Rituals of Wrath

Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and amazing, seven angels with seven plagues, which are the last, for with them the wrath of God is finished.

And I saw what appeared to be a sea of glass mingled with fire—and also those who had conquered the beast and its image and he number of its name, standing beside the sea of glass with harps of God in their hands. And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying,

“Great and amazing are your deeds,
O Lord God the Almighty!
Just and true are your ways,
O King of the nations!
Who will not fear, O Lord,
and glorify your name?
For you alone are holy. 

All nations will come
and worship you,
for your righteous acts have been revealed.”

After this I looked, and the sanctuary of the tent of witness in heaven was opened, and out of the sanctuary came the seven angels with the seven plagues, clothed in pure, bright linen, with golden sashes around their chests. And one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God who lives forever and ever, and the sanctuary was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from his power, and no one could enter the sanctuary until the seven plagues of the seven angels were finished. Revelation 15:1-8

The outpouring of God’s wrath is about to begin. His grace has been proclaimed to all generations of humanity. Everyone has had opportunity to believe and be saved. The Seven Angels of Judgment are preparing to unleash the plagues that will finish the wrath of God. Our God is a god of completion. What He has begun, He will complete; be it the sanctification of the righteous or the total ruin of the damned.

John saw again the sea of glass, this time mingled with fire—the raptured Church at rest, having endured persecution.  Beside the raptured Church stood those Jews who had overcome the beast and his image and his number/name—redeemed out of the tribulation. These citizens of heaven had harps and were singing the song of Moses, which is recorded in Exodus 15 and in Deuteronomy 32.

This song of Moses proclaims the faithfulness of God to care for His own, to avenge His own and to pour out His wrath upon those who hate Him. The song is lengthy and it summarizes the history of God’s dealings with Israel and with Israel’s enemies. It is well worth the read, as a refresher course in Israel’s struggles to survive against worldly hostility and as a reminder that Israel as a nation has been unfaithful to God.

They were also singing the song of the Lamb, which tells of the perfect plan of God to provide salvation for the human race. They were singing the gospel. Gospel means “good news” or “a good message.” The fact that man is a sinner is NOT good news, therefore “all have sinned” is not the gospel, though it is a statement of fact. The gospel is “whosoever believes” in Jesus Christ shall not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:16). And 2 Corinthians 15:21 “For our sake he (the Father) made him (the Son)to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness (which belongs to) God.” And Romans 8:1 “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

There is Power in the Blood of the Lamb.

Then the sanctuary of the tent of worship, the Holy of Holies, was opened and the seven judging angels emerged, clothed in uniforms of authority—white garments, golden sashes. One of the four representations of Jesus Christ handed each of these judging angels a bowlful of the wrath of God. This work must be completed before anyone can enter into the Holy of Holies again.

And the voice of God (Revelation 16:1) ordered the judging angels to empty their bowls of wrath upon the earth.