The day of judgment is coming

Revelation 15:1–8
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Chapter 15 is preparatory to the seven “Bowl” judgments. John gave us the seven “Seal” judgements in chapter 6, the seven “Trumpet” judgments in chapters 8 and 9, and now he leads us to the seven “Bowl” judgments in chapter 16.Why does there need to be these three series of seven judgments? Only God knows the real answer to this, but we can see a pattern of (1) the initial encounter, (2) the intensive assaults, and finally (3) the consuming blow. These bowl judgments take place at the end of the Tribulation.

The Scene opens back in Heaven. John is shown a sign in heaven that is described as great and marvelous (v.1). Seven Angels, each having a plague and ready to perform their duties, proceed from the Temple fully equipped for their tasks (vv. 1,5,6). They appear to be priests as well as angels because they are dressed in pure and white linen with golden girdles which marks them as priests. Before judgment falls, John sees a group of victorious saints, with harps, and they are singing the song that Moses sang (vv. 2-4) when he crossed the Red Sea (Ex. 15:1-19). This song of Moses commemorated the greatest deliverance in the history of Israel and now is being sung by the victorious martyrs who are brought through the sea of persecution to the promised land of heaven. John also sees one of the four living creatures give the seven Angels the seven golden bowls of wrath (v. 7). When this is done smoke fills the Temple, making it impossible for anyone to enter until these bowls or wrath are poured out on the earth (v. 8).

Application

God’s day of judgment is coming on this wicked world. I need to ask myself - am I doing all I can to warn people and give them the message of God’s way of escape through His Son?