Well, let's open our Bibles, please, to Revelation.
Revelation chapter 15 and 16.
So we're going to read not all of it.
Just follow along with me.
I'll direct you as we go along.
Revelation chapter 15.
And we'll read from verse 1.
I saw in heaven another great and marvellous sign.
Seven angels with the seven last plagues.
Last because with them God's wrath is completed.
And I saw what looked like a sea of glass glowing with fire and standing beside the sea, those who had been victorious over the beast and its image and over the number of its name.
They held harps given them by God.
And they sang the song of God's servant Moses and of the Lamb.
Great and marvellous are your deeds, Lord God Almighty.
Just and true are your ways, King of the nations.
Who will not fear you, Lord, and bring glory to your name?
For you alone are holy.
All nations will come and worship before you.
For your righteous acts have been revealed.
Let's jump to chapter 16, verse 1.
Then I heard a loud voice from the temple saying to the seven angels,
Go, pour out the seven bowls of God's wrath on the earth.
The first angel went and poured out his bowl on the land and ugly, festering sores broke out on the people who had the mark of the beast and worshipped its image.
The second angel poured out his bowl on the sea and it turned into blood like that of a dead person and every living thing in the sea died.
The third angel poured out his bowl on the rivers of springs of water and they became blood.
Then I heard the angel in charge of the water say,
You are just in these judgments, O Holy One, you who are and who were.
For they have shed the blood of your holy people and your prophets and you have given them blood to drink as they deserve.
And I heard the altar respond,
Yes, Lord God Almighty, true and just are your judgments.
The fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun and the sun was allowed to scorch people with fire.
They were seared by an intense heat and they cursed the name of God who had control over all these plagues,
but they refused to repent and glorify him.
The fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast and its kingdom and was plunged into darkness.
People gnawed their tongues in agony and cursed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores,
but they refused to repent of what they had done.
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.
Then I saw three impure spirits that looked like frogs.
They came out of the mouth of the dragon and out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet.
They are demonic spirits that perform signs and they go out to the kings of the whole world
to gather them for the battle on that great day of God Almighty.
Look, I come like a thief.
Blessed is the one who stays awake and remains closed so as not to go naked and be shamefully exposed.
Then they gathered the kings together to the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon.
The seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air and out of the temple came a loud voice from the throne saying,
It is done.
Well, if you just turn back to Revelation 12, we're going to start there.
And I'm just going to pray again for us.
Father, we thank you for our church family here.
We thank you for the church family in Egberth and in Jalan
and the many church families that are meeting around the world this very day.
We thank you for the freedom we have to do this.
No threat of any police or anybody closing this meeting down.
But yet as we gather, we want to remember those who are in very difficult and hard situations.
And we pray that as they hear your word and as they perhaps sing,
sometimes singing quietly so that they're not heard,
that you would encourage them this day.
Build them up in their faith.
Strengthen them.
That they will be courageous to stand strong for you.
And so we pray, Father, that as we hear your word,
we too would be encouraged
to persevere,
to keep going
and to trust you
in all things.
Amen.
Well, we're at war.
Look at chapter 12, verse 17.
Then the dragon, who we know as Satan,
was enraged at the woman
and went off to wage war against the rest of her offspring.
Who are the offspring?
Well, those who keep God's commands
and hold fast their testimony about Jesus.
Satan is at war with the church
against Christians.
And the battle is brutal
and it's bloody.
Salmoun, who is a colleague of Mickey,
the man who we support in Kashmir.
Salmoun runs a community radio program
that attracts lots of gospel inquiries
and seeks to serve the community
in other practical ways.
Well, I got a message this week
to say that Salmoun, Mickey's colleague,
was brutally attacked
by 14 men
in a sustained and clearly targeted public beating.
Despite what happened to him,
they're not stopping their ministry.
But they've asked for prayers,
for courage to keep going.
Every day around the world,
one in seven Christians
face severe persecution,
beatings,
abductions,
imprisonment.
In fact, over 5,000 believers
will die for their faith
in the coming year.
But this war that we've been talking about
over these last few weeks,
we know is also on our doorstep.
Every day as we go to work
or go to college
or wherever we find ourselves,
we are under pressure
to compromise our faith.
Why talk about Jesus
or why declare,
this is what the Bible says,
when we know
it's only going to end badly.
Say nothing.
Go with the flow.
Just keep the head down.
It may be subtle,
but the battle is real.
So how do people like Solomon
keep going
under such pressure?
How do we,
as Karageline Baptist Church,
how do we stay faithful
in the battle?
How do we keep on going?
Well, chapters 15 and 16
of Revelation
to where we turn now
show us what we can look forward to,
which will give us motivation
and give us encouragement
to persevere and to keep on.
Look at chapter 15, verse 1.
I saw in heaven
another great and marvellous sign.
So here we're at one level
where we're aware
of the war that rages
here on earth.
But once again,
we're taken into heaven
to see the world in history
from God's perspective.
And what do we see
as we enter into heaven?
Look at the rest of verse 1.
We see seven angels
with the seven last plagues.
Last,
because with them
God's wrath
is completed.
You see,
what we're seeing here
is that God's full
and final judgment
is about to come.
Look at verse 2.
And I saw what looked like
a sea of glass
glowing with fire.
Now,
sea in the Bible
represents chaos
and destruction.
And here,
as we look closely,
the sea is smooth,
isn't it?
It's like a sheet of glass.
But at the same time,
it's glowing with fire.
You see,
God is about to bring
a calm
to the powers of darkness.
He's about to still
the forces of evil
with the fire
of judgment.
God isn't unsettled
or paralyzed
by the chaos
that we see
all around us.
God isn't panicked
by Satan's war.
Satan
and his minions
do not have
the last word.
God does.
So,
verse 7.
Then one of the four
living creatures
gave to the seven angels
seven golden bowls
filled with the wrath
of God
who lives
forever and ever.
Well,
what are they for?
Well,
look at chapter 16,
verse 1.
Then I heard
a loud voice
from the temple
saying to the seven angels,
Go pour out
the seven bowls
of God's wrath
on the earth.
You see,
a day is coming
when the wrath
of God,
like a torrent,
will be poured out
on all those
who oppose Christ
and destroy
his church.
A day is coming
when justice
will be done.
Now,
as we together
think about
God's wrath,
his judgment
being poured out,
how do you
feel about that?
What do you think?
Are you anxious?
Are you worried?
Are you fearful
at the thought
of what is going
to happen?
Well,
if we are Christians,
we are to see it
as something
that is good
and right.
It's something
we are to
long for
and look forward
for in anticipation
because as we
see God's
judgment,
yes,
on the one hand
it will be
terrifying
for God's enemies,
but it will be
joyful
for God's people.
Terrifying
for enemies,
but joyful
for the church.
so as we
see
God's
judgment,
as we
see his
full and
final judgment
being poured
out,
it will
mean
a celebration
of God's
just
and righteous
acts.
As God's
wrath is about
to fall,
surprisingly,
the first thing
we encounter
or we see
is that there
is a celebration
going on.
Look at the
picture before
us in
verse 2,
chapter 15.
I saw what
looked like a
sea of glass
glowing with
fire,
and standing
beside the
sea,
who's there?
Those who
had been
victorious over
the beast
and its image
and over the
number of
its name.
And they
held harps
given to
them by
God,
and sang
the song
of God's
servant
Moses
and of
the Lamb.
God's
people,
by the
sea,
where it
is calm,
where all
the chaos
has been
stilled,
there they
are standing
victorious
over their
enemy,
and they're
singing songs
of praise.
They're
celebrating
God's
just and
righteous
acts.
Look at
verse 3,
look at the
song.
They sing,
great and
marvellous
are your
deeds,
Lord God
Almighty.
Just and
true are
your ways,
King of
the nations.
End of
verse 4,
all nations
will come
and worship
before you,
for your
righteous
acts
have been
revealed.
Now,
doesn't that
sound a bit
strange to
you?
When was
the last
time we
sang a
song of
celebration
and in
praise of
God's
judgment
coming,
how can
you celebrate
God's
judgments?
Well,
there's two
things we
can learn
from this
song.
First,
God judges
to save.
You see,
this isn't
the first
time that
we come
across this
scene here
that we
read about
in verse
2 and
3.
God's
people by
the sea
standing
victorious
over their
enemy
and singing
songs of
celebration.
Does that
ring any
bells to
you?
Well,
look with
me back
to Exodus
chapter 14.
Exodus
chapter 14.
What we
find here
is that
God's
people are
in slavery
under the
cruel tyrant
Pharaoh.
He's
treated them
brutally.
He's had
them killed.
He's had
them beaten.
And despite
many warnings,
many plagues,
Pharaoh
was refused.
So God
responds with
yet more
a final
judgment.
We can
read what
happens at
the end
in chapter
14.
God's
people are
on their
way out
of Egypt
towards
the Red
Sea.
But in
front of
them is
the sea
and pursuing
behind them
rapidly are
the pursuing
enemies.
What's going
to happen?
Well,
chapter 14,
verse 21.
As they
come to
the sea,
then Moses
stretched out
his hand
over the
sea and
all that
night the
Lord drove
the sea
back with
the strongest
east wind
and turned
it into
dry land.
The waters
were divided
and the
Israelites
went through
the sea
on dry
ground
with a
wall of
water on
their right
and on
the left.
The Egyptians
pursued them
and all
Pharaoh's
horses and
chariots and
horsemen
followed them
into the
sea.
Verse 26.
Then the
Lord said
to Moses,
Stretch out
your hand
over the
sea so
that the
waters may
flow back
over the
Egyptians
and their
chariots
and horsemen.
Moses
stretched out
his hand
over the
sea and
at daybreak
the sea
went back
to its
place.
The Egyptians
were fleeing
towards it
and the
Lord swept
them into
the sea.
Verse 30.
That day
the Lord
saved Israel
from the
hands of
the Egyptians
and Israel
saw the
Egyptians
lying dead
on the
shore.
You see
God brings
his judgment
and his
people
are saved.
God's
wrath is
being poured
out on
these tyrants,
on these
who have
caused so
much
injustice
to a
people
so that
they might
in turn
experience
salvation.
And in
response,
Moses leads
the people
in songs of
celebration.
As they
turn round
and look
and see
their defeated
enemy swept
up in the
sea,
they begin
to sing.
Look at
chapter 15
verse 1.
I will
sing to
the Lord
for he
is highly
exalted,
both horse
and rider
he is hurled
into the
sea.
The Lord
is my
strength
and my
defence.
He
has become
my salvation.
You see
they are
celebrating
God's
just
and
righteous
acts.
Now let's
go back
to
Revelation
chapter
16.
You see
this isn't
just the
song of
Moses.
Look at
verse 3.
This is
the song
of God's
servant
Moses
and of
the Lamb.
This is
telling us
that a
day is
coming
when the
Lamb,
the risen
Lord
Jesus
is going
to come
again to
bring his
judgment.
Not just
on one
people
or just
in one
particular
place
as was
the case
with
Moses.
But it's
a judgment
that is
going to
fall on
all people
in all
of the
world.
Just as
the waves
of judgment
came crashing
down on
Pharaoh and
his armies,
so God's
judgment
will come
crashing down
on all
his enemies.
It will
be a day
of
justice.
Everyone
will be
held
accountable.
Every
wrong
will be
put
right.
As we
think of
all the
injustices
going on
in the
world
right now,
whether it's
the war
in Ukraine,
or whether
it's an
innocent
victim
being
burgled,
all will
be put
right.
Everything
that we
have said
and done
will be
laid out
before the
judge.
All of
our
achievements
and successes,
all of
our failures
and all
our secrets,
nothing
will be
hidden.
Everything
will be
laid
bare.
And on
that day,
God's
full and
final judgment
will fall.
And heaven
will sing
in celebration,
great and
marvellous are
your deeds,
Lord God
Almighty.
Just and
true are
your ways,
King of
the nations.
All the
nations will
come and
worship before
you, for
your righteous
acts have
been revealed.
Justice
will be
done.
You see,
justice is
good news.
isn't it?
Because we
all long,
every one
of us,
long for
it all to
be put
right.
Even now
as we
think of
hurts that
have been
done to
us,
or big
things that
we see
going on
in the
world,
we long
for it
all to
be put
right.
But also
means a
day when
we will
stand before
God.
Justice
not only
means wrongs
corrected,
but it
means punishment
will be
received.
God's
full and
final judgment
will fall
and when
it does,
all of
heaven will
celebrate
God's
just and
righteous
acts.
The question
is,
is this
something you
and I
celebrate?
is this
what we're
looking forward
to?
Well,
when God's
just and
righteous
acts fall,
there will
be things
we can
celebrate
as his
people.
As God's
full and
final judgment
comes,
it will
mean the
vindication
of God's
suffering
and persecuted
people.
as Satan
goes to
war against
the church,
there has
been and
there will
be many
casualties.
Many have
suffered
opposition
and persecution.
Innocent
believers
speaking out
for Jesus
and standing
for the
truth
get beaten,
but
they are
not forgotten.
Through
God's
judgments,
God's
people are
vindicated.
we see
this in
two ways.
First,
God hears
our cries.
Turn with
me,
please,
back to
Revelation
chapter 6.
You may
remember
this prayer,
this cry
from God's
people.
Revelation
chapter 6
shows us
what Christians
are to
expect.
Verse 9.
When he
opened the
fifth seal,
I saw
under the
altar
the souls
of those
who had
been slain
because of
the word
of God
and the
testimony
they had
maintained.
So here
we have
a picture
of all
God's
people
who have
been
faithful
in their
witness,
faithful
to the
point of
death.
They
persevered
in hard
times.
And verse
10.
They
called out
in a
loud
voice,
How
long,
sovereign
Lord,
holy and
true,
until you
judge the
inhabitants
of the
earth and
avenge
our
blood?
When
will we
get
justice
for all
that has
happened
to us?
For all
the wrongs
that have
been done?
when is
justice
going to
come?
Well,
look at
God's
response
in verse
11.
Then each
of them
was given
a white
robe,
a sign
of their
acceptance
before God,
and they
were told
to wait
a little
longer
until the
full number
of their
fellow
servants,
their
brothers and
sisters,
were killed
just as
they had
been.
What an
answer.
How long,
Lord?
When are
you going
to put
right all
these
wrongs?
Oh,
just wait
a little
bit longer
because there
are yet
more people
to die
for their
faith.
In fact,
more believers
have died
for their
faith in
the last
100 years,
than in
the last
2000 years
combined.
Brothers and
sisters in
Christ,
people just
like you
and I,
but just
living in a
different
context,
intentionally
and violently
put to death
because they
love Jesus
and they
love other
people enough
to tell them
about Jesus.
And the
cry goes up,
how many
more?
When will
justice be
done?
How long
until this
brutal and
bloody war
is over?
Well,
God hears
the cries
of his
people.
God
listens to
those who
in their
death cry
out for
justice.
Let's go
back to
chapter 16.
Because here
we see that
God does
answer with
justice.
The
waiting that
he had
told his
people is
over.
Here is the
ultimate answer
to those who've
been martyred for
their faith.
Chapter 16,
verse 1.
I heard a
loud voice
from the
temple saying
to the
seven angels,
go,
pour out the
seven bowls
of God's
wrath on
the earth.
Now,
notice here
the way that
judgment comes,
verse 3.
The second
angel poured
out his bowl
on the sea
and it was
turned into
blood,
like that
of a dead
person.
And every
living thing
in the sea
died.
The third
angel poured
out his bowl
on the
rivers and
the springs
of water
and they
became blood.
But why
all this
blood?
Well,
it's graphic
imagery for
what these
people have
done to
God's people
and what
God is going
to do to
them.
God's message
is clear.
Look at
verse 5.
Then I heard
the angel in
charge of the
water say,
you are just
in these
judgments,
so holy
one,
who were,
who are,
and who
were.
For they
have shed
the blood
of your
holy people
and your
prophets,
and you
have given
them blood
to drink
as they
deserve.
God hears
their cry
for justice.
He hasn't
forgotten.
He says,
you shed
the blood
of my
people,
so I
will now
come and
shed your
blood.
you
killed
and
murdered
my
faithful
servants.
You
left
wives
without
a
husband,
children
without
a
mother,
churches
without
pastors,
you
cut
them
down,
so I
will pour
out my
wrath on
you.
in chapter
6,
they cried
out,
how long
sovereign
Lord,
holy and
true until
you judge
the inhabitants
of the
earth and
avenge our
blood.
Well,
God's
full and
final
judgment
falls as
we hear
another
cry,
verse 7.
The same
people
respond,
and I
heard the
altar
respond,
yes,
Lord God
Almighty,
true and
just are
your
judgments.
God is
not a
bloodthirsty
tyrant who
just enjoys
doing these
sorts of
things.
No,
God is
fair and
right.
And as
we look
forward to
God's full
and final
judgment to
come,
we know
that God
will vindicate
his suffering
and persecuted
church.
And it
also means
that he
hears your
cries.
And he
doesn't
forget your
cries.
And all
the difficulties
and the
hardships that
you have
gone through
as a
believer,
as you've
taken your
stand and
as you've
sought to
witness for
him and
all the
pushbacks.
God hears
your cry.
And God
will vindicate
the suffering
and persecute
the church.
So there
can be a
celebration
because God
vindicates
his people.
But there's
another reason
we can
celebrate.
With the
full and
final judgment
will come
the destruction
of God's
unrepentant
and evil
enemies.
Satan's
war with
the church
is severe.
But God
will see
that that
war will
end with
the destruction
of all
his enemies.
But before
it comes
there is a
call to
repentance.
You see
when we
read and
as we
think about
God's
wrath being
poured out
the accusation
can be
that's not
fair.
people
didn't have
a chance.
They
didn't know.
Well God's
judgments are
always true
and just.
He is
fair.
God has
given
warning to
the world
through the
devastating
disasters that
we experience
in the world
every day.
All the
wars,
all the
violence,
the floods
and famines
that we read
and hear
about,
they're all
signs that
this world
that we
live in
is broken
and it's
not right
and that
God is
coming in
judgment.
But he's
also given
the testimony
of the
church as
people have
witnessed
for him.
And so
God's
judgments are
poured out,
verse 9.
They were
seared by
an intense
heat.
Again,
I don't
think this
is necessarily
literal but
just a
description of
God's
final judgment.
verse 11.
And they
cursed the
name of
God who
had control
over these
plagues.
But they
refused to
repent and
glorify him.
Verse 11.
And cursed
the God of
heaven because
of their
pains and
sores, but
they refused
to repent of
what they
had done.
them.
You see, it's
not that
people don't
have
opportunity.
It's not
God who's
hard.
It's people
who have
become hard
hearted.
With every
call for
repentance,
for some,
there is a
deepening
refusal to
listen to
God.
God can't
be charged
with being
unfair or
unkind.
When God's
wrath is
poured out,
no excuse
can be
made.
You see,
people who
refuse God,
who refuse
the Lord Jesus
Christ,
at the end
of the day,
only have
themselves to
blame.
in fact,
what will
happen is
there will
be a
gathering for
judgment.
You see,
as history
moves along,
it's moving
towards a
final and
ultimate battle.
Look at
verse 14.
Verse 14,
they,
that is,
Satan and
the powers
of darkness
and evil,
their demonic
spirits that
have performed
signs and
they go out
to the kings
of the whole
world,
leading them
astray,
to gather
them for
battle on
the great
day of
God Almighty.
You see,
Satan remains
opposed to
Christ and
his church
and as he
goes about
his work,
it's as if
he's gathering
all those
who hate
Christ and
hate his
church and
he's bringing
them all
together for
battle.
And included
in that are
those who
have refused
to repent,
verse 16.
Then they
gathered the
kings together
in that place
that in
Hebrew is
called
Armageddon.
Now Armageddon
is not a
literal location,
but it's
imagery for
the war
between the
church and
Satan.
It's not a
physical battle,
but it's a
spiritual battle
that rages on.
We know about
it right now
when it
intensifies as
we get
closer to
the time
of Christ's
return.
The prophet
Zechariah
spoke about
this final
battle and
what was going
to happen and
what it would
be like.
Here's what he
said.
On that
day,
on that
final day,
when all the
nations are
gathered against
her,
I will
make
Jerusalem,
that is
God's
people,
an immovable
rock for
the nations.
And all
who try to
move it
will injure
themselves.
And on
that day,
the Lord
will shield
those who
live in
Jerusalem.
On that
day,
I will set
out to
destroy all
the nations
that attack
Jerusalem.
So we
have the
scene set,
don't we,
here in
Revelation.
Satan and
his minions,
all the
kings and
all the
rulers that
have taken
their stand
against God
over all
of history.
All those
who've
refused and
will not
repent,
will gather
for battle
against Christ
and his
church.
But as
they gather
for war,
God's not
taken by
surprise,
for he is
gathering them
for judgment.
And on
that day,
God's
people will
be like
an immovable
rock.
And all
who come
against them,
it's as if
they will
injure
themselves.
Verse 17,
on that
day,
the seventh
angel poured
out his
bowl into
the air,
and out
of the
temple came
a loud
voice from
the throne
saying,
it is
done.
That's the
result.
In the
end, there
really is no
great battle.
The victory
is decisive
and complete.
Jesus, the
king, wins
over all his
enemies, and
they are all
destroyed.
It's over.
The war
finished.
No more
Satan, no
more suffering.
You see, as
we long for
God's full
and final
judgment to
come, we
know that
when it
does, God
will destroy
unrepentant
and evil
enemies.
Now, as
we think
about this,
God's
wrath being
poured out,
how do
you feel?
We asked
the same
question at
the beginning.
Are you
anxious?
Are you
worried?
Are you
fearful?
It's
actually a
terrifying
thought to
think that
this is how
it will all
end.
You see, we
all want
justice, don't
we?
But the
thing is, we
don't want
justice to
fall on
me.
We want
God to
deal with
all our
enemies,
but we
want God
to make
exceptions
for me.
God,
fire on
those people,
but mercy
on me.
God's
full and
final judgment
is fearful.
people.
But here's
the thing,
it doesn't
need to
be.
There is
a place of
safety and
security that
will keep
us and
keep all
who come
to Christ
safe on
the day of
judgment.
Look at
verse 17.
Did you
hear that
cry, that
loud voice
from the
throne?
It is
done.
We've
heard that
cry before,
haven't we?
Not from
the throne,
but from
the cross.
Remember
what Jesus
shouted from
the cross as
he breathed
his last?
It is
finished.
It's
done.
It's
over.
You see,
at the
cross, as
Jesus died,
as we so
often sing,
the wrath of
God was
satisfied.
The judgment
that you and
I deserve and
that the whole
world deserves
was poured
out on
Jesus.
That means
that all,
anyone and
everyone who
is repentant
can rest in
the security
of the cross.
As the
waves of
judgment come
crashing down,
it is Christ
with his arms
open wide
that absorbs
it all.
The full and
final judgment
of God
for you and
for I
falls on
him.
And so we
can celebrate
God's just
and righteous
acts.
We can
celebrate that
God's vindication
destruction of
his people
will be
right.
We can
celebrate,
yes,
the destruction
of all
God's
enemies.
But it
also means
that we
too have
someone and
somewhere to
point other
people.
Not just
us,
but we can
bring people
to Jesus.
We can show
them that
in this
God,
we have
one who
will bring
grace and
mercy.
God's
God of
justice who
will hold
all to
account and
he will
correct every
wrong and
put all
things right.
Yes,
we have the
sure and
certain hope
of sharing
in that
final victory
and that
is the
message
God's
church is
to bring.
That is
the weapon
we use
in this
war.
A weapon
of grace
and mercy,
forgiveness,
Christ who
died for
you and
for me
so that
justice
could be
done.
You see,
if we are
Christians,
God's
judgment
is good
and right.
It is
something to
long for.
It is
something
we can
celebrate.
the
vindication
of all
God's
suffering
and
persecuted
people
and the
destruction
of his
unrepentant
enemies.
Let's pray
together.
Father, we
confess that
we live
life
so much
by our
own
thoughts
and our
own
ideas.
But would
you please
give us
afresh
this vision.
help us
to look
into heaven
itself
and to
see what
you are
going to
do.
And help
us that we
might be a
people who
continue to
run to
Jesus,
our
rescuer,
our
saviour.
Thank you,
Father,
that your
justice was
poured out
on him,
that he
took the
blame for
my sin,
so that I
can point
others to
Jesus,
that they
too might
find grace
and mercy,
forgiveness,
us,
and that
they too
can look
forward to
justice being
done.
Father,
help us to
live our
lives in
the light of
your word.
Give us
strength and
encouragement,
we pray.
In Jesus'
name,
Amen.