Study of the Book of Revelation: Chapter 15 and 16
by Pastor Jim Summerson

THE PATH TO ARMAGEDDON

INTRODUCTION

  1. The Great Tribulation - Last 3 1/2 Years

  2. God's Wrath is Full, v.1

  3. Three Judgments Presented in Sets of Seven

    1. Seven Seals, v.4-5

    2. Seven Trumpets, v.8

    3. Seven Vials, v.16

  1. VISION, 15:1-5

    1. Another Sign
      Note: 12:1,3

    2. Vision of Seven Last Plagues, 15:1

      1. Last plauges

      2. Word seven occurs eight times in the chapter

      3. Meaning of "filled up", 15:1

      1. Romans 2:4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? 5 But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; 6 Who will render to every man according to his deeds: 7 To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: 8 But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, 9 Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; 11 For there is no respect of persons with God.

      2. Zephaniah 3:8 Therefore wait ye upon me, saith the LORD, until the day that I rise up to the prey: for my determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them mine indignation, even all my fierce anger: for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy.
        (Vial is a bowl and each is full)

      3. Hebrews 2:1 Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. 2 For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward; 3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;

    3. Sea of Glass v.2, Hebrews 12:29 For our God is a consuming fire.

    4. Tribulation Saints, v.2

    5. Song of Moses, v.3

    6. Anticipating the Millennium, v.4

    7. Scene in Heaven v.5; Revelation 11:19 And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.

  2. VIALS, 15:6 - 16:21

    Quote by Strauss, "Presently God is extending His grace to all men. But in the day of His judicial action, none need try to seek Him, for He will not be found. Grace will be withdrawen and prayer will go unanswered . . . Heaven will be barricated so that none can enter until justice is satisfied."

    Quote by Moses - Exodus 20:3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me. 4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:

    Quote by Jeremiah - Lamentations 3:43 Thou hast covered with anger, and persecuted us: thou hast slain, thou hast not pitied. 44Thou hast covered thyself with a cloud, that our prayer should not pass through.

    1. First Vial, v.3

      1. Directed at the worshippers of the beast

      2. Noisome means painfully bad
        Note: Revelation 13:3,4,6,14

    2. Second Vial, v.3

    3. Third Vial, v.4-7
      Deut. 32:40 For I lift up my hand to heaven, and say, I live for ever. 41 If I whet my glittering sword, and mine hand take hold on judgment; I will render vengeance to mine enemies, and will reward them that hate me. 42 I will make mine arrows drunk with blood, and my sword shall devour flesh; and that with the blood of the slain and of the captives, from the beginning of revenges upon the enemy. 43 Rejoice, O ye nations, with his people: for he will avenge the blood of his servants, and will render vengeance to his adversaries, and will be merciful unto his land, and to his people.

    4. Fourth Vial, v.4-7
      "If man rejects the kindness and love of God, judgement will hardly change his heart."

    5. Fifth Vial, v.10-11
      "Darkness which describes the beast's kingdom is that moral and Spiritual darkness which results, not from ignorance, but from willfully rejecting the truth."
      Note: Mt. 6:22-23; John 3:19-21; col. 1:12-13; Hebrews 5:14

    6. Sixth Vial, v.12-16

    7. Seventh Vial, v.17-21

  3. VICTORY

    1. Actually persuade world to try and overthrow God, v.14

    2. Work Miracles, v.14
      2 Thess. 2:8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: 9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, 10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: 12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

    3. Will be an all out Global war

    4. This is Armageddon

    5. Victory at last, v.17-21
      Note: Vs.17 "It Is Done!"