The Bible Unbound - Book of Revelation

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Today we once again journey into the depths of understanding the beauty of the Lamb of God in Revelation, both in His creative and in His re-creative works.  Comparing Paul's declaration in Col 1:16 "For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him" with IMAX-like brilliance in the book of Revelation, we catch a glimpse of His incredible creative power.

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The church is in dire straights as we see fault lines threatening to divide her into pieces.  It seems that the charismatic church is undergaing severe exposure, and the Evangelical church is dividing ever things like "Christian Zionism".   Into this sadly  impure mixture, we want to contribute the healing message of the Lamb, but not just the lamb as we are familiar with seeing Him (this is a study of the book of Revelation after all,) but of the stunning ONTOLOGY of the Lamb.  What is at the essential heart of this great Being who is about to crush all evil? (Chaps 17-20).

Along with texts from Revelation itself, we get a little help from the Apostle Paul who contributes greatly to the ontology of the lamb with his writings in the book of Collosians:

Col. 1:15-20:  He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. 

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We are currently between chapters 16 and 17, but are taking this week to provide a 35,000 foot fly over review of the seven great visions of John in the Book of Revelation.

If you are unfamiliar with the flow and arrangement of the book of Revelation, this episode will provide you with a good overview.

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Before resuming our exposition of Revelation (we will resume at chapter 17) we will take a couple of weeks to review the methods of interpreting the book, along with discussing the Theme, Purpose and Occasion of this very special book of the Bible.   

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"A darkness that can be felt" was how this special form of judgmental darkness is described in Exodus 10.  The Exodus darkness was only a three-day long preview of what happens when God plunges the "Throne of the Beast" into the anguish of the darkness of Judgment.  Here is that intense account.

Revelation 16:10 The fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and its kingdom was plunged into darkness. People gnawed their tongues in anguish 11 and cursed the God of heaven for their pain and sores. They did not repent of their deeds. 

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Having done the necessary background and contextual setting of the Revelation 15-16 "BOWLS OF GOD'S WRATH", we come in today's episode, to begin to consider the bowls themselves (first 4).   This section is seen  in Revelation 16:1-9:

Revelation 16:1  Then I heard a loud voice from the temple telling the seven angels, “Go and pour out on the earth the seven bowls of the wrath of God.” 

2 So the first angel went and poured out his bowl on the earth, and harmful and painful sores came upon the people who bore the mark of the beast and worshiped its image. 

3 The second angel poured out his bowl into the sea, and it became like the blood of a corpse, and every living thing died that was in the sea. 

4 The third angel poured out his bowl into the rivers and the springs of water, and they became blood. 5 And I heard the angel in charge of the waters say, 

“Just are you, O Holy One, who is and who was, 

for you brought these judgments. 

6 For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, 

and you have given them blood to drink. 

It is what they deserve!” 

7 And I heard the altar saying, 

“Yes, Lord God the Almighty, 

true and just are your judgments!” 

8 The fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and it was allowed to scorch people with fire. 9 They were scorched by the fierce heat, and they cursed the name of God who had power over these plagues. They did not repent and give him glory. 

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In this episode, we observe 5 (of 6) principles that undergird the unfolding of the Seven Bowls of God's final wrath.   We will resume next week with a close examination of the controversial but crucial narrative of Armageddon.  These five undergirding principles will help pave the way for us.

REVELATION 16 Then I heard a loud voice from the temple telling the seven angels, “Go and pour out on the earth the seven bowls of the wrath of God.” 

2 So the first angel went and poured out his bowl on the earth, and harmful and painful sores came upon the people who bore the mark of the beast and worshiped its image. 

3 The second angel poured out his bowl into the sea, and it became like the blood of a corpse, and every living thing died that was in the sea. 

4 The third angel poured out his bowl into the rivers and the springs of water, and they became blood. 5 And I heard the angel in charge of the waters say, 

“Just are you, O Holy One, who is and who was, 

for you brought these judgments. 

6 For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, 

and you have given them blood to drink. 

It is what they deserve!” 

7 And I heard the altar saying, 

“Yes, Lord God the Almighty, 

true and just are your judgments!” 

8 The fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and it was allowed to scorch people with fire. 9 They were scorched by the fierce heat, and they cursed the name of God who had power over these plagues. They did not repent and give him glory. 

10 The fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and its kingdom was plunged into darkness. People gnawed their tongues in anguish 11 and cursed the God of heaven for their pain and sores. They did not repent of their deeds. 

12 The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up, to prepare the way for the kings from the east. 13 And I saw, coming out of the mouth of the dragon and out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits like frogs. 14 For they are demonic spirits, performing signs, who go abroad to the kings of the whole world, to assemble them for battle on the great day of God the Almighty. 15 (“Behold, I am coming like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake, keeping his garments on, that he may not go about naked and be seen exposed!”) 16 And they assembled them at the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon. 

17 The seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple, from the throne, saying, “It is done!” 18 And there were flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, and a great earthquake such as there had never been since man was on the earth, so great was that earthquake. 19 The great city was split into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell, and God remembered Babylon the great, to make her drain the cup of the wine of the fury of his wrath. 20 And every island fled away, and no mountains were to be found. 21 And great hailstones, about one hundred pounds each, fell from heaven on people; and they cursed God for the plague of the hail, because the plague was so severe. 

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When considering the subject of God's wrath, we must consider the dual and transcendent expression of that wrath.  It is not simply wrath expressed in a moment of time on the rebellious sons of Adam.  That is only half of the story.  We must look at both major expressions of God's wrath -- one upon the earth, the other in the bosom of His Son. 

Revelation 15:5 After this I looked, and the sanctuary of the tent of witness in heaven was opened, 6 and out of the sanctuary came the seven angels with the seven plagues, clothed in pure, bright linen, with golden sashes around their chests. 7 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, 8 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. 

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Today we peer onto the shore of the abyss (sea) and trace out how the abyss became a glassy sea and the place of deliverance -- first from Egypt, and then from sin.

This portion of the book of Revelation previews John's final 7-structured narrative, the seven plagues (bowls) of the final wrath of God.

Revelation 15:1 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. 

2 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 the number of its name, standing beside the sea of glass with harps of God in their hands. 3 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! 

4 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.” 

5 After this I looked, and the sanctuary of the tent of witness in heaven was opened, 6 and out of the sanctuary came the seven angels with the seven plagues, clothed in pure, bright linen, with golden sashes around their chests.

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Today we start a brand new vision of the Apostle John -- that of the seven bowls of wrath.   Having seen the visions of the 7 churches, 7 seals, 7 trumpets, 7 thunders, we now come to John's final 7-structured narrative.   The taming of the abyss (sea) is the focus of today's episode.  

Revelation 15:1 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. 

2 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 the number of its name, standing beside the sea of glass with harps of God in their hands. 3 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! 

4 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.” 

5 After this I looked, and the sanctuary of the tent of witness in heaven was opened, 6 and out of the sanctuary came the seven angels with the seven plagues, clothed in pure, bright linen, with golden sashes around their chests.

If you wish to contact me with any comments, questions, suggestions, etc please feel free to write to my email:  [email protected]