Your Eternity is Certain!

If you have your Bibles this morning, please take them and find Revelation 15:1.  I want to share a message with you entitled, “Your Eternity is Certain!”

 

In today’s text, as we get a preview of eternity, you will come to understand, if you don’t already know, that everyone’s eternity is certain, including everyone in this room.  You will either give God worship in heaven for eternity or you will receive God’s wrath in hell for eternity.  There are no other options.  Your eternity is certain.

 

In our study of Revelation, chronologically, we are at the end of the earthly tribulation, and in order to help you understand a little better, I want to remind you of two diagrams this morning, and both of them are compliments of Dr. Charles Ryrie, long-time professor at Dallas Seminary.  The first is of end time events.

 

On the far left, you will see the cross of Christ.  Obviously, that event has already happened.  It is the only event on this timeline that is in the past.  The next event will be rapture of the Church, and the rapture of the Church will begin the 7-year earthly tribulation period. 

 

When the seven years are complete, Christ will come to the earth for the second time and will inaugurate His 1,000-year earthly reign.  When that is complete, then eternity will begin. 

 

Our second chart is the zooming in on the last half of the 7-year earthly tribulation.  Remember that it is divided into two, three and half year periods.  In that second half, the wrath or anger of God will be manifest or demonstrated on those that reject Christ in the form of 7 seals, 7 trumpets, and 7 bowls. 

 

Notice in this diagram that the seventh seal corresponds to the first trumpet, and the seventh trumpet corresponds to all seven bowls.  At the same time of God’s wrath being poured out on earth, the unholy trinity of Satan, the Anti-Christ, and the False Prophet will be persecuting the nation of Israel and the followers of Christ more than history has ever known.  In Matthew 24:21, Jesus called this the Great Tribulation.

 

21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.

 

Currently, we are paused as it relates to time in Revelation.  Chapters 14 and 15 preview and overview what will come later.  Chapter 16 will press play again relating to chronology in our study as the seven bowls will be poured out.

 

At this time, please join me in standing for the reading of God’s Word.  You can follow along in your copy or on the screens behind me.

 

 

Exposition

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. 

 

In verse 1, John saw another sign.  He used the language previously in chapter 12.

 

1 Now a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a garland of twelve stars.

 

3 And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great, fiery red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems on his heads.

 

I believe the sign in 12:1 is the nation of Israel.  The sign in 12:3 is identified clearly later in 12:9.

 

9 So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

 

This third sign is in heaven, and John says it will be great and marvelous.  There will be seven angels who will carry the seen last plagues of the wrath of God.  These seven plagues are the seven bowls that we will see next Sunday in Revelation 16.  When these bowls are poured, God’s wrath on earth will be complete. 

 

When God’s judgement is complete, your eternity will be certain.  You will either give God worship in heaven for eternity or receive God’s wrath in hell for eternity. 

 

 

1. Worship in Heaven

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. 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.”

 

In verse 2, John saw a sea of glass mingled with fire.  The sea of glass demonstrates peace and rest and serenity.  That certainly is consistent with who John sees standing on the sea of glass.

 

Notice how these individuals are described.  They have victory over the beast and over his mark and over his number.  What is that all about?  Go back to Revelation 13.

 

In verse 1, this beast is the Anti-Christ who will be a world-wide political leader.  His image is made in verses 14-15 at the direction of the False Prophet, a world-wide religious leader.  His mark and number are found in verses 17-18 and will be 666.

 

These standing on the sea of glass overcame all of that.  How? 

 

The beasts operate under the power of Satan, the devil.  They will overcome just as we overcome today by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony.  See 12:11.

 

11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.

 

These overcomers are tribulation saints who will give God worship in heaven for eternity.  The end of verse 2 says they have harps, and in verses 3 and 4, they are singing unto God.

 

What are they singing?  It appears to be at least two songs.  They will sing the song of Moses affirming God’s faithfulness to Israel, and they will sing the song of the Lamb affirming God’s faithfulness to the Church. 

 

Specifically, God’s works are great and marvelous.  He is Almighty.  His ways are just and true.  He is holy, and then individuals from every tribe and tongue will give God worship in heaven for eternity.   What about you?

 

Have you overcome the beast by the blood of Jesus and the word of your testimony?  Do you know that you are a sinner and your sin separates you from God? 

 

However, knowing our need, Jesus died on the cross and in your place for your sins.  His blood was shed for you. 

 

Will you call on Him today to save you?  If you will, that is your testimony. 

 

Your eternity is certain.  You will either give God worship in heaven for eternity or you will receive God’s wrath in hell.

 

 

2. Wrath in Hell

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

 

If you don’t give God worship in heaven for eternity, the other option is receiving God’s wrath in hell for eternity.  Your eternity is certain.

 

Look at verse 5.  The temple in heaven is opened.  From it come seven angels with seven plagues. We saw them back in verse 1, and they are pure and holy as indicated by their clothing. 

 

In verse 7, one of the four living creatures will give to them seven golden bowls of God’s wrath.  We were introduced to the four living creatures in chapter 4.  I believe these four creatures symbolize or represent all of God’s creation.

 

By the way, just in case you think prayer doesn’t work or God doesn’t hear, go back to 5:8.

 

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.

 

Bowls are used for incense and offerings.  However, these golden bowls in chapter 5 which are the prayers of the saints are the same bowls in chapter 15 that contain God’s wrath and will be poured out in chapter 16 on all who reject Christ as Lord and Savior. 

 

Prayer matters.  Prayer is God’s plan to accomplish His purpose.  Therefore, don’t give up on praying.

 

Verse 8 says the temple was filled with smoke.  Smoke comes from fire back in verse 1.  This is God’s glory but also His judgement. 

 

When you don’t overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of your testimony, you are making a personal decision to receive God’s wrath in hell that will be spiritual and physical and eternal.  Your eternity is certain. 

 

 

Conclusion

My invitation for you this morning is to decide today to give God worship in heaven rather than receive God’s wrath in hell.  The decision is yours.