Introduction: Back to Revelation (this last month we have had our Annual Missions Conference)...We have studied vss 1-4 already, but we shall review a little bit, just to get ourselves back in the groove!

1 I saw in heaven another great and marvellous sign: seven angels with the seven last plagues-last, because with them God's wrath is completed.

Wrath and judgment are God's "strange work." He must express His wrath due to sin, but someday sin and death will be vanquished from every part of God's Kingdom, and God's wrath will have been completed. Then mankind shall enter upon the Golden Age of eternity, Paradise restored.

2 And I saw what looked like a sea of glass mixed with fire and, standing beside the sea, those who had been victorious over the beast and his image and over the number of his name. They held harps given them by God

The sea of glass is the laver of cleansing in the courtyard of the Tabernacle/Temple. It is water, smooth as a mirror, and reflecting the flames of the altar of brass. We have been washed clean in the blood of Christ. He bore our judgment in His death on the cross. We are overcomers, because we put our Faith in Him. We do not fear the Beast (the final secular world empire). We will never receive the number of the Beast in our hands or foreheads.

3 and sang the song of Moses the servant of God and the song of the Lamb: "Great and marvellous are your deeds, Lord God Almighty. Just and true are your ways, King of the ages.
4 Who will not fear you, O Lord, and bring glory to your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before you, for your righteous acts have been revealed."

Our hearts are full of joy, and we sing, because of our salvation in Christ. The song of Moses and the Lamb is the song of REDEMPTION. Angels can't sing it, because they were never redeemed. But we can sing it. And it's not all about US, it is about Jesus. His deeds are great and marvelous. He is the Lord God Almighty, El Shaddai. He is just and true in all His ways. He is the King forever over all things. He is holy. All nations will worship Him. Amen!

5 After this I looked and in heaven the temple, that is, the tabernacle of the Testimony, was opened.

The earthly tabernacle/temple was built to resemble the Heavenly temple/tabernacle. Why is it called the "tabernacle of Testimony?"

First, that is what it was called in the Old Testament.

• "On the day the tabernacle, the Tent of the Testimony, was set up, the cloud covered it. From evening till morning the cloud above the tabernacle looked like fire." (Numbers 9:15)

The Book of Exodus informs is that God would give a "testimony" to put into the Ark of the Covenant, and that the Ark would be called the "Ark of the Testimony."

• 21 Place the cover on top of the ark and put in the ark the Testimony, which I will give you.
• 22 There, above the cover between the two cherubim that are over the ark of the Testimony, I will meet with you and give you all my commands for the Israelites. (Exodus 25:21-22)

What was in the Ark? Three things: Aaron's rod that budded. A bowl of manna. The tables of the Law of God. It is the Law of God which is called the Testimony.

Note, God's Law did not disappear from existence during the New Testament era. Jesus perfectly fulfilled the Law of God in every way. The ceremonial law is no longer binding to us. Jesus Himself is our High Priest and our sacrifice. The civil law of Israel is no longer binding us us, because the theocratic nation of Israel, for which God designed it, no longer exists. However, the Moral Law, the Ten Commandments, are an embodiment of the moral character of God Himself, and are unchanging, and always in force. For all eternity it will be wrong to take God's name in vain. It will be a sin to steal, or to murder. Praise God the Law will never be broken again after Jesus returns and makes all things new, including you and me!

Note: We are now the tabernacle/temple of God, not some building made of brick, marble or metal. As individuals we are each God's temple. He lives in us. And together, the Church is God's temple/tabernacle. Let us honor the presence of God in us!

6 Out of the temple came the seven angels with the seven plagues. They were dressed in clean, shining linen and wore golden sashes round their chests.

The number seven is the number of completion. Seven angels with seven judgments appear three different times in the Book of Revelation. Three is God's number. So, the three series of seven underlines that this is the completion of the wrath of God.

• Seven seals (Revelation 6:1)
• Seven trumpets (Revelation 8:1-2)
• Seven bowls (Revelation 15:6-7)

The angels are dressed in clean, shining linen and wear golden sashes around their chests. The white clothing is a symbol of purity. The angels of Heaven are holy. They have never sinned. Jesus never died for them, because they don't need to be saved. They are pure in all their thoughts, words and deeds. The gold represents the royal holiness of God. These angels are sinless, and also they are God's messengers.

We are not holy angels of God. We were once sinners, and we still sin sometimes. But, we are redeemed by the blood of Christ. We have the right and privilege to wear white garments, and the gold of holiness, and we shall do so in Heaven. (Rev. 4:4)

7 Then one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls filled with the wrath of God, who lives for ever and ever.

We met the "four living creatures" in Revelation 4:6-8...

• 6 Also before the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal. In the centre, around the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and behind.
• 7 The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle.
• 8 ¶ Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under his wings. Day and night they never stop saying: "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come."

They take the bowls of wrath from the hands of God, and give them to the seven angels.

Note: God lives forever and ever. This is an interesting Greek phrase, and important to understand. The words in Greek are aionas ton aionon...literally "ages upon ages." It really does mean "forever," not just a long time. This is important because the phrase is also used to describe how long believers will be in Heaven, and how long those who reject God will be in Hell. If God lives forever, then we shall also live forever, and Hell's punishment shall continue forever.

8 And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from his power, and no-one could enter the temple until the seven plagues of the seven angels were completed.

Revelation 15:8 reminds us very much of Isaiah's vision of God in Isaiah chapter six:

• 1 ¶ In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple.
• 2 Above him were seraphs, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying.
• 3 And they were calling to one another: "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory."
• 4 At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke.

The temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God.

What is the glory of God? From the presence of smoke we must first think about fire. Where there is smoke there is fire. In the Bible we read that our God is a consuming fire (Hebrews 12:29).

When the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples on the day of Pentecost, He appeared as flaming tongues of fire. When Jesus appeared to John in Revelation chapter one, His eyes were like blazing fire.

The word "glory" is used in many Bible verses, and can mean splendor, beauty, power, praise, magnificence, brighteness, eminence and excellence. We are urged over and over in the Bible to "glorify God."

• Ps 34:3 Glorify the LORD with me: let us exalt his name together.
• Romans 15:5-6 May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
• Psalm 29:1-2 Ascribe to the LORD, O mighty ones, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength. Ascribe to the LORD the glory due to his name; worship the LORD in the splendour of his holiness.

Shorter Catechism Question #1 is: What is the chief end of man? Answer: "Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy Him forever."