The Wrath of God

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Overview.

 

Judgments of God.

Chapters 15-20 are primarily focused on the judgments of God.1 

 

Chapter 15 introduces the plagues.

 

Chapter 16 explains the plagues. 

 

Chapter 17 describes the false church that will be judged.

 

Chapter 18 describes the fall of the false church (spiritual Babylon).

 

Chapter 19 describes judgment on the beast and the false prophet at the second coming of Jesus Christ

 

Chapter 20 describes judgment on all the wicked, Satan and his fallen angels. 

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This chart is taken from Pastor Stephen Bohr's series called, "From the Close of Probation to the New Earth", which is a part of his Anchor School of Theology classes. The entire series can be found on the Secrets Unsealed app and YouTube channel.  

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Revelation 15:1, 5-8, Describes the close of probation and the time of trouble. Note: verses 2-4 are the climax on Mount Zion for chapter 14. Chapter 14:18-20 describes the close of probation and the final war on the remnant which is referred to as the winepress. 

 

 

• Revelation 15:1, And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvellous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God.

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15V1: This verse is a parenthetical statement that breaks the flow of thought.

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15V1: The seven angels receive the seven last plagues in bowls or vials (see 16:1) in the Most Holy Place (see verses 5-8). This was probably done in the Most Holy Place because it is where the ark is located with the Ten Commandments inside. The Ten Commandments are the standard used in the judgment, more specifically here in the pre-advent judgment (before the second coming). 

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15V1: Wrath of God = Seven last plagues, also mentioned in Revelation 14:10 (cup of His indignation). 

 

Those that receive the wrath of God have no excuses, Romans 1:18-32. 

 

This is also referred to as the tribulation or great time of trouble, Matthew 24:21-22; Daniel 12:1.2 

 

But in the bigger context, the wrath of God comes in three manifestations; it was first given to Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:39, 42). 

 

The second are the seven last plagues (Revelation 16:1). 

 

And the third and last is the lake of fire (Revelation 20:9-10). 

 

 

• Revelation 15:2, 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.

 

15V2: The book of Revelation contains four views of the 144,000 with different emphases: 

Revelation 7:1-8: The sealing of the 144,000.
Revelation 14:1-5: The character of the 144,000.
Revelation 15:2-3: The victory of the 144,000.
Revelation 19:1-9: The jubilatory song of praise to God of the 144,000. 

(Anchor School of Theology Class: From The Close of Probation to the New Earth: A Study of Revelation Chapters 15 to 22, by Pastor Stephen Bohr, SecretsUnsealed.org, SUMTV.org)

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15V2-4: This is the climax on Mount Zion for chapter 14. 

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15V2: Sea of glass = The streets of heaven are pure gold like transparent glass, Revelation 21:21. 

 

The sea of glass here may be referring to the area around the throne of God made of pure gold which appears like transparent glass or a sea of glass. 

 

15V2: Sea of glass mingled with fire = The reflection of God’s glory in the sea of glass. 

 

God is a consuming fire:

Deuteronomy 4:24, “For the LORD thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God.”

 

Deuteronomy 9:3, “Understand therefore this day, that the LORD thy God is he which goeth over before thee; as a consuming fire he shall destroy them, and he shall bring them down before thy face: so shalt thou drive them out, and destroy them quickly, as the LORD hath said unto thee.”

 

Hebrews 12:29, “For our God is a consuming fire.”

 

Exodus 24:17, “And the sight of the glory of the LORD was like devouring fire on the top of the mount in the eyes of the children of Israel.”

 

Psalm 18:8, “There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, and fire out of his mouth devoured…”

 

Isaiah 30:30, “with the flame of a devouring fire…”

 

Nahum 1:5, “The mountains quake at him, and the hills melt, and the earth is burned at his presence, yea, the world, and all that dwell therein.”

 

Zephaniah 1:18, “Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of the LORD'S wrath; but the whole land shall be devoured by the fire of his jealousy: for he shall make even a speedy riddance of all them that dwell in the land.”

 

Psalm 97:3, “A fire goeth before him, and burneth up his enemies round about.” God is represented by red stones because His glory is like a consuming fire.

 

15V2: Gotten the victory over beast, image, mark, and name = Those that don’t violate the first four commandments that deal with God (mentioned in Revelation 13);3

1. Worship the beast, 5 times in Revelation 13 (verse 4 twice, and in verses 8, 12, 15).

2. Image of the beast, Revelation 13:14.

3. Name/number of the beast, Revelation 13:17-18.

4. Mark of the beast, Revelation 13:16-17.

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These four things align with the first four commandments that deal with God, so Satan will counterfeit the first four commandments;

1. Worship = No other Gods before Me (1st Commandment).

2. Image of the beast = Idol worship (2nd Commandment).

3. Name/number of the beast = Taking the Lords name in vain (3rd Commandment).

4. Mark of the beast = Sunday worship instead of Saturday (4th Commandment).

 

These first four commandments deal with God, because the great controversy is between God and Satan. So it makes sense that Satan would attack the first four commandments that point to the true God. 

 

15V2: Harps of God = Mentioned in Revelation 14:2, Harps = The saints all receive harps in heaven, Revelation 15:2 (those that gain the victory have harps of God). 

 

The 24 elders and the four living creatures also have harps, Revelation 5:8. 

 

Harps were used in the earthly temple ceremonies, dedications and celebrations, so it would make sense that they are used in the heavenly temple as well. 

 

1 Chronicles 25:6, “All these were under the hands of their father for song in the house of the LORD, with cymbals, psalteries, and harps, for the service of the house of God, according to the king's order to Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman.”

 

2 Chronicles 5:12, “Also the Levites which were the singers, all of them of Asaph, of Heman, of Jeduthun, with their sons and their brethren, being arrayed in white linen, having cymbals and psalteries and harps, stood at the east end of the altar, and with them an hundred and twenty priests sounding with trumpets:)”

 

Nehemiah 12:27, “And at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem they sought the Levites out of all their places, to bring them to Jerusalem, to keep the dedication with gladness, both with thanksgivings, and with singing, with cymbals, psalteries, and with harps.”

 

15V2-4: These verses also describe the 144,000 (see Revelation 7:1-8 and 14:1-5). 

 

In Revelation 14:14-20 we have a description of the second coming of Jesus Christ and the harvesting of the saved and the harvest of the wicked (those that will receive the wrath of God which are the seven last plagues - Revelation 15:1 and 16:1). 

 

In Revelation the 144,000 specifically refers to those that are alive at the end of time during the final crisis. They are those that have overcome and were faithful to Jesus Christ and went through the final crisis which includes the death decree against God’s people and the seven last plagues. 

 

Note: God’s people are protected through the plagues (see chapter 16). The 144,000 also described in Revelation 7:1-8 and 14:1-5 (full description in 14:4).

 

 

• Revelation 15:3, 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. 

 

15V3: Song of Moses = Song of deliverance from bondage, Exodus 15:1 (but it’s the whole chapter); those that sing this song are those that have crossed over (made it to heaven).4

 

 

• Revelation 15:4, 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.

 

15V4: Fear, glory, worship and judgments = The four main focus points of the first angel’s message, Revelation 14:7 (the same four points). This is how to overcome the four points in Revelation 15:2 that Satan was pushing in Revelation 13.5 

 

This one verse is a summary or synopsis of the first angel’s message.  

 

 

• Revelation 15:5, And after that I looked, and, behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened: 

 

15V5: Temple = This refers to the Most Holy Place of the sanctuary.

 

15V5: Of the tabernacle = This refers to the whole sanctuary (outer court, Holy Place and Most Holy Place). 

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15V5: Testimony = Here it refers to the Ten Commandments which are inside the ark in the Most Holy Place. 

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15V5: Testimony in heaven was opened = The door to the Most Holy was opened for Jesus to exit for the second coming after the seven last plagues are poured out. The angels with the plagues also exited at this time, when the investigative judgment was completed and it was time for the plagues. 

 

The door to the Most Holy was opened twice every year; once for the High Priest to enter for the Day of Atonement and once for the High Priest to exit. 

 

In Revelation 11:19 the door to the Most Holy was opened and Jesus continued His ministration in the Most Holy sitting on His seat of judgment for the investigative judgment starting in 1844 (see notes in Revelation 14:7). 

 

The door will be opened again for Him to leave and to return to earth at the second coming. 

 

Those that did not participate in the Day of Atonement were cut off from Israel and this is what is going on at the end of time; those that did not participate (by keeping God’s commandments and having the faith of Jesus) will be cut off by the seven last plagues (judgment).6

 

Sitting and Standing (Symbols of Judgment).7

When the door was opened the second time to the Most Holy, this was a sign that Jesus was about to stand up and leave to return to the earth because the investigative judgment had been completed and the last plagues were about to be poured out.

 

Sitting = Daniel 7:9, says that the Ancient of days did sit; this is to represent a judge sitting in judgment. 

 

Sit in judgment: 

Psalm 9:4-5, 7-8 says, “...thou satest (sitting in the New International Version) in the throne judging right.” And verse 7-8 says, “...throne for judgment...he shall judge the world in righteousness...”; 

 

Acts 2:34-35 says, “…Sit thou on my right hand, Until I make thy foes thy footstool.”; 

 

Hebrews 1:3 says, “…sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high…”; and 10:12 says, “…sat down on the right hand of God…till his enemies be made his footstool.”; 

 

Malachi 3:1-3, 5 says, “...he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver...and purge them as gold...I will come come near to you to judgment...” 

 

Gold and silver are purified through fire, which is representing the fiery judgment of God. 

 

When Jesus moved from the Holy Place to the Most Holy He went in and sat on His throne to begin judgment (investigative judgment or the pre-advent judgment) before His second coming.

 

Standing = Represents that judgment is completed: Daniel 12:1 says, “And at that time shall Michael stand up…and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation…”; 

 

Luke 13:24-28 says, “When once the master of the house is risen up and hath shut to the door…” 

 

This is referring to Judgment ending and the closing of probation.; 

 

Acts 7:54, 56 says, “…Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.”; 

 

James 5:9 says, “…behold, the judge standeth before the door.”; 

 

Ezekiel 9:1-6 says, “…stood beside the brazen altar…Slay utterly old and young…”; and 

 

1 Peter 4:17 says, “…judgment must begin at the house of God…”.

 

15V5-8: Sanctuary Symmetry of book of Revelation. 

1. Seven churches = Jesus walking among the candlesticks (Holy Place).

2. Seven seals = Jesus moves to the table of shewbread (Holy Place).

3. Seven trumpets = Jesus ministers at the altar of incense (Holy Place).

4. Revelation 11:19 = Jesus moves into the Most Holy Place. 

5. Revelation 15:5-8 = Jesus closes His sanctuary ministration.

6. Revelation 16-19 = Then the plagues fall. 

7. Revelation 20 = Scapegoat ceremony and destruction of the wicked.

8. Revelation 21-22 = New heavens and new earth.

 

 

• Revelation 15:6, 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.

 

 

• Revelation 15:7, 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.

 

15V7: Wrath of God = The seven last plagues, Revelation 15:1 and Revelation 16:1. 

 

But in the bigger context, the wrath of God comes in three manifestations; it was first given to Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:39, 42), the second are the seven last plagues (Revelation 16:1), and the third and last is the lake of fire (Revelation 20:9-10). See the study at the end of chapter 14 called, The Wrath of God. 

 

 

• Revelation 15:8, 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.

 

15V8: No man was able to enter = Probation has closed, Revelation 22:11-12. 

 

Immediately after the seven plagues Jesus returns, Revelation 16:15. 

 

During the tribulation (seven last plagues) can anyone enter the sanctuary by faith to have their sins dealt with? No! Probation has closed, that’s why no one could enter. We must accept Jesus Christ now before probation closes.8 

 

15V8: The seven last plagues come out of the Most Holy (location of God’s throne or mercy seat). 

 

The plagues come out of the Most Holy because those that receive the last plagues are those that rejected the Ten Commandments (inside the mercy seat) and have denied God’s mercy.9

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Chapter 15 Resources and Notes

1.  Pastor James Rafferty and Pastor Ivor Myers, Salvation in Symbols and Signs (Program on 3ABN’s Dare To Dream Network), video series can be accessed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i42C2tZ5yuI&list=PLZE9r6f37K0AJPuImVU9DX-Y1Ntikqv0R.

 

2.  Ibid.

 

3.  Ibid.

 

4.  Ibid.

 

5.  Ibid.

 

6.  Ibid.

 

7.  Pastor Stephen Bohr, Unsealed Secrets Ministry video series called, Three Angels Message, can be accessed here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6A480C40F7BA55A4.

 

8.  Pastor James Rafferty and Pastor Ivor Myers, Salvation in Symbols and Signs (Program on 3ABN’s Dare To Dream Network), video series can be accessed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i42C2tZ5yuI&list=PLZE9r6f37K0AJPuImVU9DX-Y1Ntikqv0R.

 

9.  Ibid.

 

 

Ellen White references can be found here: https://beta.egwwritings.org.