Slide Notes for Sermon on Revelation 15-16 “A Dark Reality and the Bright Hope” Series: True Perspective Slide 1 – Title Slide Slide 2 (note – the sermon introduction draws from Acts 17 so I’ll read through this story AS the intro) Acts 17:22 So Paul, standing in the midst of the Areopagus, said: “Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious. 23 For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription, ‘To the unknown god.’ What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. 24 The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, 25 nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. 26 And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, 27 that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us, 28 for “‘In him we live and move and have our being’; as even some of your own poets have said, “‘For we are indeed his offspring.’ Acts 17:29 Being then God’s offspring, we ought not to think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of man. 30 The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, 31 because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.” Acts 17:32 Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked. But others said, “We will hear you again about this.” 33 So Paul went out from their midst. 34 But some men joined him and believed, among whom also were Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman named Damaris and others with them. Slide 3 1. God’s people: safe and singing Slide 4 A. God’s people safe Rev. 15:2 And I saw what appeared to be a sea of glass mingled with fire—and also those who had conquered the beast and its image and the number of its name, standing beside the sea of glass with harps of God in their hands. Slide 5 B. God’s people singing Rev 15:3 And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, “Great and amazing are your deeds, O Lord God the Almighty! Just and true are your ways, O King of the nations! 4 Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship you, for your righteous acts have been revealed.” 1 Slide 6 Rev. 15:5 After this I looked, and the sanctuary of the tent of witness in was opened, 6 and out of the sanctuary came the seven angels with the seven plagues, clothed in pure, bright linen, with golden sashes around their chests. 7 And one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God who lives forever and ever, 8 and the sanctuary was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from his power, and no one could enter the sanctuary until the seven plagues of the seven angels were finished. Only God saves. Only God judges. Slide 7 2. God’s wrath: real and right The connection to the OT Exodus helps us TREMENDOUSLY in understanding the seven plagues in Rev 16. The Exodus plagues: - Demonstrated God’s power. - Brought judgment on those who oppressed God’s people. - The plagues actually made Pharaoh’s heart harder to God. - At the final plague – the Passover – God showed up himself to judge AND save his people. Slide 8 Bowl 1: So the first angel went and poured out his bowl… and harmful and painful sores came upon the people who bore the mark of the beast and worshiped its image. The Lord judges idolatry. Idolatry is worshiping anyone or anything other than him. That’s one reason it’s spiritually healthy to identify and repent of false securities that creep into our lives. Slide 9 Bowl 2: The second angel poured out his bowl into the sea, and it became like the blood of a corpse, and every living thing died that was in the sea. The sea was the information and commercial superhighway of the 1st C. Is it possible to worship information and economic security? Slide 10 Bowl 3 seems to indicate God’s judgment of those who persecute his people by economic hardship: –5 And I heard the angel in charge of the waters say, “Just are you, O Holy One, who is and who was, for you brought these judgments. 6 For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and you have given them blood to drink. It is what they deserve!” Key note -> God ANSWERS – in his own time- the prayer of Christians in Rev. 6:10, “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” Our verse answers: right now! Slide 11 Bowl 4 and 5 are sobering and important because they show us a picture of the spiritual hardness of the human heart. Rev 16:9 They were scorched by the fierce heat, and they cursed the name of God who had power over these plagues. They did not repent and give him glory. 10 The fifth angel poured out his bowl on the 2 throne of the beast, and its kingdom was plunged into darkness. People gnawed their tongues in anguish 11 and cursed the God of heaven for their pain and sores. They did not repent of their deeds. Slide 12 Two Applications 1. For Christians: marvel at God’s power to overcome hardened hearts. John 3:5 “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” 2. For Seekers: resist the deception that invites us to get serious about God later. Slide 13 Christ’s return and his final battle against evil are described in the 6th and 7th bowls. Rev.16:13 And I saw, coming out of the mouth of the dragon and out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits like frogs. Frogs???? Slide 14 Rev. 16:15 “Behold, I am coming like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake, keeping his garments on, that he may not go about naked and be seen exposed!” This is the 3rd “blessing” described in Revelation. 1. The first blessing is simply to read, hear and obey this book: Rev. 1:3 Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near. 2. The second blessing is to die in faith: Rev. 14:13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Blessed indeed,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!” 3. The third blessing? To live expectantly for Christ’s return by living faithfully each day, brave in the face of oppression and shrewd in the face of seduction. Don’t give in. Christ is coming. Slide 15 Rev. 16:17-21 describe Christ’s return and the fall of the world system. Rev. 16:17 The seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple, from the throne, saying, “It is done!” 15:1: Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and amazing, seven angels with seven plagues, which are the last, for with them the wrath of God is finished. Slide 16 John 19:30 When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. 3 .