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CHAPTER FOURTEEN Rev 14:1 - 20
CHAPTER FIFTEEN Rev 15:1 - 8
the word "voice" is used eleven times in these three
chapters; Heaven is pronouncing judgment as the world
enters the last half of the Tribulation Period
all the scenes in this section ANTICIPATE things yet to
come; they are not CHRONOLOGICAL EVENTS
the 144,000 were sealed by God before the seventh seal
(Rev. 7); they are now standing WITH the Lamb, BEFORE
the four beasts and the elders (ie: they are not part of the
church, but they are saved to become part of God's
eternal kingdom)
they are "virgins" - separated, literally or figuratively
they are the "firstfruits" - Jewish "evangelists" who reap a
great harvest of people in the Tribulation
several angels are next seen pronouncing judgment:
1. "Judgment is come"
- "everlasting gospel" = "eternal good news"
- return to "natural theology" (man's conscience
discerning a Creator who must be worshipped)
- "heaven & earth & sea & fountains of waters" -
judged by the first four trumpets (ch. 8) and
the first four vials (ch. 16)
2. "Babylon is fallen"
- PROLEPTIC prophecy: the fall of Antichrist's
political and economic system in chapter 18
(ie: Isaiah 53, seven centuries before Christ)
- "is fallen, is fallen" - double destruction? - two
Babylons are destroyed (ch. 17 & ch. 18)
- "fornication" - last days world built on LUSTS
3. "Escape God's Wrath"
- "drink of the wine" - drinking cup an image of
judgment (ie: Jesus in Gethsemane)
- "patience of the saints" - God's people should
understand the end of the wicked
- "blessed are the dead" - death to a saint is the
ultimate blessing, not the ultimate curse!
4. "The Harvest is Ripe"
- three angels appear, encouraging the Lord to
bring judgment (ie: sickle) upon the wicked
- PROLEPTIC prophecy of Armageddon (ch. 19)
- imagery of ancient winepress, with the Lord
treading the grapes (wicked mankind)
- "horse bridles" - probably not literal; an image
of grape juice staining the robe of one who
treads with much fury (Isaiah 63:1-3)
"seven last plagues ... filled up" - worst judgments!
before the vial judgments are poured out, we are given a
PROLEPTIC prophecy showing those who will eventually
be saved out of the Tribulation
"song of Moses" - same song sung to celebrate Israel's
victory over Egypt in Exodus 15:1-21
"song of the Lamb" - OT and NT saints present here
at sounding of the seventh trumpet in Rev. 11:15, God's
temple was seen (11:19); we now return to it (15:5) to
continue with the seven vial judgments, after three
parenthetic chapers (12, 13, 14)
"no man was able to enter" - irrevocable judgment!
CHAPTER SIXTEEN Rev 16:1 - 21
SEVEN VIAL JUDGMENTS
FIRST VIAL - GRIEVOUS SORES (v. 2)
similar to sixth plague in Egypt (Ex. 9:8-12)
only on those who serve the Beast (Rev. 14:9-10)
these sores do not disappear (Rev. 16:11)
SECOND VIAL - SEA TURNED TO BLOOD (v. 3)
similar to first plague in Egypt (Ex. 7:14-25)
second vial on sea, third vial on inland waters
second trumpet turned one-third of sea to blood; second
vial pollutes all of the sea
THIRD VIAL - RIVERS TURNED TO BLOOD (v. 4-6)
also similar to first plague in Egypt
third trumpet turned one-third of the fresh water bitter;
third vial pollutes all of the fresh water
these judgments are given because wicked men have
shed the blood of God's people (v. 6)
FOURTH VIAL - HEAT FROM THE SUN (v. 8-9)
previous judgments made the sun dim (Rev. 8:12)
now the heat of the sun is increased, even as the world's
water system lies useless!
FIFTH VIAL - DARKNESS (v. 10-11)
similar to ninth plague in Egypt (Ex. 10:21-23)
perhaps not worldwide (?), but certainly centered on the
Beast's throne (either Jerusalem or Rome)
SIXTH VIAL - EUPHRATES DRIED UP (v. 12-16)
this river mentioned earlier (Rev. 9:14)
drying up of river makes it possible for "kings of the East"
to come to Palestine, invading the Holy Land
the Bible does not use the phrase "The Battle of
Armageddon" - it comes from the Hebrew "har Megiddo"
(hill of Megiddo, a place of slaughter)
also called "Plain of Esdraelon" & "Valley of Jezreel"
14 miles wide, 20 miles long, beneath Mt. Carmel
this area in Northern Israel; Napoleon called it "the most
natural battlefield of the whole earth"
in this area, Barak defeated the armies of Canaan
(Judges 5), Gideon met the Midianites (Judges 7), and
Saul lost his life (1 Samuel 3)
it is Satan that draws the nations to battle (v. 13-14)
the outcome of this battle is recorded in Rev. 19
SEVENTH VIAL - EARTHQUAKE & HAIL (v. 17-21)
similar to seventh plague in Egypt (Ex. 9:22-26)
"great city" (v.19) - Jerusalem? (11:8, & Zech. 14:4)
more important: Babylon will be judged (Jer. 50-51)
"fled" (v.20) - "sunk into the water"
this will be the world's fiercest earthquake ever!
"talent" (v. 21) - hailstones weighing 125 pounds!
image of blasphemers being stoned (Lev. 24:16)
Satan's religious (ch.17), political / economic (ch.18) and
military (ch.19) systems are about to be judged!
even after all these plagues, men will not repent!
"Behold, I come as a thief" (Revelation 16:15) |
