THE BOOK OF REVELATION
(Don't Give Up - December 6, 2020)
Series Big Idea: "God has revealed His plans for the consummation of human history"
Sermon Big Idea: "God's unchanging character will bring justice to His people"
Key Scripture (Revelation 15:1-8)
Chapter 15 introduces the last series of judgements to unfold in John's vision in the Book of Revelation. So far throughout the Book we have seen the Seal Judgements (Revelation 6:1-8:1) and the Trumpet Judgements (8:2-9:21; 11:14-19). The Judgments that will follow in chapter 16 are what is called the Bowl Judgements. This is the third and final series. But as I said, chapter 15 introduces the bowl judgements. Chapter 16 will explain each one in detail. Let’s read chapter 15.
(Revelation 15:1-8)
Then I saw another great and awe-inspiring sign in heaven: seven angels with the seven last plagues, for with them, God’s wrath will be completed. 2 I also saw something like a sea of glass mixed with fire, and those who had won the victory over the beast, his image, and the number of his name, were standing on the sea of glass with harps from God. 3 They sang the song of God’s servant Moses and the song of the Lamb: Great and awe-inspiring are Your works, Lord God, the Almighty; righteous and true are Your ways, King of the Nations. 4 Lord, who will not fear and glorify Your name? Because You alone are holy, for all the nations will come and worship before You because Your righteous acts have been revealed. 5 After this I looked, and the heavenly sanctuary—the tabernacle of testimony —was opened. 6 Out of the sanctuary came the seven angels with the seven plagues, dressed in clean, bright linen, with gold sashes wrapped around their chests. 7 One of the four living creatures gave the seven angels seven gold bowls filled with the wrath of God who lives forever and ever. 8 Then the sanctuary was filled with smoke from God’s glory and from His power, and no one could enter the sanctuary until the seven plagues of the seven angels were completed.
As you were reading you probably noticed this passage divided into three sections. Each section introduced by the words I saw/I looked. Verse one introduces the chapter. In verses 2-4 we see a celebration of God's people and in verses 5-8 the seven angels receive the bowls of wrath. This chapter should be considered as a whole because it links God's justice with the prayers of His people. This chapter teaches us much about God and His character.
Last week I suggested that worship of God is the ingredient that ties everything in our Christian life together. Our worship of the true God is the most intimate and sacred thing we will do in this lifetime. This passage of Scripture definitely describes the character and actions of God. Think of this; He is the Lord God Almighty, He is the King of the nations, He is holy, He is eternal, He is glorious, He is powerful! His deeds are not just great but they are marvelous, they are just, true and righteous. He is full of wrath against His enemies.
But how often do we allow our worship to turn inward causing us to lose power and outward and losing focus. When we are truly experiencing God-centered worship we will begin to celebrate parts of God's character that others ignore such as His unchanging faithfulness to judge evil itself and bring justice for His people.
CONCLUSION
The people in chapter six who had been slaughtered cried out, "how long, oh Lord?" How many believers in the world are crying out right now, "how long, oh Lord," because they are suffering at the mercy of evil people in evil nations? But remember the people we read about celebrated and worshiped God when He made things right.
Evil will not win in the end. Those who seek to destroy God's people will ultimately not get away with it. God is going to vindicate His people one day. But He is to be praised now for His faithfulness.
Pastor Beaver's thoughts and ideals for this message, are inspired by:
Holman Christian Standard Bible
English Standard Version Bible
King James Version Bible
Christian Standard Bible
The Bible Knowledge Commentary by John F. Walvoord/Roy B. Zuck
The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge by Jerome H. Smith
Water, Mark, ed. Encyclopedia of Bible Facts. Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers, 2004. WORDsearch CROSS e-book.
Barry, John D. et al. Faithlife Study Bible. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012, 2016. Print.
NIV, Archaeological Study Bible, eBook: An Illustrated Walk Through Biblical History and Culture
Walter C. Kaiser Jr., Duane Garrett, and Walter C. Kaiser Jr.
NIV, First-Century Study Bible, eBook: Explore Scripture in Its Jewish and Early Christian Context
Zondervan, Kent Dobson, and Ed Dobson
Hughes, Robert B. and J. Carl Laney. Tyndale Concise Bible Commentary. Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 1990. WORDsearch CROSS e-book. Revised edition of New Bible Companion.
Akin, Daniel L. Exalting Jesus in Revelation. Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman, 2016. WORDsearch CROSS e-book.
Easley, Kendell. Revelation. Edited by Max Anders. Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman, 1998. WORDsearch CROSS e-book.
Keener, Craig. Revelation: From biblical text...to contemporary life. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2000. WORDsearch CROSS e-book.
Duvall, J. Scott. Revelation. Ed. Mark L. Strauss and John H. Walton. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2014. Print. Teach the Text Commentary Series.
Morris, Leon. Revelation: An Introduction and Commentary. Vol. 20. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1987. Print. Tyndale New Testament Commentaries.
James H. Bolick, Sermon Outlines from the Word, Sermon Outline Series (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1987), 8.
Carr, Alan. Revelation. Lenoir, NC: Alan Carr, 2012. WORDsearch CROSS e-book.
Vincent, Marvin Richardson. Word Studies in the New Testament. New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1887. Print.
Robertson, A.T. Word Pictures in the New Testament. Nashville, TN: Broadman Press, 1933. Print.
Patterson, Paige. Revelation. Ed. E. Ray Clendenen. Vol. 39. Nashville, TN: B&H, 2012. Print. The New American Commentary.
Phillips, John. Exploring Revelation: An Expository Commentary. Kregel; WORDsearch Corp., 2009. Print. The John Phillips Commentary Series.
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