Prelude To The Seven Bowls Of Wrath (15:1-8)

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                       "THE BOOK OF REVELATION"

             Prelude To The Seven Bowls Of Wrath (15:1-8)

INTRODUCTION

1. In chapters twelve & thirteen, the adversaries against the church after
   the destruction of unfaithful Jerusalem in 70 A.D. were identified...
   a. The dragon (Satan himself, who deceives the whole world) - Rev 12:1-17
   b. The sea beast (the Roman empire in the person of the persecuting
      emperor) - Re 13:1-10
   c. The land beast (the Roman Concilia, a religious committee that enforced
      emperor worship) - Re 13:11-18

2. In chapter fourteen, the people of God were reassured of ultimate victory
   through...
   a. The vision of the Lamb and the 144,000 on Mount Zion - Re 14:1-5
   b. The proclamations of three angels - Re 14:6-13
   c. The visions of reaping the earth's harvest and the grapes of wrath 
      - Re 14:14-20

[Now the full out-pouring of God's wrath is about to be shown.  But first,
chapter fifteen is a "prelude" to the seven bowls of wrath to be described
in chapter sixteen..]

I. PRELUDE TO THE SEVEN BOWLS OF WRATH (1-4)

   A. AS DESCRIBED IN THE TEXT...
      1. Prelude to a great and marvelous sign in heaven - Re 15:1-2
         a. Which John first announced as involving seven angels
            1) Having the seven last plagues
            2) In which the wrath of God is complete
         b. John then describes a sea of glass mingled with fire, and those
            standing on it
            1) Who have the victory over the beast, his image, mark, and
               number of his name
            2) Standing on the sea of glass with harps of God
      2. The song of Moses and the song of the Lamb - Re 15:3-4
         a. Those on the sea of glass were singing the song of Moses, and
            the song of the Lamb
         b. A song which praises Lord God Almighty, King of the saints
            1) For His great and marvelous works
            2) For the truth and justice of His ways
            3) For He is worthy of reverence and glory
            4) For all nations shall come and worship before Him
            5) For the manifestations of His judgments
      -- A great and marvelous sign preceded by great and marvelous songs!   

   B. OBSERVATION AND INTERPRETATION...   
      1. We are introduced to the idea of seven angels who will be given
         seven bowls
         a. Who will then pour out the seven last plagues (chapter sixteen)
         b. In which the wrath of God is complete (likely toward the pagan
            Roman empire)
      2. But before the seven angels appear and are given their bowels
         a. John sees those victorious over the beast (the persecuting
            Roman emperor)
         b. In heaven praising God with hymns of Moses and the Lamb, for
            His righteous judgments
         c. A scene reminiscent of Israel praising God for their victory
            over Egypt after crossing the Red Sea - cf. Exo 14:30-15:21
      -- Would not this scene encourage saints in Asia Minor to endure
         persecutions they would face?

[With the vision of those victorious over the beast praising God thus
described, we are now introduced to...] 

II. SEVEN ANGELS AND SEVEN BOWLS OF WRATH (5-8)

   A. AS DESCRIBED IN THE TEXT...
      1. The seven angels - Re 15:5-6
         a. The temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven is opened
         b. Out of the temple come the seven angels having the seven plagues
            1) Clothed in pure bright linen
            2) Having their chests girded with golden bands
      2. The seven golden bowls - Re 15:7-8
         a.  One of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels:
            1) Seven golden bowls
            2) Full of the wrath of God who lives forever
         b. The temple was filled with smoke
            1) From the glory of God and from His power
            2) No one was able to enter the temple until the seven plagues
               were completed
      -- A scene such as this certainly portended imminent judgment! 

   B. OBSERVATION AND INTERPRETATION...   
      1. This scene appears to convey that the time of God's longsuffering
         was over
      2. The outpouring of His wrath would be a manifestation of His 
         righteous judgment
      3. God was about to avenge His saints, for many others the time to
         repent would soon be too late!
      -- From what follows in chapter 17, I understand this to pertain God's
         judgment on pagan Rome

CONCLUSION

1. The stage has been set...
   a. Those who have been victorious over the beast (the persecuting Roman
      emperor) are in heaven praising the Lord God Almighty for His righteous
      judgments
   b. Seven angels stand ready to pour out the bowls of wrath with their
      seven plagues

2. If you had lived during the time Rome persecuted the church, where would
   you want to be...
   a. In heaven praising God even if had cost your life to be faithful to
      God?
   b. On earth, alive because you had succumbed to the pressure to worship
      Caesar?

The next chapter should help you make the right decision if you ever face
a similar decision today between obeying God or obeying what political forces
there might be against Christians.  

As Peter and the rest of the apostles said, when they were faced with such a
decision:  "We ought to obey God rather than men." - cf. Ac 5:27-29
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