ATTACHMENT: Overview of the Three Angel’s Messages

Before we move on to the seven last plagues today, I want to do a overview of the three angel’s messages. I want to show you why this message of the everlasting gospel is so important to us as a people today. Here are the parts of the message.

• Fear God.
• Give glory to Him.
• The hour of His judgment has come.
• Worship the Creator.
• Babylon is fallen.
• Babylon has made all nations drink the wine of the wrath of her fornication.
• The mark of the beast.
• If you receive the MOB you will drink of God’s wrath.
• If you receive the MOB you will be tormented with fire and brimstone.
• If you receive the MOB you will have no rest day or not, the smoke of your torment ascend forever.
• Here is the patience of the saints.
• Here are they that keep the commandments of God.
• Here are they that have the faith of Jesus.
• The two harvests.

What is listed above is all the components of the three angel’s messages which includes the two harvests.

What I would like to show you is why we have these fundamental beliefs in the SDA church and where we have gotten them from.

• Please download attachment above to see the overview.

You can see that the Adventist fundamental beliefs are simply built on the three angel’s messages.

• Yes, there are other important things that are added there like marriage, prayer, unpardonable sin, baptism that come with the flow of studying the scriptures.
• But overall, the fundamental beliefs of the SDA church are reflected in the three angel’s messages.
• This is why we believe what we believe.
• And remember, this is the everlasting gospel. It is the everlasting good news.
• This is the message that needs to be preached to the whole world before Jesus can come again for a second time.
• The things that we believe aren’t simply a creed. It is the gospel given to us right there from the pages of scripture.
• The SDA church is a movement of destiny. It is born right out of the pages of scripture and prophecy. And our message and our marching orders if given to us directly from the Bible itself there in Revelation.
• So that is the overview that I wanted to cover before we move to the next chapter.

 

Now we are going to be looking at the seven last plagues.

Revelation 15:1
Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous: seven angels having the seven last plagues, for in them the wrath of God is complete.

Just like what we saw back near the beginning of Revelation regarding the seven churches going into the seven seals, this order is not chronological.

• The seven seals start the same time with the seven churches. It would not make sense to continue from the second coming.
• And here we see seven angels with the seven last plagues.
• This is not after the second coming where Revelation 14 ended, but it is a short time just before the second coming.

Why seven plagues?

• The number seven is a perfect or complete number.
• At the end of this first verse, it says that the wrath of God is complete.
• This is the last plagues that will ever come on this earth.
• This is the complete wrath of God. It won’t ever get worse than this. And anything ever experienced before on earth will pale into comparison to what will be poured out in this time.
• Daniel describes it this way.
• Daniel 12:1
  “At that time Michael shall stand up, the great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people; and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation, even to that time. And at that time your people shall be delivered, every one who is found written in the book.
  • There will be a time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation.
• Anything that has come on this earth before by man or naturally, will not even be comparable.
• Our imaginations will not be able to even grasp how bad it will be in that time.
• It is the complete wrath of God.
• This originates from God. It is not from natural causes. It is the result of divine justice.

But why does God have to pour out seven plagues on the wicked at the end of time before He comes for a second time? And then later there will also be hellfire as well? How come there seems to be this extra punishment?

• The people that are living at the end of time have received the greatest amount of light from heaven, from God, and from the scriptures.
• There will be no excuse as to why anyone will have received the mark of the beast.
• And just like ancient Egypt, when the plagues fell upon them, there was a distinction between who belonged to God and who was following after Satan.
• There will be that distinction at the end of time before Christ comes. And the separation is made clear by the plagues that will fall upon the earth.
• Consider the following verses.
• Matthew 25 speaking about the coming of Christ.
  • Matthew 25:33
    And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left.
  • There is a clear division between the sheep and the goats.
• Matthew 13:41-42
  41 The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, 42 and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
  • There will be a gathering out of His kingdom all things that offend.
• The seven last plagues are going to be that clear separation between the righteous and the unrighteous. That clear separation will be made apparent BEFORE the second coming.
• Hell fire will be for all the wicked of all ages, including the devil and his angels.

Let’s come back to Revelation 15 and continue reading.

• Revelation 15:2
  And I saw something like a sea of glass mingled with fire, and those who have the victory over the beast, over his image and over his mark and over the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, having harps of God.

Who are those that have gotten the victory over the beast and his image and the mark?

• It is no doubt referring to the 144,000 and also those that would have been martyrs and perished for their faith during those times.

Where is this sea of glass? Where else do we see a sea of glass in Revelation?

• Revelation 4:6
  Before the throne there was a sea of glass, like crystal…
• So the sea of glass is before God’s throne in heaven.
• And who are those that are standing before God’s throne?
• Revelation 14:5
  And in their mouth was found no deceit, for they are without fault before the throne of God.
• This is referring to the 144,000 and how they have gotten the victory. Even God has judged them and found them faultless.

However, this sea of glass is mingled with fire. What do we understand about the fire? There is possibly a few applications. What does fire represent?

Firstly:

• 1 Peter 4:12
  Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you.
• Fire represents trials.
• This group of people, the 144,000, have gone through the most intense trials that man will ever have to face and have come out victorious. And there will never be a greater conflict than the mark of the beast issue that we have studied about in Revelation 13.

Secondly:

• Exodus 24:17
  The sight of the glory of the LORD was like a consuming fire on the top of the mountain in the eyes of the children of Israel.
• Notice that God’s glory is like a consuming fire. The fire represents the character of God.
• This group of people have fully reflected the character of God. By the help of the Holy Spirit, they have lived up to all the light that has shone on them from the holy scriptures. They are the first group of people to mature in their character. The firstfruits to God and to the Lamb.

Finally, this group is standing on the sea of glass. What does this bring to mind in scripture?

• There has only ever been one person that we know of, apart from Jesus, that has walked on water. That was Peter.
• He was able to walk on water because of his faith in Christ when Jesus asked him to come out of the boat and come to Him. And it was only as he kept his eyes on Christ that he was enabled to do that.
• This group is standing on the sea of glass because of the faith that they have in God.
• Revelation 14:12
  Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.
  • The saints have the faith of Jesus.
• Hebrews 12:2
  Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
  • They have kept their eyes on Jesus who is the author and also the finisher of their faith.

Finally there is one more detail back in Revelation 15.

• Revelation 15:2
  And I saw something like a sea of glass mingled with fire, and those who have the victory over the beast, over his image and over his mark and over the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, having harps of God.
• They have harps.

We see three groups of people holding harps in Revelation.

• Revelation 5:8
  Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.
  • The 24 elders have harps.
• Revelation 14:2
  And I heard a voice from heaven, like the voice of many waters, and like the voice of loud thunder. And I heard the sound of harpists playing their harps.
  • The 144,000 have harps in their hands.
• Revelation 15:2
  And I saw something like a sea of glass mingled with fire, and those who have the victory over the beast, over his image and over his mark and over the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, having harps of God.
  • And finally this group, the remnant, have harps in their hands as well.
• The instrument is to give praise to God. And there is no doubt that what we see in Revelation 14 is very much connected with Revelation 15. It is a song of their experience. It is a song of victory!
• But what are they singing?

Revelation 15:3-4
3 They sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying: “Great and marvelous are Your works, Lord God Almighty! Just and true are Your ways, O King of the saints! 4 Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy. For all nations shall come and worship before You, for Your judgments have been manifested.”

• They are singing the song of Moses and also the song of the Lamb.

What is the song of Moses? Let’s start there.

• The song of Moses was sung right after the crossing of the red
• The 10 plagues had already fallen. Egypt was already destroyed. Pharaoh finally let the Israelites go and they were led by God to the Red Sea – a seeming dead end.
  • The sea was in front of them, the Egyptians were behind them and the mountains were on either side of them.
• God was the only One who could deliver them, and by a mighty hand He did just that. The Israelites had the Red Sea opened before them. They crossed safely to the other side. And the Egyptians, following them, had the Red Sea come down on them and they were destroyed. Israel, finally free from the Egyptians, were led in song praising God.
• That was the song of Moses. It was a song of deliverance.
• And God’s people will stand on the sea of glass one day, and they will sing this song as a reminder of God’s deliverance from the seven last plagues, and also from the wicked people trying to destroy them because of their faithfulness towards God.

What is the song of the Lamb? It is found back in Revelation 5 where we saw the elders with harps.

• Revelation 5:8-10
  8 Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9 And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll, and to open its seals; for You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, 10 And have made us kings and priests to our God; and we shall reign on the earth.”
• The song of the Lamb is also a song of redemption and deliverance. They are made kings and priests. A song of victory. It sounds like a song where they have total and complete victory.

So Revelation 15:1-4 is giving us this big picture of the seven last plagues, and the saints at the end that are praising God for them. Now we’re about to rewind, and go back to the point at which the plagues are about to be poured out.

Revelation 15:5
After these things I looked, and behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened.

The tabernacle of the testimony is referring to the heavenly sanctuary, and in particular it is the Most Holy Place.

• There is similar wording that we have read before.
• Revelation 11:19
  Then the temple of God was opened in heaven, and the ark of His covenant was seen in His temple. And there were lightnings, noises, thunderings, an earthquake, and great hail.
• However, in this instance it is not the date 1844, but rather we are at the conclusion of Christ’s time in the Most Holy Place.
• What do we see in regards to the temple in heaven? Revelation 11 tells us that the ark of the covenant is seen there in the temple.
• This ark of the covenant is the furniture that holds the ten commandments. And the reason that the seven last plagues are being poured out is because those on the earth have disregarded that very testimony – the ten commandments.
• Romans 4:15
  because the law brings about wrath…
  • What wrath is that? It is the wrath of God.
• Psalms 73:3, 17
  3 For I was envious of the boastful, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. 17 Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I understood their end.
  • It is in the sanctuary that we understand the reason for God’s wrath – they have set aside God’s law.
  • Also it is in the sanctuary that we understand the timing of everything as well.

Revelation 15:6
And out of the temple came the seven angels having the seven plagues, clothed in pure bright linen, and having their chests girded with golden bands.

Christ is finished with His intercession above in the heavenly sanctuary. Angels are seen coming out of the temple and they are holding the seven last plagues.

• These angels are also clothed in the attire of priests. They are wearing linen and also have a gold band around them like a belt.
• It’s as if they have gone in to enquire of God and are coming out with an answer. And that answer is the seven last plagues.

This is the fulfilment of the third angel’s message in Revelation 14.

• Revelation 14:9-10
  9 Then a third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand, 10 he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation…
• Those that receive the mark of the beast will taste of God’s wrath.

Revelation 15:7-8
7 Then 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 The temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from His power, and no one was able to enter the temple till the seven plagues of the seven angels were completed.

The four living creatures:

• The four living creatures, we saw back in Revelation 4 & 5. It was the angel’s of God.
• God’s angel’s have much to do with last day events, and things that are taking place in heaven.

We have also seen golden bowls in Revelation as well.

• Here in Revelation 15, they contain the wrath of God.
• How about elsewhere?
• Revelation 5:8
  Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.
  • These golden bowls contained the prayers of the saints.
• What were the saints praying for?
  • Revelation 6:10
    And they cried with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?”
  • They were crying out for judgment and vengeance.
• And those prayers are finally answered in the seven last plagues. This is when God will judge and avenge all those that have been persecuted and slain as martyrs for God.
• And the final vengeance, of course, will be at the very end will fire will be poured on all the wicked after the 1000 years are finished.

What is the significance of the temple being filled with the glory of God? Where have we seen something similar?

• Exodus 40:34-35
  34 Then the cloud covered the tabernacle of meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. 35 And Moses was not able to enter the tabernacle of meeting, because the cloud rested above it, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.
• This took place when the sanctuary was finally dedicated for use on earth. Everything was built and set up. And the final thing that took place was God’s glory filling the whole temple.
• At the same time, no one could enter the temple anymore – both in Exodus and also in Revelation.
• Here in Revelation, we are at the conclusion the sanctuary service. God is finally done with His intercession. And His glory, His character, will also be revealed in vengeance as well.
• Exodus 20:4-6
  4 “You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; 5 you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, 6 but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.
  • The warning was given in the ten commandments.
  • God is a jealous God.
  • He would visit the iniquity of the fathers on the children.
• Isaiah 42:8
  I am the LORD, that is My name; and My glory I will not give to another, nor My praise to carved images.
  • God’s glory will be revealed to the whole world.
  • And that glory is not just the love of God. But part of that glory is His vengeance as well.
• And this is what we see in the seven last plagues.
• These plagues are not like that in Egypt, to warn, to show that Moses’ God was the true God, to have a chance to convert some. These plagues are just pure punishment of those that disregarded God’s law, the light that had shone on their pathway that they chose to turn away clearly from.