Judgment Without Mercy
– Revelation Fifteen –
Revelation Fifteen
provides a sad picture of God's judgment being poured out without mercy on the
ungodly. Revelation Fourteen provided an overview of that judgment. Revelation
Fifteen begins to provide the details of God's horrible judgment against the
wicked. God's wrath will now be poured out undiluted by neither mercy nor
grace.
These are "the
seven last plagues." In Revelation Fourteen the righteouses
are pictured as being around the throne of God singing a "New Song."
Here they stand on a sea of glass enjoying peace and victory. The
"fire" purifies the righteous and burns the wicked as stubble. God's
judgment will cause every knee to bow before Him. (Romans 14:10, Philippians
2:10)
God's presence is
associated with "the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in
heaven." This is where the high priest made intercession, and also where
God communed with His people, and heard their prayers. Here God is pictured as
avenging His Son whose offices and authority had been usurped. He defended His
Son whose name had been dishonored. God brought vengeance on those that opposed
the purpose of the Lord’s death.
The temple was opened so that John was
permitted to look inside. He was allowed to look upon the very dwelling-place
of God. The angels came from His presence to execute judgment on those that
opposed Christianity. They were attired in a way that was fitting their rank
and the somber work they had to do.
One of the four
beasts that were introduced in the early part of Revelation gave the seven
angels seven golden vials. These golden vials were full of the wrath of God.
The temple was filled with smoke. This represented the Divine presence. No one
would be allowed to intercede in order to divert God from the wrath He intended
to pour out on the wicked. This chapter closes as we await the outpouring of
that wrath.
The victory over the beast – Revelation
15:1-2: God's judgment was to be poured out on the wicked. It would be
judgment without mercy. The judgment would be complete. When God's judgment had
been seen earlier in the book of Revelation it was mixed with mercy. Often only
one-third of the number was affected. Now His wrath is to be poured out
"without mixture." "The same shall drink of the wine of the
wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his
indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence
of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb." (Revelation 14:10)
John is given a
brief glimpse of saints on life's other side. "And I saw as it were a sea
of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the
beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name,
stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God." (Revelation 15:2) In
the early pictures given in the book of Revelation the sea pictured God as
perfect and that man could not approach Him. Later the sea will be no more and
then man is allowed intimate fellowship with the Almighty. God's people give
Him praise as symbolized by the harps. The sea of glass mingled with fire
pictured the judgment of God.
The
song of Moses and the Lamb – Revelation 15:3-4: The redeemed ones sing
"the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb." The
song of Moses was a song of deliverance for the people of God. "Then sang
Moses and the children of
This victory song
included four areas of praise for God. First, God's works were praised,
"Great and marvelous are thy works, Lord God Almighty." Second, God's ways are praised, "Just
and true are thy ways, thou King of saints." Third, God's name was
praised. "Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy." The only thing God magnifies
above His name is His truth. "I will worship toward thy holy temple, and
praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast
magnified thy word above all thy name." (Psalm
138:2) Fourth, God's judgments or His righteous acts were praised. "For
all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made
manifest."
When righteousness
is seen we can only think of God. "
The
temple in heaven is opened – Revelation 15:5: John said, "And
after that I looked, and, behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony
in heaven was opened." (Revelation 15:5)
We are now allowed to view the place from which the judgment comes. The
judgment comes from the place where God dwells.
The expression
"the tabernacle of the testimony" is found only one time in the New
Testament. It is a part of Stephen's sermon in Acts 7. "Our fathers had
the tabernacle of the testimony in the wilderness, even as he appointed who
spake unto Moses, that he should make it according to
the figure that he had seen." (Acts
The
seven golden vials full of the wrath of God – Revelation 15:6-8: The seven
angels with the seven bowls pictured the complete destruction awaiting the
disobedient. The angels were dressed very much like the Old Testament priests.
God's wrath will last forever against the ungodly. No one could enter the
Even if
The fact that the
ungodly will be punished should motivate us to obey God. The precious blood of
Jesus cleanses those who obey the gospel. To obey the gospel one must hear the
salvation message (Romans