1 00:00:07,360 --> 00:00:13,560 Title of tonight's message is the Fragrance of Wrath and 2 00:00:13,560 --> 00:00:16,760 Worship. As you're turning to Revelation 3 00:00:16,760 --> 00:00:21,920 15, imagine that you're flying as a passenger in an aeroplane. 4 00:00:22,640 --> 00:00:27,880 The engines begin to fail. It's the the absolute worst 5 00:00:28,400 --> 00:00:32,479 nightmare and experience. Even flying and experiencing 6 00:00:32,479 --> 00:00:34,080 turbulence can be a little frightening. 7 00:00:35,120 --> 00:00:40,040 The pilot radios in desperately. Pilot to tower, Pilot to tower, 8 00:00:40,760 --> 00:00:44,760 400 kilometres from land, 200 metres above the water. 9 00:00:45,800 --> 00:00:50,760 Please advise. After a pause, the reply comes 10 00:00:50,760 --> 00:00:53,920 back. Tower to pilot, tower to pilot. 11 00:00:54,720 --> 00:01:00,680 Repeat after me, our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy 12 00:01:00,680 --> 00:01:04,519 name. When all hope seems gone, what 13 00:01:04,519 --> 00:01:10,680 is left but to cry out to God? And Revelation 15 brings us to 14 00:01:10,680 --> 00:01:12,320 such a moment. It is. 15 00:01:12,600 --> 00:01:17,080 Many commentators have called this closing time for human 16 00:01:17,080 --> 00:01:21,720 history as we know it. God's patience, which has been 17 00:01:21,720 --> 00:01:26,720 stretched out for hundreds of centuries, finally reaches its 18 00:01:26,720 --> 00:01:29,320 conclusion. As we read here, 7 angels 19 00:01:29,760 --> 00:01:34,840 prepared to pour out the final bowls of God's wrath. 20 00:01:36,000 --> 00:01:40,440 And yet even here in the darkest hour, as we read, and it extends 21 00:01:40,440 --> 00:01:45,760 on into chapter 16 as well, even here in this darkest hour, there 22 00:01:45,760 --> 00:01:50,840 is light, a glimmer of hope, a glimmer of of God's mercy. 23 00:01:51,480 --> 00:01:55,400 There is a song of the redeemed that is mentioned, people 24 00:01:55,400 --> 00:01:58,960 worshipping God, praising him for his justice, for his 25 00:01:58,960 --> 00:02:03,160 deliverance and his glory. So this is where we find 26 00:02:03,160 --> 00:02:05,560 ourselves. Like I say Revelation 15 and 27 00:02:05,560 --> 00:02:09,000 into 16, which Dad and mum returned today. 28 00:02:09,000 --> 00:02:12,640 So Dad will be preaching on Sunday morning out of Revelation 29 00:02:12,640 --> 00:02:15,560 16. But we've arrived at the grand 30 00:02:15,560 --> 00:02:19,080 finale as we're coming to the conclusion of the Book of 31 00:02:19,080 --> 00:02:21,600 Revelation. We're about to read of of seven 32 00:02:21,600 --> 00:02:24,840 plagues. Many connect these to the 7th 33 00:02:24,840 --> 00:02:29,320 trumpet of Chapter 11 that we covered, which is part of the 34 00:02:29,320 --> 00:02:35,080 7th seal and these are now known as the seven bowls of judgement 35 00:02:35,320 --> 00:02:38,720 to fall upon the world during this time of great tribulation. 36 00:02:39,280 --> 00:02:42,840 Effectively it's time to say our Father who art in heaven. 37 00:02:44,320 --> 00:02:47,320 Therein lies the problem, you see, the people dwelling on 38 00:02:47,320 --> 00:02:53,680 earth that this future time is pointed to here have refused to 39 00:02:53,680 --> 00:02:55,200 do that again and again and again. 40 00:02:57,040 --> 00:02:59,400 It's the same now for many people that refuse to 41 00:02:59,400 --> 00:03:03,080 acknowledge God as creator for who he is. 42 00:03:03,960 --> 00:03:07,840 And it will continue on into then even after all the 43 00:03:07,840 --> 00:03:10,840 devastation, after all of the the judgements that have come to 44 00:03:10,840 --> 00:03:13,680 date and everything that's happened as we've been reading. 45 00:03:13,680 --> 00:03:19,680 And so as a result, they will die as they have lived, bitter 46 00:03:19,680 --> 00:03:23,600 in spirit against God, with hardened hearts. 47 00:03:25,040 --> 00:03:26,560 They refuse to acknowledge Jesus. 48 00:03:26,560 --> 00:03:29,760 We read of them instead embracing Antichrist and and 49 00:03:29,760 --> 00:03:32,720 bearing the mark of the beast in Revelation 13. 50 00:03:32,720 --> 00:03:36,400 And, and this is the the culmination of why this 51 00:03:36,400 --> 00:03:42,760 judgement that we're about to read of is coming way back in 52 00:03:42,760 --> 00:03:46,720 1869, a French chemist by the name of Marcellan Berthelot 53 00:03:46,720 --> 00:03:51,440 wrote within 100 years of physical and chemical science, 54 00:03:51,960 --> 00:03:56,840 men will know what the atom is. It is my belief when science 55 00:03:56,840 --> 00:04:01,280 reaches this stage, God will come down to earth with his big 56 00:04:01,280 --> 00:04:06,000 ring of keys and will say to humanity, gentlemen, it is 57 00:04:06,000 --> 00:04:10,920 closing time. Closing time effectively is what 58 00:04:10,920 --> 00:04:14,520 we're about to get into tonight. In our passage, the world has 59 00:04:14,520 --> 00:04:18,200 resisted and rejected Jesus again and again and again for so 60 00:04:18,200 --> 00:04:20,640 long. And now that time is over. 61 00:04:21,880 --> 00:04:25,720 In his love and in his mercy, God has afforded grace for so 62 00:04:25,720 --> 00:04:30,200 long, delaying his judgement. And today in the world in which 63 00:04:30,200 --> 00:04:32,000 we live, there is grace, isn't there? 64 00:04:32,520 --> 00:04:36,920 God hasn't yet judged in a way that that really justice 65 00:04:36,920 --> 00:04:39,840 demands. And even during the tribulation 66 00:04:39,840 --> 00:04:42,520 period, as we've been reading through, judgements have been 67 00:04:42,640 --> 00:04:45,160 poured out, but not in the totality that we're about to 68 00:04:45,160 --> 00:04:46,840 read of. There's still even been 69 00:04:46,840 --> 00:04:50,720 provision for people to be saved in this tribulation period with 70 00:04:50,720 --> 00:04:55,680 144,012 thousand of the 12 tribes, the two witnesses, the 71 00:04:55,680 --> 00:04:58,120 Angel that we learnt of on Sunday morning. 72 00:04:58,840 --> 00:05:02,120 And yet still people won't believe and yet still people 73 00:05:02,120 --> 00:05:07,880 will reject God, his love and His mercy and His mercy rather. 74 00:05:08,760 --> 00:05:14,560 But God is also just and his justice will need to be meted 75 00:05:14,560 --> 00:05:16,760 out and delivered. And this is what we're about to 76 00:05:16,760 --> 00:05:18,840 read of as these judgements come through. 77 00:05:19,440 --> 00:05:22,800 God must bring his judgement upon those who reject him. 78 00:05:23,320 --> 00:05:26,680 There was a sifting at the end of chapter 14 that we didn't 79 00:05:26,680 --> 00:05:28,360 cover on Sunday and you can read of it. 80 00:05:28,360 --> 00:05:31,800 And and now we're dealing with the consequences, the flow on 81 00:05:32,320 --> 00:05:37,040 with that when it comes to people rejecting Jesus as the 82 00:05:37,040 --> 00:05:39,880 Christ. Sometimes our hearts can break 83 00:05:39,880 --> 00:05:43,040 as a consequence of that. When we think of our loved ones 84 00:05:43,040 --> 00:05:47,840 not yet knowing Jesus as Lord and Saviour and of how it is 85 00:05:47,840 --> 00:05:51,360 that they seem to steal themselves to resist the wooing 86 00:05:51,360 --> 00:05:55,880 of the Holy Spirit, we wonder what, what should we do? 87 00:05:56,600 --> 00:05:58,680 And we don't know where their hearts are AT. 88 00:06:00,040 --> 00:06:01,200 And so here's what we need to do. 89 00:06:01,200 --> 00:06:03,000 We need to never give up on praying for them. 90 00:06:03,280 --> 00:06:05,320 God alone knows where their hearts are AT. 91 00:06:05,920 --> 00:06:08,880 We continue to pray we share the love of Jesus with them because 92 00:06:08,880 --> 00:06:12,920 as we read these events, man, our hearts break for what 93 00:06:12,920 --> 00:06:16,360 potentially lies ahead. But I want to remind you of a 94 00:06:16,360 --> 00:06:21,680 fellow called Saul in the book of Acts who at the time in in in 95 00:06:21,680 --> 00:06:25,160 that as we read in Acts, if ever people thought someone would 96 00:06:25,160 --> 00:06:28,400 never give their heart surrender their life to Jesus. 97 00:06:28,680 --> 00:06:32,320 It was Saul of Tassus. And yet that's exactly what 98 00:06:32,320 --> 00:06:34,320 happened. It's, it's akin, I think today 99 00:06:34,320 --> 00:06:39,440 of hearing someone like a Richard Dawkins getting saved 100 00:06:41,240 --> 00:06:47,320 leading a Bible study and Lady Gaga's leading worship because 101 00:06:47,320 --> 00:06:50,080 she's also gotten saved. That that's how sort of wow. 102 00:06:50,080 --> 00:06:51,920 It's, it's like incomprehensible. 103 00:06:52,120 --> 00:06:55,400 It's not impossible, but incomprehensible for us, 104 00:06:55,400 --> 00:06:57,480 implausible. So don't give up. 105 00:06:57,480 --> 00:07:00,520 Here's why. Because eventually, judgement is 106 00:07:00,520 --> 00:07:03,680 coming, and we see it in Revelation 15. 107 00:07:04,920 --> 00:07:08,040 And one last little story before we get in and read it said that 108 00:07:08,040 --> 00:07:12,840 the great composer Johann Sebastian Buck loved to nap. 109 00:07:14,000 --> 00:07:18,440 His children developed a surefire way to wake him up from 110 00:07:18,440 --> 00:07:21,480 this. They would move over to his 111 00:07:21,480 --> 00:07:25,280 piano, play a composition and deliberately leave the last 112 00:07:25,280 --> 00:07:32,600 chord or last note unresolved, unplayed, and he would wake up 113 00:07:33,480 --> 00:07:37,040 even in his subconscious. He he could not just lie there 114 00:07:37,040 --> 00:07:40,160 and leave it unresolved. That would just irk and irritate 115 00:07:40,240 --> 00:07:42,200 at him. He would move over to the piano, 116 00:07:42,200 --> 00:07:46,000 having arisen from his slumber and play that final chord. 117 00:07:47,240 --> 00:07:52,400 Revelation 15 into 16 is is the final chord. 118 00:07:53,440 --> 00:07:55,720 So let's consider this chapter under 3 headings. 119 00:07:55,720 --> 00:07:59,840 The wrath of God is complete. We'll see that in verse one, the 120 00:07:59,840 --> 00:08:03,680 worship of the redeemed in verses 2 through to 4, and then 121 00:08:03,680 --> 00:08:07,280 lastly verses 5 through to 8, the weight of God's glory. 122 00:08:08,240 --> 00:08:13,360 Verse one, then I saw another sign in heaven, great and 123 00:08:13,360 --> 00:08:19,640 marvellous, 7 angels having the seven last plagues, for in them 124 00:08:20,440 --> 00:08:25,120 the wrath of God is complete. If you're the note taking type, 125 00:08:25,320 --> 00:08:28,920 circle that word complete. Maybe lean over to your 126 00:08:28,920 --> 00:08:31,720 neighbour's Bible and circle it for them as well. 127 00:08:32,559 --> 00:08:36,120 John sees another great and marvellous sign. 128 00:08:36,120 --> 00:08:41,240 We've read 7 angels, the seven last plagues and in them he says 129 00:08:41,240 --> 00:08:45,520 the wrath of God is complete. Or maybe your translation has 130 00:08:45,520 --> 00:08:52,800 finished, finalised, resolved. Now the wrath of God is not like 131 00:08:53,120 --> 00:08:56,440 human revenge. And we're familiar with 132 00:08:56,440 --> 00:09:00,840 Hollywood films and, and stories, you know, called like 133 00:09:00,840 --> 00:09:04,400 the wrath of man, where someone is wronged and, and they execute 134 00:09:05,240 --> 00:09:08,480 vengeance and, and judgement in brutal fashion typically. 135 00:09:08,480 --> 00:09:11,760 And, you know, we find ourselves maybe almost cheering them on 136 00:09:12,400 --> 00:09:15,200 to, you know, have their vindication against the 137 00:09:15,200 --> 00:09:18,880 perpetrators of the crime. God's wrath as we see it 138 00:09:18,880 --> 00:09:25,720 described in the Bible is is holy, it is good, it is proper, 139 00:09:26,040 --> 00:09:30,000 and it is a just response to the evil of sin. 140 00:09:30,640 --> 00:09:35,520 Romans chapter 1 is clear on that verse 18 in particular, and 141 00:09:35,520 --> 00:09:39,320 from Adam and Eve onward in the Garden of Gethsemane in the book 142 00:09:39,320 --> 00:09:42,440 of Genesis, sin has invited judgement. 143 00:09:43,440 --> 00:09:46,960 There was death, yes to relationship that followed out 144 00:09:46,960 --> 00:09:50,480 of Adam and Eve's sin. They no longer had that the 145 00:09:50,480 --> 00:09:52,880 communion that they once experienced with the holy 146 00:09:52,880 --> 00:09:58,080 righteous God. And yet God delayed immediate 147 00:09:58,080 --> 00:10:01,200 destruction. And that was the lie that Satan 148 00:10:01,200 --> 00:10:03,600 sold to them. You won't surely die in the day 149 00:10:03,600 --> 00:10:06,720 that you eat thereof. And God clothed them. 150 00:10:06,720 --> 00:10:09,040 Yes, God promised a Redeemer to them. 151 00:10:09,200 --> 00:10:13,240 He extended mercy and that has been ongoing and and Roth has 152 00:10:13,240 --> 00:10:16,720 been delayed in the full sense in the totality and in the 153 00:10:16,720 --> 00:10:21,040 completion in in the finished aspect of it upon a God 154 00:10:21,040 --> 00:10:22,880 rejecting Christ rejecting world. 155 00:10:23,720 --> 00:10:25,680 It's been delayed, but not denied. 156 00:10:26,680 --> 00:10:32,040 Revelation 15 shows us its completion, its finality. 157 00:10:33,160 --> 00:10:35,400 We've read of God's wrath before through the Scriptures. 158 00:10:35,400 --> 00:10:38,840 I spoke of Adam and Eve. I I think of the likes of Cain 159 00:10:38,840 --> 00:10:41,680 in the book of Genesis. I think of the flood in the book 160 00:10:41,680 --> 00:10:44,280 of Genesis. I think of Sodom and Gomorrah in 161 00:10:44,280 --> 00:10:47,960 the book of Genesis and, and on through out into the New 162 00:10:47,960 --> 00:10:51,600 Testament, the likes of even Ananias and Sapphira and on 163 00:10:51,600 --> 00:10:54,600 through and and Herod. Who can forget when he glorified 164 00:10:54,600 --> 00:10:58,320 himself and he was struck down dead with worms that had been 165 00:10:58,320 --> 00:11:01,240 eaten his stomach as a judgement from God upon him? 166 00:11:02,000 --> 00:11:05,520 And all of those things speak, providing a glimpse of the wrath 167 00:11:05,520 --> 00:11:09,000 of God, but not the totality, not the completion of it. 168 00:11:10,200 --> 00:11:14,200 This is the completion of it. And yet still, whilst God's 169 00:11:14,200 --> 00:11:18,280 wrath is evident, mercy is evident throughout history and 170 00:11:18,280 --> 00:11:23,040 and what the Bible tells us is that God is slow to anger and He 171 00:11:23,040 --> 00:11:25,960 is abounding in mercy and steadfast love. 172 00:11:25,960 --> 00:11:32,000 Psalm 103 verse 8, you know, the flood, Sodom, even the 173 00:11:32,000 --> 00:11:37,320 Canaanites previews of wrath, but always after long patience 174 00:11:37,320 --> 00:11:40,320 that God afforded before judgement came down, 175 00:11:40,760 --> 00:11:44,320 opportunities for repentance and and mercy to be received. 176 00:11:44,320 --> 00:11:47,160 And even during the great tribulation period again, as 177 00:11:47,160 --> 00:11:51,400 we've been reading, God sends the 144,000, the two witnesses, 178 00:11:51,400 --> 00:11:54,440 the Angel proclaiming the everlasting gospel, and yet 179 00:11:54,440 --> 00:11:59,120 still many refuse. So there's a sobering reality in 180 00:11:59,120 --> 00:12:04,040 this as we read of the wrath that now it it's going to come 181 00:12:04,040 --> 00:12:06,840 and it's the real thing, a say real thing. 182 00:12:06,840 --> 00:12:11,360 There was in Saint Louis in 1991, a false emergency 183 00:12:11,360 --> 00:12:15,320 broadcast announcing a nuclear attack that caused great panic 184 00:12:15,320 --> 00:12:18,640 amongst the populace. People heard this on the radio, 185 00:12:19,360 --> 00:12:22,840 began to to rush to loved ones thinking maybe the apocalypse 186 00:12:22,840 --> 00:12:27,840 was breaking out and waiting for the end, only to discover that 187 00:12:27,840 --> 00:12:31,120 it was a hoax, that the disc jockey had played a prank over 188 00:12:31,120 --> 00:12:36,040 the radio airwaves. We're here, Revelation 15. 189 00:12:36,040 --> 00:12:39,160 One day God will say enough is enough. 190 00:12:40,280 --> 00:12:44,680 It will not be a hoax. It will not be a a prank, but 191 00:12:44,680 --> 00:12:47,640 the bowls will be poured out. The angels will be called the 192 00:12:47,800 --> 00:12:52,040 the wrath will be complete. You know, as if God has has 193 00:12:52,040 --> 00:12:57,440 said, I have waited thousands of years, humanly speaking, and 194 00:12:57,440 --> 00:13:02,960 now, and now it's time. It might be tempting for some in 195 00:13:02,960 --> 00:13:06,600 today's world in which we live to mistake God's patience for 196 00:13:06,600 --> 00:13:10,040 permission to think, well, you know, I did that. 197 00:13:10,040 --> 00:13:13,280 I said this, or I'm involved in this particular lifestyle and 198 00:13:13,280 --> 00:13:16,000 God's not judged me. Nothing's happened, nothing's 199 00:13:16,000 --> 00:13:20,720 gone wrong yet. But God's delay in his mercy is 200 00:13:20,720 --> 00:13:23,200 an affordance of time for repentance. 201 00:13:23,880 --> 00:13:28,920 But His mercy will at some point in time need to give way to 202 00:13:28,920 --> 00:13:31,760 wrath, to justice being poured out. 203 00:13:32,240 --> 00:13:34,520 And so for you and I as believers tonight, I think this 204 00:13:34,520 --> 00:13:38,240 should again stir up within our heart, moving us to urgency and 205 00:13:38,240 --> 00:13:42,960 prayer and evangelism for those that that we love, that we know 206 00:13:43,880 --> 00:13:47,000 who around us may be hardening their hearts to the things of 207 00:13:47,000 --> 00:13:49,560 the Lord. And again, us not giving up but 208 00:13:49,680 --> 00:13:52,120 but praying in hopes that they'll be like a soul 209 00:13:53,160 --> 00:13:56,160 converting to appalled while there's still time in God's 210 00:13:56,160 --> 00:13:59,400 grace and his mercy. For one day soon God's wrath 211 00:13:59,400 --> 00:14:01,520 will be poured out and it will be complete. 212 00:14:02,120 --> 00:14:03,760 It'll be finished. It'll be total. 213 00:14:05,680 --> 00:14:11,160 Verse 2 I saw something like a sea of glass mingled with fire. 214 00:14:12,680 --> 00:14:16,440 And those who have the victory over the beast, over his image 215 00:14:16,440 --> 00:14:21,160 and over his mark, and over the number of his name, standing on 216 00:14:21,160 --> 00:14:24,200 the sea of glass, having hearts of God. 217 00:14:25,480 --> 00:14:30,320 And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song 218 00:14:30,320 --> 00:14:35,160 of the Lamb, saying, Great, marvellous are your works, Lord 219 00:14:35,160 --> 00:14:40,920 God Almighty, just and true are your ways, O King of the Saints, 220 00:14:41,680 --> 00:14:44,960 who shall not fear you, O Lord, and glorify your name. 221 00:14:45,720 --> 00:14:49,520 For you alone are holy, for all nations shall come and worship 222 00:14:49,520 --> 00:14:52,240 before you. For your judgements have been 223 00:14:52,320 --> 00:14:58,080 manifested or revealed. In this picture as we read John, 224 00:14:58,080 --> 00:15:01,920 what he's seeing in contrast to the wrath we're introduced to in 225 00:15:01,920 --> 00:15:06,000 verse one and that we'll come back to in verse 5, John sees 226 00:15:06,000 --> 00:15:10,760 now those who have experienced victory over the beast, 227 00:15:11,720 --> 00:15:15,320 conquered the beast, and they're they're standing by sea of 228 00:15:15,320 --> 00:15:17,160 glass. He describes it, or a sea of 229 00:15:17,160 --> 00:15:19,040 crystal. Maybe yours has mingled with 230 00:15:19,040 --> 00:15:24,360 fire, holding harps, singing the song of Moses and the song of 231 00:15:24,360 --> 00:15:26,640 the Lamb. Who are they? 232 00:15:27,880 --> 00:15:31,720 These are tribulation martyrs who refuse the mark of the 233 00:15:31,720 --> 00:15:38,480 beast. 666 And as a consequence of doing so, they'll have chosen 234 00:15:38,480 --> 00:15:42,080 death rather than denial of Jesus Christ. 235 00:15:42,880 --> 00:15:47,520 Again, the church has been raptured out, yes, and those 236 00:15:47,560 --> 00:15:54,400 left behind, Those unsaved, now many have become saved followers 237 00:15:54,400 --> 00:15:56,760 of Jesus. Maybe they've remembered our 238 00:15:56,760 --> 00:15:59,480 witness, our words, the declarations that we made, that 239 00:15:59,760 --> 00:16:03,040 Jesus is the Christ, the Saviour, that we we've spoken of 240 00:16:03,040 --> 00:16:06,000 these events, these moments, these times in Revelation, and 241 00:16:06,120 --> 00:16:09,120 that's their all too familiar reality. 242 00:16:09,120 --> 00:16:13,920 Now again, they've had the two witnesses, the 144,000, the 243 00:16:13,920 --> 00:16:17,440 Angel of chapter 14 and and they've given their lives in 244 00:16:17,440 --> 00:16:20,960 surrender to Jesus as the Christ, not Antichrist. 245 00:16:22,320 --> 00:16:24,440 We're not only saved, but they're victorious. 246 00:16:24,440 --> 00:16:27,800 We read of they didn't win by avoiding suffering. 247 00:16:29,480 --> 00:16:33,000 They experienced victory by remaining faithful even unto 248 00:16:33,000 --> 00:16:36,560 death. And their song says that they 249 00:16:36,560 --> 00:16:39,360 sing the song of Moses. What is that? 250 00:16:39,360 --> 00:16:43,920 That was the song that Moses led the people of Israel in post, 251 00:16:43,920 --> 00:16:45,520 their deliverance at the Red Sea. 252 00:16:45,520 --> 00:16:49,480 We see that in Exodus 15 specifically, also recorded for 253 00:16:49,480 --> 00:16:53,360 us in Deuteronomy. God destroyed Pharaoh, the 254 00:16:53,360 --> 00:16:55,840 armies of Egypt delivered his people. 255 00:16:55,840 --> 00:16:59,440 The Israelites says that they're singing also the song of the 256 00:16:59,440 --> 00:17:04,520 lamb, celebrating the greater deliverance through Jesus 257 00:17:04,520 --> 00:17:08,000 Christ. You know, at the cross, our 258 00:17:08,000 --> 00:17:13,720 greater Pharaoh, sin and Satan was defeated by Jesus. 259 00:17:14,720 --> 00:17:20,000 And together these songs proclaim that salvation is all 260 00:17:20,000 --> 00:17:24,000 God's work, nothing of man. And so they can't help but 261 00:17:24,000 --> 00:17:25,599 spring forth and praise and honour. 262 00:17:25,599 --> 00:17:28,920 Just as Israel had to walk by faith through the Red Sea, 263 00:17:29,160 --> 00:17:32,320 through the parted waters to receive their salvation, it is 264 00:17:32,320 --> 00:17:36,480 by faith that we walk and receive the salvation that comes 265 00:17:36,480 --> 00:17:39,080 through Jesus Christ. And and that's their song, 266 00:17:39,080 --> 00:17:41,680 that's their experience, what they're going through. 267 00:17:41,680 --> 00:17:45,280 And the content of the song is given for us in verses 3 and 4. 268 00:17:46,240 --> 00:17:49,040 Great and marvellous are your works, they declare. 269 00:17:50,880 --> 00:17:55,120 Speaking of all creation, no doubt, but I think especially 270 00:17:56,640 --> 00:18:01,600 his masterpiece, the great work of God in redeeming sinners. 271 00:18:02,120 --> 00:18:06,800 Great and marvellous are your works, just and true are your 272 00:18:06,800 --> 00:18:09,480 ways. And even in particular what 273 00:18:09,480 --> 00:18:13,680 they're about to, to witness and experience and see the 274 00:18:13,680 --> 00:18:19,200 judgements of God they declare as being righteous and fair. 275 00:18:19,720 --> 00:18:23,440 Just and true are your ways. Notice there's no criticism of 276 00:18:23,440 --> 00:18:25,200 his judgements coming forth in their song. 277 00:18:25,640 --> 00:18:28,240 You know they're not singing. Great and marvellous are your 278 00:18:28,240 --> 00:18:30,720 works, Lord. But boy, these judgements are a 279 00:18:30,720 --> 00:18:34,000 little harsh right now. Can you just ease back on some 280 00:18:34,000 --> 00:18:36,320 of the, the bowls that are about to be poured out? 281 00:18:36,320 --> 00:18:39,920 There's none of that. No, they, they declared just and 282 00:18:39,920 --> 00:18:45,480 true, right on, as if it could not be executed any better. 283 00:18:45,840 --> 00:18:50,400 Or we praise you, Lord God. All nations, they say, will come 284 00:18:50,760 --> 00:18:53,760 and worship. You know, I can't help but think 285 00:18:53,760 --> 00:18:57,240 of the scripture that says one day soon every knee will bow, 286 00:18:57,360 --> 00:19:00,080 every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. 287 00:19:00,720 --> 00:19:04,240 You know that promise of every nation, every tribe, every 288 00:19:04,240 --> 00:19:08,440 tongue, coming and worshipping he who alone is worthy to 289 00:19:08,440 --> 00:19:11,200 receive it. Consider the following. 290 00:19:11,200 --> 00:19:13,440 The song of Moses was sung at the Red Sea. 291 00:19:14,240 --> 00:19:17,320 This song is sung at the the Crystal Oil Glass Sea. 292 00:19:18,280 --> 00:19:21,800 The song of Moses is a song of triumph over Pharaoh. 293 00:19:22,600 --> 00:19:26,360 This song is a song of triumph over the beast, over Antichrist. 294 00:19:27,520 --> 00:19:30,040 Moses is how God brought these people out. 295 00:19:30,920 --> 00:19:35,200 This song is about how God the Lamb brought his people in. 296 00:19:36,680 --> 00:19:42,800 Moses song is actually the first recognised song in scripture. 297 00:19:43,200 --> 00:19:47,480 Yes, some think of Adam's words over his wife Eve as being a 298 00:19:47,480 --> 00:19:51,640 song or a poem, but this is actually declared as such, the 299 00:19:51,640 --> 00:19:55,120 song of Moses. And this is the last song, 300 00:19:57,240 --> 00:20:00,040 basically, again, the song of redemption, of deliverance, of 301 00:20:00,040 --> 00:20:03,720 triumph and of victory that is declared here, a song birthed 302 00:20:03,720 --> 00:20:08,000 out of the gospel story. Passover is, we know it, a 303 00:20:08,000 --> 00:20:10,080 picture of Jesus. We're going to have some 304 00:20:10,080 --> 00:20:12,920 communion tonight. And and it derives out of that 305 00:20:12,920 --> 00:20:15,840 Passover celebration that had been instructed for the 306 00:20:15,840 --> 00:20:18,920 Israelites. And the Passover Lamb ultimately 307 00:20:18,920 --> 00:20:22,000 points to Jesus, the Lamb who was slain before the very 308 00:20:22,000 --> 00:20:25,760 foundations of the earth. Jesus, the Lamb, who John 309 00:20:25,760 --> 00:20:29,120 declared had come to take away the sins of the world. 310 00:20:30,640 --> 00:20:37,960 Now although you and I in this I believe, aren't mentioned here, 311 00:20:37,960 --> 00:20:40,520 we won't face the great tribulation singular. 312 00:20:41,400 --> 00:20:45,520 We do encounter tribulations, plural in this world in which we 313 00:20:45,520 --> 00:20:49,280 live, personal trials, persecution, sufferings. 314 00:20:49,800 --> 00:20:55,520 John 1633 says that one to Timothy 312 tells us that as 315 00:20:55,520 --> 00:20:58,200 well. And these experiences, they're 316 00:20:58,440 --> 00:21:02,720 they're never easy. And maybe tonight you're sitting 317 00:21:02,720 --> 00:21:07,000 here and and you're you're burdened by such persecution or 318 00:21:07,000 --> 00:21:11,040 or or suffering or exclusion or criticism or harassment or maybe 319 00:21:11,160 --> 00:21:15,400 you have been at some point and so you have reason to be 320 00:21:15,400 --> 00:21:17,240 encouraged out of this tonight. Why? 321 00:21:17,240 --> 00:21:20,320 How so? And turn with me in your Bible 322 00:21:20,360 --> 00:21:26,520 back to the Gospel of Matthew chapter 5 verses 1011 and 12. 323 00:21:26,520 --> 00:21:30,960 Jesus words there. And maybe you know it straight 324 00:21:30,960 --> 00:21:39,640 away as the Beatitudes. Matthew 5 verse 10 says blessed. 325 00:21:39,640 --> 00:21:44,760 And that literally means again, Oh how happy. 326 00:21:45,600 --> 00:21:48,640 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness 327 00:21:48,640 --> 00:21:52,920 sake, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven blessed. 328 00:21:52,920 --> 00:21:55,720 Verse 11. Oh, how happy are you when they 329 00:21:55,720 --> 00:22:00,360 revile and persecute you and say all kinds of evil against you 330 00:22:00,360 --> 00:22:04,560 falsely for my sake. Rejoice verse 12 and be 331 00:22:04,560 --> 00:22:07,320 exceedingly glad. For great is your reward in 332 00:22:07,320 --> 00:22:10,040 heaven. For so they persecuted the 333 00:22:10,040 --> 00:22:14,240 prophets who were before you. You can turn back to Revelation 334 00:22:14,240 --> 00:22:19,640 now again, blessed, blessed twice is mentioned happy, happy. 335 00:22:20,720 --> 00:22:25,040 And I think that attitude is, is something to remind ourselves of 336 00:22:25,040 --> 00:22:26,960 in in the day and age in which we live. 337 00:22:26,960 --> 00:22:31,400 As there's increasing, I think even in Australia, we're going 338 00:22:31,400 --> 00:22:34,160 to find it more and more as the days draw close to what we're 339 00:22:34,160 --> 00:22:38,400 reading in Revelation that that persecution, it's never been an 340 00:22:38,400 --> 00:22:40,440 experience. I think really of ours in 341 00:22:40,440 --> 00:22:43,400 Australia, that it will become a part of our experience as 342 00:22:43,400 --> 00:22:48,320 Christians and as believers, as more, as a more Antichrist 343 00:22:48,320 --> 00:22:51,560 sentiment reveals itself in society, in the world in which 344 00:22:51,560 --> 00:22:54,720 we live. These Saints certainly knew that 345 00:22:54,720 --> 00:22:57,680 and experienced that. And So what do you do when, 346 00:22:57,960 --> 00:23:01,880 when, when that happens, when that takes place, when injustice 347 00:23:01,880 --> 00:23:05,320 or tragedy strikes, when that persecution comes, when 348 00:23:05,400 --> 00:23:07,680 injustice is committed against us? 349 00:23:07,680 --> 00:23:14,920 Well, I think that these martyrs show us, sing, worship, give 350 00:23:14,920 --> 00:23:18,000 glory unto God, not because circumstances are good, but 351 00:23:18,000 --> 00:23:21,360 because God is good. He's worthy to receive our 352 00:23:21,360 --> 00:23:23,840 praise. And so can the world hear us 353 00:23:24,200 --> 00:23:28,920 worshipping God through our suffering like a Paul and Silas 354 00:23:28,920 --> 00:23:32,840 did in the Philippian gaol. The gaoler came to Christ as a 355 00:23:32,840 --> 00:23:35,840 consequence. You know, your worship may in 356 00:23:35,840 --> 00:23:38,360 fact be a witness to someone looking on. 357 00:23:38,360 --> 00:23:41,880 And think of these people that that John records here that 358 00:23:41,880 --> 00:23:45,680 we're reading off, how much they've been through what we've 359 00:23:45,680 --> 00:23:50,280 read in Revelation so far. And yet again, not one word of 360 00:23:50,280 --> 00:23:52,960 criticism or complaining levelled against God. 361 00:23:53,840 --> 00:23:57,760 No grumbling or moaning or crying out, God, where were you? 362 00:23:57,760 --> 00:24:00,800 How come, why us, why, why now, why this? 363 00:24:01,520 --> 00:24:05,920 None of that on their lips instead praise instead 364 00:24:05,920 --> 00:24:08,480 declaration. God, you are just, you are true, 365 00:24:08,480 --> 00:24:11,400 you are right. And again, I think that's 366 00:24:11,400 --> 00:24:14,800 significant for you and I tonight because we encountered 367 00:24:14,800 --> 00:24:18,280 times in life that I think many times simply don't make sense to 368 00:24:18,280 --> 00:24:21,240 us. That we do cry out and wonder, 369 00:24:21,240 --> 00:24:26,960 God, why me, why now? Why this tragedies, slander 370 00:24:26,960 --> 00:24:30,920 against us, unfair treatment and our emotions want to scream out, 371 00:24:31,520 --> 00:24:33,640 this isn't right. This isn't fair. 372 00:24:34,880 --> 00:24:37,560 I think it's in those moments, those times particularly where 373 00:24:38,360 --> 00:24:42,320 our need to trust God and to worship Him is paramount, to 374 00:24:42,320 --> 00:24:45,080 give Him praise again, not because of our circumstances, 375 00:24:45,080 --> 00:24:50,520 but because of who He is. Psalm 106 verse one says praise 376 00:24:50,520 --> 00:24:55,880 the Lord, give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good, for His 377 00:24:55,880 --> 00:25:02,040 loving kindness is everlasting. Notice the psalmist didn't say 378 00:25:02,120 --> 00:25:06,360 give thanks to the Lord when you feel good, when things are going 379 00:25:06,360 --> 00:25:11,240 good, but rather give thanks because He is good. 380 00:25:12,120 --> 00:25:14,760 So can I encourage you tonight, whatever trial, whatever 381 00:25:14,760 --> 00:25:18,200 circumstance, whatever situation, whatever struggle, 382 00:25:19,280 --> 00:25:23,320 what is your response? I encourage you to worship God, 383 00:25:23,720 --> 00:25:28,160 for He is good, not because of the trial, because of the 384 00:25:28,160 --> 00:25:33,240 struggle, but because of Him. Lastly, verses 5 through to 8. 385 00:25:33,240 --> 00:25:36,600 Here the weight of God's glory comes through the the vision 386 00:25:36,600 --> 00:25:43,240 closes with the heavenly temple opened, angels clothed kind of 387 00:25:43,240 --> 00:25:47,480 like priests, almost coming with golden balls. 388 00:25:48,400 --> 00:25:53,240 The temple fills with with smoke as in the glory of God, and and 389 00:25:53,240 --> 00:25:58,120 no one can enter into the very presence, the very Holy of 390 00:25:58,120 --> 00:26:00,800 Holies, until the plagues are complete. 391 00:26:01,720 --> 00:26:04,640 And after these things, verse 5, I looked, and behold, the temple 392 00:26:04,640 --> 00:26:07,760 of the Tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was open, 393 00:26:09,200 --> 00:26:12,960 and out of the temple came the seven angels, having the seven 394 00:26:12,960 --> 00:26:18,560 plagues clothed in pure bright linen, and having their chests 395 00:26:18,560 --> 00:26:23,880 girded with golden bands. Then verse 7, one of the four 396 00:26:23,880 --> 00:26:28,880 living creatures gave to the seven angels 7 golden bowls full 397 00:26:28,880 --> 00:26:31,360 of the wrath of God who lives forever and ever. 398 00:26:32,560 --> 00:26:36,120 And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and 399 00:26:36,120 --> 00:26:40,320 from his power, and no one was able to enter the temple till 400 00:26:40,320 --> 00:26:44,280 the seven plagues of the seven angels were completed. 401 00:26:45,440 --> 00:26:50,640 Wow, what a vision, what a picture of the holiness of God's 402 00:26:50,640 --> 00:26:54,480 presence. You know, I think back to Mount 403 00:26:54,480 --> 00:26:58,840 Sinai. Think back to the dedication of 404 00:26:58,840 --> 00:27:02,360 the Tabernacle and the dedication of the temple and of 405 00:27:02,360 --> 00:27:08,520 God's glory filling the place. The smoke here signifies God's 406 00:27:08,520 --> 00:27:14,200 power, signifies His Holiness, signifies the seriousness, the 407 00:27:14,200 --> 00:27:18,600 sobriety, the severity of what is to happen as we read ahead 408 00:27:18,600 --> 00:27:24,520 into chapter 16 and beyond. And so there's a a solemn this 409 00:27:24,520 --> 00:27:27,320 to this judgement. These aren't just sort of random 410 00:27:27,320 --> 00:27:31,040 disasters being poured out on an ad hoc, sort of Willy nilly 411 00:27:31,040 --> 00:27:33,560 basis by God. They're they're, they're, 412 00:27:33,600 --> 00:27:36,760 they're like priestly acts of a holy God. 413 00:27:37,800 --> 00:27:44,520 There's notice ceremony here. You see the reverence, you see 414 00:27:44,520 --> 00:27:51,400 that the process involved, the bowls are full and to to fill 415 00:27:51,400 --> 00:27:54,920 takes a duration of time and patience and, and the long 416 00:27:54,920 --> 00:27:58,400 suffering nature of God now exhausted to the point where 417 00:27:58,400 --> 00:28:02,640 that that Roth now is, is full. And it's not now impulsive, but 418 00:28:02,880 --> 00:28:07,680 but measured out as we'll read of these first and 2nd and 3rd 419 00:28:07,680 --> 00:28:11,480 and on in through the 7th bowls being poured out in chapter 16. 420 00:28:14,040 --> 00:28:17,240 And again, there's not an ad hoc randomness to it, not a, a 421 00:28:17,240 --> 00:28:22,040 flippancy to it, but a, a rightness and a justice to it 422 00:28:22,040 --> 00:28:25,560 all. And then there's an exclusivity 423 00:28:25,560 --> 00:28:28,800 of access. Now verse 8 concludes with that. 424 00:28:28,840 --> 00:28:33,080 So no one could enter the temple until the seven plagues were 425 00:28:33,280 --> 00:28:37,280 finished. It's as if the time for 426 00:28:37,280 --> 00:28:41,640 intercession is over. Judgement must run it's course 427 00:28:42,800 --> 00:28:50,480 again, very sobering. Now then today is the day of 428 00:28:50,480 --> 00:28:54,920 salvation for there is coming a time where soon judgement will 429 00:28:54,920 --> 00:28:58,240 need to be poured out and, and it's like the, the door of mercy 430 00:28:58,240 --> 00:29:02,600 is shut, the access is, is removed, is gone. 431 00:29:04,160 --> 00:29:07,360 And I, I think it begs the question, in our lives, do we 432 00:29:07,360 --> 00:29:12,080 live with the weight of the glory of God, of his reverence? 433 00:29:12,080 --> 00:29:15,640 And I think too often in modern Christendom, we treat God very 434 00:29:15,640 --> 00:29:21,080 casually, you know, as, as the big guy upstairs, you know, my 435 00:29:21,080 --> 00:29:24,480 homeboy, as some T-shirts have in popular culture and stuff 436 00:29:24,480 --> 00:29:27,360 like that. And but Revelation reminds us of 437 00:29:27,360 --> 00:29:32,040 the holiness of the awesomeness of the separateness of of God, 438 00:29:32,040 --> 00:29:38,160 of him being a consuming fire. But then I'm also amazed and, 439 00:29:38,160 --> 00:29:42,440 and wondered and just so thankful for the grace of God 440 00:29:42,440 --> 00:29:44,920 that we experience that in Christ. 441 00:29:44,920 --> 00:29:50,000 We have access now to the very throne room of God. 442 00:29:50,000 --> 00:29:55,400 The Bible tells us the veil is torn, the way is open, and today 443 00:29:55,400 --> 00:29:58,040 we can draw boldly into the very presence of God. 444 00:29:58,040 --> 00:30:04,480 Hebrews 4 verse 16 says so. Revelation 15 Only 8 verses but 445 00:30:04,480 --> 00:30:11,240 a very sobering chapter. Wrath, complete worship, 446 00:30:11,240 --> 00:30:16,880 resounding glory revealed for the unbeliever. 447 00:30:16,880 --> 00:30:18,960 I think it functions as a reminder. 448 00:30:18,960 --> 00:30:25,240 God's patient in his mercy, but judgement is real and to not 449 00:30:25,240 --> 00:30:28,720 delay repentance for the believer. 450 00:30:28,800 --> 00:30:33,680 We saw a reminder in the verses that trials are real, but that 451 00:30:33,680 --> 00:30:39,480 victory is secure in Jesus Christ and to keep singing the 452 00:30:39,480 --> 00:30:44,520 song of redemption. And for the church, a reminder 453 00:30:44,720 --> 00:30:48,840 of the weight of God's glory, of His Holiness. 454 00:30:49,480 --> 00:30:52,600 And for you and I to live in light of the glory of God and 455 00:30:52,800 --> 00:30:54,960 and this coming day and his coming day. 456 00:30:56,160 --> 00:30:59,920 Well, like Bach, who could never bear to leave a piece of 457 00:30:59,920 --> 00:31:06,080 unfinished music until that final chord was struck, History, 458 00:31:06,640 --> 00:31:11,440 the way it's rolling on, cannot remain unresolved forever. 459 00:31:12,560 --> 00:31:14,920 Revelation 15 is that final chord. 460 00:31:15,360 --> 00:31:19,800 Roth poured out. Worship sung, glory revealed.