Revelation 15, 16

God is a wonderful person, but He hates sin!  He loves sinners, but He hates sin.  Why? Because He knows what sin does to us.  Sin is "a falling away from or missing the right path."  The primary idea behind sin is that of law and of a lawgiver. The lawgiver is God and sin is everything in the disposition and purpose and conduct of God’s moral creatures that is contrary to the expressed will of God.  (Romans 3:20; 4:15; 7:7; James 4:12, 17)

In reality, sin is an act against God, even if the wrong is to another person or our own self. (Genesis 39:9, Psalm 51:4)  Since "God is Love" and the bottom line of all of God’s commandments is love, then sin boils down to our being wrapped up in our own egotism and selfishness!  If I put myself in God’s place and sin, then I am showing hostility to God.

How do we avoid this?  (Preachers struggle too!) 

Although we are saved, we are still clothed with our human nature.  Satan lures us into sin then mocks us when we fall.  Have you ever sinned then felt like kicking yourself for being so weak and stupid?  That was Satan picking on you.  Satan likes to tell us that we can’t possibly be Christians if we sin.  Well, we all still have some growing to do!

Please remember, salvation is faith based, not performance based!  God loves us because He chose to love us.  And when we fail, He is there to pick us up!

Do your best… and be willing to confess your failures.  Receive God’s love and forgiveness, and then keep serving God.  Try to learn from your mistakes!

Now!  Revelation 15, 16.  [If you are reading this on the Internet or reading printed copy, please read the verses in your Bible now… then continue with the message.  The bulk of my comments come from the Full Life Study Bible, published by Zondervan Publishing House.]

The last seven plagues contain God’s final judgments on the earth during the tribulation.  They are called the judgments of the "seven golden bowls" (v 7).  They begin in chapter 16.  The seven bowls of judgment may be the unfolding of the seventh trumpet judgment mentioned in Revelation 11:15.

In Revelation 15:2 the Christians are standing on a crystal surface.  This was described as a sea of glass which was before God’s throne in Rev. 4:6.   These are the believers who did not abandon their faith in Christ when they were persecuted, threatened or killed by the antichrist.  God promises us a safe landing in heaven but He does NOT promise us a trouble-free life!  It is comforting to know that God will never ask us to go through a situation where He will not be there to comfort and guide us!

The "Tabernacle of the Testimony" in 15:5 is like the tabernacle in the Old Testament that contained the Ten Commandments.  This signifies that the judgments are the result of God’s opposition to sin and of human rejection of His law and Word.

The seven golden bowls filled with the wrath of God in 15:7 will be the last of the divine judgments on a wicked world before Christ’s millennial reign.  Verse 8 indicates that no one can enter the temple until the seven plagues are completed because no one can intercede to stop the judgment.  God has declared the end; His judgment will be complete and without mercy.

Chapter 16 describes the awful torments that will come because of God’s wrath.  Remember the plagues that the people of Egypt had to endure before the Children of Israel were set free?  God is good, but eventually His judgment will come!

1.Ugly and painful sores break out on the people who had the mark of the beast and worshiped the beast’s image.

2.The sea turns into blood like that of a dead man – and every living thing in the sea dies. 

3.The rivers and streams also turn into blood.

4.Why? Look at verses 5, 6.  Then I heard the angel in charge of the waters say: "You are just in these judgments, You who are and who were, the Holy One, because You have so judged.  For they have shed the blood of Your saints and prophets, and You have given them blood to drink as they deserve."

5.Verse 9 tells us that a great heat wave will spread across the earth and become so unbearable that people will blaspheme God. Their hearts will be so hardened that they will refuse to repent!

6.Verse 10 tells us that the world dominion of the antichrist will fall apart. This special judgment centers on his headquarters and followers. The fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom was plunged into darkness. Men gnawed their tongues in agony and cursed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, BUT THEY REFUSED TO REPENT OF WHAT THEY HAD DONE.  Always remember, REPENTANCE BRINGS RESULTS WITH GOD!  Try it!  You will like it!

7.The kings from the East (v 12) are thought to be nations from the Orient that will participate in the great battle – the Battle of Armageddon.  Satan will drag everyone he can into this conflict.  The 6^th angel prepares the way for the final war of the age by a drying up of the Euphrates. This will allow the armies from the east to approach the vicinity of Israel.

8.Verses 13, 14 tell about unclean spirits – actually demons – who look like frogs. They come out of the mouths of the dragon, the beast and the false prophet.  You will remember that these three are agents of Satan himself.  These demons will perform miracles.

Satan and his agents have always been able to pull off miracles.  The sorcerers of Egypt were able to duplicate some of the miracles that Moses performed.  How do we know what miracles to put stock in… to believe?

The only thing I can suggest is this: KNOW WHAT THE WORD OF GOD SAYS!

1 John 4:1-3 "Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.  This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God.  This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.”"

Revelation 16:15 (The words of Christ) "Behold, I come like a thief! Blessed is he who stays awake and keeps his clothes with him, so that he may not go naked and be shamefully exposed." (Stay spiritually prepared!)

Verse 16-21 talks about Armageddon.  This place is located in north central Palestine, and literally means, "the valley of Megiddo" -- it will be the center of the "the battle on the great day of God Almighty" (v 14).  This war will occur toward the end of the great tribulation and conclude when Christ returns to destroy the wicked, to deliver His people and to inaugurate His Messianic kingdom.  This will not be a pretty picture!  Satan and his demons will gather together many nations under the direction of the antichrist in order to make war against God, His armies and His people.  They want to destroy Jerusalem.

Five prophets of the Old Testament prophesied this event!  Although the focal point will be in the land of Israel, the event of Armageddon will involve the whole world, according to Jeremiah.

Eventually Christ will return and supernaturally intervene to destroy the antichrist and his armies (chapter 19).  Verses 18, 19 of chapter 16 tell us that God will also send destruction and earthquakes on the whole world at this time.

Is some of this figurative?  Probably… but I don’t know which parts!  All I know for sure is that God loves you and me!  And He promised to take care of us… but He does expect obedience and cooperation! 

It would be my guess that no one who owns a business is so anxious to spend his payroll money that he stops people on the street just to give that person a paycheck.  The business owner expects you to apply for the job and perform the job.  This has some spiritual implications for us.  Salvation is offered to all, but there has to be some acceptance thereof!

Where are you with God today?  Who is your master?  Satan or God?