Lesson 463 - Junior

Memory Verse

"Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are thy judgments" (Revelation 16:7).

Notes

Songs of Praise

All through the Book of Revelation are sounded the praises of the redeemed in contrast with the wails and curses of those who hate God and refuse to obey Him. John wrote that when he was invited to look into Heaven he saw a Throne upon which sat the Judge of all the earth. Before the Throne was a sea of glass, clear as crystal [REV:4:6]). He saw a Book sealed with seven seals, which only the Lamb was worthy to open. John saw terrible judgments poured out upon the earth as the seven seals were broken one by one. John heard seven trumpets sound as greater judgments were poured out. Yet mingled with the judgments, John saw at different times the hosts of the redeemed safe in Heaven, and they were singing songs of praise.

In the 15th chapter we read of John's vision of a host of redeemed people upon a sea of glass which this time was mingled with fire. They were the people about whom we read in the previous lesson --people who had gone through great fiery trials and been martyred because they had refused to take the mark of the beast. Here John saw them in Heaven, standing on the sea of glass, singing and playing harps.

Moses and the Lamb

What song were they singing? The song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb. Where do you suppose they had learned the song of Moses? No doubt in the Book of Exodus where is recorded Moses' song of praise to God for bringing the great multitude of Jews through the Red Sea to victory over their enemies.

And when had they learned the song of the Lamb? Probably when they had been redeemed by the great ransom that Jesus, the Lamb of God, paid for them with His own precious Blood. They had been given victory over the beast whom the devil had set up as dictator on the earth, and John saw them playing the beautiful harps of God as they sang, "Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints."

God's Wrath

Immediately the door of the Temple in Heaven was opened -- the Temple that God had shown to Moses when they met together on Mount Sinai. God had told Moses to make one like it for the Children of Israel. When that door opened, out from the Temple came seven angels clothed with pure, white linen garments, and girded with golden girdles. To each of these seven angels was given a vial or bottle full of the wrath or anger of God.

We read in the Bible that "God is angry with the wicked every day" [PS:7:11]), and for all time since the beginning of the world great multitudes of people have angered God by their wickedness and their stubborn and rebellious ways. Now upon those who have steadfastly refused to repent and be sorry for their sins, God's wrath is to be poured out.

The people on earth did not know that these angels were just ready to pour out the vials of God's wrath. They were going about their business as usual. But what is that mark in the palm of their hand or in their forehead? It is the mark they took in order to be able to buy or sell when they went to the food market, to the furniture store or the automobile dealer. The merchants could not sell to anyone who did not have a mark showing that he submitted himself to the rulership and order of the beast. They decided it was more important to buy food, to buy furniture, to buy a car than it was to be true to the God of Heaven.

Vials Outpoured

Suddenly, those who had the mark of the beast found great sores on their bodies. The first angel had poured out his vial. Then the seamen on the ships awoke one morning to find the sea had turned to blood. All the sea animals, all the fish, all the whales died because there was no water. The second angel had emptied his vial upon the sea. People in the cities and towns found nothing but blood coming out of their water faucets because the third angel had poured out his vial upon the springs and rivers, and the waters had become blood. John heard another angel say to the Lord that it was perfectly right and just that this awful thing had happened, because the wicked people had killed and shed the blood of the saints of God, and this was their just reward.

Then the sun came with scorching heat and men suffered of sunstroke. But instead of repenting and asking God for mercy, they rebelled against God and blasphemed His name. While they were still suffering with sores, from the lack of water, and from the scorching heat of the sun fearful darkness came over the capital where the beast ruled, and men gnawed their tongues for pain. Still they did not repent but blasphemed God.

The angels were still pouring out their vials, and the great river Euphrates dried up. Spirits of devils in the form of frogs came out of the mouth of the dragon, who is the devil, out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. These evil spirits performed great miracles and persuaded the kings of the earth to meet at a certain place in Palestine called the valley of Megiddo [2CH:35:22]). The kings of the east did not know what had happened in Heaven, but the way was made easy for them to go to Palestine. They did not know that Jesus would come there with ten thousands of His saints. Neither did they know that just at this time the seventh and last vial of God's final judgment was poured out. John heard a great Voice out of the Temple and from the Throne in Heaven, saying, "It is done."

There were voices, and thunders, and lightnings, great hail -- the hailstones weighing more than a hundred pounds each -- and the greatest earthquake this world had ever known. Have you ever experienced an earthquake? You may run to a tree or a fence post to steady yourself, but it is shaking, too. Oh, how helpless is a man when God shakes the earth!

The beast, his followers, the kings of the earth, and all the evil forces of the world fall under the might of the King of kings, the Lord Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God. He consumes them with the spirit of His mouth, and destroys them with the brightness of His coming [2TS:2:8]). The judgments are finished.

As a Thief

"Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments." Jesus comes quickly, unexpectedly as a thief. To those who love Him and keep their garments of salvation, it is a day of joy; but to those who refuse and rebel, it is a dreadful day of heartache, trouble and sorrow. Which will it be for you, terror or great joy?

Questions

1. What kind of people were in Heaven standing on the sea of glass, having the harps of God?

2. What were they singing?

3. Who came out of the opened door of the Temple in Heaven?

4. What kind of clothing did they wear?

5. What did the great Voice out of the Temple say to the seven angels?

6. Were the people on earth expecting the great judgments that were poured out?

7. Were they sorry because of their sins as the plagues came upon them one by one?

8. What influenced the kings of the earth to come to Palestine?

9. What was the last great plague, and what was the reaction of the people?

10. In what manner will Jesus come?