God’s Wrath Completed (Part 1)
REVELATION 15:1-8
(December 24)
John is still getting to see more than his eyes or mind ever imagined. Everything he sees has great significance, and the blessing is that he was able to have the vision of these things to be recorded for us all to read.
God's wrath is almost complete at this time. John sees what looks like a glass sea mixed with fire. All the people who had persevered over the beast were standing on that sea. There are seven angels holding the seven last plagues that would finally finish all this.
The people standing on the sea all were holding harps and singing the song of Moses:
"Great and marvelous are your works,
O Lord God, the Almighty.
Just and true are your ways,
O King of the nations.
Who will not fear you, Lord,
and glorify your name?
For you alone are holy.
All nations will come and worship before you,
for you righteous deeds have been revealed."
John then saw that God's tabernacle was thrown wide open. If you remember from our study through Hebrews, the Holy of Holies was the most center room in the temple, and where the ark of the covenant was placed. There was a great curtain that separated this room from the rest of the temple. No one could enter this area except for the High Priest, and he could only enter on the Day of Atonement.
Only one time before was this room thrown open ... on the day that Jesus was crucified. On that day, the curtain was ripped from bottom to top.
What did this wide-open entrance mean? It is actually a symbol of the open access we have to God as believers, all because Jesus died for our sins. When we are united with Christ, we can boldly approach God. Not the case for those who refuse to repent of their sins. They will be destroyed by his presence.
Those seven angels who had the last seven plagues then came out of the temple, dressed in their spotless white linen. There were gold sashes across their chests. They were each handed a gold bowl. Each bowl was filled with the wrath of God. The temple was filled with smoke from the glory and power of God. No one could enter the temple until the angels had finished pouring out those last seven plagues upon the earth.
Just yesterday I found out I will have to have a procedure that I DO NOT want to have. I feel dread and discontent over this fact. In my little scope of the world, it is like one of the seven plagues, designed to cause me much pain. But reading this chapter puts that in a better perspective for me. I will most definitely not be enduring what the people of the earth will be enduring during these final seven plagues. God's wrath is not upon me. And the benefits of my painful procedure outweigh the negatives.
Such is the case for our relationship with Christ. The benefits far outweigh the life of sin that can be so tempting at times. We have so much to gain from living righteously for Jesus. Will we suffer? Most of us will at some time or another, some more than others. But what we gain is living in the presence and glory of God forever. There simply isn't anything better.