“The Fragrance of Wrath and Worship” Revelation Chapter 15

Title of tonight's message is the Fragrance of Wrath and

Worship. As you're turning to Revelation

15, imagine that you're flying as a passenger in an aeroplane.

The engines begin to fail. It's the the absolute worst

nightmare and experience. Even flying and experiencing

turbulence can be a little frightening.

The pilot radios in desperately. Pilot to tower, Pilot to tower,

400 kilometres from land, 200 metres above the water.

Please advise. After a pause, the reply comes

back. Tower to pilot, tower to pilot.

Repeat after me, our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy

name. When all hope seems gone, what

is left but to cry out to God? And Revelation 15 brings us to

such a moment. It is.

Many commentators have called this closing time for human

history as we know it. God's patience, which has been

stretched out for hundreds of centuries, finally reaches its

conclusion. As we read here, 7 angels

prepared to pour out the final bowls of God's wrath.

And yet even here in the darkest hour, as we read, and it extends

on into chapter 16 as well, even here in this darkest hour, there

is light, a glimmer of hope, a glimmer of of God's mercy.

There is a song of the redeemed that is mentioned, people

worshipping God, praising him for his justice, for his

deliverance and his glory. So this is where we find

ourselves. Like I say Revelation 15 and

into 16, which Dad and mum returned today.

So Dad will be preaching on Sunday morning out of Revelation

16. But we've arrived at the grand

finale as we're coming to the conclusion of the Book of

Revelation. We're about to read of of seven

plagues. Many connect these to the 7th

trumpet of Chapter 11 that we covered, which is part of the

7th seal and these are now known as the seven bowls of judgement

to fall upon the world during this time of great tribulation.

Effectively it's time to say our Father who art in heaven.

Therein lies the problem, you see, the people dwelling on

earth that this future time is pointed to here have refused to

do that again and again and again.

It's the same now for many people that refuse to

acknowledge God as creator for who he is.

And it will continue on into then even after all the

devastation, after all of the the judgements that have come to

date and everything that's happened as we've been reading.

And so as a result, they will die as they have lived, bitter

in spirit against God, with hardened hearts.

They refuse to acknowledge Jesus.

We read of them instead embracing Antichrist and and

bearing the mark of the beast in Revelation 13.

And, and this is the the culmination of why this

judgement that we're about to read of is coming way back in

1869, a French chemist by the name of Marcellan Berthelot

wrote within 100 years of physical and chemical science,

men will know what the atom is. It is my belief when science

reaches this stage, God will come down to earth with his big

ring of keys and will say to humanity, gentlemen, it is

closing time. Closing time effectively is what

we're about to get into tonight. In our passage, the world has

resisted and rejected Jesus again and again and again for so

long. And now that time is over.

In his love and in his mercy, God has afforded grace for so

long, delaying his judgement. And today in the world in which

we live, there is grace, isn't there?

God hasn't yet judged in a way that that really justice

demands. And even during the tribulation

period, as we've been reading through, judgements have been

poured out, but not in the totality that we're about to

read of. There's still even been

provision for people to be saved in this tribulation period with

144,012 thousand of the 12 tribes, the two witnesses, the

Angel that we learnt of on Sunday morning.

And yet still people won't believe and yet still people

will reject God, his love and His mercy and His mercy rather.

But God is also just and his justice will need to be meted

out and delivered. And this is what we're about to

read of as these judgements come through.

God must bring his judgement upon those who reject him.

There was a sifting at the end of chapter 14 that we didn't

cover on Sunday and you can read of it.

And and now we're dealing with the consequences, the flow on

with that when it comes to people rejecting Jesus as the

Christ. Sometimes our hearts can break

as a consequence of that. When we think of our loved ones

not yet knowing Jesus as Lord and Saviour and of how it is

that they seem to steal themselves to resist the wooing

of the Holy Spirit, we wonder what, what should we do?

And we don't know where their hearts are AT.

And so here's what we need to do.

We need to never give up on praying for them.

God alone knows where their hearts are AT.

We continue to pray we share the love of Jesus with them because

as we read these events, man, our hearts break for what

potentially lies ahead. But I want to remind you of a

fellow called Saul in the book of Acts who at the time in in in

that as we read in Acts, if ever people thought someone would

never give their heart surrender their life to Jesus.

It was Saul of Tassus. And yet that's exactly what

happened. It's, it's akin, I think today

of hearing someone like a Richard Dawkins getting saved

leading a Bible study and Lady Gaga's leading worship because

she's also gotten saved. That that's how sort of wow.

It's, it's like incomprehensible.

It's not impossible, but incomprehensible for us,

implausible. So don't give up.

Here's why. Because eventually, judgement is

coming, and we see it in Revelation 15.

And one last little story before we get in and read it said that

the great composer Johann Sebastian Buck loved to nap.

His children developed a surefire way to wake him up from

this. They would move over to his

piano, play a composition and deliberately leave the last

chord or last note unresolved, unplayed, and he would wake up

even in his subconscious. He he could not just lie there

and leave it unresolved. That would just irk and irritate

at him. He would move over to the piano,

having arisen from his slumber and play that final chord.

Revelation 15 into 16 is is the final chord.

So let's consider this chapter under 3 headings.

The wrath of God is complete. We'll see that in verse one, the

worship of the redeemed in verses 2 through to 4, and then

lastly verses 5 through to 8, the weight of God's glory.

Verse one, then I saw another sign in heaven, great and

marvellous, 7 angels having the seven last plagues, for in them

the wrath of God is complete. If you're the note taking type,

circle that word complete. Maybe lean over to your

neighbour's Bible and circle it for them as well.

John sees another great and marvellous sign.

We've read 7 angels, the seven last plagues and in them he says

the wrath of God is complete. Or maybe your translation has

finished, finalised, resolved. Now the wrath of God is not like

human revenge. And we're familiar with

Hollywood films and, and stories, you know, called like

the wrath of man, where someone is wronged and, and they execute

vengeance and, and judgement in brutal fashion typically.

And, you know, we find ourselves maybe almost cheering them on

to, you know, have their vindication against the

perpetrators of the crime. God's wrath as we see it

described in the Bible is is holy, it is good, it is proper,

and it is a just response to the evil of sin.

Romans chapter 1 is clear on that verse 18 in particular, and

Romans 1 · chapter mention

from Adam and Eve onward in the Garden of Gethsemane in the book

of Genesis, sin has invited judgement.

There was death, yes to relationship that followed out

of Adam and Eve's sin. They no longer had that the

communion that they once experienced with the holy

righteous God. And yet God delayed immediate

destruction. And that was the lie that Satan

sold to them. You won't surely die in the day

that you eat thereof. And God clothed them.

Yes, God promised a Redeemer to them.

He extended mercy and that has been ongoing and and Roth has

been delayed in the full sense in the totality and in the

completion in in the finished aspect of it upon a God

rejecting Christ rejecting world.

It's been delayed, but not denied.

Revelation 15 shows us its completion, its finality.

We've read of God's wrath before through the Scriptures.

I spoke of Adam and Eve. I I think of the likes of Cain

in the book of Genesis. I think of the flood in the book

of Genesis. I think of Sodom and Gomorrah in

the book of Genesis and, and on through out into the New

Testament, the likes of even Ananias and Sapphira and on

through and and Herod. Who can forget when he glorified

himself and he was struck down dead with worms that had been

eaten his stomach as a judgement from God upon him?

And all of those things speak, providing a glimpse of the wrath

of God, but not the totality, not the completion of it.

This is the completion of it. And yet still, whilst God's

wrath is evident, mercy is evident throughout history and

and what the Bible tells us is that God is slow to anger and He

is abounding in mercy and steadfast love.

Psalm 103 verse 8, you know, the flood, Sodom, even the

Psalms 103:8

Canaanites previews of wrath, but always after long patience

that God afforded before judgement came down,

opportunities for repentance and and mercy to be received.

And even during the great tribulation period again, as

we've been reading, God sends the 144,000, the two witnesses,

the Angel proclaiming the everlasting gospel, and yet

still many refuse. So there's a sobering reality in

this as we read of the wrath that now it it's going to come

and it's the real thing, a say real thing.

There was in Saint Louis in 1991, a false emergency

broadcast announcing a nuclear attack that caused great panic

amongst the populace. People heard this on the radio,

began to to rush to loved ones thinking maybe the apocalypse

was breaking out and waiting for the end, only to discover that

it was a hoax, that the disc jockey had played a prank over

the radio airwaves. We're here, Revelation 15.

One day God will say enough is enough.

It will not be a hoax. It will not be a a prank, but

the bowls will be poured out. The angels will be called the

the wrath will be complete. You know, as if God has has

said, I have waited thousands of years, humanly speaking, and

now, and now it's time. It might be tempting for some in

today's world in which we live to mistake God's patience for

permission to think, well, you know, I did that.

I said this, or I'm involved in this particular lifestyle and

God's not judged me. Nothing's happened, nothing's

gone wrong yet. But God's delay in his mercy is

an affordance of time for repentance.

But His mercy will at some point in time need to give way to

wrath, to justice being poured out.

And so for you and I as believers tonight, I think this

should again stir up within our heart, moving us to urgency and

prayer and evangelism for those that that we love, that we know

who around us may be hardening their hearts to the things of

the Lord. And again, us not giving up but

but praying in hopes that they'll be like a soul

converting to appalled while there's still time in God's

grace and his mercy. For one day soon God's wrath

will be poured out and it will be complete.

It'll be finished. It'll be total.

Verse 2 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 hearts of God.

And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song

of the Lamb, saying, Great, marvellous are your works, Lord

God Almighty, just and true are your ways, O King of the Saints,

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 judgements have been

manifested or revealed. In this picture as we read John,

what he's seeing in contrast to the wrath we're introduced to in

verse one and that we'll come back to in verse 5, John sees

now those who have experienced victory over the beast,

conquered the beast, and they're they're standing by sea of

glass. He describes it, or a sea of

crystal. Maybe yours has mingled with

fire, holding harps, singing the song of Moses and the song of

the Lamb. Who are they?

These are tribulation martyrs who refuse the mark of the

beast. 666 And as a consequence of doing so, they'll have chosen

death rather than denial of Jesus Christ.

Again, the church has been raptured out, yes, and those

left behind, Those unsaved, now many have become saved followers

of Jesus. Maybe they've remembered our

witness, our words, the declarations that we made, that

Jesus is the Christ, the Saviour, that we we've spoken of

these events, these moments, these times in Revelation, and

that's their all too familiar reality.

Now again, they've had the two witnesses, the 144,000, the

Angel of chapter 14 and and they've given their lives in

surrender to Jesus as the Christ, not Antichrist.

We're not only saved, but they're victorious.

We read of they didn't win by avoiding suffering.

They experienced victory by remaining faithful even unto

death. And their song says that they

sing the song of Moses. What is that?

That was the song that Moses led the people of Israel in post,

their deliverance at the Red Sea.

We see that in Exodus 15 specifically, also recorded for

us in Deuteronomy. God destroyed Pharaoh, the

armies of Egypt delivered his people.

The Israelites says that they're singing also the song of the

lamb, celebrating the greater deliverance through Jesus

Christ. You know, at the cross, our

greater Pharaoh, sin and Satan was defeated by Jesus.

And together these songs proclaim that salvation is all

God's work, nothing of man. And so they can't help but

spring forth and praise and honour.

Just as Israel had to walk by faith through the Red Sea,

through the parted waters to receive their salvation, it is

by faith that we walk and receive the salvation that comes

through Jesus Christ. And and that's their song,

that's their experience, what they're going through.

And the content of the song is given for us in verses 3 and 4.

Great and marvellous are your works, they declare.

Speaking of all creation, no doubt, but I think especially

his masterpiece, the great work of God in redeeming sinners.

Great and marvellous are your works, just and true are your

ways. And even in particular what

they're about to, to witness and experience and see the

judgements of God they declare as being righteous and fair.

Just and true are your ways. Notice there's no criticism of

his judgements coming forth in their song.

You know they're not singing. Great and marvellous are your

works, Lord. But boy, these judgements are a

little harsh right now. Can you just ease back on some

of the, the bowls that are about to be poured out?

There's none of that. No, they, they declared just and

true, right on, as if it could not be executed any better.

Or we praise you, Lord God. All nations, they say, will come

and worship. You know, I can't help but think

of the scripture that says one day soon every knee will bow,

every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.

You know that promise of every nation, every tribe, every

tongue, coming and worshipping he who alone is worthy to

receive it. Consider the following.

The song of Moses was sung at the Red Sea.

This song is sung at the the Crystal Oil Glass Sea.

The song of Moses is a song of triumph over Pharaoh.

This song is a song of triumph over the beast, over Antichrist.

Moses is how God brought these people out.

This song is about how God the Lamb brought his people in.

Moses song is actually the first recognised song in scripture.

Yes, some think of Adam's words over his wife Eve as being a

song or a poem, but this is actually declared as such, the

song of Moses. And this is the last song,

basically, again, the song of redemption, of deliverance, of

triumph and of victory that is declared here, a song birthed

out of the gospel story. Passover is, we know it, a

picture of Jesus. We're going to have some

communion tonight. And and it derives out of that

Passover celebration that had been instructed for the

Israelites. And the Passover Lamb ultimately

points to Jesus, the Lamb who was slain before the very

foundations of the earth. Jesus, the Lamb, who John

declared had come to take away the sins of the world.

Now although you and I in this I believe, aren't mentioned here,

we won't face the great tribulation singular.

We do encounter tribulations, plural in this world in which we

live, personal trials, persecution, sufferings.

John 1633 says that one to Timothy 312 tells us that as

well. And these experiences, they're

they're never easy. And maybe tonight you're sitting

here and and you're you're burdened by such persecution or

or or suffering or exclusion or criticism or harassment or maybe

you have been at some point and so you have reason to be

encouraged out of this tonight. Why?

How so? And turn with me in your Bible

back to the Gospel of Matthew chapter 5 verses 1011 and 12.

Matthew 5 · chapter mention

Jesus words there. And maybe you know it straight

away as the Beatitudes. Matthew 5 verse 10 says blessed.

Matthew 5:10

And that literally means again, Oh how happy.

Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness

sake, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven blessed.

Verse 11. Oh, how happy are you when they

revile and persecute you and say all kinds of evil against you

falsely for my sake. Rejoice verse 12 and be

exceedingly glad. For great is your reward in

heaven. For so they persecuted the

prophets who were before you. You can turn back to Revelation

now again, blessed, blessed twice is mentioned happy, happy.

And I think that attitude is, is something to remind ourselves of

in in the day and age in which we live.

As there's increasing, I think even in Australia, we're going

to find it more and more as the days draw close to what we're

reading in Revelation that that persecution, it's never been an

experience. I think really of ours in

Australia, that it will become a part of our experience as

Christians and as believers, as more, as a more Antichrist

sentiment reveals itself in society, in the world in which

we live. These Saints certainly knew that

and experienced that. And So what do you do when,

when, when that happens, when that takes place, when injustice

or tragedy strikes, when that persecution comes, when

injustice is committed against us?

Well, I think that these martyrs show us, sing, worship, give

glory unto God, not because circumstances are good, but

because God is good. He's worthy to receive our

praise. And so can the world hear us

worshipping God through our suffering like a Paul and Silas

did in the Philippian gaol. The gaoler came to Christ as a

consequence. You know, your worship may in

fact be a witness to someone looking on.

And think of these people that that John records here that

we're reading off, how much they've been through what we've

read in Revelation so far. And yet again, not one word of

criticism or complaining levelled against God.

No grumbling or moaning or crying out, God, where were you?

How come, why us, why, why now, why this?

None of that on their lips instead praise instead

declaration. God, you are just, you are true,

you are right. And again, I think that's

significant for you and I tonight because we encountered

times in life that I think many times simply don't make sense to

us. That we do cry out and wonder,

God, why me, why now? Why this tragedies, slander

against us, unfair treatment and our emotions want to scream out,

this isn't right. This isn't fair.

I think it's in those moments, those times particularly where

our need to trust God and to worship Him is paramount, to

give Him praise again, not because of our circumstances,

but because of who He is. Psalm 106 verse one says praise

the Lord, give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good, for His

loving kindness is everlasting. Notice the psalmist didn't say

give thanks to the Lord when you feel good, when things are going

good, but rather give thanks because He is good.

So can I encourage you tonight, whatever trial, whatever

circumstance, whatever situation, whatever struggle,

what is your response? I encourage you to worship God,

for He is good, not because of the trial, because of the

struggle, but because of Him. Lastly, verses 5 through to 8.

Here the weight of God's glory comes through the the vision

closes with the heavenly temple opened, angels clothed kind of

like priests, almost coming with golden balls.

The temple fills with with smoke as in the glory of God, and and

no one can enter into the very presence, the very Holy of

Holies, until the plagues are complete.

And after these things, verse 5, I looked, and behold, the temple

of the Tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was open,

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. Then verse 7, one of the four

living creatures gave to the seven angels 7 golden bowls full

of the wrath of God who lives forever and ever.

And 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.

Wow, what a vision, what a picture of the holiness of God's

presence. You know, I think back to Mount

Sinai. Think back to the dedication of

the Tabernacle and the dedication of the temple and of

God's glory filling the place. The smoke here signifies God's

power, signifies His Holiness, signifies the seriousness, the

sobriety, the severity of what is to happen as we read ahead

into chapter 16 and beyond. And so there's a a solemn this

to this judgement. These aren't just sort of random

disasters being poured out on an ad hoc, sort of Willy nilly

basis by God. They're they're, they're,

they're like priestly acts of a holy God.

There's notice ceremony here. You see the reverence, you see

that the process involved, the bowls are full and to to fill

takes a duration of time and patience and, and the long

suffering nature of God now exhausted to the point where

that that Roth now is, is full. And it's not now impulsive, but

but measured out as we'll read of these first and 2nd and 3rd

and on in through the 7th bowls being poured out in chapter 16.

And again, there's not an ad hoc randomness to it, not a, a

flippancy to it, but a, a rightness and a justice to it

all. And then there's an exclusivity

of access. Now verse 8 concludes with that.

So no one could enter the temple until the seven plagues were

finished. It's as if the time for

intercession is over. Judgement must run it's course

again, very sobering. Now then today is the day of

salvation for there is coming a time where soon judgement will

need to be poured out and, and it's like the, the door of mercy

is shut, the access is, is removed, is gone.

And I, I think it begs the question, in our lives, do we

live with the weight of the glory of God, of his reverence?

And I think too often in modern Christendom, we treat God very

casually, you know, as, as the big guy upstairs, you know, my

homeboy, as some T-shirts have in popular culture and stuff

like that. And but Revelation reminds us of

the holiness of the awesomeness of the separateness of of God,

of him being a consuming fire. But then I'm also amazed and,

and wondered and just so thankful for the grace of God

that we experience that in Christ.

We have access now to the very throne room of God.

The Bible tells us the veil is torn, the way is open, and today

we can draw boldly into the very presence of God.

Hebrews 4 verse 16 says so. Revelation 15 Only 8 verses but

Hebrews 4:16

a very sobering chapter. Wrath, complete worship,

resounding glory revealed for the unbeliever.

I think it functions as a reminder.

God's patient in his mercy, but judgement is real and to not

delay repentance for the believer.

We saw a reminder in the verses that trials are real, but that

victory is secure in Jesus Christ and to keep singing the

song of redemption. And for the church, a reminder

of the weight of God's glory, of His Holiness.

And for you and I to live in light of the glory of God and

and this coming day and his coming day.

Well, like Bach, who could never bear to leave a piece of

unfinished music until that final chord was struck, History,

the way it's rolling on, cannot remain unresolved forever.

Revelation 15 is that final chord.

Roth poured out. Worship sung, glory revealed.