THE SIGN IN HEAVEN As the 15th chapter of Revelation opens, John writes that God allowed him to see "another sign in heaven, great and marvelous" (Revlation 15:1). God used signs often throughout history to gain the attention of human beings. For example, God gave the sign of burning bush to Moses when He promised to deliver His people from Egyptian bondage. God also gave a sign to Gideon when He consumed his offering with fire, to validate His promise of deliverance from the Midianites.
In John's case, he saw "seven angels having the seven last plagues."The palgues are contained in bowls, and he recorded that "in them the wrath of God is complete" (Revelation 15:1). This great and marvelous sign of the seven angels, therefore, introduces the final outpouring of God's wrath against the sinful world. When John writes here about God's wrath, it is significant that he uses a Greek word that connotes an outward expression of inward anger. Usually the word "wrath" suggests a slow, inward, boiling indignation. But in this case, "the wrath of God" describes the outworking of that anger in words or actions. Sin truly makes God angry, and the Bible records this fact repeatedly. "God's anger was aroused" because of Balaam's stubbornness" (Number 22:22). Moses warned the Israelites to avoid idolatry, for to worship idols is "evil in the sight of the LORD your God, to provoke Him to anger" (Deuteronomy 4:25). The Israelites were to flee idolatry, "lest the anger of the LORD your God be aroused against you, and destroy you from the face of the earth" (Deuteronomy 6:15).
It is important to understand that God's anger is expressed against people. When David wondered whether people could sin and get away with it ("Shall they escape by iniquity?"), God inspired him to write the answer: "In anger cast down the peoples, O God" (Psalm 56:7). Jesus affirmed this truth when He taught that anyone who "does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the warth of God abides on him" (John 3:36). Another New Testament passage warns that "the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness" (Romans 1:18). Revelation records that God's wrath is coming. The seven plagues about to be loosed in final judgment include loathsome sores (Revelation 16:2), the turning of the seas and then the fresh water into blood (Revelation 16:3-4), heat and fire (Revelation 16:8), darkness and pain (Revelation 16:10), the drying up of the great Euphrates River so that the armies of the world may be gathered for Amrageddon (Revelation 16:12), and the worst earthquake and hail in history (Revelation 16:18). Men will try to hide from God in that day, but He will not cease until His wrath is completely spent on sinful people. THE SONG IN HEAVEN After John saw the seven angels holding bowls full of God's complete wrath, he reported, "And I saw something like a sea of glass mingled with fire, and those who have the victory over the beast, over his image and over his mark and over the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, having harps of God." (Revelation 15:2)
John described a similar sea in heaven surrounding the throne of God (Revelation 4:6). In both cases, we might conclude that the crystalline quality of these seas represents purity from sin. if so, this sea of glass will be fitting place for the redeemed people of the Tribulation to stand before God. Little wonder that these Tribulation saints, "having the harps of God," will start to sing "the song of Moses" and "the song of the LAMB" (Revelation 15:2-3). We do not know what the song of the LAMB will be, although clearly it will be a song of praise to Christ for His sacrifice. The song of Moses, however, has a precedent in Scripture. This "servant of God" sang a song at the end of his wilderness journey, just before God took him home. "Then Moses spoke in the hearing of all the assembly of Israel, the words of this song until they were ended" (Deuteronomy 31:30). In this song, Moses praises God as faithful and dependable (Deuteronomy 32:1-6), and as a God who provides for His people (7-14) in spite of the fact that they are often unthankful (15-18) and would later prove unfaithful. God would punish His people by displaying His love for the Gentiles, thus moving Israel to jealousy (19-21), and by bringing calamity upon Israel (22-35). Moses' song ends by declaring that God will redeem His own (36-39) and take vengeance on His enemies (41). Like the song of Mises, the song sung by those redeemed from the Tribulation will praise God for His might and power. "They sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the LAMB, saying:'Great and marvelous are Your works, LORD God Almighty! Just and true are Your ways, O King of the saints! Who shall not fear You, O LORD, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy. For all nations shall come and worship before You, for Your judgments have been manifested.' " (Revelation 15:3-4) This joyous song acknowledges God's great works, mighty power, justice, authority, and holiness. The saints singing in heaven teach the very important lesson that prasie from redeemed people does not focus on self. There is no hint that anyone in heaven will complain about God's judgment on sin and sinners (although many on earth today are against at the thought of such judgment). None of the redeemed will complain that God allowed them to experience persecution in the Tribulation (although many today complain about their difficult circumstances and blame God for them). The song of the saints in heaven will conclude that God is worthy to be feared. that fear is founded on an awesome respect for God's person and power, as well as dread of losing fellowship with the One who loves us. A right view of God compels us to glorify and reflect Him in what we think, say, and do. And this truth leads to a question: If you are uncomfortable or resentful with God for pouring out His just wrath in judgment against sin, how will you have a place in heaven with people who will praise His name because of that very same wrath? Indeed, how can you give God true worship today? (an extract from TRUE WORSHIP by David Whitcomb and Mark Ward, Sr.)
Last week we shared the awesome grandeur worship in the Throne Room witnessed by the apostle John where he revealed wondrous heavenly beings and honoured elders of the redeeemed bowing down in worship to Almighty God. (Revelation 4). After this event, six terrible judgements will be loosed upon the world, and then follow a pause before the seventh and final judegment. During that pause, John beheld "a great multiude, which no man could number," standing before the Throne and worshiping God with grateful hearts. [A] great multitude which no one could number ... [was] standing before the throne and before the Lamb ... and crying out with a loud voice, saying. "Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!" (Revelation 7:9-17) What a magnificient scene! But who are these people that will be privileged to come into the Throne Room of God? Why will they honour Him and how will their honour of Him find exression in their worship? God has recorded their example in His Word for our instruction. What can we learn?
A PICTURE OF WORSHIP
Revelation 7:9 tells us that the multitude comes from "all nations, tribes, people and tongues." indicating that the multitude includes the Jews and Gentiles. John further reveal that the multitude are"clothed with white robes with palm branches in their hands." Clothed in white - symbolic of their victory in righteouness and with palm branches - imply joyous celebration. Palm branches likewise figured significantly in Jesus' triumphanl entry into Jerusalem. (John 12:13) Who is the Lamb? His coming was prophesied by Isaiah (Isaiah 53:6-7). His arrival was announced by John the Baptist (John 1:29) And John the apostle records in the Revelation that "in the midst of the throne ... stood a Lamb as though it had been slain" (Revelation 5:6), at whose appearing the living creatures and elders will sing: "You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, and have made us kings and priests to our God; and we shall reign on the earth. (Revelation 5:9-10) Then "with a loud voice": an innumerable host of angels will join in the song: "Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honour and glory and blessings!" (Revelation 5:12) The LAMB IS JESUS! for what John records was prophesied in Philippians 2:10-11 that "At the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and those on earth, and of those under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus is LORD."
A PICTURE OF THE WORSHIPERS We have established that the multitude will include Jews and Gentiles. The identity of the multitude is revealed to John in a conversation: "Then one of the elders answered to me,'Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?' And I said to him,'Sir, you know.' So he said to me, 'These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made white in the blood of the Lamb.' " (Revelation 7:13-14) It is significant, therefore, that when the Tribulation saints give credit to the Lamb for their salvation, all heaven will join in their worship. The living creatures and elders and angels will have seen how these believers were martyred under the reign of the antichrist, being "slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held" (Revelation 6:9). Their testimony is all the more remarkable in light of the fact that God's Spirit will not be in the earth during the Tribulation. Through special witnesses given by God (see Revelation 7:1-8), these saints will come to a knowledge of truth and despite great satanic delusion in the world. And then they will keep to their faith without the benefit of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. So all of heaven will join their victory celebration, saying: "Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom, thanksgiving and honour and power and might, be to our God forever and ever. Amen. (Revelation 7:12) Even the angels will fall down and worship. They will never experience the joy of salvation, but they love God and cannot help joining the redeemed as they all worship their mutual Creator. The elders, also, will fall down and worship, for they know personally God's grace in salvation. And we, also, when we read of the Tribulation saints and their miraculous deliverance, should we wondrously encouraged at the saving grace and power of the Lamb. For these saints will be won the same way we are, through being washed by the blood of the Lamb!
