Details of the Book Of The Revelation Of Jesus Christ by Leon O. Poole

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Then another SIGN appeared in heaven, great and marvelous. Seven angels having the seven last plagues in which the wrath of God is filled up. Those are to be the final series of Judgments that occur in the last 42 month of the Great Tribulation. As we have noted, the intensity and severity of the seals has increased with each succeeding series.

How the Creation groans in travail during the Tribulation time! It will finally come to an end when Jesus comes, as in Revelation 19:11. Finally, the long travail of the fallen creation will be over, and there shall be a thousand years of peace. Lord, hasten the day!

The kingdoms of this world shall become the Kingdom of our God and of His Christ. But He has to so something drastic to bring it about. That which corrupts and pollutes and brings to ruin and decay must be removed. Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, at that time, is going to do it. He shall act in the meekness of the Lamb, in His holy submissin to God the Father. Therefore, the limitless power of God shall exhibit freely and fully in Him, and through Him.

Well, Jesus deals with you and me in the terms of the Lamb of God, sacrificed for our sins. In Him we have redemption through His Blood. Even so, He can get quite stern with us about things, as noted in Revelation 3:3 & 16. We must reverence and honor Him, even as we reverence and honor the Father.

When He came having salvation, He purchased eternal redemption for us. Even so, He has yet to put away sin and the bondage of corruption from the world. He does deliver believers from our sins, and He bore the sins of the whole world in His Own Body on the cross. But there is still plenty of sin on this planet as of today. In the Lord's eternal Kingdom, there will be no more sin and the BONDAGE OF CORRUPTION shall cease, praise the Lord.

John saw a sea of glass mingled with fire. This is the same sea as in chapter 4:6, but it has fire in it this time. On the first mention of this sea, no one stands on it. This time those who have gained the victory over the beast, over his name and over his mark stand on the sea, singing the song of Moses and of the Lamb.

That surely signifies that these are Jews and Gentile believers who overcame the beast and his mark and name. The song of Moses calls to mind the deliverance or Israel from Egypt, at the time of the Exodus. The song of the Lamb surely pertains to the victory of the Lamb, won at Calvary.

As a quick aside, isn't it interesting that the False Prophet goes into the JEWISH TEMPLE in Jerusalem, and there claims to be god? He doesn't bother with heathen, idol temples! Thus, these who stand on the sea of glass shall have rejected his claims, which he shall make in the Temple in Jerusalem.

Even a casual reading of the Book of The Revelation shows more than one group of the redeemed and of the saints. Surely, these in Revelation 15:2 are victors over the efforts of the beast in chapters 12 and 13. Revelation 15:3-4 relates to the lyrics of the song of Moses and of the Lamb. Jesus shall reign on the earth, and these proclaim His victory with a grand song. Notice the love and worship to our Lord in their words:

"Great and marvelous are Thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are Thy ways, Thou King of saints. 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." The holiness of God is foremost in their acclaim. As for holy men, 1 Peter 1:21 notes that there were holy men of God and they got their holiness FROM God: but is God isINHERENTLY HOLY! God commands: "Be ye holy for I AM holy." I.e., He doesn't BECOME holy as mankind must, He IS eternally holy.

Notice that these standing on the sea of glass do not cry for vengeance on their tormentors. They simply worship, adore, and acknowledge the Lord's holiness. What a soothing song to God, just before He pours out His final judgments. Their very sweetness to Him is an invocation for Him to execute His righteous judgments.

They shall have gotten the victory over the beast, over his name, and over his mark and over the number of his name. Four things, for which they shall likely suffer martyrdom, per chapter 13:15. Victory over the beast's kingdom -- the devil cannot suppress some people. he shall do his best (or his worst!) but shall not succeed. They shall not worship the image of the beast; they shall despise his name, and they will not take his mark... they do not belong to the devil. he CAN NOT make them! he can only kill them. Therefore, I am sure that he will demand a WILLING acceptance of his mark. his crowd of wicked people shall WILLINGLY accept his mark but NOT the true saints of God.

Their refusal shall so anger the devil that he shall kill them, but they shall appear in glory, standing on the sea of glass. Hallelujah! They shall gain the victory also over the number of his name. The devil and his beast and his vile image shall have no claim on them. They are the Victors though their faith in Christ shall be tried by fire.

Next John saw that the Temple of the Testimony in heaven was opened. God's Word must be fulfilled. What is written MUST be done. Therefore, out of the Temple of the Testimony, the seven angels, having the seven vials of God's wrath shall proceed. But notice upon whom His wrath is directed. NOT THE CHURCH! Rather, His wrath is upon the impenitent, wicked sinners on the earth.

The clothing of the angels who pour out their vials, is pure, white linen signifying spotless righteousness. They are each girded with golden girdles, which may signify Divine approbation and authority. One of the Four Living Creatures gave them seven golden vials full of the wrath of God Who lives for ever and ever. Verse 7.

Again, we see deputation and function of authority in this verse. God deposits His wrath in seven golden vials (bowls), and through the Living Creatures, commits it to seven angels to execute. Everything in the heavenly realm moves in perfect harmony with the will of God. Observe Matthew 6:9-11. Also, the Lord Jesus said that He never spoke of His Own will, He always said what God said. What a tremendous statement! It may be that we will have quite a bit to learn about Divine order when we get to heaven. I trust that we will at least be delivered from the "Open mouth, insert foot" syndrome!

When the angels are given the vials, the Temple (of the Testimony) was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from His power. Now notice: "...no man was ABLE to enter into the Temple till the seven plagues were fulfilled." There will be no opportunity for any one to intercede during that judgment. No one can enter the Temple. It's too late! Judgment must fall, and thus, it shall begin. It cannot but run it's course. God's GLORY prevents anyone from interceding. Why? Because He is pouring out His wrath without mixture. Pure, 100 proof WRATH, with no mercy mingled with it.

Remember how Moses made intercession when Israel made the golden calf at Mount Sinai, in Exodus 32? God pardoned; but it will not be possible to defer His judgment here. God is determined that wrath shall prevail, and it shall. The Old Testament was a vast instruction to mankind about the Nature and attributes of God. He was severe on sinners. He HAD to remove the impediments to His plan.

The Canaanites were so wicked that the chosen people could not live among them, without being defiled. Therefore, God removed them, so that through Israel salvation should come to the world, through Jesus Christ, the Seed of Abraham. The Lord Jesus said that salvation is of the Jews. John 4:22.

Truly, 1 John 4:8 says that God is Love. But mankind has provoked God for millennia. Though He is merciful and long suffering, not willing that any should perish, yet mankind MOVES God from His primary state of Love, Mercy and Peace into the mode of wrath and judgment. Recall the obstinance of sinners on earth as noted in Revelation 9:20-21.

The account of Jonah reveals that God IS ready to forgive, and changes His mind about judgment when mankind repents. But these in the Book of the Revelation REFUSE to repent, though they KNOW they are resisting God. They climax their rebellion by attempting to fight against Jesus Christ and His armies. Revelation 19:11-21.

Repentance by the Ninevites, in the Book of Jonah, prevented God from judging them, and peace came to them. When the cause of offense is removed, God remains in, or reverts to, His love/mercy mode. When Jesus finally completes His mission of putting away sin, there will be peace and rest forever, to God and to all of His Kingdom. To secure that, there MUST be judgment. You cannot have rightness and have things to work right, without judgment.