God’s Complete Judgment of Wrath

1. Read: Revelation 15:1-8

2. About the Text:

1) Key verse, verse 1 – “in them the wrath of God is complete.”

2) “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness” (Romans 1:18).

3) We saw a limited judgment in chapters eight and nine.

4) These chapters are the counterparts, but with complete judgment.

5) The seven bowls are bowls of the wrath of God.

6) This is the ultimate recompense for the cries of the martyrs from Rev.6:9-11; Rev.16:5-6.

7) These chapters are a prelude to the judgments in chapters 17-20.

8) NOTE: The events in these chapters are cyclical and not linear/chronological.

3. Ref. to S, T, P, O, and A.

1. Before we see the wrath of God poured out we see the victorious (v.2).

1) They are standing on the sea of glass (compare 4:6).

2) They are holding harps.

3) They are singing the song of Moses and the Lamb – this is all the saved.

2. They praise God the King of the saints’ works and ways (v.3).

1) They are great and marvelous.

2) They are just and true.

3. They describe God’s attributes.

1) He is worthy of fear and glory.

2) He alone is holy.

3) All nations worship before Him.

4) His judgments have been demonstrated.

4. The victorious are not under God’s judgments – “He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son” (Revelation 21:7).

1. God is holy, separate, independent from humanity.

2. This means that His judgments are righteous (16:5).

3. The world has been judged (16:5).

4. This judgment is for the blood of the saints and prophets (16:6, compare 6:9-11).

5. This judgment is what is due/owed to the unrighteous (v.6). Key verse!

6. The altar (under which are the martyrs) agrees with these sentiments (v.7).

7. God’s judgments are true and righteous.

8. “But the Lord of hosts shall be exalted in judgment, And God who is holy shall be hallowed in righteousness” (Isaiah 5:16).

1. The judgments come out of God’s temple from God.

2. They are carried by seven angels – seven = divine perfection.

1) They are clothed in pure bright linen – stainless, perfect.

2) They have a girdle of gold bands around their chest – purity.

3. They are each given a golden bowl.

1) These bowls are filled with the wrath of God.

2) These are seven plagues.

4. No one could enter the temple until the seven plagues were complete.

5. “For He is coming to judge the earth. With righteousness He shall judge the world, And the peoples with equity” (Psalm 98:9).

1. The angels are told to pour out the bowls of wrath on the earth (v.1).

2. Notice that all the creation is affected by God’s judgments:

1) Earth (v.2).

2) Sea (v.3).

3) Rivers and Springs (v.4).

4) Sun (v.8)

5) Throne of the Beast (v.10).

6) Euphrates (v.12).

7) Air (v.17).

3. Who was affected?

1) Those who had the mark of the beast and worshipped his image (v.2).

2) Every living creature in the sea (v.3).

3) Those who blasphemed (v.9).

4) Those who did not repent (v.9).

5) Throne of the beast and his kingdom (v.10).

6) The kings of the earth and of the whole world (v.14).

7) The great city, Babylon (v.19).

4. Unlike the limited judgments in 6:9-11, all are affected by these judgments.

5. “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up” (2 Peter 3:10).

1. Those of the fourth judgment blaspheme and do not repent (v.9).

2. Those of the fifth judgment blaspheme and do not repent (v.11).

3. Those of the seventh judgment blaspheme (v.21).

4. “The Father . . .without partiality judges according to each one’s work” (1 Peter 1:17).

1. Notice the warning of Jesus in the middle of these judgments.

2. It is a reminder to the living that we don’t know when these events will occur.

3. “Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect” (Matthew 24:44).

1. The islands fled away.

2. The mountains were not found.

3. There are no places of refuge from God’s judgments.

4. “For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape” (1 Thessalonians 5:3).

1. God’s Judgment of Wrath is . . .

1) Not for the Victorious

2) Holy and Righteous

3) Executed Perfectly

4) Complete and Affects the Whole Creation

5) Blasphemed by the Impenitent

6) Unexpected

7) Without Refuge

2. Invitation