Lecture on the Book of Revelation

Overview

• Continuing the sermon series on the Book of Revelation
• John’s vision of hope
• 4 weeks left in the series
• Intense content in the last chapters
• Reminder: Previous sermons available on the podcast

Key Themes in Recent Sermons

• Main adversaries in John’s vision: dragon, Sea Beast, land Beast, Babylon
• Symbols and illustrations convey profound realities
• Assurance of God's ultimate victory in Christ
• Encouragement to press on with endurance and peace

Revelation 15: Prelude to the Seven Bowls of Wrath

• Full outpouring of God's wrath
• Angels with the seven last plagues
• Vision of a sea of glass and those victorious over the Beast
• The Song of Moses and the Lamb praising God’s deeds and holiness
• Scene with the temple and seven angels receiving bowls of wrath

Summary of Revelation 16: The Seven Bowls of Wrath

• First Bowl: Terrible sores on those with the Beast’s mark
• Second Bowl: Sea turns to blood, killing all sea life
• Third Bowl: Rivers and springs turn to blood
• Fourth Bowl: Mankind scorched with heat from the sun
• Fifth Bowl: Beast’s throne struck, kingdom cursed with darkness
• Sixth Bowl: Euphrates River dries up, preparing for Armageddon
• Seventh Bowl: Earth's complete destruction

Reflection on God's Wrath

Familiarity with Neighbors and Content

• Repeated theme of seven events marking God’s redemptive plan
• Retelling from different perspectives: Church, sinful humanity, and Jesus' throne
• Past sermons emphasized a triumphant end, leading to renewed chaos
• Reinforcement of God’s plan to reach humanity through these events

Three Perspectives in Retellings

• Seven seals: perspective of the suffering Church
• Seven trumpets: perspective of sinful humanity
• Seven bowls: perspective of Jesus’ throne in heaven

Theological Insights

God’s Wrath is Real and Present

• Wrath is a biblical reality, not a concept to be avoided
• Wrath mentioned throughout both Old and New Testament
• Wrath serves as warning and demonstration of God’s justice

Righteousness of God's Wrath

• God's wrath is justified and righteous
• Aim to understand wrath within the full biblical context
• Illustration of past harsh sermons like Jonathan Edward’s “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God”
• Contemporary views on wrath: Mixed responses from atheists, deists, Christians
• Wrath and love are not mutually exclusive in God

Responses to God's Wrath

• John Piper’s teachings: Wrath is terrible and eternal, already started, coming in final judgment, due to sin, righteous, and God’s prerogative
• Distinction of God's wrath from human wrath: calculated, directed at evil

Human Interaction with Wrath

• Experiencing wrath is a choice
• Wrath reserved for those who refuse to repent
• Christians live under mercy, not wrath
• Challenges in dealing with difficult life circumstances

Final Judgment and Wrath

• Understanding of God's plan for ultimate justice and restoration
• Invitation to repentance and relationship with God to avoid wrath and enjoy mercy

Applications and Takeaways

Believers Live Under Mercy

• Recognize God’s mercy in daily life
• Relate to God through a covenant of grace
• Avoid misconceptions of God’s intentions in hardships

Non-Believers: Opportunity for Repentance

• Embrace the nudge from God as an invitation to be saved
• Comprehensive life change through accepting Christ
• Importance of not suppressing the truth any longer

Conclusion

• Call to stand firm in understanding God’s righteous wrath and mercy
• Desire for a renewed, restored world
• Prayer for clarity, comfort, and conversion