The Temple In Heaven

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