The 6 Last Plagues Series

June 08, 2024

Revelation 14 concludes with 2 great harvests – the Wheat Harvest and the Grape Harvest.

God’s people are represented as the Wheat gathered into Christ’s barn while the unrepentant are represented as Grapes trodden in the winepress of God’s wrath….. Chapters 15 and 16 build on this imagery.

Revelation 15 begins as an introduction to a new vision.

John sees another “marvelous sign” – 7 angels with the 7 Last Plagues. They are “last” because they were proceeded by the 7 Trumpets – preliminary judgments still mixed with mercy – which were intended to bring the wicked to repentance.

SEVEN LAST PLAGUES

God’s kingdom established.

Now every person has made their choice and destines have been decided. The wicked have reached the point of no return. The door of mercy is closed – intersession is no longer available. All those who have willingly chosen to follow Satan, in spite of God’s clear warnings, will experience the full force of God’s holy displeasure against sin.

Romans 1:18-32 explains God’s wrath as a “giving over.” Because the wicked have rejected him, God gives them over to their depravity. Again, he gives them what they want = life WITHOUT him.

As God begins to withdraw his presence from the earth, the 4 winds that have been held in check (7:1) are released and the 7 Last Plagues are poured out with devastating effect.

Before the angels pour out the plagues, however, there is a brief interlude describing those who have chosen to worship God.

John sees a sea that looks like glass and fire. Standing on the shore are God’s people. They were holding harps and singing the song of Moses (Ex. 15) and the Lamb. They have been symbolically gathered into God’s heavenly barn, protected from the harmful effects of the plagues to come. However, their experience will be similar to Elijah’s experience during the 3 ½ years of famine in Palestine (1Kings 17). Just as God cared for Elijah, he has promised to care for his people during this time of severe trial (Revelation 7:16).

Isaiah 33:15-16 - He who walks righteously and speaks what is right, who rejects gain from extortion and keeps his hand from accepting bribes, who stops his ears against plots of murder and shuts his eyes against contemplating evil -- this is the man who will dwell on the heights, whose refuge will be the mountain fortress. His bread will be supplied, and water will not fail him.

5th Introductory Sanctuary Scene – 15:5-8

After this I looked and in heaven the temple, that is, the tabernacle of the Testimony, was opened. Out of the temple came the seven angels with the seven plagues. They were dressed in clean, shining linen and wore golden sashes around their chests. Then one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls filled with the wrath of God, who lives for ever and ever. And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from his power, and no one could enter the temple until the seven plagues of the seven angels were completed.

The Six Last Plagues

Revelation 16:1 - Then I heard a loud voice from the temple saying to the seven angels, "Go, pour out the seven bowls of God's wrath on the earth."

• Plague 1 – ugly and painful sores/boils (16:2):

The first angel went and poured out his bowl on the land, and ugly and painful sores broke out on the people who had the mark of the beast and worshiped his image.

The Egyptians experienced this plague (#6). Now those who have the Mark of the Beast, who have chosen to worship the image and reject God’s final pleas will experience it. Just as the Children of Israel were protected from the boils plague, God’s people will not be affected by this plague.

• Plague 2 and 3 – sea, rivers and springs of water turned to blood (16:3-7):

The second angel poured out his bowl on the sea, and it turned into blood like that of a dead man, and every living thing in the sea died.

The third angel poured out his bowl on the rivers and springs of water, and they became blood. Then I heard the angel in charge of the waters say: "You are just in these judgments, you who are and who were, the Holy One, because you have so judged; for they have shed the blood of your saints and prophets, and you have given them blood to drink as they deserve." And I heard the altar respond: "Yes, Lord God Almighty, true and just are your judgments."

Again, this reminds us of the 1st plague on Egypt (Ex. 7:16-25).

The reason for this plague is given, “for they have shed the blood of your saints and prophets, and you have given them blood to drink as they deserve."