Lesson
46
Revelation
- Study of Things to Come
Revelation Chapter 15
Introduction to
the Final Judgment
Vs:3-4
do give us the words of a great song of praise;
- One that is totally theo-centric; Specifically revealing Christ!
Great and marvelous are Thy works,
- There are 3
characteristics emphasized:
1. Righteousness; 3 times this one is emphasized;
a. di,kaioj = right, just,
corresponding to a divine standard; here
the fact that He is righteous/just is observed in His ways.
b. "For thou
alone art holy;" o[sioj indicates an absence of any defilement of
sin; free from wickedness; th4 pure, holy (syn. agioj)
c. "For thy
righteous acts have been revealed." dikai,wma indicates that what is
done, ones acts, conforms to the +R std.
Why the importance of +R? Why the focus on +R at
this juncture of history?
- It is especially relevant when we consider the
wider context!
2. OmPo
"the Almighty;" pantokra,twr (9 of 10 times
used, in Rev)
describes God as Omnipotent, speaks to His
supremacy over all things.
3. true avlhqino,j in LXX for tma describes
what is true in the sense of real, genuine; that which is true can be counted
on, its reliable, its trustworthy
avlhqino,j says; If God said
this; has revealed the consequences of rejection then that is exactly what will
occur
All of these characteristics are important in
keeping a proper perspective, not only for us as we consider the events leading
up to and surrounding the return of our Lord.
The Beast thinks he's won the victory, in
overcoming the saints, but in actuality he is sending them to their eternal
destiny with their Lord. 1
Cor
There is also another important aspect of Christ
emphasized in this hymn; His office as king; He has the sovereign right to rule
the nations, peoples. "Thou King
of the nations."
In this theo-centric hymn where is man? Or is he anywhere? Man is here and is responsible to respond
to the revelation of Christ.
- Vs:4 Speaks
prophetically of a theme that also runs throughout the prophets; it speaks of a time when all the earth, all
the peoples will worship the one true God.
- Ps 2:8-9;
Zeph 2:11; Zech 14:9;
15:5-8 Source of the Final Judgment
"After these things I looked," introduces us to the next vision that is
revealed to John; a very dramatic scene also in heaven.
- What is associated with the Holy of Holies?
#1. Ark of the covenant; it was there that
Moses placed the "tablets of testimony" Ex 32:15.
#2. The functional presence, relational
presence of God with His people.
- many passages also call
the whole tabernacle the "tabernacle of testimony" [Nu
The testimony is that He is always faithful to who
He is, His essence.
Whatever He does, whoever He relates to; must be consistent with His
+R/J.
15:6 What John sees coming out of the temple;
coming from the presence of God; the 7 angels!
These 7 angels, messengers of God's wrath; the fact
that they are coming from the very presence of God says that the upcoming wrath
poured out in the closing judgments of the Great Tribulation are from God!
15:7
We discover how these angels acquired the bowls or vials of wrath.
- receive from one of the
4 "living beings" that we first met in 4:6 Cherubim; who were closest to the throne;
therefore to God; constantly praising God.
15:8
Something happens as the bowls are given to the 7 angels.
Not just ordinary smoke; but it is smoke that comes
from the source of God; His glory and His power, omPo, (du,namai)
The scene here is similar to what Moses
experienced, Ex 40:34-35
Is there value in Knowing future
things?? (digression)
Jesus
in the context of John 13-16 gives us some principles we need to know!
In
these predictions of ch 14, 15, 16 there is interwoven with the What is going
to occur, we also find the WHY.
From
this we can pick up some principles regarding the importance of knowing and
understanding future events.
So
the #1 reason = To provide for stability in one's life!
*** Need to
remember: Knowledge of Scripture does
not always have an immediate use or application. 16:4 makes that point!
#2.
To confirm our faith!
- Look at
#3. Knowledge of future things has a purpose of giving us perspective.