My Thoughts

Revelation 15

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Looking back at my last post Revelation 14, I said something that may have been misleading. I wrote: “I believe that these people that are ripe for God’s judgment, are those who have worshiped the beast.” This made it sound like the people who worshiped the beast, were destroyed right then and there. But Revelation 16:2 clearly shows this isn’t so. I do not want anyone mislead. And I’m sorry if you were.

And now for Revelation 15. It’s a very short chapter. In fact the whole chapter fits quite nicely on my laptop screen.

There are seven angels holding the seven bowls that will complete God’s wrath. What I find interesting is the sea of glass in Revelation 15:2. It seems to be like glass mixed with fire. But the sea of glass in front of God’s throne was sparkling like crystal. So, in the area of the angels holding God’s wrath; what was causing the sea of glass to look like it was mixed with fire? Was it the angels, or was it the bowls of God’s wrath? What was the glass sea reflecting? I believe its the bowls of God’s wrath, which will be talked about in chapter sixteen.

Anyway standing on the sea glass are all the people who were victorious over the beast and his statue. (some versions say image) This is clear that not everyone will fall for the beast. And all these people will be given harps and will sing the song of Moses and of Jesus. Revelation 15:3-4

Then in Revelation 15:5-8 John saw the Temple in Heaven thrown wide open. God’s glory filled the whole Temple. And the four living creators that I talked about in Revelation 4, were handing out the seven bowls of God’s wrath to the seven angels. Also because God’s glory filled the Temple, no one could enter it until the angel finish pouring out the plagues.

Job 26:7-8

Looking ahead, is interesting and baffling. Some time ago I came to believe the part of the Bible was written only this point in time. For an example: some people seem to think that none of the Bible is true. They say none of it can be trusted. Also they say none of it can be backed scientifically. Well they can think that. But they may have a problem with with Job 26:7 God stretches the northern sky over empty space and hangs the earth on nothing. Either they except the fact that the Bible says the earth floats in space or they better start explaining why they don’t believe it.

About prophesy, the Bible sometimes talks about Israel and Jerusalem in the end times. For many, many years people thought that Israel and Jerusalem were going to be some vague, or spiritual place. But now after 1900 years, we have Israel with Jerusalem. I know many people don’t like the idea of Israel and may believe that Israel has no right to exist, but it does. And there is nothing anyone can do about it. Israel is here to stay.

Revelation 14

Washington State University

One day many years ago there were three 9 year old boys picking on one seven year old boy. Nothing physical, just a lot of name calling and teasing. This young boy ran into the house very upset. What these nine year old boys didn’t know, was this little seven year old boy had a very big eighteen year old, 6 foot 4 inch (193 cm) brother. Me!

I ran after these boys and chased them up the street, up their driveway, and through the gate going into the backyard. I don’t know what I would have done if I had caught up with them. I hadn’t thought that far along. When I went into the backyard, I very quickly came to a stop. There stood their parents and their friends parents standing by the BBQ grilling. Now what? I did say in front of their parents to stop picking on my little brother.

The point to this is when God has had enough of the world picking on His people, He’s going to do something about it. But with God no one can stop Him. His wrath will be unstoppable.

Revelation 14 is the beginning of God’s wrath. It won’t happen all at once. Just like when He brought judgment against the Pharaoh of Egypt when Moses asked to let the Hebrews go. When God did this, then the Pharaoh did that. Then God did something else, and Pharaoh mocked God some more, and did something else. Pharaoh never repented so finally God killed the Pharaoh’s army. This is basically how the next several chapters will be, until God will finally kill His enemy’s army.

Revelation 14 starts with Jesus standing on Mount Zion with the 144.000 Israelis/Israelites standing with Him. These people have been kept pure, and alone have been purchased from among the people.

Now there is an angel flying through the air telling everyone on earth to turn to and worship God. But why would the angel tell people to repent if God is about to do judgment? Because God really doesn’t want anyone to die.

Then another angel is flying, shouting that the City of Babylon has fallen. I wonder where is this Babylon. Many think that it’s Rome. Maybe. But I wonder; if the Anti-Christ restores a country, (and I believe he will) then could he also rename a city? Again, like I say many times before, I don’t know.

Now there is a third angel saying that anyone who gets the mark of the beast, or worships his images will be tormented forever with fire and burning sulfur. People, this is very scary stuff. Imagine every part of your body burning. Even your sensitive parts. And unlike being burned here on earth, where your nerves burn then became numb, there your nerve endings will never burn. Therefore you will always feel pain.

People, any of God’s people still here by this time must stay true to God. Ezekiel 18:23-24 “Do you think that I like to see wicked people die? says the Sovereign Lord. Of course not! I want them to turn from their wicked ways and live. However, if righteous people turn from their righteous behavior and start doing sinful things and act like other sinners, should they be allowed to live? No, of course not! All their righteous acts will be forgotten, and they will die for their sins.

I wondered about Revelation 14:14 where it says “someone like the Son of Man”. It’s either Jesus or it’s not Jesus. After reading it several times and also reading several commentaries, I think I understand. I believe it’s like seeing several people at a distance and going, “ Hey, isn’t that so-n-so?” Anyway, He is seated on a cloud, has a gold crown and a sickle.

Another angel came from the Temple in Heaven and shouted to the one on the cloud, “Swing the sickle, for the time of harvest has come; the crop on earth is ripe.” and it was done. If the one sitting on the cloud is Jesus, then the angel that came from the Temple might be relaying a command and not giving one.

Old winepress. Once used at Nichelini Winery in California

The rest of the chapter says that another angel came with a sharp sickle, and then still another one came that can destroy with fire. And he shouted to the angel with the sickle that the harvest is ready. The grapes are ripe for judgment. The grapes went into God’s winepress and the outcome was a lot of blood.

The grapes of course are the people of the earth. I believe that these people that are ripe for God’s judgment, are those who have worshiped the beast. This sounds like the end, but it’s not. There are seven plagues coming.