In chapter 15, an exciting chapter here. Short chapter, there's only eight verses, but nonetheless some very important thoughts. So it's a shorter lesson than the others, but still got some really profound thoughts in this chapter. So we're looking at the seven vials of plagues and angels, Revelation chapter 15. The judgment of God that will bring an end to evil's reign of terror on earth will be quick, devastating, and complete. The moment the seven years of tribulation comes to an end, and not a second longer, the seventh trumpet of God's judgment, his last call for judgment, will sound. Revelation 11, verses 14 and 15 state, The second woe is past, and behold, the third woe cometh quickly. And the seventh angel sounded, and there were great voices in heaven saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever. After the announcement of the seven trumpet judgments recorded in Revelation chapters eight through 11, Revelation chapters 12 and 13 briefly described the insidious agenda of Satan and the Antichrist beast for their kingdoms, providing a glimpse of how the beast will rule during the last half of the seven years of tribulation. Revelation chapter 14 then continues the announcement of the seventh trumpet judgment as the final harvest on earth. Revelation chapter 15 declares there are seven angels with seven plagues of God to pour out onto the earth in the seventh trumpet judgment. This gives us three announcements associated with the seventh trumpet of judgment. In Revelation chapter 11, it's announced that the kingdoms of the earth will become the kingdoms of our Lord over which he will rule forever. Revelation 12 and 13 describe the kingdoms that will be conquered. Then Revelation 14 announces the harvesting of souls associated with the last trumpet. And Revelation 15 announces the preparation of the seven angels with the seven plagues of God that will be released on the earth. The last trumpet announces the conquest, the harvest, and the plagues of God. The judgments of God and the message of God in the book of Revelation are easily understood when read chronologically. There's no need to confuse the descriptions, the events, and the judgments by attempting to overlap events and chapters based on patterns. The story told in the book of Revelation is simple, straightforward, and easy to understand. In Revelation chapter 15 verse 1, John writes, and I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous, seven angels having the seven last plagues, for in them is filled up the wrath of God. Earth as we know it now will come to an end when the seven final plagues delivered by seven angels takes place. Unlike the plagues of partial judgments following the blast of the first six trumpets and the two witnesses of God, these plagues associated with the seventh trumpet are global and devastating. These judgments associated with the seventh trumpet destroy everything, not just a third of the trees and the earth. There's no escape from the judgment and wrath of God during the seventh trumpet. There will be no survivors except those who are sealed and protected by him. The seven plagues possessed by the seven angels are fully charged with the wrath of God. In these seven plagues are the devastating judgments of God's fury against all evil. All wickedness will be the target of his wrath and all evil will be purged from the earth. Delays, threats, and warnings about judgment will end. Time is no longer, as the angel said in Revelation 10.6. This will be the end of evil's reign on earth forever. Jesus will establish his eternal kingdom with the destruction of Satan's kingdoms. Evil will never reign again. Christ will rule forevermore. Revelation chapter 15, verses two through four say, and I saw, as it were, a sea of glass mingled with fire, and then that had gotten the victory over the beast and over his image and over his mark and over the number of his name. Stand on the sea of glass, having the hearts of God. And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, 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. God's vengeance against all evil will finally come once and for all. The cries of vengeance of the martyrs under the altar, as depicted in Revelation chapter six, verses nine through 11, will be granted. And with vengeance against evil, justice will be fulfilled. Righteousness will triumph, order and creation will be restored, and there will be celebration and rejoicing among all those who love truth and righteousness. The sea of glass mingled with fire is a good analogy for the brazen labor of water that was placed in front of the tabernacle of testimony when Israel was in the wilderness. It signifies that purification and holiness are required for salvation and for entrance into heaven. The mingling with fire indicates that judgment and the end of sin come with the cleansing from sin. It's upon this sea of glass and fire representing the cleansing from sin and the judgment of sin that the saints who overcome the beast stand. Their celebration and peace with God contrast with the woes and suffering of the wicked who are judged by God. The saints standing before the throne are specifically identified as those souls who were victorious over the beast, his image and his mark. These saints came out of the great tribulation of Satan's wrath and reign of terror. They resisted Satan, the beast, and the false prophet. These may quite possibly include the fellow servants and brethren referred to in Revelation 6, verse 11, of whom it was said to the martyrs under the altar that they should rest yet a little season until their fellow servants also and their brethren that should be killed as they were should be fulfilled. Resisting evil and waiting for the judgment of and vengeance against evil is what Revelation 14, 12 refers to as the patience of the saints. Victory over the beast and Satan is not determined by just physically surviving the reign of the beast and of Satan. Saints have been martyred for their faith in God since the time of Cain and Abel. As the God of this world reigning over all kingdoms on earth, Satan has crafted a world of death. For example, Revelation chapter 13 verse 7 says of the beast, and it was given unto him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And power was given him over all kindreds and tongues and nations. And Jesus said in Matthew 24, verse 22, except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved, but for the elect's sake, for those days shall be shortened. In the last three and a half years of tribulation, Satan will have considerable power to overcome the saints and claim victories, according to Revelation 13, 7. However, these victories are of little significance in the big picture of creation and kingdoms. Jesus says, Jesus said in Matthew chapter 10 verse 28, fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul, but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. The apostle Paul said, For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. That's in Romans 8, verse 18. The victory of overcoming Satan and the beast is in being redeemed despite all that Satan does to prevent salvation. And second, there is the Job victory over Satan when saints remain faithful to God regardless of their circumstances. Job was faithful, and it says he charged not God foolishly, though Satan cruelly and unmercifully plagued him, according to Job 1, verse 22. John chapter 16 verse 33 reminds us that being in Christ is sharing in his victories. Jesus says, these things have I spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. 1 John 2, verse 13 reminds us that as Christians, we overcome the devil before we die, saying, I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the father. First John chapter four and verse four assures us of our victory over Satan, saying, ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world. The saints mentioned in Revelation chapter 15, standing before the throne, overcome the beast. They did so in Christ. Though their bodies were destroyed, their souls were delivered from the fate awaiting Satan. They're born again of Christ, cleansed from their sins, redeemed from the debt of sin, and now are safely rejoicing in the presence of God, singing praises to Him. The saints in heaven who are victorious over the beast, his mark, his image and his number sing the song of Moses and the song of the lamb with harps while standing on the sea of glass mingled with fire. The song of Moses and the song of the lamb are summarized in Revelation chapter 15 verses three and four saying, 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. Deuteronomy chapter 31, verses 30 through 32, verse 45. Record another song of Moses written at the end of his life that serves as God's witness against Israel. In Deuteronomy chapter 31, verse 19, God tells Moses, now therefore write ye this song for you and teach it the children of Israel. Put it in their mouths that this song may be a witness for me against the children of Israel. The Song of Moses in Deuteronomy 32 describes God's perfection and righteousness and his careful, attentive blessings shown toward Israel. Yet for all his blessings upon them, they abandoned him and turned to other gods. Israel became a vine like those in the field of Sodom and Gomorrah, bearing the fruit of depravity rather than righteousness. As a result, God curses them, turns his back on them, and gives them over to their enemies who abuse them. In their helplessness as their enemies destroy them, God repents and delivers Israel and judges their enemies. That's the message of the song given to Moses. Exodus chapter 15 verses 1 through 21 also records a song written by Moses that recounts God's deliverance of Israel from Pharaoh and the Egyptian army. In this song, Moses and Israel praise the Lord and recount how God is their strength and salvation and that he destroyed their enemy who was in pursuit of them. The message of the songs is that God is glorious and righteous. He delivers his people and judges his enemies. The promise of deliverance and victory in the songs is possible because of the Lamb of God who was slain from the foundation of the world. He alone is worthy to open the seals of the scroll described in Revelation chapter 5. And he alone is responsible for a blessed future in heavenly bliss. Revelation chapter 15 verses 5 through 8 say, And after that I looked, and behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened. And the seven angels came out of the temple, having the seven plagues, clothed in pure and white linen, and having their breasts girded with golden girdles. And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials, full of the wrath of God, who liveth forever and ever. And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from his power. And no man was able to enter into the temple till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled. The tabernacle of testimony built by Israel in the wilderness was patterned after the heavenly tabernacle of testimony. Moses was given strict instructions to follow the pattern because of its representation of the heavenly tabernacle. It served as a representation of the heavenly tabernacle on earth. Hebrews chapter 8 verse 5 explains the importance of following God's blueprint, saying, who serve under the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle. For see, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern showed to thee in the mount. In contrast to what Moses saw and built, John recorded what he saw, actually saw, in heaven, the tabernacle of testimony. The temple in the heavenly tabernacle, the temple in the heavenly tabernacle of the testimony is the throne of God. The opening of the temple door emphasizes the fact that God is directly overseeing and involved in the final judgment of earth. Up until now with the final judgment, the Lord has sent his messengers to execute judgment. But now Christ comes personally on a white horse with his saints to destroy the last vestige of evil's reign on earth. The clothing of pure white linen on the seven angels emphasizes that God's judgment is executed with absolute righteousness and justice. God's wrath is not poured out with maliciousness and evil intent. It's poured out for good with sincere and pure motives. Evil has no place in a righteous kingdom. It must be destroyed and purged. It must not be allowed to pollute and spoil all that is good in heaven. Every opportunity has been given to humanity to repent, and they have made their choices. God desires that none should perish, but he cannot allow sin to pollute and destroy heaven. He will not allow the presence of those who prefer sin to deny those who desire to follow him the blessings that come with righteousness. The seven angels are representatives of God. The seven angels, as representatives of God, wear golden girdles across their chests, and one of the four beasts gives each of the seven angels golden vials filled with God's wrath. The gold girdles and the gold vials of seven judgments are appropriate to make a statement that the judgments are royal judgments from the king of kings. The four beasts are in the temple before the throne of God. So the seven angels receive their vials and then exit the open temple door to execute the last seven judgments on earth. The fullness of the vials with the wrath of God speaks to the completeness and totality of God's final judgment. God's wrath is full because the earth is full of evil. It's time to bring it to an end. The particular beast giving the angels the vials of wrath is not important. He represents the other three, and together they represent the work of Christ. All that Christ has done makes it possible for evil to be destroyed and for souls to overcome its hold and condemnation. There is victory in Jesus. The glory and power of God are described as filling the temple with smoke. God's presence and thus his glory and power are felt everywhere. There's no escape from the judgment of God. a thorough purging of sin and judgment from creation will take place. God will take control over all kingdoms and rule over earth and heaven. As Revelation 11, verse 15 declared, the kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever. At this point, entrance into the temple is impossible until the judgment is complete. In other words, the line has been drawn in the sand and anyone not in the safe presence of God by now never will be. Judgment has come and all opportunities to escape the wrath of God will have come to an end. An important question to ask yourself is whether you are ready for the sound of the last trumpet. Are you ready to meet your maker right now? That's our eight verses, guys. So it makes for a shorter lesson there. Chapter 15. I think I mentioned to you I had debated whether or not combining this with Chapter 16, which actually describes each of the seven judgments. But I thought it would be best, at least for keeping track of the lessons and the chapters, to keep it simple.