Touched by an Angel
Revelation 15
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy
Faith Fellowship – October 24-25, 2020
We are in the part of Revelation that has
• The first are triggered by the breaking of
• The next are announced by
• The last are delivered in
ALL of this is part of a
• We are in Chapter 15-16 which are about the bowls of wrath.
• There are seven angels with seven plagues that deliver the wrath of God.
Revelation 15 [ESV]
[1] Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and amazing, seven angels with seven plagues, which are the last, for with them the wrath of God is finished. [2] And I saw what appeared to be a sea of glass mingled with fire—and also those who had conquered the beast and its image and the number of its name, standing beside the sea of glass with harps of God in their hands. [3] And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, “Great and amazing are your deeds, O Lord God the Almighty! Just and true are your ways, O King of the nations! [4] Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship you, for your righteous acts have been revealed.” [5] After this I looked, and the sanctuary of the tent of witness in heaven was opened, [6] and out of the sanctuary came the seven angels with the seven plagues, clothed in pure, bright linen, with golden sashes around their chests. [7] And one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God who lives forever and ever, [8] and the sanctuary was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from his power, and no one could enter the sanctuary until the seven plagues of the seven angels were finished.
The Beginning of the End has
• [1] Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and amazing, seven angels with seven plagues, which are the last, for with them the wrath of God is finished.
• When we think of an “Angel,” we often think of a beautiful and perfect cherub.
• “Touched by an Angel” was about helpful or guardian angels.
• These angels deliver plagues.
• These are different.
• Worship Angels (5:11)
• Guard Angels (4:6-8)
• Restraining Angels (7:1)
• Trumpet Angels (8:2)
• Warrior Angels (12:7)
• Preaching Angels (14:6)
• Announcing Angels (14:10)
• Harvesting Angels (14:17-19)
• Revealing Angels (17:1-7)
The
• We could call them Wrath Angels or Plague Angels.
• I am sure they were never featured on an episode of Touched by an Angel.
• You don’t want to be touched by one of these!
Are these
• Not at all.
• They are clothed in pure, bright linen, with golden sashes around their chests. [6]
• The “bad” angels were cast out of heaven after they rebelled.
Satan
• Isaiah 14:12 - “How you are fallen from heaven, O Day Star, son of Dawn! How you are cut down to the ground, you who laid the nations low!
• Jesus said, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven” (Luke 10:18)
• In Revelation, Satan is seen as “a star that had fallen from the sky to the earth” (Revelation 9:1).
• 1 Peter 5:8 - Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
• Ephesians 6:12 - For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
• Hell is a place prepared for the devil and his angels.
• Matthew 25:41 - “… the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.”
• The demonic forces are the bad angels.
These Seven are
• The NIV calls them marvelous.
• They can’t be called angels of wrath because this is the wrath of God.
• They are simply delivering bowls filled with the wrath of God.
But first, there is a
• [2] And I saw what appeared to be a sea of glass mingled with fire—and also those who had conquered the beast and its image and the number of its name, standing beside the sea of glass with harps of God in their hands.
• The worship team is comprised of those who have overcome and are conquerors.
They sing the song of
• [3b] “Great and amazing are your deeds, O Lord God the Almighty! Just and true are your ways, O King of the nations! Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship you, for your righteous acts have been revealed.”
• Great and amazing are your deeds.
• Just and true are your ways.
• We will fear and glorify your name.
• You alone are holy.
• Nations will rise up to worship you.
• Your righteous acts have been revealed.
It is a song that reflects the
• It is a song of holiness and grace.
• This is a moment filled with justice, not vengeance.
God is
• Psalm 86:15 - But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.
• Psalm 103:8 - The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
• God is patient in His love, but he is also holy and just.
This wrath is brought forth from the
• [5] After this I looked, and the sanctuary of the tent of witness in heaven was opened.
• Revelation describes a heavenly Temple that corresponds as a heavenly counterpart to the earthly Tabernacle and Temple.
• John saw the seven angels come out of that Temple.
• They were clothed in pure, bright linen with golden sashes.
One of the
• That is as close to God as anyone could get.
• We do not know which living creature—One was like a lion, another an ox, another a man, and another an eagle. (Revelation 4:6-8)
• The seven golden bowls are full of wrath of God…
• No one could enter the sanctuary until these seven plagues were finished.
What is this
• Wrath is usually understood as anger or indignation.
• God’s wrath is very different from man’s wrath.
• God’s wrath is holy and always justified while man’s wrath is never holy and rarely justified.
• God’s wrath is usually related to idolatry.
Psalm 78:56-58
• Yet they tested and rebelled against the Most High God and did not keep his testimonies, but turned away and acted treacherously like their fathers; they twisted like a deceitful bow. [58] For they provoked him to anger with their high places; they moved him to jealousy with their idols.
• The wrath of God is consistently directed towards those who do not follow His will (Deuteronomy 1:26-46; Joshua 7:1; Psalm 2:1-6).
Romans 1:18-20 (ESV)
• For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. [19] For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. [20] For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.
The wrath of God is simply his
• Having given every opportunity for repentance, God applies a just response and consequence to the rebellious part of Creation.
• Against all ungodliness and unrighteousness for God has been revealed, and they are without excuse.
Let’s go back and look at the bigger picture…
• Birth Pains are described in Matthew 24.
• The Rapture may be Pre-Tribulation.
• 7 Year Tribulation – seals, trumpets, and bowls. Ch. 6-16
• The Tribulation leads to the battle of Armageddon.
• The Fall of Babylon is described in chapters 17-18
• All this is prior to the Return of Christ.
• Christ’s Return ushers in a 1000-year reign of Christ.
• This all leads to the ultimate state of things for eternity.
Will we be here when the bowls of God’s wrath are poured out?
• Many argue that since “the church” is not mentioned after chapter 3, the Rapture of the church must occur before the Tribulation.
• 1 Thessalonians 5:9 - For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ…
• Others argue based upon this that we could be here for the first half of the Tribulation.
• But we certainly will not be here at the midpoint of the Tribulation when the wrath of God is poured out.
• This is a Mid-Tribulation view or a Pre-wrath view of the Rapture.
The big question: Are you right with God in Jesus and prepared for eternity?
DISCUSSION
1. Was there something new you learned or that got your attention in this study?
2. When you think of an angel, what do you typically think?
How does this scripture and study affect those images?
3. Why do you suppose it is difficult for us to think about the wrath of God?
4. How would you describe the difference between human wrath and God’s wrath?
5. Do you tend to believe more in a Pre-tribulation or Mid-tribulation or Post-tribulation view?
Or what about a no-tribulation view?
Why?
6. How would you say that you define the wrath of God? Why does it exist?
What makes it necessary?
7. In what ways do you see some of the Tribulation events coming to pass now?
8. How prepared would you say you are for eternity?
9. How can your group pray for you this week?