Revelation 15

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TALKS FOR GROWING CHRISTIANS

The Songs of Moses and The Lamb & The Seven Bowls of God’s Wrath

BACKGROUND NOTES



DOCTRINAL POINT(S)

  1. The Songs of Moses and the Lamb will be sung in the future.

  2. The bowls of judgment will be poured out in the future.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION

  1. Can we sing Revelation 15:3 now?

QUESTIONS

  1. Outline the three sets of God’s future judgments on this earth during the coming Tribulation Period.

  2. How do we harmonize the timing of the bowl judgments with the timing of the seventh trumpet judgment, if both are said to bring us to the end of the Tribulation Period?

  3. How do we know exactly how these prophetic visions will play out?

  4. What group of people does John see in his vision in verses 2-3? Where does this scene take place?

  5. How does this section relate back to Revelation 6?

ANSWERS

  1. The Seven Seal Judgments – Revelation 6-8 The Seven Trumpet Judgments – Revelation 8-11 The Seven Bowl Judgments – Revelation 16

  2. Some commentators overlap the trumpet and bowl judgments so that both begin at the start of the Great Tribulation and end at the end. In this view the trumpet judgments are written on the front of the seal scroll and the bowl judgments are written on the back side; they run simultaneously. The other view is that the bowl judgments follow the trumpet judgments in rapid succession, giving great intensity to the end of the Great Tribulation. In this sense they are all considered as happening at about the same time as the sounding of the seventh trumpet of judgment.

  3. We don’t. That is why we must not be dogmatic in our interpretation. We will know for sure when they occur in the future.

  4. This is a heavenly scene (compare Revelation 4:6). The people standing on the sea of glass are believers who were victorious over the beast and did not receive his mark or his number 666. Specifically these martyrs are from the Great Tribulation, the second half of the seven year Tribulation Period.

  5. In that chapter we saw martyrs from the first half of the Tribulation Period. Now the company of the Tribulation martyrs is complete and they all join together in song.

DISCUSS/CONSIDER

  1. Read the Song of Moses in Exodus 15. This song praises God for His victory over the pagan gods and His redemption and deliverance of His people from Egypt. Discuss how the Tribulation martyrs could identify with this song of praise. How do you identify with it?

  2. Some readers of Revelation think the judgments upon the earth are unfair. But there are many elements here that show that the vengeance of God upon this earth is just and fair. Discuss this issue.

CHALLENGE

  1. Although the Tribulation martyrs will undergo great hardship and persecution, they sing praises to God. Do you respond with an attitude of praise when you’re face with trials and tribulation?

KEY VERSES

  • “Great and marvelous 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 judgments have been manifested.” Revelation 15:3-4



New Testament, Revelation, TalksDeb HarmsRevelation 15