John begins to reveal a new vision in chapter 15 of his book of Revelations of Jesus Christ. The sequence of this revelation matters. It occurs after the works and proclamations of the previous six angels in the prior chapter. It occurs after the rise of the third beast, and after the Mark of the third Beast is implemented on a universal basis in our world. It is against the backdrop of these events where what transpires becomes the final series of events in the history of evil in this world. The sunset of evil has begun. But John does not open this new revelation with a picture of despair, or judgment, or condemnation. Instead as is repeated again and again in this book, and throughout all of scripture, John opens with a scene of hope. The gospel is not about defining what we deserve and condemning us to experience our well-deserved punishment. The gospel is about offering us a gift we do NOT deserve, and seeing the love of God over-ride the justice we deserve. And so even at the end of all things, even when evil is about to suffer its long deserved fate, our scene opens instead with a focus on what hope offers by contrast.
John begins in verse 1 … “And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God.” This would be the third set of seven angels, who will be carrying out the judgments of God upon the wicked of our earth. John continues in verse 2 … “And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God.” But the first thing John reveals is NOT an immediate execution of God’s wrath, not an immediate pouring out of the plagues he has just opened this vision with. Instead, John’s attention is NOT drawn to the suffering of the wicked which is obviously on the horizon; it is to the people who stand upon a sea of glass mingled with fire. These people “had gotten” the victory over the beast. First notice that the people to whom John is referring did NOT conquer the beast themselves. Instead they “received” the victory from the Lamb. Then they stand redeemed carrying harps of God, the joy of their redemption song is already starting to emerge.
John continues in verse 3 … “And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints. [verse 4] Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest.” Offering glory, or perhaps better stated, pointing out the glory our Lord deserves, is the lyric of their redemption song. Asking the rhetorical questions angels and the redeemed love to ask; singing about the power of our God. This is the prologue of events that transpire – BEFORE – the actual plagues are poured out. There is a reason why the suffering of the wicked is not the first event we focus on, even in a revelation of the final 7 plagues in our world’s history. Instead, our attention is drawn to the fact, that not all is lost. Not all have rejected Christ, sacrificed their identity, and taken upon themselves the Mark of the third Beast. Victory through our Savior is possible, and there are those who have accepted this victory.
Satan longs to present our God with his own character. He presents an image of a vengeful stern judging God who cannot wait until He is able to punish the guilty for all of their crimes. But nothing could be farther from the truth. If God lived only to punish those who were guilty, there would have been no plan of redemption, and Satan would have been killed the instant he disobeyed. Instead, love offers the patience of allowing a choice to see it accepted or rejected. And here, even when the judgments of God being poured out upon the wicked is imminent, the first focus of the revelation is not about the punishment but about the hope. The first focus of this revelation is about the fact that victory over the beast is a reality, and has been accepted by those who now sing to God.
Even now there is a delay in the telling of eventualities to focus first on redemption, on salvation, on the freedom that Christ has brought to those who sing the praises of His name. Hope is always what Christ reveals to us first. It is only our stubborn refusal of that hope that sees our ultimate demise. The story of Noah is not dissimilar in this regard. God decides that the evil of mankind must be destroyed. But instead of acting on His decision, He finds Noah and through His grace He waits 120 years while Noah builds a vessel that will save mankind from utter destruction. Noah preaches during these 120 years, and if the people had heeded his message (like those who later heard Jonah in Nineveh), the flood may never have come. Instead we may have been born into a redeemed society full of Enoch’s, instead of into the world of sin in which we now find plagues about to be poured out. God delayed then, even after deciding what must happen. The story of this revelation like that of Noah, focuses first on the redemption that has been offered and accepted. It is this primary focus we should remember, even when telling the story of the last 7 plagues to befall the wicked.
John continues in verse 5 … “And after that I looked, and, behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened:” After the song of the redeemed, after the focus on the victory occurs, the story must proceed. The “temple of the tabernacle of the testimony” in heaven is opened. Could this be a reference to the testimony of Jesus Christ, combined with the immutable principles of love inscribed on tablets of stone so many years ago? John continues in verse 6 … “And the seven angels came out of the temple, having the seven plagues, clothed in pure and white linen, and having their breasts girded with golden girdles.” The angels emerge from this temple. Their clothing is noticed, perhaps representing the purity of the mission they are to perform. For the judgments of Lord are righteous, and His patience has been long suffering. John continues in verse 7 … “And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever.” One of the four beasts, or sentient life-forms from beyond our understanding, offers vials to each of the angels. Each vial holding a plague.
John continues in verse 8 … “And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled.” What must be done, must be done alone. The temple fills with smoke, and the 24 elders, and first fruits of redemption who reside in heaven like Moses, Elijah, Enoch, and those who ascended at the resurrection of Christ, must remain outside of the temple until the plagues are completed. Perhaps this is because our God does not wish us to see Him weep. Perhaps the punishment which the wicked have earned and which must now be poured out STILL causes such deep sorrow in the heart of God, that He wishes to be alone while it occurs, so that we do not see His tears of love rejected. The sorrow that broke the heart of Christ, now perhaps breaks the heart of His Father. What must be done, must be done. But pouring out punishment is not an act which brings Him joy. For us to see Him weep, might well be more than human limits can tolerate and so we must remain outside so we do not see His tears we will never be able to wipe away. Once again, He places our interests, and the care of our hearts, ahead of even His own. Once again, perhaps He demonstrates that He cares more about our feelings than even that of His own. And so He remains alone to do what must be done, and what He wishes was never required to do.
It is not eagerness that sees this day arrive. It is not a thirst for vengeance and blood that sees this day arrive. It has been so long delayed for patience and hope that even one more soul will accept the gift of His redemption. But now, with the third beast having made the whole world make a final choice, there is no one left who will accept. The danger of accepting the mark of the third beast, is that it represents the last opportunity in which we might change our mind. Once that mark is upon us, our choice is forever sealed. The cycle of sin, repentance, and forgiveness is broken. From this moment on, our sin will not be something we repent of. We will no longer ask for forgiveness. We will no longer want it. Those who accept this mark, cut themselves off from the salvation of Christ, one final time. In so doing, they bring about this day of the plague’s arrival. For there is no one left to say “yes” to God. It was not God who created this plan of the third beast. It was not God who attempted to compel the conscience of all men and bring about the end of the world. God only revealed the plans of the enemy. He had no hand in making them transpire.
It is Satan alone who has longed for this day. It is Satan alone who takes great pleasure in the sadness of God. It is Satan and those who follow the dragon, and the beasts he gave power to, who revel in the suffering and death of others. It is the wicked who rejoice in the suffering of others. Christians cannot. Real Christians cannot. If one who claims the name of Christ, finds joy in the pain and suffering of others, they bare that name in error. God Himself, takes no pleasure in the suffering and pain that sin brings into the world. Instead He longs to relieve it. But as of this day, there are no more who will accept the relief He offers. Christians feel the pain of love rejected. Christians share a longing to see pain relieved, and redemption embraced. Christians do not want suffering to be the ultimate destiny of others, but instead only redemption. If Christians do not really feel this, they are not really Christians, instead they deceive themselves. Justice is the last resort of our God, not His first. Judgment was not His first option, but His last. Redemption was always meant to be plan A. Had we remained faithful, He would have had to pay so high a cost to see us redeemed, but He paid it all without a second thought, or doubt. Only after all final efforts to accept His redemption are decided can this day come. And it has arrived.
The prologue is over, the revelation must continue …
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