COMPLETE THE JUDGMENTS ON EARTH; A DISCUSSION OF THE TIMING OF THESE JUDGMENTS

As Chapter 15 begins John is seeing what he says is “another” great and marvelous sign: seven angels with seven last plagues. This is the second time in Revelation that we have seen the phrase involving a “great and marvelous or wondrous sign in heaven.” The first time was in Rev 12:1 and the sign was a precursor to the first coming of Christ. The second time we see it is here in Rev 15:1 and the sign this time presents a precursor to the Second Coming of Christ. We are told that these judgments will complete God’s tribulation wrath on earth. This will usher in the Second Coming of Christ.

As we will see later in the chapter, these seven angels are about to pour out the seven bowl judgments on earth. In the figure Approximate Timing Sequence for the 7 Tribulation Judgments in the section titled Summary of the end times and the Revelation you will see my interpretation of the approximate timing of these bowl judgments. As I have stated before, it seems to me that the trumpet judgments and bowl judgments represent the same judgments, just spread out over time. The seal judgments are the means for accomplishing the trumpet and bowl judgments. For example the means for accomplishing the first judgment appears to be nuclear war. We see that the first trumpet and first bowl judgment both appear to be the consequences of nuclear war. Likewise with all seven of the judgments as you can see in the figure titled, A Comparison Between the Seal, Trumpet and Bowl Judgments in the section titled Summary of the end times and the Revelation. The nuclear war seems to occur right at the beginning of the first judgment and its effects linger and multiply throughout the seven year tribulation period. Thus the first bowl judgment is either a continuation of the effects of or perhaps a new application of the means for the first judgment, nuclear war. I suspect that it is both. If you read quickly through the description of the seven bowl judgments in chapter 16 it is very obvious that this series of judgments is spread out over several years. It may also be true that there is a reapplication of the means of each of the first five/six trumpet judgments in the sixth/seventh trumpet judgments. Things really heat up on earth during the sixth judgment as there are nuclear wars, earthquakes and other very severe but undefined means for causing severe catastrophes on earth. It seems to me that the initial application of each of the trumpet judgments has continuing effects associated with it. These continuing effects are called bowl judgments. However, it also seems from the description of the catastrophic nature of the sixth trumpet judgment that there could well be a re-application of the initial means of each of the first five/six judgments. These new applications would be a significant part of the bowl judgments. The sixth judgment results in the death of one third of mankind, possibly over two billion people.

JOHN SEES A GROUP OF REDEEMED SAINTS STANDING BESIDE A SEA OF GLASS MIXED WITH FIRE (Rev 15:1-4)

Next John sees what he describes as something that looks like a sea of glass mixed with fire and a group of redeemed saints standing beside the sea. The symbology that is represented here is quite complicated. In fact, it is so complex and vague that I cannot be certain that my interpretation is correct, in spite of the fact that there are several clues that all seem to be pointing to the same conclusion. With that said we will first tackle the sea of glass mixed with fire and then we’ll tackle those standing beside the sea. A sea of glass, clear as crystal, surrounding the throne of God is mentioned both in Rev 4:6 and 15:2. The throne is right in the middle of what looks like a sea of glass. We are not told that it is glass but that it looks like glass. This may just be describing the scene as John saw it, it may -might also be said to refer to a great mass of humanity.

Let’s pull a few strings and see if we might get a few additional clues as to what the sea of glass which surrounds the throne of God might be. In Rev 21:2-3 we see that the new Jerusalem is described as being prepared like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. We also see that the dwelling place of God is now with men. In Rev 21:9-11 we see that the new Jerusalem is actually the bride of Christ and that God now lives in that new city, the bride. God now lives within man. In verse 11 we see that the city, the bride, shone with the brilliance of God appearing as a precious jewel, as clear as crystal. Next we notice in the description of the new city, the bride, that the great street that runs through the city is said to be pure gold, like transparent glass, Rev 21:21.. In Rev 22:1-2 we see that the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flows from the throne of God down the great street of the city. We also see Jesus, the tree of life, standing on both sides of the river. In John 7:39 we see that streams of living water refers to the Holy Spirit. Thus we see that the Holy Spirit runs through the new city, the bride, and that Jesus is there providing whatever is needed for eternal life. This is also described in Ezek 47:1-12 and Zech 14:8. If we try to put all of this together we see that several things are described as being as clear as crystal including (1) the sea of glass surrounding the throne of God, (2) the New Jerusalem representing the bride of Christ, and (3) the river of the water of life that flows from the throne of God and runs down the street of the New Jerusalem, the bride. We also see several things looking like glass or jewels including, (1) the sea of glass, (2) the new city, the bride, and (3) the street that runs through the city through which the river of the water of life flows. We basically have the same list repeated twice. We also know that a sea represents a mass of humanity and a river represents the Holy Spirit. If we put all of this together it seems that the sea of glass that surrounds the throne of God, the dwelling place of God, is the new Jerusalem or the bride of Christ with the Holy Spirit running through it and being permanently sustained by the tree of life, Jesus. Wow!! So we see that the bride of Christ is already in heaven in chapter 4 before the seven sealed scroll is opened. Thank God for that. The rapture has already taken place.

Next we will turn to the group of redeemed saints that are standing beside the sea. Since we have identified the sea, it is very easy to identify them. They can’t be the redeemed church that was raptured to heaven before the tribulation started since we have already said that they are the sea of glass. There is only one other group of redeemed saints that we know of who are already in heaven, those believers killed on earth during the tribulation and raptured to heaven in the fifth judgment, which includes the two witnesses. In verses two to four we see them singing the song of Moses and the song of the Lamb. Why both? I suspect it is because the two witnesses contain both believing Jews and believing gentiles. They are singing together and again represent both redeemed Jews and gentiles. In John 10:14-16 Jesus says that he has another flock in addition to the Jews. He says that eventually there will be only one flock and one shepherd. That seems to be apparent here, one flock and one shepherd.

The fact that those raptured at the end of the fifth judgment are seen in heaven standing beside of those raptured just before the beginning of the tribulation seems to place the events of chapter 15 in the sixth judgment.

THE TEMPLE, THE TABERNACLE OF THE TESTIMONY, IN HEAVEN (Rev 15:5-8)

In verse five we are told that John next sees the temple in heaven and it is referred to as the tabernacle of the Testimony. In Ex 40:1-3 we see that the tabernacle was the portable temple and that the Ark of the Covenant or the Ark of the Testimony was kept within the tabernacle. Thus it seems that the tabernacle of the Testimony is the temple which is home to the Ark of the Covenant. Remember, the Ark of the Covenant had a lid or cover on which were statues of two cherubim on either side of the mercy seat, said to be the dwelling place of God. Thus is Rev 15:5 we may be seeing the temple in heaven which is the dwelling place of God. Remember, the earthly tabernacle had two rooms, an outer room called the Holy Place and an inner room called the Most Holy Place. The Ark of the Covenant and the dwelling place of God were said to be the inner room or Most Holy Place (see Heb 9:1-10). The high priest entered the Most Holy Place (Holy of Holies) once a year to offer sacrifices for forgiveness of sins for himself and the people. This had to be repeated time after time, year after year. Heb 9:12 says that when Christ died he entered the Most Holy Place in heaven for us to forgive our sins once for all, a sacrifice that would not have to ever be repeated.

Heb 9:24 leads us to believe that the earthly tabernacle was a model of heaven. If that is the case then heaven can be seen as having two compartments, the Holy Place and the most Holy Place. The Most Holy Place would be the place containing the throne of God. In that case the tabernacle of the Testimony in Rev 15:5 would be the Most Holy Place in Heaven, the place containing the throne of God. It is from this place that John sees the seven angels emerging with the seven plagues. Then in verse 7 we see one of the four cherubim that constantly attend God giving the seven angels seven bowls filled with the wrath of God. These are instructions directly from God about how and when they are to continue their judgment of earth and its people.

Next we read in verse 8 that the temple was filled with the smoke from the glory of God and from his power, and no one could enter the temple until the seven plagues were completed. We know from Ex 40:34-35 and other places that the smoke was the Holy Spirit. Thus we see the Holy Spirit filling the Most Holy Place in heaven. That may mean that he had exited earth and was no longer available to people there. We know from earlier references that people on earth refused to repent and accept Jesus during the fourth through the sixth judgments. It seems that the Holy Spirit had withdrawn from earth to heaven during this time. It seems that access to God was closed during this timeframe and nobody could enter his presence, His Most Holy Place. We read earlier in Rev 11:19 that access to the temple in heaven was reopened just before the Second Coming when an angel proclaims the gospel to the whole world, Rev 14:6. Again it was pointed out in Rev 11:19 that the Ark of the Covenant was in the temple in heaven. This confirms that the temple was the Most Holy Place, the residence of God himself in heaven. No one had access to God because no one had access to the Holy Spirit and it is the Holy Spirit who provides access to God the Father (through Jesus).