Revelation 15:8

Copyright Ó 2010 J. Neely

Revelation 15:8

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8 And [kai] the temple [naos] was filled [gemizo] with smoke [kapnos] from [ek] the glory [doxa] of God, [theos] and [kai] from [ek] his [autos] power; [dunamis] and [kai] no man [oudeis] was able [dunamai] to enter [eiserchomai] into [eis] the temple, [naos] till [achri] the seven [hepta] plagues [plege] of the seven [hepta] angels [aggelos] were fulfilled. [teleo] KJV-Interlinear

8 And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from His power; and no one was able to enter the temple until the seven plagues of the seven angels were finished. NASB

There is always a quiet before the storm.  There is always grace before judgment.  There is always opportunity to repent and change ones ways, before God lowers the boom.

And during the initial portions of the Tribulation, as in any time in history, God gives truth, doctrine , and opportunity to everyone, so that they can change their ways.

And unlike in history, during this last phase of the Tribulation, God will have squeezed as in a wine press, every person who will ever believe in Christ and be saved, and all that will remain, will be unbelievers who will refuse, stubbornly refuse to believe in Christ even through the most horrifying judgments that anyone will ever face.

Smoke has been used in the past as symbolism to represent the presence of God in all of His glory.  When the smoke filled the temple, then no one could enter, Ex 19:16-18, Ex 40:34-35; 1 Kings 8:10-11; Isa 6:1-4.

And so it is here, in our current verse.  There will come a time in the Tribulation, near its end, that all who will believe in Christ, will have done so, and no else in that era, will believe.

This will occur only three times in history.  The first was during the Noah Flood, when everyone had the chance to believe, but did not, and only eight people boarded the Ark – Noah and his three sons, and each of their respective wives.

The next time in history will be at a time immediately prior to the Rapture, when the ‘great’ apostasy predicted by Jesus and Paul, will occur at the end of our present dispensation.  It will be then that God will shift the gears of history into the next set, removing believers, and leaving unbelievers only, so as to get many more to believe, who probably would not have done so if the Rapture had, or does not occur.

And then at the end of the Tribulation, God will close the temple, so to speak, preventing anyone else from entering.  This is not a closed door termination of salvation but a picture showing us that there won’t be anyone else who will believe.  God will have retrieved everyone who will believe, and there won’t be any more.

Such will be the stubbornness of evil in the minds of those remaining alive.

Note quickly, this does not mean that all believers will be in heaven, for there will still be a population of believers on earth, either in hiding or wherever, who will survive all of these judgments against unbelievers, and who will enter into the Millennium after the Second Advent of Christ.

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Revelation 15:7

Copyright Ó 2010 J. Neely

Revelation 15:7

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7 And [kai] one [heis] of [ek] the four [tessares] beasts [zoon] gave [didomi] unto the seven [hepta] angels [aggelos] seven [hepta] golden [chruseos] vials [phiale] full [gemo] of the wrath [thumos] of God, [theos] who [ho] liveth [zao] for [eis] ever [aion] and ever. [aion] KJV-Interlinear

7 And one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God, who lives forever and ever. NASB

Now you have to go back to our study in Rev. 4:6, to review the four creatures or beasts being referred to here.  Recall that they existed roundabout, and through and through the throne of God. They represented or symbolized the essence of life.

And now, these seven angels, having exited from the inner holiest of holy dwelling of God, are in turn being given something from the living beasts, herein being referred to as one.

The term ‘one’ can be used to identify a single thing or person, but it can also be used to identify a single concept or unit or group.  And since the four living beasts from chapter four, are united and inseparable, then this is the referenced to the essence of life, which they represent.

So, the picture here is that from the dwelling of God, from the inner most private and holy place of Gods life, comes judgment, being delivered by seven angels who are presently waiting their orders.  The source of judgment is further identified as coming from the source of life, which is also God, who is life.

Therefore, truth is the foundation of life, and from that comes justice, and from that comes judgment.

Everything is on the up and up, in accordance with true and fair prosecution in accordance with the evidence, which accurately and correctly convicts evil, and therefore the judgment is appropriate.

And, since this evil has run its course for a very long time, and since truth has been presented over and over, again and again, and has been repeatedly rejected, then this judgment is fair and necessary.

If judgment were withheld, then none of us would have a life of any kind.  Satan would rule and everything would cease to exist.

The seven vials, are shallow bowls, and are generally referred to as the bowl judgments. This picture being portrayed here is not one of a single bowl being tilted gently and allowed to pour out slowly, but of seven full bowls, being dumped simultaneously, causing a flood from its contents, to overcome and overwhelm those on whom it is being poured.  The content of only a single bowl is sufficient to overwhelm all.

This is a picture of phenomenal judgment that has never before occurred in history.  It will be repetitive, rapid, unceasing, and thorough.

This comes from ‘The’ God, ‘theos’ who is the one and only true God, the highest authority in all of existence, whom we know as Jesus Christ, who gives life and who takes it away.

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Revelation 15:6

Copyright Ó 2010 J. Neely

Revelation 15:6

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6 And [kai] the seven [hepta] angels [aggelos] came [exerchomai] out of [ek] the temple, [naos] having [echo] the seven [hepta] plagues, [plege] clothed [enduo] in pure [katharos] and [kai] white [lampros] linen, [linon] and [kai] having their breasts [stethos] girded [perizonnumi] with [peri] golden [chruseos] girdles. [zone]KJV-Interlinear

6 and the seven angels who had the seven plagues came out of the temple, clothed in linen, clean and bright, and girded around their breasts with golden girdles. NASB

Here is our reference to the Holy of Holies, the temple, ‘naos,’ is a specific reference to the inner room of the tabernacle, Gods symbolic dwelling place here on earth, and Gods actual dwelling place in heaven.

Remember that heaven is the place of reality, and earth is the place of shadows.  The best we can do here on earth is symbolizing those things that are in heaven, through examples.  And using the term ‘shadow’ is the best example for showing the extreme lack of substance here, versus the phenomenal realities (beyond our imagination) that exist in heaven.

When you compare a shadow to the real thing, there is a huge difference between the two. Shadows have no texture, no color, no aroma, no substance, no feel, no sound, nothing but an outline of sorts, of something, but not the real thing.

Thus far in Revelation, we have had the written word revealed, the seven seals are the written future, which is going to come to pass.  Those who think they can change the future and defer or avoid these things, are fools and in rejection of God.  In fact it is they who are actually going to make these things come to pass through their own indifference and rejection of prophecy.

Remember that in our current dispensation, a great apostasy is coming.  Apostasy is not only a rejection of truth, and Christianity, but an embracing of worldly lies.  Secularism is going to be the order of the day, some day.  Even more so that it is today. 

This will pave the way for the anti-christ and his religion (himself) when the Tribulation begins, as well as all of the crime, rejection of authority and rejection of everything good and respectful, as sin becomes unrestrained after the Rapture.

We have studied the seven trumpets, announcements of that which is coming.  No one has an excuse. You have no excuse for not knowing what is coming, and certainly of what your obligations are to God, and the opportunities that are available to you.

Seven angels represent the completeness of Gods action.  Nothing is left out and nothing more will be needed in this action.  These are seven angels, actual angels.  They are in heaven right now, just waiting their call to duty.

They will come out of the temple.  They will be sent forth by God Himself.

With them, they will carry for delivery to humanity, seven judgments.  These will be the most horrific judgments in all of human history.  Nothing before this will compare to what is coming.

Clothed in white, with golden breast plates, these angels are outfitted in the righteousness and justice of God. Pure and perfect and just, in every way possible, they are going to enter the picture of history with the blessing and command from God Himself.

As we have already studied, this is not a story for the imagination, but one of the reality of what lays ahead for humanity.  No command of the stars, not space travel to galaxies far, far away, no ascension to some higher plane of existence due to mans own goodness or good intentions.  None of that.

Your life now, is one of preparation for the next life.  You can roll your eyes at the imagery of this book, and be impressed with special affects in movies, or you can open your eyes to the realities and possibilities of your own destiny, and be impressed with God and His plan.

In either case, Gods plan will advance along without so much as a hiccup, and you can advance along with God, or you can ignore the whole thing and discover your mistake in the next life.

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Revelation 15:5

Copyright Ó 2010 J. Neely

Revelation 15:5

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5 And [kai] after [meta] that [tauta] I looked, [eido] and, [kai] behold, [idou] the temple [naos] of the tabernacle [skene] of the testimony [marturion] in [en] heaven [ouranos] was opened: [anoigo] KJV-Interlinear

5 After these things I looked, and the temple of the tabernacle of testimony in heaven was opened, NASB

In an earlier vision, the throne room was opened allowing all to see inside.  Now the tabernacle is opened to reveal the fact that what is now coming, is directly from God.

The tabernacle is now referring to Gods holiest of holies. This was the inner room in the earthly tabernacle, the Holy of Holies, into which only the High Priest was allowed to enter, and only twice on a single day on the Day of Atonement.

Inside that inner room, was the Ark, sometimes called the Ark of the Covenant.  The covenant is Gods contract, Gods testimony to and with humanity.

And now that contract is going to be executed and completed, in the form of the most powerful and horrifying display of Gods judgment against sinful man and all evil, which has consumed the world.

Against it no one can hide, and no one can escape.

Having more than ample opportunity to turn away from evil, humanity will have chosen extreme wickedness, and when we finally get to verse eight, we will see that salvation will be closed.  Not because it is intended to keep people out of heaven, but because all that will believe will already have believed and no more will believe in Christ, for the duration to the end of the Tribulation.

This closing will not occur early or even in the middle of the Tribulation, but near the end, there will come a time when that line will be crossed and all that remain of unbelievers, will not change in their attitude.

Today, we have seen unheard of disasters and atrocities in history, but when this series of events in the Tribulation begins, everything in past history will seem like childs play, as God unleashes the most complete execution of justice against evil, ever.

There can be no mistake.  Life and happiness come from God, and judgment also comes from God, and from that there is escape.

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Revelation 15:4

Copyright Ó 2010 J. Neely

Revelation 15:4

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4 Who [tis] shall [phobeo] not [ou me] fear [phobeo] thee, [se] O Lord, [kurios] and [kai] glorify [doxazo] thy [sou] name [onoma]? for [hoti] thou only [monos] art holy: [hosios] for [hoti] all [pas] nations [ethnos] shall come [heko] and [kai] worship [proskuneo] before [enopion] thee; [sou] for [hoti] thy [sou] judgments [dikaioma] are made manifest. [phaneroo] KJV-Interlinear

4 "Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify Thy name? For Thou alone art holy; For all the nations will come and worship before Thee, For Thy righteous acts have been revealed." NASB

The song opens with the phenomenal works that God has done.  From the extreme details of creation, to the vastness of the universe.  Even today, humanity has not discovered nor unlocked the secrets that surround us.

Who will not fear God?  Only the fool who ignores or is indifferent toward the spiritual realm.

The religious purues the false.  The secular pursues the temporary.  The self-righteous never looks beyond themselves.  The carnal respects nothing and no one.  Each glorifies self or something bogus, and end up with zilch when it is all said and done.

And in the end, all who are wicked (those lacking in spiritual attributes) will be gone, and the point here made is that when the Tribulation is finished, all evil will be vanquished and the nations who remain, people who remain alive at the Second Advent, will worship Christ, who is God.

Gods judgments are made manifest.  Jesus Christ controls history.  All of His decisions and actions, made in eternity past then recorded in the Divine Decrees, will have come true, without exception.  While all of mans intents will have failed.

The reality is, that without God, your life is nothing.

Long ago, God brought together lifeless dust and human life and united them together to make you. That is the essence of what you are.

Before you existed, you were nothing, and before you existed you had nothing to say about your life.  But now, in this life, God gives you every opportunity to define your eternal destiny.

Unfortunately far too many people ignore that opportunity and they will end up with nothing.

But one day, trillions will sing together, the song of God and for God, and past opportunities will be long lost to history.

You have an opportunity today to make your life complete as never before.  The question is, ‘Will you?’

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Revelation 15:3

Copyright Ó 2010 J. Neely

Revelation 15:3

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3 And [kai] they sing [ado] the song [ode] of Moses [Moseus] the servant [doulos] of God, [theos] and [kai] the song [ode] of the Lamb, [arnion] saying, [lego] Great [megas] and [kai] marvellous [thaumastos] are thy [sou] works, [ergon] Lord [kurios] God [theos] Almighty; [pantokrator] just [dikaios] and [kai] true [alethinos] are thy [sou] ways, [hodos] thou King [basileus] of saints. [hagios] KJV-Interlinear

3 And they sang the song of Moses the bond-servant of God and the song of the Lamb, saying, "Great and marvelous are Thy works, O Lord God, the Almighty; Righteous and true are Thy ways, Thou King of the nations. NASB

The song of Moses is found at Ex. 15.  The song of the Lamb is essentially the same thing, however the song of the Lamb is also expressed in Rev. 5, where the crescendo of voices are heard altogether in heaven.

And although the words of these two verses are not an exact match, that is not the point of this message.  The theme and the message and the attitude expressed in them is the point.

Both speak of deliverance and salvation and victory.  One from the manward side, and the other from the Godward side.

The song of Moses is historically set at the time of the Exodus, where the Israelites were trapped against the waters of the Red Sea.  Faced with certain destruction, God parted the waters, stacking them up on either side of a dry path, making way for their escape.  The waters then collapsed and fell back on the Egyptians, killing them all and destroying the enemy of the Israelites in one swift battle, in which not one Israelite had to fight.

This is a song of victory in deliverance, while also being a song of judgment.

The song of the Lamb, the song from Gods perspective, is a song of redemption, faithfulness, deliverance and also judgment.

The song of Moses was sung at the Red Sea – deliverance from turmoil.  The song of the Lamb will be sung on a crystal sea – deliverance into peace.

The song of Moses is one of triumph over sin (Egypt).  The song of the Lamb is one of triumph over evil (anti-christ).

The song of Moses sings of God bringing His people out of the world.  The song of the Lamb sings of God bringing his people into heaven.

Both songs honor and remember the deliverance of believers, the destruction of the enemy, the expectations of believers, and the adulation of the Lord.

The song of Moses is the first song in anticipation of Gods plan.  The song of the Lamb is the last and final song of the completion of Gods plan.

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Revelation 15:2

Copyright Ó 2010 J. Neely

Revelation 15:2

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2 And [kai] I saw [eido] as it were [hos] a sea [thalassa] of glass [hualinos] mingled [mignumi] with fire: [pur] and [kai] them that had gotten the victory [nikao] over [ek] the beast, [therion] and [kai] over [ek] his [autos] image, [eikon] and [kai] over [ek] his [autos] mark, [charagma] and over [ek] the number [arithmos] of his [autos] name, [onoma] stand [histemi] on [epi] the sea [thalassa] of glass, [hualinos] having [echo] the harps [kithara] of God. [theos] KJV-Interlinear

2 And I saw, as it were, a sea of glass mixed with fire, and those who had come off victorious from the beast and from his image and from the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, holding harps of God. NASB

There is a brief study of the sea of glass in Rev. 4:6.  However we will again briefly review the use of the term ‘sea’ in the scriptures.

Generally the sea is used in the sense of the nations of man.  Being somewhat tumultuous and turbulent at times, they represent the rebellious nature and unrest of humanity throughout history.

The sea in heaven is a quite different sea in that, in similar fashion, it represents the expanse of heaven and the perfect calm without any controversy or conflict. It is peace to the maximum and the absence of worry, suffering pain, conflict, and so forth.

And in our current verse, those who were martyred during the tribulation, due to the evil of the anti-christ and his policies, of whom the anti-christ presumed that he had won a great victory over believers due to their deaths, did in fact lose and great loss, and it was the martyred, the victims, that were victorious, even in death.

They were, or will be, in heaven, in perfect peace and harmony as suggested by the harps, while back on the earth turmoil and judgment and all things evil will be ongoing with no human solution in sight.

John is setting up a contrast between heaven and earth, where heaven and eternal life is achieved in death, while the world has nothing to offer but death and a continuation of death for those who reject Chirst.

The sea of glass is the perfect peace, achieved not through Gods judgment, but due to Gods justice, which is represented by the fire.  Justice originates in heaven and is the basis of judgment, and judgment occurs, or will occur on the earth where evil resides.

Evil is the reason for judgment.

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Revelation 15:1

Revelation 15:1

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1 And [kai] I saw [eido] another [allos] sign [semeion] in [en] heaven, [ouranos] great [megas] and [kai] marvellous, [thaumastos] seven [hepta] angels [aggelos] having [echo] the seven [hepta] last [eschatos] plagues; [plege] for [hoti] in [en] them [autos] is filled up [teleo] the wrath [thumos] of God. [theos] KJV-Interlinear

1 And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous, seven angels who had seven plagues, which are the last, because in them the wrath of God is finished. NASB

This is the third sign that John will see in this book.  The first sign was of the woman, Gods plan.  The second sign was of the dragon, Satan’s plan, and now the third sign, which is of the final events of judgment against all evil.  And really that is the summation of human history.  Good versus evil, God versus Satan, truth versus lies, the capable versus the incapable.

The seven bowl judgments which are up coming, will unfold in rapid succession, and all of mans plans, all of Satan’s plans will evaporate into oblivion, for they are not able to hold up against truth.

Great and marvelous, is a phrase that indicates the phenomenal importance of this sign.  Not that these events of judgment are going to be good for people, but that they are going to be good in the sense that justice is going to be served and the end to evil is now very close.

With the end of evil, comes an end of suffering, in the sense of that which Satan has brought to the world since the time of Adam.

The sign is of seven angels.  Again, the number seven is that which represents a completed task.  Nothing more is needed when they are finished.

They will be carrying seven plagues, or the seven bowl judgments which we will be studying in the following chapter.

In the beginning of this book, we had seven seals, which bound a scroll, or the written record of these events.

After the seven seals, came the seven trumpets, which symbolizes the full and complete series of warnings from God, to all of humanity, that what people need to be worrying about, is God and what He can do, or of what He can withhold.

After the warning, then comes judgment for all who have ignored them, for all who will be indifferent toward God and truth.

Most people in this world have worries of one type or another.

Kids worry about school or their friends, of being liked or not liked, of having this thing or that thing, of being popular, or of keeping up and not being ostracized.

Adults worry about work or paying bills.   Adults worry about their social life, their personal life, their retirement, or the next vacation.  Adults worry about things they have or things they anticipate, or of things they want or need in life.

Not too many worry about the future of humanity.  It just seems kind of distant and surreal.  After all, who can control human history anyway?  Too many more important things closer to home (ones personal life) than to have to worry about nations or politics, or someone on the other side of the world.

But it is that very indifference that gets everyone into trouble.

You cannot control the world, but you can direct your own future, now, but only if you care enough to try.

This book gives us a picture of where humanity on the whole, is going – into the toilet of destruction. And humanity in general is going there because they have rejected God, Christ, doctrine, and everything that is important in life.  And instead have pursued the things of this world.

But unfortunately what most people do not get, is that when truth is rejected, their opinions and attitudes and standards in life, turn into degeneracy and corruption and pure evil.

And when we get to verse eight, we will see how Heaven is closed during the judgment period.  Why?  Because only evil exists and there will not be anyone who will repent.  God will have already squeezed out the believers in the world, and all that will be left remaining, will be a huge population of people who will vehemently refuse to believe in Christ.  And all that will be in them, is hate.

When doctrine is rejected, then you are only left with lies and eventually hate.  All of the do-gooder opinions, sweetness, coexistence, popular sayings and so forth, are catalysts for corruption and worse.

And because the vast majority of people think this way, then that is why this book of Revelation is going to happen.

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