Thru the Bible on Oneplace.com - Revelation 15:8—16:8

0:00How firm of a foundation he says of the Lord is laid for your faith in His excellent Word." What's the secret to understanding the Book of Revelation? Well, many do find it confusing. In this section of Revelation that we're studying right now, our teacher Dr. J. Vernon McGee teaches us to see people and events in terms of the number seven. Welcome to Through the Bible, I'm Steve Schwetz, and I'm so glad that you're here as we set off for another great adventure in God's Word. Now, you've probably heard the number seven called the perfect number, and Dr. McGee actually corrects that by explaining that seven is the number of completion, and that sometimes the completeness is perfection. Like when God created the heavens and the earth in six days, and then he rested on the seventh, not only because his work was complete, but because it was perfect. We'll see here in Revelation as we study several series of sevens, all a picture of

1:03completeness, meaning it covers all. Seven years covering all the tribulation, seven churches, representing a complete history of the church. In this study of chapter 15, we'll see seven angels and seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God. Looking for the sevens is a good grid to get into our heads. Dr. McGee will explain more later. So as you grab your Bible and open it to Revelation 15, let's begin with a letter from Baltimore, Maryland. Only we'll hear Dr. McGee read it. He appreciated any letter that illustrates how the Word of God has applied where the rubber meets the road as he put it. Let's listen. I'm going to share with you today a most remarkable letter that's come from a place in Maryland, and I don't think I should give the place. However, I'm sure the couple would not mind. I'm reading now. It says it's a long and unusual story on how I came to listen to your broadcast and subsequently became a Christian. Your interpretation of God's

2:05Word, I'm sure, has done as much for others as it has done for me in terms of bringing us closer to the Lord Jesus. I never reflected upon the Bible as such a great source for the many questions that perplex modern life. Your thorough understanding certainly makes the grace of God a living and very real thing. I listen often to your broadcast in my automobile on WRBS in Baltimore, Maryland. It's probably due to your program and the great faith the Holy Spirit is imparted in me that my wife and I founded our young business. Although it's small and we have had some minor struggles, I can truly say that the Lord has really blessed us in our endeavor. We are primarily involved in interior design and architecture. The enclosed gift is returning a

3:05part of our labors to him who make it all possible in the beginning. Oftentimes my staff gathers around the radio to listen to your message. It is a warm feeling and we thank you so much for encouraging the Holy Spirit to be among us. We try to make the quality of our work by our testimony to the greatness of our Lord. And friends, I've shared that rather personal letter with you because of the very wonderful fact of how Christianity can be put in shoe leather and translated into the business world today. Well, what a great letter. You know, unlike that gentleman in Maryland, I'm also in business for myself and not only has it been a joy and sometimes a challenge for me to model grace to all those I come into contact with. God's blessing has also enabled me to spend time as a volunteer

4:06host and board member for through the Bible. And I really never get tired of hearing how the word of God applies to every area of our lives. And I hope that's true for you as well. And that's also the sentiment from a listener named JB who shares, Dr. McGee is so good. I'm studying now and I have grown so close to Jesus. Let's continue to look up and stand up for Jesus. I'm so pleased by so many being saved. This young generation is spreading his word at colleges and schools and that is why we were born to glorify the Father. So thankful for those giving their lives to Jesus. God turns evil into good and one day we're going home. Amen, JB. He does. And let's glorify him now by praying and then studying his word together. Father, thank you for the encouragement of the saints that your word is living and powerful and it's sharper than any two-edged sword and a discernor of the intense of the heart. We do submit ourselves to you and ask that your spirit would draw all men, women and children to yourself in Jesus' most precious name we pray. Amen.

5:10Roth to Revelation 15 on through the Bible with Dr. J. Vernon McGee. Now I come back today to this very remarkable chapter 15 of Revelation and it's remarkable because it actually is the entranceway and the introduction to the last sevens in Revelation that concern the great tribulation period. It introduces the seven bowls of wrath that are poured upon the earth and now the last two verses and I'll read verses 7 and 8 together again care in the 15th chapter. It says one of the four living creatures. Now that was at the throne of God you'll recall. Gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God. Now this is not the love of God. It's judgment, the wrath of God who liveth forever and ever and the sanctuary that is the temple was failed with smoke from the glory of God and from his power and

6:16no one was able to enter into the sanctuary or the temple tell the seven plagues of the seven angels should be finished. Now the very fact we continue to deal with the temple ought to indicate to anyone that's knowledgeable that we're not dealing with the church. The temple and tabernacle had nothing to do with the church. They are marvelous pictures of Christ that have spiritual lessons for us today. I have a book on the tabernacle God's portrait of Christ but that does not mean that we're to build a temple to die or a tabernacle and here it refers to people who had a tabernacle and a temple and that of course is Israel but a great many are reluctant to admit that because they dismiss Israel in the plan and purpose of God when you get to the beginning of the New Testament and the New Testament does not dismiss them as you can see. Now these are seven golden bowls. They

7:19represent the final part of the great tribulation period and I think bowls better describe the container share than the word vials in our authorized version. When I think of a vial I think of a little test tube that's used in the laboratory but here these are bowls are large and they were used in the temple service. A bowl of blood was taken by the high priest one day each year into the holy of holies and the bowl of blood spoke of redemption for sin. Not these seven angels with priestly garments. They've departed from the temple proper. They're no longer engaged in a service of mercy but they are beginning a strange ministry pouring out bowls of wrath on a Christ rejecting world. A world that has rejected the blood of Christ must now bear the judgment for sin. This judgment is not the result of man's or Satan's enmity. It's the direct action of

8:22the Lord Jesus Christ, the general Jesus. But we saw that strange statement at the beginning of this section the wrath of the Lamb. We never think of a little lamb being angry and a lion can roar but not a little lamb. But the wrath of the Lamb and that's the thing that's going to startle the world someday. Now the prophets use this figure of the cup of the niquity and wrath which would be finally poured out in judgment. In fact their picture was that God is patiently letting it fill up. When it fills up you'll move in and smokers connected with the glory of God. I do not want to enlarge upon that at this time. Now these seven angels with seven golden bowls make it clear that the judgments of the bowls proceed from God and are not the result of man's miscalculations and mistakes are of Satan's enmity. This is the direct action of God. Now the

9:26number seven that's been running all through this book will continue. It does not mean perfection. So many today think that seven inscription denotes perfection. Again may I repeat this it denotes completeness and this denotes the complete judgment and final judgment of God upon this world in which we live. We come now to chapter 16 and they pouring out of the bowls of wrath and I come definitely now to verse one. I'm reading from my translation and I heard a great voice out of the sanctuary. Are the temple saying to the seven angels go and pour out the seven bowls of the wrath of God into the earth. Now the Lord Jesus Christ is still in charge here. Remember way back when he opened the seven seal book and that ushered in this entire series of sevens and he's not

10:31through. He is in command to the end of this book friends. He is the one who's marching to victory. He is the one that the power and the glory and the majesty belong to him and this is his judgment upon a Christ rejecting world. Now the father has committed all judgment unto him and he's the one that gives the command that sends them out. There's no longer delay no longer an interval or an animation. The hour has come the hour has given and the seven angels execute the command. That's difficult for man even Christians to believe that God is going to pour out his wrath on a rebellious and God hating world and destroy this civilization. But my friend everything that you look at the days under the judgment hand of God. I'd love if I had time to just stay here for a few moments. I know

11:33when Miss McKee and I first came to Southern California we thought we'd entered the millennium by the way when we came out here with those were the good old days before all this great population came out and before we had smog and traffic. I still love it however but nevertheless it's not like it was then every Monday we take time off go see something we drive to the beach to the mountains to the desert and I know that one time we were driving out Wilshire Boulevard and it's a very attractive street. I tell you drive out at night you can see all the liquor signs and all that the world of glamour has to offer today in every department that would satisfy the flesh in every way it would satiate all of the demands of the flesh and as we were driving out there I said to my wife I said you know this is beautiful isn't it it's interesting but I said do you know that all of this is passing away you remember that the Apostle said to the Lord Jesus look at the temple he said that

12:39not one stone it'd be left on another they said look at it how beautiful it is they were amazed that he'd make a statement like that and he told them not one stone was going to be left on another I said to my wife I said you know all of this is passing away it's under the judgment hand of God God's going to judge it all it's all going up and smoke someday believe me we need to make our investments in heaven where neither rust and or moth duck corrupt and thieves can't break through and steal it because I tell you down here you're going to lose it someday somebody says I've got my investments that are guilty I've got my bonds in the safety deposit box well I didn't say somebody's going to get them friends I'm saying you're going to leave them someday and that's just as bad in fact that's even worse than if a thief stole him because you're going to release your hand in death and you're going to turn him loose move out this world we live in his under the judgment hand of God and it's hard for believers to accept that we have

13:43been fed so much of the saccharin sweetness of love this insipid preaching of liberalism and the average man believes that all his sweetness and light that is rose water and roses and God would not discipline or punish anyone well read the book of Revelation and this is judgment now I'm reading verse two here and the first went and poured out his bowl into the earth and it became a noisement grievous so upon the man that had the mark of the wild beast and that worshiped his image Vincent writes each angel as his turn comes with draws from the heavenly scene in other words the angel leaves the place where the mercy seed is and it's now judgment and he leaves that and he comes out

14:44and pours the judgment bowl of wrath upon the earth now this one is quite interesting it looks as if God is engaged in germ warfare upon the followers of antichrist scripture states that the life of flesh is in the blood and also death is in the blood and these putrefying soas are worse than leprosy or cancer and his man discovers a remnant today for one disease another that's more frightful appears these are judgments of God by which he reveals physically what man is moderately utterly corrupt and this compares to the sixth plague in Egypt and is the same type of soa a boil it's interesting to note that Moses predicted judgment that was coming upon Israel someday just like this and that is given to us back in the book of Deuteronomy by the way

15:47probably out at take a moment off and just turned to that and read to you and Deuteronomy 28 15 it says but it shall come to pass if thou will not harken under the voice of the Lord thy God to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command this day that all these curses shall come upon thee and overtake thee verse 27 now for here's the list of them the Lord will smite thee with the botch of Egypt and with emeralds and with a scab with the itch where all thou canst not be healed this is a terminal sower by the way and then verse 35 another the Lord shall smite thee in the knees and in the legs with a sower botch that cannot be healed from the soul of the foot of the top of the head and Moses predicted that now this is for those who receive the mark of the beast now those that didn't they're in a bad way also we've already

16:49seen that they can't buy in her sale and the old bromide today a man must see and he'll do anything for that if a man has a family that's starving and he can't work and he can't buy therefore and he can't beg nobody'll give to him and he has several starving little children you know I'm not going to blame him if he breaks into a market and get something for them because his little children have got to eat that is a strong drive that man has he must see and therefore that awful thing that's put upon man unless he has the mark of the beast but those that have the mark of the beast are not going to have it so easy because at the end of the great tribulation God will judge them with this and this is a judgment of God and may I just add this I have always interpreted the cancer that I had as a judgment from God I still do it today that I feel that's what it was and the fact God healed me is the fact that God forgave me and

17:51has given me my greatest ministry since then so I am rejoicing in that but this doesn't cause these people to turn to God now let me read verse 3 here the second bowl and the second poured out his bowl into the sea and it became blood as of a dead man and every living soul died even the things in the sea now this plague is more severe than the second trumpet I told you we've come out of the worst of all when the second trumpet was blown only one third of the sea became blood now here it's the total sea and the blood is as of a dead man now blood is the token of life scripture says the life of the flesh is in the blood and the seas are great reservoir of life it's teaming with life and the salty water is a cathartic for the filth of the earth however in this plague blood is the token of death and the sea becomes a grave of death

18:54instead of a womb of life the cool sea breezes become a stench from the carcasses floating on the surface of the water that's now bloody and lining the shower commerce is paralyzed human beings die like flies the first plague in Egypt you remember was the turning of the waters of the Nile and a blood striking similarity here I wonder if we realize today how much we're dependent on the light company the gas company and the water company all send me bills but where did they get the light and the gas and the water well it's quite obvious that they had something to do in getting it to us but God is the one who created light and the gas and the water also but as God ever sent you a bill for sunshine for the water you drink in the air you breathe have you paid him and he's not sent his bill and you'd not be able to pay it if he did God who has been so gracious

19:58to a Christ rejecting world will it last judge all the earth the angels pour out the bowls in the day of God's wrath now the third bowl of wrath verses four through seven and the third poured out his bowl into the rivers and the fountains of the waters and it became blood and I heard the angel of the water saying righteous art thou who art and who was the holy one because thou did judge these things for they shed the blood of saints and prophets and blood did thou give them to drink they're worthy and I heard the author saying ye the Lord God the Almighty true and righteous are his judgment now this plague similar to that of the third trumpet is again more severe there one third of the fresh water was affected here the total water supply of the earth will be cut off this means destruction of human life on an unparalleled plane the angel

21:00of the waters well he's an angel of superintendent of God's water department and this reveals I think another ministry of angels as it affects creation there in charge of the different departments of the physical universe we've seen the four angels in this book who control the winds this angel who knows the whole story now declares that God is right and holy in this act of judgment and my friend whatever God does is righteous and holy if you don't agree with him that's too bad you're wrong not God imagine a little man standing up today and saying concerning the creator I don't think he's doing right well I have a statement to make to you in fact a question what are you going to do about it fact what can you do about it if you're not in agreement with God you better get an agreement with him my friend God is righteous and everything that he does now they shed the blood

22:00of the saints and prophets and bloods did that give them to drink that's poetic justice with vengeance those who take the sword will perish with the sword and the shedding of blood leads to the shedding of blood these who are being judged made martyrs of God's people and now God is forcing those who kill him to drink blood for the righteous blood they spill and the prayers under the altar are not being answered God was long time getting to it but he's got to it and the world is guilty before him now we see here the pouring out of the fourth bowl and the fourth poured out his bowl upon the sun and it was given to it a scorched man with fire and man was scorched with great heat and they blaspheme the name of God who at the power over these plagues and they repented not to give him glory now our Lord predicted that there would be signs in the sun during the great

23:06tribulation period there shall be signs in the sun and in the moon and in the stars and upon the earth distress of nations with perplexity to see in the waves roaring we'll take up right there next time until then the god richly bless you my beloved wow these judgments are complete and really may seem harsh but it's important to remember that God is very patient with evil doers and he doesn't want anyone to die without knowing him I don't know about you but I'm sure glad that we're coming to the end of our study of this terrible season in just another week we're going to hear about the return of Jesus Christ on a white horse to judge to make war with the antichrist and at last to bring peace to a warne torn world the warning that we have of judgment to come is a good reminder that Jesus is calling you to himself to save you from your sin and the wrath to come to rescue you and to include you at a

24:08side during these horrific judgments if you've heard the invitation then this is your day to respond accept his mercy and turn to him while you still have the opportunity the bible tells us that our lives are like a mist that is here today and then gone tomorrow you don't know what life holds for you so make this decision a priority to know more about God's invitation to come to him click on how can I know God in our app or at ttb.org or if you'd rather call and we'll put a few resources in the mail to you the number again is 1 865 bible again that's 1 8652 4253 and if you want to share this study with others our free bible companion for revelation is really the perfect way to do it and it you'll get a synopsis of dr. McGee's teaching as well as prompts to both listen to dr. McGee's message and read the scripture for yourself as well as some pretty great questions for reflection or better yet group study you'll find it right there in our app or download it for free at ttb.org you can also give us a call at 1 865 bible to purchase a single copy

25:12or pack of 10 for your small group our journey through the whole word of God continues i'm Steve Schwetz and i got a seat on the bible bus reserved just for you we want to share quite a small today's study is always available free to stream or download thanks to the generous and faithful investments from your fellow bible bus travelers just go to ttb.org or download our app to listen again anytime as always we'd love to know what's God teaching you