The Temple in Heaven
Revelation, Part 24, Revelation 15:1-8
Introduction
- This is the Lion of the Tribe of Judah (righteous and (IMP) merciless)
-- Make no mistake: He shall no longer be the sacrificial lamb
-- He is the one promised to judge the living and the dead
- As Jesus tramples on the winepress, look at the specific word use of what spills out. (Blood) (“Without the shedding of blood …” – payment)
-- This is the blood of those who come against the Lamb and His nation
-- They are receiving their deserved judgment
- Bible shows how many will die as they come against the Lord’s army
-- There will be blood running 4 feet high, 181 miles long (length of Israel)
-- Blood is required to be shed (Genesis 3, Leviticus 17, Hebrews 9)
-- APP: The bible is complete in its thoughts, and in its revelations
- Today, we examine a glimpse of Heaven again where things are now calm
-- We are seeing another example of worship in heaven
-- This ought to inspire us to (again) wonder and awe and HOPE
- When any person gets an opportunity to look into the majesty of Heaven:
-- Should be encouraged, excited, and looking forward
-- IMP: During worst human time(s), God still shows us how good He is
- Read Revelation 15:1-8
Ω Point 1 – 7 Angels and the Crystal Sea (v1-2)
- John is preparing to see the final victory of God over Satan
-- He now sees 7 angels who are prepared to pour out God’s vengeance
-- Why? This Earth has turned its back on Him for far too long
- As we’ve discussed before – we are at an impasse in our lives today
-- We are at a time where we can no longer afford to merely sit and watch
-- We have to take a stand and be responsible for acting for God
- Last week we talked about other angels whose sole purpose was to reap
-- These angels have a job as well; to punish mankind for rebellion
- They’ve been destined since the beginning of time to act for God
-- Challenge: Unless we act to bring more souls into the Kingdom …
-- Many more destroyed in this time of tribulation (must cause us to ACT)
- The angels John is seeing are the third set of angels
-- The first was of the churches – angels that protected each church
-- The second was the trumpets – angels that proclaimed God’s wrath
-- These angels hold in their hands God’s bowl judgments
- At this time in history, most of God’s people are either dead or in hiding
-- This judgment is meant to seek out those who are responsible for persecution of God’s people and for their willful disobedience to God
-- Willful disobedience ex: Take the mark of Satan
- John again reminds us that there is a crystal sea in heaven (ref to Rev 4)
-- Notice though, the appearance of this sea is slightly different
- If you notice it has a reflection of fire in it …
- This fire represents God’s wrath and anger which is directed at the Earth
-- APP: Different from the calm crystal sea, this sea represents how God is feeling … His anger is being directed at the Earth (terrifying)
-- IMP: God is a JUST God; dealing with us in both the good and the bad
- Victory is a unique word used to describe good overcoming evil
-- There is no other victory than that found in Jesus Christ
-- Those that chose Jesus over the mark of the beast will be victorious
- Those who lost their lives in Rev 6:9-12 have already received their reward
-- This victory is for those who were reaped from the Earth in Rev 14
-- This second part of the Tribulation has to do with results of the 144,000, the 2 witnesses, and the angels who reaped the harvest (go and reap)
- IMP: These Saints are standing on the sea of glass
-- They are above the fire and purification from God and before the throne
Ω Point 2 – The Song of Victory (v3-4)
- Take a moment to LOOK at the praise going on
-- These Saints have lived on the Earth during the Tribulation
-- They have seen the destruction that becomes of those who follow evil
- Challenge: Think for a second on your own life
-- Is there a song of worship you can sing?
-- Is there a song of praise that you could offer to the Lord today?
- Re-read verses 3 and 4 – discuss the wording:
-- Great – above normal, exceeding the limits of simple
-- Marvelous – causing great wonder, extraordinary
-- Lord – reflects authority, or influence; a master or ruler
-- Glory – high renown or honor
-- Holy – dedicated to God; sacred
-- Worship – expressing adoration and devotion
-- Righteous – morally right or justifiable; virtuous
- TRANS: The characteristics of worship are clear: God is to be revered!
Ω Point 3 –Bowl Judgments Prepared (v5-8)
- After the worship was over, the angels came from the temple
-- They moved on God’s orders (again, just waiting on the command)
-- They are created to serve God and carry out God’s will … period!
-- IMP: THAT is the definition of a “servant” (Expound …)
- The living creatures are now gathered around the throne
-- One of them hands out the bowl judgments (great authority)
-- These will be poured out on the Earth for its rebellion to God
Today, the church needs to understand something:
-- 1) These judgments have already been ordered
-- 2) They are already prepared to be delivered
-- 3) A day is coming for a command to be given
-- APP: Unless we act more will face the wrath of God
-- The casual statement: “Only God can judge me” should cause FEAR
Ω - The temple, due to God’s presence, now fills with smoke
-- This temple is the temple of God – the place that represents all that God is
-- Seen this before: Isaiah 6:1-4, “In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him were seraphim, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. And they were calling to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.” At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke.”
-- We discussed several chapters ago about John also seeing the Ark here
-- This is the holiest of holies – and the smoke is God’s presence filling it
- Solomon also saw the “Glory of the Lord” filling the earthly temple also
-- 1 Kings 8:9-13, “There was nothing in the ark except the two stone tablets that Moses had placed in it at Horeb, where the Lord made a covenant with the Israelites after they came out of Egypt. When the priests withdrew from the Holy Place, the cloud filled the temple of the Lord. And the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled his temple. Then Solomon said, “The Lord has said that he would dwell in a dark cloud; I have indeed built a magnificent temple for you, a place for you to dwell forever.” When this filling happened, the temple was dedicated to God’s service.”
- NT also records that Jesus entered this SAME temple (read on Wed night)
-- Hebrews 9:12, “He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption.”
-- Hebrews 9:24, “For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with human hands that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God’s presence.”
- APP: When God shows up, there is a change to even the atmosphere!
-- Could this not be a direct representation of the temple that is within you?
-- God has already filled the earthly temple (the Holy Spirit in you)
-- B/C of that, we are called to act, to be different, to even look different
Ω Big Ideas
- Rev 15 is a unique pause in heaven where everything in creation has paused to watch God – to awe and worship him at His temple
- At this time in heaven no one is able to enter the temple (during the tribulation), and it remains that way until after God’s wrath is completed
-- The presence of God (or the wrath of God) consumes it
-- Even in perfection of Heaven, we dare not cross God’s authority
-- God causes Heaven to take note; to awe at His amazing power
- When we see Heaven pause, it’s a sign for us to pay attention
-- Something is about to happen – something amazing, something powerful
- Spoiler alert: At the end of the seventh bowl judgment Jesus returns!!
-- Not as lamb … but as the Lion of the Tribe of Judah (merciless victor)
This morning, we have the opportunity to focus our hearts to Heaven
-- To focus our hearts intently on worshiping the Savior
- Would you be willing to focus your intentions to serving Jesus today?
-- His return is imminent … God’s angels are ready … are we?
- Pray
