THE REVELATION: An Overview Part Four

Chapter 14

   In chapter 14 we still are part of the parentheses that began in chapter 12. Every time we have one of these parentheses it is for added information regarding either events on earth or events in heaven. It’s a “time out” from the progressing 70^th Week of Daniel for a closer look at the events as they have unfolded. In chapters 12 and 13 we got a brief look at the characters included. I should mention once more, for repetition purposes, that after chapter four the Revelation becomes especially Jewish in character. The Church has been translated to Heaven, and the 70^th week of Daniel’s prophecy of the 70 Weeks is resumed. So the individuals who are seen as the martyrs coming out of the tribulation period are mostly Jews though other peoples are mentioned as well.

   We begin our journey, still in the parenthesis, with a view of the Lamb standing on Mt. Zion with the 144,000 from chapter 7. John hears the Lord’s voice and the harpers and a new song, sung by the 144,000 who were redeemed from the earth as the first-fruits “unto God and the Lamb” (v.4) , in fulfillment of the promises that all Israel shall be saved (Romans 11:26). We also see a series of “angels”:

 

1. The Angel with the Everlasting Gospel- this is

    the gospel that would be preached to every nation,

    kindred, tongue, and people.

2. The Angel with the Announcement About the

    Fall of Babylon- (v.8) Some believe the actual 

    city of Babylon will be rebuilt. Others believe this 

    is a reference to Rome. It’s more likely that it’s a 

    reference to the world apostasy and the 

    worldliness that forsakes God.

3. The Angel with the Warning Regarding the Mark of the Beast- Herein is the

    final verdict on those who receive the mark; they have made their choice and are
    doomed. The text says they will drink of the wine “of the wrath of God” (v.10)
    and there is no turning back, no repentance. True believes will be revealed.

 The Voice

   Again, the voice sounds with a message of hope to the faithful. Many will die for the Lord but it will not be in vain (v.13)

The Vision

   In Verses 14-20 the vision given to John, picturing the Son of Man (Our Lord) and His sickle is found. Several angels are in attendance to Him as the time has come “to gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe.” (v.18) The Winepress is of the wrath of God (v.20) Here then is a vision of Armageddon. More details will follow.

 Chapter 15

    This chapter is a prelude to the Vials of God’s wrath and we find another “sign” which follows those of Chapter 12:1,2. These three “signs” give us three elements of the prophetic picture: 1. The woman (Israel); 2. The Dragon (the Devil and the world system under him including the Beasts); 3. God’s judgment upon the entire world. These are called the last plagues and they bring the judgments of God to a conclusion for the 70 weeks of Daniel’s prophecy.

The Sea of Glass

  Here we find the saints that have been victorious over the Beast standing on this sea of glass before the throne of God. They sing the Song of Moses and a Song of the Lamb, praising God who is Just and True.

The Seven Angels

   Now John sees seven angels, clothed in pure white and girded with golden girdles who are given seven golden vials by the Four Living Creatures. The text tells us he Temple (the Heavenly Temple?) was filled with smoke from the Glory of God and that no one was allowed to enter until the plagues were fulfilled.

 Chapter 16

  Now begins the last of God’s judgments for this seven year period. They are called vials or bowls. The KJB text reads, “And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth.” (v.1) The same things were affected under the trumpets.

     

           

1. The First Vial- It brings “noisome and grievous sores” upon those who took the   

    mark of the Beast and who worshipped his image. Scholars tell us these are
    malignant ulcers which cause pain and death. Remember, we are not now
    dealing with the wrath of the Beast, but the wrath of God. It is well into the last
    3 ½ years of the tribulation. Men have chosen whom they will serve.

2. The Second Vial- this vial is emptied on the sea and causes everything in the

     sea to die. You may remember that with the trumpet judgments only 1/3 of the
    sea was affected. Here all of it is. This probably affects all salt water bodies.

3. The Third Vial- this like the trumpet judgment affects fresh water supplies

    including rivers, springs, wells, etc. They are turned to blood. Remember these
     judgments are upon the vilest of human beings who hate the Lord Jesus and
    have spilled the blood of the saints. They are reaping what they have sown! (vs.
    5.-7)

4. The Fourth Vial- The fourth vial affects the sun. Scientifically how this is

    accomplished I don’t know. It could be that God makes the sun to burn hotter or
    perhaps he slows the earth’s rotation a bit. God can do what He wants to do. In
    any case, men are scorched because of the heat of the sun. Again, though the
    text does not say so here, these judgments are on those who worship the beast.
     We are sure that God somehow protects believers.

5. The Fifth Vial- this vial is aimed directly at the “seat of the beast”, the throne of

    his power and all of his kingdom will suffer. Darkness is over the land and, as
    you may have experienced yourself, darkness tends to make everything more
     painful and so the accumulation of afflictions will seem multiplied as God’s
     wrath is felt. Yet there is still no repentance from any of these.

6. The Sixth Vial- the sixth vial is upon the Euphrates which is dried up for the

    kings of the east to cross over. This will be an oriental army, 200 million
    strong, with their vehicles and weapons of war. Under the sixth trumpet 1/3 of
     men died. The Euphrates was the eastern boundary of the Roman Empire as
     well as the eastern boundary of the land God promised Abraham. It also is a
     natural obstacle for the armies of the east until it is dried up.

 

Evil Spirits vs. the Word of God

    “And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.” (16:13, 14) Keep in mind that these are pure evil and everything they say and do is a lie. Some suppose that they convince the armies of the world to gather for some reason other than to war against the Lord but that is, in fact, why they gather. But Christ gives the warning: “Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame. And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon” (vs.15, 16) Really, this is a warning that should be heeded now, while it is called “Today”.

7. The Seventh Vial- The angel pours his vial out “into the air” and all of mankind is affected. Everyone breathes air and no one will escape this judgment. When Jesus Christ died on the cross He cried out “It is finished!” and the judgment of sin for all believers was done. Now, this cry, “it is done” signifies that the judgments of the wrath of God upon the kingdoms of this world and this world system, is concluded as well for this age.

         As with the seventh seal, and the seventh trumpet, there are voices, thunder, lightning, and an earthquake. This earthquake is so great that the city (Jerusalem?) is divided into three parts. We know that topographical changes will occur around the time of Christ’s return and we are chronologically at that time under this last vial.

       Another issue is the great hail stones that fall, each weighing about a talent (depending on who you might read it can be anywhere from 50-125 lbs.). Some think the weight of the talent to be insignificant saying that it just reveals the intensity of God’s judgment.

NOTE

   We have seen the seals which cover the entire seven years; the trumpets which start about the middle of the seven years, and the vials, which take place from within the second half and take place fairly rapidly. All of these end up at or near the time of Christ’s second coming. Since the vials come out of the 7^th Trumpet, things happen quickly and all of these judgments are upon the Beasts and the world system, we know the 144,000 are protected and we assume the same for all believers during this time.

   Another thing I want to add here is that, contrary to what the series, "Left Behind" concludes, the Bible tells us that those who refuse the Lord, and who are willing to believe a lie, will be deluded by the Lord (2 Thessalonians 2:11,12) and will not suddenly seek the Lord. Perhaps if they live through the first 31/2 years and come under the preaching of the 144,000 they will repent but the text seems to indicate otherwise. Why do I say this? Because this is NOT the time to put salvation on back burner! Today is the day of Salvation! If you do not seek the Lord today, you will not seek Him when the Rapture of the Church happens.

  If we were to jump ahead chronologically we would go to 19:11 but the Holy Spirit wants to fill us in on more details. See you then!