foot on Mt. Zion. He saw the 144,000 believing Jews singing along with those in heaven as they welcomed Jesus’ return to the earth. Could it be that the group singing in heaven was the Tribulation Saints who had overcome the Antichrist? Might this “new song” be that of Moses and the Lamb? Perhaps these 2 passages speak of the same event, one from an earthly and the other from a heavenly perspective. It’s possible…
Moses wrote 3 full-length songs that are recorded in Scripture. The first was sung after the Children of Israel crossed the Red Sea (Exodus 15:1-21). The second anticipated Israel’s future apostasy and declared the Lord’s faithfulness (Deuteronomy 32:1-43). The third was a melodious prayer included with the songs of David, Solomon, and others (Psalm 90:1-17). The song of Moses and the Lamb, which John recorded in this passage, is a condensed chorus that combines many elements found in these 3 longer songs.
II. 7 ANGELS PREPARE (Revelation 15:1,5-7)
Next, John described seeing the heavenly temple being opened and 7 angels coming out of it. These angels were dressed in clean, bright linen and wore golden sashes on their chests. One of the four living creatures gave each of these angels a golden bowl, full of the wrath of God. These 7 bowls were synonymously referred to as the 7 plagues, and were to be God’s final series of judgments upon the earth.
The language used in these verses seems to place this scene near the end of the Great Tribulation. As we will see starting next week, when we move into chapter 16, the severity of these 7 plagues almost certainty necessitates that they occur not long before the Second Coming of Christ. They are absolutely devastating and serve as the culmination of God’s furious wrath. Following these judgments, the earth will be all but destroyed…
III. SMOKE FILLS THE TEMPLE (Revelation 15:8)
After watching the 7 angels come out of it to receive their golden bowls, John saw the heavenly temple being filled with the smoke of God’s glory and power. No one was allowed to enter the temple until the 7 plagues of the 7 angels were complete. In other words, the temple was off limits to everyone throughout the entire outpouring of the bowl judgments (possibly a period of several months).
In Old Testament times, after King Solomon had completed building it, God’s shekinah glory filled the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem (2 Chronicles 7:1-3). As a result, the priests were temporarily unable to enter it. Isaiah envisioned a similar occurrence when he saw the temple being filled with smoke (Isaiah 6:4) prior to his calling. The smoke represents the presence of God. Some readers have suggested that the smoke also served, in part, to prevent anyone from entering the heavenly temple to possibly intercede for mercy on behalf of the Antichrist or his kingdom.
CONCLUSION
As we have stated before, the largest portion of Revelation covers the 7-year tribulation period (chapters 6-19) which includes 3 series of 7 judgments - the 7 seals, the 7 trumpets, and the 7 bowls or plagues. The Bible also mentions 7 undisclosed “thunders” (Revelation 10:3-4) which may or may not refer to yet another set of judgments. Sticking with the 3 that we are certain of, there are 2 prevailing views about their timing. Some believe that they will occur in chronological order (one set after the other) while others believe they will occur simultaneously (in layered fashion). Personally, I think both of these theories have some merit. In my opinion, they will be "chronologically layered".
The seals describe events that begin during the first part of the tribulation and persist throughout. For the most part, they are somewhat broad in nature and gradually become more severe over time. They are not exclusively attributed to the Devil or the Antichrist, but rather characterize the general condition of the earth during the last days.
The trumpets describe events that occur during the early and middle years of the Great Tribulation, when the Antichrist’s power and dominion are at their peak. They are much more specific, but are still limited in scope and extent. These judgments will be inflicted directly by the hand of God and/or through the wicked devices of the Antichrist.
The bowls describe events that occur during the final year or perhaps even months of the Great Tribulation, as the Antichrist’s kingdom and “Babylon the Great” begin to crumble. They are all-encompassing and merciless. These horrible judgments will fall upon all of the earth, including the Antichrist and his hapless followers.
The Tribulation Saints, who have overcome the beast (Antichrist), will sing the victors’ song. The heavenly temple will be filled with smoke while God’s final judgments are poured out on the earth. Next week we will begin discussing the bowl judgments. Get ready. It's going to be brutal...