Revelation 15-17

Revelation 15

The Seven Last Plagues/ Bowls

John sees:

• Seven angels
• Seven final plagues

These are called: “the last”

because with them: “the wrath of God is finished.”

Worship Before the Throne

John sees:

• A sea of glass mixed with fire.
• Those who conquered:
  • The beast
  • His image
  • His mark

They hold harps and sing the Song of Moses

• Exodus 15 and Deuteronomy 32

They praise God because:

• His works are great
• His ways are just and true
• He alone is holy
• All nations will worship Him

The heavenly temple opens. Seven angels emerge carrying seven bowls of God’s wrath.

• Bowls is φιάλαι (phialai) a libation bowl 

They wear:

• Pure linen.
• Golden sashes.

One of the four living creatures gives them the bowls.

The temple fills with smoke from God’s glory. No one may enter until the judgments are complete.

Revelation 16

 First Bowl

Poured on the earth.

Result: Painful sores afflict everyone with the mark of the beast.

Second Bowl

Poured into the sea.

Result:

• The sea becomes like blood.
• Every living thing in the sea dies.

 Third Bowl

Poured on rivers and springs.

Result: fresh water becomes blood.

The angel declares that God’s judgment is righteous because those judged had shed the blood of God’s people.

 Fourth Bowl

Poured on the sun.

Result: people are scorched with intense heat.

• Instead of repenting, they curse God.

Fifth Bowl

Poured on the throne of the beast.

Result: darkness covers his kingdom.

People continue to:

• Curse God.
• Refuse to repent.

Sixth Bowl

Poured on Euphrates River

Result: The river dries up, preparing the way for kings from the east.

 Frogs emerge from the mouth of the unholy trinity (dragon, beast, false prophet)

• they perform deceptive signs.
• They gather the kings of the earth for battle.

The gathering place is called: Armageddon

• Hebrew: Har-Magedon הַר מְגִדּוֹן= “Mountain of Megiddo.”

Jesus interrupts with a warning“Behold, I am coming like a thief.”

Seventh Bowl

Poured into the air.

A loud voice announces “It is done!”

Massive events follow:

• Greatest earthquake in history.
• Babylon remembered for judgment.
• Cities collapse.
• Islands disappear.
• Mountains vanish.
• Giant hailstones fall.

Again,people curse God instead of repenting.

Revelation 17

The Great Prostitute

John is shown “The great prostitute” whom the kings of earth commited sexual immorality with. 

She sits upon:

• Many waters.
• A scarlet beast
  • This is antichrist: seven heads and ten horns

She is dressed in:

• Purple
• Scarlet
• Gold
• Jewels

She holds a golden cup full of abominations, drunk with the blood of the saints. 

Her name:

“Babylon the Great,
Mother of Prostitutes
and of Earth’s Abominations.”

The Mystery Explained

The angel explains:

The Beast

The beast:

• Was
  • Had power
• Is not
  • No longer has power
• Is about to rise from the Abyss ἄβυσσος, abyssos,

Seven Heads

Represent:

• Seven mountains.
• Seven kings.
  • Five which have fallen, one is, one to come
  • The beast is the eighth

Ten Horns

Represent ten future kings. They unite with the beast.

The Lamb’s Victory

The kings wage war against Christ.

• But “The Lamb will conquer them.”
• Because He is: “Lord of lords and King of kings.”

His followers are:

• Called
• Chosen
• Faithful

Babylon’s Fall Begins

The waters represent:

• Peoples
• Multitudes
• Nations
• Languages

Ironically, the beast and the ten kings eventually:

• Hate the prostitute
• Destroy her (devour and burn)

God uses even wicked rulers to accomplish His purposes.

The woman represents “the great city” that has authority over the kings of the earth.

Application

God is just and holy. We are given even more in these chapters about what is to come. The greatest ending is that the Lamb will conquer because He is “Lord of lords and King of kings.”