by Jim Blevins

V. THE SEVEN BOWLS - 15:1-16:21

1. THE OVERCOMERS - 15:1-8
   Chapter 15 is the calm before the storm. It is a stark contrast between the winners and the losers of Chapter 16. In this chapter we see singing and worship in response to Gods dealing with Rome in the manner he has. The saints are pictured as standing in the midst of all the judgment that is being poured out on Rome, but they are singing. That reminds me of Paul and Silas in that dungeon, singing and praying. The singing brings to mind when Israel sang the redemption song after they had killed the Passover lamb, and been delivered out of slavery in Egypt. "Let the redeemed of the earth, say so!" You cannot be saved and not have a song in your heart. Only redeemed people have anything to sing about.
   Moses was a type of Christ, Pharaoh was a type of Satan; Egypt was a type of Sin, and the Exodus was a type of our Exodus from sin. The deliverance from Egypt was an illustration of the deliverance we have from sin.
   Whatever happens to the Roman Empire originates from heaven. Whatever happens to the saints also originates from heaven. The difference? We have agreed to the covenant that God wants to make with all men - but not all men are willing. That covenant is an unbreakable promise to save.
   This is not a political war against social or cultural issues, but a Sovereign war against all ungodliness. These bowls are simply a picture of how God feels about sin. These are not bowls of blessings, but bowls of bitterness. When God begins to pour out his wrath on Rome, no one will step forward to intercede for Rome. When God begins to pour out his wrath on an individual, city, nation or world - it will do no good to pray. God did not tell Noah to pray, but to get in before the storm hit. When men have so sinned that Gods wrath is come upon them, we are not to pray that God will stop. These judgment are so gross that Gods people might start saying, "Wow, God. Aren't you being just a little bit harsh here?!" Don't stop when people are being punished for their sin and question God. That is not for us to question. God has been around a lot longer than we have; and He knows a lot more about what is right and wrong than we do.
   
2. THE OVERTHROWN - 16:1-21
   Never forget that the wrath of God will not only BE poured out on sin, but is NOW being poured out on sin - Rom.1:18 "The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness." The reason that this horrible wrath will be poured out is because sin is horrible. God reacts to the nature of the sin. How? Chapter 16 takes us back to the plagues in Egypt. Remember that this is a vision. It is not real. Everything we read is symbolic of a greater truth. What you see in this vision did not and will not literally happen, but what we see in this vision is magnified many, many times over in reality.
   When these bowls of wrath are poured out, they are not intended to get men to repent, because God has given wicked mankind opportunity after opportunity after opportunity to repent. There will be no more chances. Notice that from Exodus to here in Revelation judgments came slowly. Why? God is patient, not willing that any should perish. But here we see that judgment comes in rapid succession.
   Those who called the Roman Emperor or the Roman government "lord" will suffer the consequences from THE Lord! What comes from these bowls reminds us of the plagues that God poured out on Egypt (Exodus). God is attacking Rome just as he attacked Egypt for the same reasons. They both persecuted Gods people. The eternal principle is that GOD WILL DESTROY, PUNISH AND JUDGE THOSE WHO PERSECUTE HIS PEOPLE!! This is a much, much comforting promise to a saint about to be thrown to lions. Justice will be done. It may be done in this life, and it will certainly be done in the life to come.
   The enemies of God marshall their forces together and urge the other nations into a war against God. The whole world joins forces in a place called "Armageddon." The call for battle goes forth - but, there is no battle!! Why? How long does it take God to win? Less time than it takes to type a period. The battle was fought and won on Calvary. We only see the results of the battle between God and the forces of evil.
   

1. THE MOTHER OF ROME - 17:1-6
   The whole world was pleasured by, ruled by and served this woman (Rome). The whole world made alliances with and joined themselves to Rome. Rome got its power from false religions. Both were in league with the devil. This is Rome from a worldly standpoint. She got her power from the false religions in Rome. False religion produces the most socially corrupt people. This is Rome in all her seductiveness, and worldliness. She is the "mother of harlots" teaching all the other harlots how to be good little harlots. All the little nations that followed Rome, wanted to be just like Rome.
   We would think we would see a nation under judgment, but what we see is a magnificent specimen of worldly power and beauty. Why picture Rome this way? THE BIGGER THEY ARE THE HARDER THEY FALL. God shows us Rome in all her vast beauty, luxury, and prosperity; as desirable as he can possibly show her. Then when she falls, the thud will be heard around the world and echo throughout history - and so it has!
   
2. THE MONSTER OF ROME - 17:7-18
   Satan is behind the Roman Empire. He wanted to sit on the throne in heaven and let Jesus be his footstool. We all know what happened. To get even, Satan used the Roman Empire to fight against Jesus, by fighting against his people. Satan is a very sly fox. He uses people and nations. He uses false religion, worldliness, social pressure, and government pressure to attack the people of Christ.
   
3. THE MERCHANTS OF ROME - 18:1-19
   Rome was a city that was filled with witchcraft, astrology, horoscopes, and occult practises. It is not so surprising that people won't believe the gospel. What is so surprising, is what people will believe! People will believe anythingBUT the Bible. God says that Rome was for the birds!
   Rome imported everything for the daily needs of its citizens. All that will stop. All sea traffic will cease. No goods will be brought in, and therefore no merchant will have anything to sell. Everyone will weep for the Roman Empire, because their "sugar daddy" is gone. They don't love Rome, they just loved what Rome provided for them. God judged Rome by judging their financial institutions, manufacturing, defense, and stopped the flow of food.
   
4. THE MOCKERY OF ROME - 18:20a
   It will be the little band of people that Rome persecuted who will have the last laugh.
   
5. THE MESSAGE OF ROME - 18:20b
   Persecution, death, pillage, ruin and suffering was what Rome sowed. Therefore she will reap what she sowed.
   
6. THE MISERY OF ROME - 18:21-23a
   A dark cloud covered the entire Roman Empire. There was doom, gloom and despair everywhere. No music brightened the streets; no sound of industry pumping out goods; no education for the future; and no social activities.
   
7. THE MISTAKES OF ROME - 18:23c,24
   Rome started out like most nations. God fearing and with a reverence for morality. She got involved in occult practices and false religion, which led to cruelty and barbarism.
   Conclusion? How rich are you? If you want to know, add up everything you have that money cannot buy, and death cannot take away. Lay up true riches in heaven. If you are putting everything into this world, you are like a man painting a sinking ship. If you are not rich toward God, you will be like these people who cried "Woe! Woe!" It is gone!! And friend, it is definitely going to go!
   

1. THE NEW HUSBAND AND NEW BRIDE - 19:1-19:10
   Everyone loves a wedding and wedding feasts. It is thrilling, beautiful and exciting. Many have gotten excited about weddings.
   "John Doe on his wedding day, was a most excited creature. He handed his wife the marriage fee, and tried to kiss the preacher!"
   What God started at Calvary, He continues until the end of time. The saints that were undergoing Roman persecution needed to know that they were saved. They needed to know that no murderer will get away with it; no thief will get away with his crime; no rapist; blasphemer; liar, or pervert will get away from Gods retribution. Oh, some judge here on earth may blow it and render an incorrect judgment, but God never forgets, and he always gets his man. Satan sails a sinking ship! He rules a doomed domain.
   The church must make herself ready. How do we do this? In the Jewish wedding ceremony the future bride was to always be ready by keeping her wedding garment clean. Jesus does not want a bride with a dirty wedding gown, or a bride that is wrinkled up; he wants a bride without a flaw!
   So many people get so interested in prophecy, that they fail to see him who the prophecies are all about. Don't get so preoccupied with his coming, that you fail to see who is coming. The difference between a true cult and true church is that cults deal with what, when, where and how things are going to happen, while the church deals with the Who that makes things happen. A cult will emphasize believing in some things; a Christian will emphasize believing in someone!
   
2. THE NEW VIEW OF CHRIST - 19:11-21
   Back in verses 7-9 we saw the supper of the Lamb which is a life supper; this is a death supper! All the mighty hosts of the world are lined up against one man on a white horse (Jesus) and those behind him (Christians). Again, as in chapter 16, we see the forces of darkness gathered to fight against the forces of good. But we see no battle! Between verses 19 and 20 it is all over! In the "twinkling of an eye" Satan and his forces lose.
   We have now seen the defeat of the harlot (Rome, as a social power), the sea beast (Rome as a religious power), and the earth beast (Rome, as a civil government power). There are now only two things that have not been dealt with. The Dragon and the saints. The Dragon will be dealt with in chapter 20, and the saints in chapters 21 and 22.
   
3. THE NEW CONDITION FOR SATAN - 20:1-3
   The primary and major truth taught here is that Satan is totally defeated in his use of the Roman Empire. Chapter 20 is a word picture of the defeat of death and hell at the cross, and the results in respect to Satan. Chapters 21 and 22 will deal with the results in respect to the saints.
   
4. THE NEW POSITION OF SAINTS - 20:4-6
   The saints are seen as victorious even though some died in their ministry. They had courage under fire. They were convicted of their cause and were willing to die for Christ. Many did.
   So far we know what happened to the harlot, sea beast, earth beast and dragon, but what about the saints? We have not seen what happens to them. Well now, sit back and enjoy how God views you!
   
5. THE NEW VIEW OF THE WAR - 20:7-10
   Since the cross, Satan is totally powerless against Gods people. He is chained and assigned his place, until such time that God sees fit to use him for His purpose. When he is allowed a little freedom, it is for one purpose - to give God glory, and to assure the saints. The picture is this: While he is loosed, Satan collects an endless number of his allies together and they surround the camp of the saints, the beloved city (the church) ready to destroy it. God sends fire from heaven and devours the enemy and judges the devil again. God let the devil and his followers loose to surround the city (persecution), only to destroy them again.
   Historically, Satan utterly and completely failed in his attempt to use Rome to kill the church of God. Saints were victorious (whether dead or alive does not matter) over Rome and the Devil.
   
6. THE NEW VIEW OF THE THRONE - 20:11-15
   Satan's power is completely bound in respect to the saints. He has power over those who do not belong to Christ, but even then, God regulates that power. Satan's defeat (through the defeat of the Roman Empire) is to let everyone see who wants to see, and everyone hear who wants to hear, that God rules - not Satan!
   For the child of God, Satan is dead and powerless! If you have trouble with the Devil, it is because you allow him to be loosed!! 1 John 3:8 "For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil." In chapter 20 God is teaching His people that He will protect us against any and all enemies, regardless of what the circumstances look like.
   
7. THE NEW HEAVEN AND NEW EARTH - 21:1 - 22:21
   
   1. QUANTITY - 21:1-27
      One thing that we must recognize is that these two chapters do not deal with the saints in heaven, but heaven in the saints. It is a description not of what the church will one day be, but what she is already. Our problem is that we view the church with human eyes, instead of God's eyes. This is the church from God's viewpoint. I do not want to get too technical in this "summary" of the book of Revelation, but I would like for you to consider this. In 2 Cor.12:2-4 we assume, I think rightly so, that Paul got to visit heaven, where God lives. What does Paul say about talking about what he heard there? Not lawful. What that mean? Against Gods law! Why didn't Paul give us a detailed description of heaven? He was forbidden to do so. If Paul could not talk about what he saw because it was against Gods law, then why would John get to do so? Think about that, and if you are still having trouble, get the expanded comments on the book.
      The saints are in fellowship with God. Our situation has changed. Once we were strangers, but now we are friends. Once we were orphans, but now we are children.
      Before, the saints had been persecuted by the harlot, the sea beast, the earth beast, and the dragon. Where are they now? Cast into the lake of fire & brimstone. That which caused weeping and death have been removed. Rome as a persecutor of God's people will never do it again. Under the reign of the Messiah "all things have become new." We know that this happens when someone comes to Christ.
      This city in which the saints live speaks of stability and security. This city is the church. This should get us over the stupid feelings we have at times, about allowing people to make us feel inferior because we are members of the church that Christ died for! We see the church described as a holy city and the description of it, its origin, its measurements, its temple, its light, and its citizens. Now we are going to see the perfect provisions within this city.
   2. QUALITY - 22:1-21
      This vision says that, in the church, God provides all that we need. This vision reminds us of the garden of Eden before man fell. God rules the entire universe. In the church he has special rule by invitation. In this holy city there is no fear of the dark, because there is no dark. How can this be if this city is the church? Jesus said "I am the light of the world" and "You are the light of the world" Which is it? Both! THE light of the world (Jesus) dwells in the church, so the light of the world shines thru the church. Outside this holy city is the society of the lost.
      The seven churches of Asia needed to know that they could be assured that the efforts they put forth in resisting the Roman persecutors was worth it. The church is told again and finally that Divine wrath on Rome is right around the corner, so hold on. The 1st century Christians listened and held on until Rome was defeated. John leaves his readers with the one thing they needed - grace in times of trouble!
      Revelation shows us that God has a way of bringing His people thru the turmoil. God wants to bless us. We don't have to go around with "headline hysteria." We don't have to constantly moan about "look what the world has come to," we can say "look who has come to the world." We must make sure we have hearts that are full of expectation for the vindication of our cause; and full of anticipation for the return of Christ; instead of heads that are full of arguments for a date of his return. This book will not bring fear to a Christian, but encourages us to FEAR NOT!!
      

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