The Open Door Church

How are we doing for 2022?

# of New Believers



-----------------------------------------------

# of Baptisms





How did we do for 2021?

# of New Believers



-----------------------------------------------

# of Baptisms



Did you know that you can WATCH VIDEOS of previous sermons on YouTube?  Check out the Open Door's YouTube channel:

 You can also watch the most recent sermons right here on our website.

Simply visit our Sermon Videos page.

2022-11-27

Seven Angels with the Seven Last Plagues

(Revelation 15:1, NIV)

“I saw in heaven another great and marvelous sign:

seven angels with the seven last plagues—

last, because with them God’s wrath is completed.”

I.  Introduction

     In today’s lesson from the Revelation, we will begin to examine another vision John received revealing the role Jesus—the Lamb—will play in the judgment of the post-rapture judgment of the unbelieving population of planet Earth during the final 3 ½ years of ‘The Tribulation Period.’  John’s record of this vision spans all of chapter 15 & 16 of the Revelation.  He began his record of this vision by writing, “I saw in heaven another great and marvelous sign: seven angels with the seven last plagues—last, because with them God’s wrath is completed.” (Revelation 15:1, NIV).

     ‘The great day of…wrath’ begins shortly after the beginning of the final 3 ½ years of ‘The Tribulation Period.’  Its beginning was described by John in a previous vision when he wrote, “Then the kings of the earth, the princes, the generals, the rich, the mighty, and everyone else, both slave and free, hid in caves and among the rocks of the mountains. They called to the mountains and the rocks, ‘Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can withstand it?” (Revelation 6:15-17, NIV).

     ‘The great day of…wrath’ continues as we move further into the final 3 ½ years of ‘The Tribulation Period.’  John wrote, “The nations were angry, and your wrath has come. The time has come for judging the dead, and for rewarding your servants the prophets and your people who revere your name, both great and small…” (Revelation 11:18a, NIV).

     In the vision that John began describing in this lesson, ‘the day of…wrath’ is ‘completed.’  That’s why John wrote, “I saw in heaven another great and marvelous sign: seven angels with the seven last plagues—last, because with them God’s wrath is completed.” (Revelation 15:1, NIV).

     Every believer should thank God that Jesus ‘rescues from the coming wrath.’ Paul wrote to the believers at Thessalonica, “…you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.” (I Thessalonians 1:9b-10, NIV).  In the final chapter of this letter to the believers at Thessalonica Paul explained, “…God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (I Thessalonians 5:9, NIV).

II. Victorious Believers

     Next John wrote, “…I saw what looked like a sea of glass glowing with fire and, standing beside the sea, those who had been victorious over the beast and its image and over the number of its name…” (Revelation 15:2a, NIV).

     In a previous vision, John had seen this ‘sea of glass’ in front of God’s throne in heaven, reflecting His glory to everyone present.  He wrote, “…in front of the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal…” (Revelation 4:6a, NIV).  At that point the ‘sea of glass’ was ‘clear as crystal.’  However, in this vision, the ‘sea of glass’ is ‘glowing with fire,’ likely representing God’s wrath being poured out on the Christ-rejecting, post-rapture population of planet Earth during ‘the day of…wrath.’

     Strikingly, believers are not on Earth experiencing God’s wrath, but ‘beside the sea,’ in heaven enjoying a magnificent worship service. John wrote, “…They held harps given them by God [musical instruments commonly used in worship in the Hebrew culture of the Old Testament] and sang the song of God’s servant Moses and of the Lamb [evidently a song jointly authored by Moses and Jesus…then the lyrics are recorded]: ‘Great and marvelous are your deeds, Lord God Almighty [even when He executes wrath on His enemies]. Just and true are your ways, King of the nations [even when He judges the population of Earth’s nations for their unbelief]. Who will not fear you, Lord, [reverence Him by holding Him in the highest level of esteem], and bring glory to your name [make You look good]? For you alone are holy [free from sin]. All nations will come and worship before you, for your righteous acts have been revealed. [the ‘righteousness’ of His actions—including pouring out His wrath on Earth’s unbelievers—has been revealed]” (Revelation 15:2b-4, NIV).

     Paul indicated that not only ‘all nations,’ but every human being will ultimately ‘come and worship before’ the Lord Jesus.  He wrote, “…God elevated him to the place of highest honor
and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:9-11, NLT).

III. The Seven Angels

     The focus of John’s vision now shifts from the believers in heaven to the seven angels God uses to dispense His wrath on the unbelievers who are yet on planet Earth.  He wrote, “After this I looked, and I saw in heaven the temple—that is, the tabernacle of the covenant law—and it was opened. Out of the temple came the seven angels with the seven plagues…” (Revelation 15:5-6a, NIV).  Evidently, God Himself gave the order for His ‘temple’—the one ‘in heaven’—to be ‘opened,’ in preparation for the dispatching of ‘the seven angels with the seven plagues’ of His wrath!

     John then described these seven angels.  He wrote, “…They were dressed in clean, shining linen and wore golden sashes around their chests.” (Revelation 15:6b, NIV). Back in chapter one John was given a vision of Jesus walking among His churches “…dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest.” (Revelation 1:13b, NIV). In this vision John saw ‘seven angels’ wearing ‘golden sashes around their chests’— the ‘golden sashes’ likely indicate that just as God sent Jesus on a mission of seeking and saving the lost, these ‘seven angels’ are sent on a mission by God to inflict His wrath on the Christ-rejecting, post-rapture population of planet Earth during the final 3 ½ years of ‘The Tribulation Period.’

     The scene then intensifies! John wrote, “Then one of the four living creatures [one of four angelic creatures seated on four thrones surrounding the throne of God] gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls [shallow gold bowls used for pouring out drink offerings in the tabernacle and temple of the Old Testament. However, rather than being filled with ‘wine’ they are…] filled with the wrath of God, who lives for ever and ever.” (Revelation 15:7, NIV).

     When the angels received their ‘golden bowls filled with the wrath of God,’ suddenly “…the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from his power, and no one could enter the temple until the seven plagues of the seven angels were completed.” (Revelation 15:8, NIV).

     There was a scene very similar to this one when King Solomon dedicated the newly constructed Temple in Jerusalem.  Ezra wrote, “…the glory of the Lord filled the temple. The priests could not enter the temple of the Lord because the glory of the Lord filled it.” (II Chronicles 7:1b-2, NIV).  Ezra also explained, “…the cloud [the same cloud of ‘smoke’ John described in Revelation 15] filled the temple of the Lord. And the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled his temple.” (I Kings 8:10b-11, NIV).

     Whether He is present to bless His people or present to direct His wrath toward unbelievers, He is always a glorious God!  King David wrote, “Glorious and majestic are his deeds, and his righteousness endures forever.” (Psalm 111:3, NIV).

IV. Conclusion    

     In Revelation chapter sixteen, John described various expressions of God’s wrath as it is poured out on the Christ-rejecting, post-rapture population of planet Earth. In order to avoid being present during those horrible scenes of wrath, you must believe ‘The Jesus Story,’ before He returns!  John wrote, “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.” (John 3:36, NIV).



Bring a friend to church next week!

Please join us!!

Sunday service starts at 10am

1/2 mile south of Holcomb on Hwy 25.

Look for the BIG HOUSE