Lesson #40

REVELATION AND THE SECOND COMING
LESSON #40
THE WRATH OF ALMIGHTY GOD—REV 15

• MEMORY VERSE: REV 15:4

• NOW THAT THE EVENTS OF THE MIDDLE OF THE TRIBULATION PERIOD ARE OVER, THE LAST 7 JUDGMENTS ARE ABOUT TO COVER THE EARTH IN THE LAST 3 ½ YEARS OF THE TRIBULATION PERIOD.
• EVENTS OF THE MIDDLE OF THE TRIBULATION:
• SATAN LOSES ACCESS TO HEAVEN AND FALLS FROM HEAVEN TO THE EARTH WITH HIS FALLEN ANGELS.
• THE ANTI-CHRIST SUFFERS A MORTAL HEAD WOUND, APPEARS TO DIE AND IS RAISED FROM THE DEAD.
• SATAN INDWELLS THE ANTI-CHRIST.
• THE ANTI-CHRIST BREAKS HIS PEACE TREATY WITH THE JEWS, PURSUES, AND ATTACKS THE JEWS.
• MANY JEWS FLEE TO PETRA.
• MANY JEWS ARE TAKEN CAPTIVE TO SLAVERY IN EGYPT..
• THE ANTI-CHRIST PLACES HIS IDOL IMAGE IN THE JEWISH TEMPLE FOR WORSHIP. (THE ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION—DAN 11:31 DAN 12:11 MAT 24:15)
• THE MARK OF THE BEAST (666) BEGINS.
• REMEMBER THAT THE LAST 3 ½ YEARS OF THE TRIBULATION PERIOD ARE CALLED THE GREAT TRIBULATION. (MAT 24:21) WE BEGIN THE GREAT TRIBULATION WITH A SCENE IN HEAVEN.

• READ REV 15:1-4 THE SCENE IN HEAVEN
• THE SEVEN LAST PLAGUES: (1)
• THE SEVEN SEAL JUDGMENTS WERE GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SEVEN YEARS OF TRIBULATION.
• THE SEVEN TRUMPET JUDGMENTS WERE SPECIFIC PLAGUES OF THE TRIBULATION PERIOD.
• THE SEVEN LAST BOWL JUDGMENTS ARE SPECIFIC PLAGUES OF THE TRIBULATION PERIOD.
• SOME PEOPLE ATTEMPT TO LINE THE TRUMPET JUDGMENTS UP IN THE FIRST HALF OF THE TRIBULATION AND THE BOWL JUDGMENTS IN THE LAST HALF OF THE TRIBULATION. GENERALLY SPEAKING, THEY SEEM TO FIT THAT WAY. HOWEVER, THERE ARE A FEW PROBLEMS WITH IT.
• OTHER PEOPLE LINE THE TRUMPET JUDGMENTS AND THE BOWL JUDGMENTS UP MAKING THEM CO-OCCUR. THERE ARE MANY MORE PROBLEMS WITH THIS AS WE WILL SEE.

• THE SEA OF GLASS
• READ REV 4:6
• IN REV 4:6, THE SEA OF GLASS REPRESENTED PEACE AND TRANQUILITY IN HEAVEN WITH THE RAPTURED CHURCH PRESENT WITH CHRIST IN HEAVEN.
• THEY ARE STANDING = RESURRECTED IN VICTORY
• IN REV 15:2 THE SEA OF GLASS IS MINGLED WITH FIRE.
• IN OTHER WORDS THE FIRES OF DEATH FROM PERSECUTION AND WAR HAVE RESULTED IN THOUSANDS OF TRIBULATION MARTYRS IN HEAVEN WAITING FOR THE END OF THE TRIBULATION WHEN THEY, TOO, WILL BE RESURRECTED TO A NEW BODY.
• NOTICE THE DETERMINATION OF FAITH BY THESE MARTYRS WHO GAIN THE SPIRITUAL VICTORY BUT LOSE THEIR PHYSICAL LIVES AT THE HANDS OF THE ANTI-CHRIST.
• THEY GAIN THE VICTORY OVER THE ANTI-CHRIST (THE BEAST)
• THEY GAIN THE VICTORY OVER THE MARK ON THE FOREHEAD OR THE HAND.
• THEY GAIN THE VICTORY OVER THE IMAGE (THE IDOL OF THE ANTI-CHRIST)
• THEY GAIN THE VICTORY OVER THE NUMBER (666) OF THE ANTI-CHRIST.
• THE TRIBULATION MARTYRS SING THE SONG OF MOSES AND THE SONG OF THE LAMB (3)
• WHAT IS THE SONG OF MOSES?
• READ EXO 15:1-21
• WHAT DOES REVELATION 15 HAVE IN COMMON WITH THE SONG OF MOSES?
• THE PLAGUES OF THE TRIBULATION PERIOD HAVE MUCH IN COMMON WITH THE PLAGUES OF EGYPT.
• REMEMBER THAT THE FIRST PLAGUES IN REVELATION WERE THE 4 HORSEMEN OF THE APOCALYPSE, AND THE SONG OF MOSES SINGS ABOUT THE DEFEAT OF THE HORSE AND RIDER.
• THE MIRACLES OF THE TRIBULATION PERIOD BY THE TWO WITNESSES HAVE MUCH IN COMMON WITH MIRACLES BY MOSES.
• REMEMBER THAT ONE OF THE TWO WITNESSES OF REV 11 COULD BE MOSES.
• PHARAOH IN EXODUS IS A PREFIGURE OF THE ANTI-CHRIST.
• IN BOTH PASSAGES WE SEE THE WRATH OF GOD AGAINST HIS ENEMIES.
• IN BOTH EXODUS AND REVELATION, THE LORD IS CALLED A MAN OF WAR.
• IN BOTH PASSAGES WE SEE THE AWESOME POWER OF THE HAND OF GOD.
• IN EXODUS THE PEOPLE WERE FREED FROM SLAVERY BY THE PASSOVER LAMB WHILE IN REVELATION, IT IS LAMB OF GOD, JESUS CHRIST, WHO FREES THE WORLD FROM EVIL.
• MOSES SONG SINGS THE PRAISES OF GOD EMPHASIZING HIS POWER.
• MOSES’ SONG PRAISES THE WAYS OF GOD EMPHASIZING HIS PLAN.
• MOSES’ SONG PRAISES THE WORTHINESS OF GOD EMPHASIZING HIS PERFECTION.
• MOSES’ SONG PRAISES THE WORSHIP OF GOD EMPHASIZING HIS PURPOSE.
• WHAT IS THE SONG OF THE LAMB?
• JESUS CHRIST IS THE NEW TESTAMENT MANIFESTATION OF GOD THE FATHER IN HUMAN FLESH. THEREFORE, THE SONG OF THE LAMB IS ONE OF REDEMPTION.
• NEW TESTAMENT BELIEVERS ARE REDEEMED BY THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB OF GOD, JESUS CHRIST. IN THE SAME WAY, THE ISRAELITES WERE REDEEMED FROM SLAVERY IN EGYPT BY THE PASSOVER LAMB.
• HOW DO WE KNOW THAT JESUS CHRIST IN REVELATION IS THE SAME REDEEMER AS IN EXODUS?
• REV 15:3 TELLS US THAT HE IS THE KING OF SAINTS. THE NEW TESTAMENT SAINTS ARE BELIEVERS IN JESUS CHRIST. HE IS OUR KING.
• REV 15:4 TELLS US THAT ALL NATIONS WILL COME TO WORSHIP AT HIS FEET.
• THAT WORSHIP WILL OCCUR IN THE MILLENNIUM WHEN JESUS CHRIST ESTABLISHES HIS KINGDOM ON EARTH FOR 1000 YEARS. HE WILL REIGN AS KING AND ALL NATIONS WILL ACKNOWLEDGE HIM

• READ REV 15:5-8
• THE TABERNACLE IN HEAVEN OF WHICH MOSES MADE A COPY: (5)
• WHAT IS THE TEMPLE OF THE TABERNACLE OF THE TESTIMONY?
• THE TABERNACLE WAS THE PLACE OF WORSHIP THAT GOD TOLD MOSES TO BUILD AFTER THEY CAME OUT OF SLAVERY IN EGYPT. GOD SPECIFIED THE EXACT DETAILS THAT MOSES WAS TO COPY.
• INSIDE THE TABERNACLE BUILDING WAS THE ARK OF THE COVENANT OR SOMETIMES CALLED, THE ARK OF THE TESTIMONY (EXO 25:22)
• INSIDE THIS GOLD CHEST MOSES PUT THE TABLES OF STONE CONTAINING THE 10 COMMANDMENTS, A POT OF MANNA, AND AARON’S ROD.
• THESE OBJECTS WERE A TESTIMONY OF GOD’S COVENANT WITH MAN:
• THE TEN COMMANDMENTS REPRESENTED THE MORAL LAW OF GOD, THE FATHER.
• THE POT OF MANNA REPRESENTED THE PROVISION OF JESUS, THE SON, WHO IS THE BREAD OF LIFE.
• AARON’S ROD REPRESENTED THE GUIDANCE OF GOD, THE HOLY SPIRIT.
• AFTER THE NATION OF ISRAEL WAS UNIFIED UNDER KING DAVID, KING SOLOMON BUILT THE FIRST TEMPLE WITH THE SAME BASIC ELEMENTS THAT THEY HAD IN THE TABERNACLE.
• THE HEAVENLY TABERNACLE
• REV 15:5 TELLS US THERE IS A HEAVENLY TABERNACLE. WHY WOULD THERE BE THIS SAME STRUCTURE IN HEAVEN?
• THE OLD TESTAMENT TABERNACLE WAS WHERE GOD’S PRESENCE DWELT. THE ARK OF THE COVENANT WITH THE GOLDEN COVER CALLED, THE MERCY SEAT, WAS THE EXACT LOCATION OF THE PRESENCE OF GOD. IN OTHER WORDS, IT IS WHERE GOD’S PRESENCE SAT…A THRONE.
• THE 7 ANGELS IN WHITE AND GOLD (6)
• THE SEVEN ANGELS COME FROM GOD’S PRESENCE IN THE THRONE ROOM IN HEAVEN.
• THEY ARE DRESSED IN WHITE, FOR THE PURITY OR HOLINESS IN GOD’S PRESENCE, AND IN GOLD, FOR THE ROYALTY OF GOD’S PRESENCE.
• THE GOLDEN GIRDLE = AUTHORITY BY WHICH THESE LAST JUDGMENTS ARE GIVEN.
• NOTICE THAT JESUS HAS THE SAME GOLDEN GIRDLE IN REV 1:13.
• THESE SEVEN ANGELS BRING THE 7 BOWLS OF JUDGMENT.
• THE 7 BOWLS OF JUDGMENT ARE FILLED WITH “THE WRATH OF GOD WHO LIVETH FOREVER”
• THE REFERENCE TO “FOREVER” INDICATES THE ETERNAL CONSEQUENCES OF THESE SEVEN LAST PLAGUES AND GOD’S JUDGMENT.
• NOTICE THAT NO ONE CAN ENTER THE HEAVENLY TEMPLE UNTIL THE 7 PLAGUES ARE COMPLETED.
• IN OTHER WORDS, THE WRATH OF GOD MUST BE POURED OUT ON EARTH TO COMPLETE GOD’S PERFECT JUSTICE.
• GOD IS A JUST GOD, A PATIENT GOD, AND A MERCIFUL GOD. IF MAN COMES TO GOD ACCORDING TO GOD’S PRESCRIBED WAY…WITH A REPENTANT HEART IN JESUS CHRIST, THEN MAN RECEIVES MERCY. IF MAN REBELS AGAINST GOD, HE DESERVES GOD’S PERFECT JUSTICE. HOWEVER, GOD HAS BEEN PATIENTLY WAITING FOR CENTURIES FOR MAN TO COME GOD’S WAY. MEANWHILE, GOD HAS BEEN STORING UP HIS WRATH, TEMPERING IT WITH PATIENCE. ONE DAY GOD’S PATIENCE WILL END, AND HIS WRATH WILL POUR OUT OF HEAVEN TO EARTH SO AS TO ACHIEVE PERFECT JUSTICE. WHEN THAT HAPPENS IN THE LAST 3 ½ YEARS OF THE TRIBULATION PERIOD, THERE WILL BE NO MERCY.
• NO MAN WAS ABLE TO ENTER =
• IN THE OLD TESTAMENT TABERNACLE, THE GLORY OF GOD WAS SO BRIGHT THAT THE HIGH PRIEST CARRIED THE SMOKING BURNT OFFERING AND SMOKING INCENSE WITH HIM INTO THE HOLY OF HOLIES. NOW HE COULD SEE IN THE BRIGHTNESS OF GOD’S PRESENCE. ONLY THE HIGH PRIEST WAS ALLOWED INTO THE HOLY OF HOLIES. SINCE THE VEIL WAS TORN IN THE TEMPLE AT JESUS’ CRUCIFIXION, ANY ONE IS PERMITTED TO ENTER INTO GOD’S PRESENCE PROVIDED HE COME WITH A SINCERE HEART. HERE IN REVELATION WE SEE NO MAN ALLOWED TO COME WHICH INDICATES THAT ONCE JUDGMENT BEGINS THERE’S NO MERCY UNTIL IT’S COMPLETED
• WHAT NAMES DO WE SEE IN THIS CHAPTER FOR JESUS CHRIST?
• THE LAMB
• THE LORD GOD ALMIGHTY
• THE KING OF THE SAINTS

HOMEWORK
REVELATION 16
THIS IS A SELF-STUDY. PLEASE DO NOT SEND HOMEWORK ANSWERS TO THE TEACHER FORCORRECTION.

• APPLICATION OF REV 15:
• WHAT IS YOUR REACTION TO THESE SCRIPTURES ABOUT THE WRATH OF GOD?
• HOW DOES THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE WRATH OF GOD AFFECT:
• THE WAY YOU LIVE YOUR LIFE?
• YOUR FEELINGS TOWARD PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT BELIEVERS?
• YOUR PRIORITIES OF LIFE?

• PREPARATION FOR REV 16
• READ REV 16:1-21
• WHO IS AFFECTED BY:
• THE FIRST BOWL PLAGUE?

• THE SECOND BOWL PLAGUE?

• THE THIRD BOWL PLAGUE?

• THE FOURTH BOWL PLAGUE?

• WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE FOURTH PLAGUE?

• WHO IS AFFECTED BY THE FIFTH PLAGUE?

• WHAT IS THE RESULT OF THE FIFTH PLAGUE?

• WHO IS AFFECTED BY THE SIXTH PLAGUE?

• WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE SIXTH PLAGUE?

• WHO IS AFFECTED BY THE SEVENTH PLAGUE?

• MEMORY VERSE: REV 16:15