Read Revelation 15:1-16:21.

Note: In verse thirteen, the phrase translated, “three evil spirits,” literally reads, “three unclean spirits.” In verse twenty, the phrase translated, “about a hundred pounds,” literally reads, “about a talent.”

Introduction⤒🔗

We would much prefer to hear about the love of God, rather than the wrath of God.

The Bible speaks extensively about the love of God, consider especially John 3:16, “for God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, so that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.”

But the Bible also speaks about the wrath of God:

The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness. Rom. 1:18

Then the kings of the earth, and the princes, and the generals, and the wealthy, and the mighty, and every slave and free man, hid in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains. ¹⁶They say to the mountains and to the rocks, 'Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, ¹⁷for the great day of their wrath has come, and who is able to stand?' Rev. 6:15-17

Because the wrath of God is a divine reality that is and shall be revealed against the world, we must understand what the Bible says about it. As we study Revelation 15-16, let us consider, “Three Things We Must Know about the Wrath of God.”

The Wrath of God is an Expression of God’s Righteousness←⤒🔗

In verse one of chapter fifteen, John reports that he now saw “another sign in heaven;” this sign consisted of seven angels with the seven last plagues. It is explained that with the pouring out of these plagues upon the earth “the wrath of God is completed,” or, satisfied. As the heavenly scene unfolds, the seven angels are given seven bowls filled with the wrath of God (vs. 7), which they proceed to pour out upon the earth.

Sandwiched in between the introduction of these seven angels and their act of pouring out the wrath of God, there is found a hymn of praise testifying to God’s righteousness:

...[they] sang the song of Moses the servant of God and the song of the Lamb. They sang, 'Great and marvelous are your works, O Lord God, the Almighty; righteous and true are your ways, O King of the ages. ⁴Who shall not fear you, O Lord, and glorify your name? for you alone are holy. All the nations will come and worship before you, for your righteous acts have been revealed.'Rev. 15:3-4

The testimony, “you alone are holy,” is a reference to the fact that the LORD is altogether holy and, therefore, He is worthy to carry out the judgment. The same theme is found in the vision of the Final Judgment found in Isaiah 63. In verse three of that passage, the LORD declares, “I have stomped in the winepress alone;” and in verse five He states, “I looked, but there was no one to help.” The point being made is that the LORD alone executes His justice, because He alone is truly righteous and worthy to carry out a righteous judgment; note Psalm 11:7, “The LORD is righteous; he loves righteousness.”

When the angel of Revelation fifteen declares, “your righteous acts have been revealed,” he is referring to the outpouring of the seven bowls of wrath that is about to be described.

The seven angels, coming directly out of the temple (or, sanctuary) of God (vs. 6) are reflecting the character of God: they are dressed in “pure and bright linen.” Their dress reflects the fact that “God is light; in him there is no darkness at all” (1 Jn. 1:5b).

The description of these seven angels indicates that they represent the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. Their being dressed in “pure and bright linen” recalls the fact that at the time of His transfiguration, which was a revelation of His appearance in glory, the Lord Jesus is seen in a garment “as white as the light” (Matt. 17:2). Across their chests they wore “golden sashes;” in Revelation 1:13, the Lord Jesus appeared wearing “a golden sash.”

In Revelation 16:5-6, an angel proclaims that the LORD is righteous and that He is the Holy One. Furthermore, His righteousness is now being revealed by the fact that He is carrying out His acts of judgment:

Then I heard the angel in charge of the waters say, 'You are righteous, you who are and who were, you who are the Holy One, because you have by these means executed judgment. ⁶They poured out the blood of the saints and the prophets, and [now] you have given them blood to drink. They are worthy [to receive your judgment].'

The altar, representing those who have been martyred for the cause of Christ (cp. Rev. 6:9-11), responds, “Yes, indeed, O Lord God, the Almighty, your judgments are true and righteous!” (Rev. 16:7b)

This whole scene of the seven angels with the seven plagues, which they pour out upon the earth, is depicting the fulfillment of God’s warning, given in such passages as Leviticus 26:21, “If you continue to walk contrary to me and will not listen to me, I will bring seven times more plagues upon you, as your sins deserve.” Whereas the judgment that befell Israel was temporal and of a disciplinary nature, the judgment the LORD God will carry out upon the world on the last day shall be eternal condemnation.

The first thing we must know about the wrath of God is the fact that it is an expression of God’s righteousness. Concerning the outpouring of the wrath of God, as it is depicted in the outpouring of the seven bowls of wrath, we hear the testimony of the angel: “They are worthy,” [i.e. “They deserve it”] (Rev. 16:6). When the conduct and the attitude of those who are the object of this righteous judgment are revealed, it becomes evident that the angel’s testimony is true:

⁹Men were scorched by the intense heat, yet they blasphemed the name of God, who has the authority over these plagues, and they did not repent and thereby give him glory...¹¹they blasphemed the God of heaven on account of their pains and their sores, and they did not repent of their works...²¹And huge hailstones, [each one] weighing about a hundred pounds, came down out of heaven upon men; yet men blasphemed God on account of the plague of hail, for the plague was extremely severe. Rev. 16:9,11,21

As an Old Testament example of the righteousness of God’s judgment, consider what the LORD declared to the prophet Ezekiel:

When you see their conduct and their actions, you will be consoled regarding the disaster I have brought upon Jerusalem, every disaster I have brought upon it. ²³You will be consoled when you see their conduct and their actions, for you will know that I have done nothing in it without cause, declares the LORD GOD. Ezek. 14:22-23

The Wrath of God is Revealed in Both Temporal and Final Judgment←⤒🔗

The first four plagues (Rev. 16:2-9) represent natural catastrophes and calamities. It is emphasized that the plagues are directed against those who have given their allegiance to the “beast,” which has been previously identified as the anti-God kingdom of man. The first four of these last plagues correspond to the plagues God sent upon Egypt, a nation that set itself in defiance of God.

The First Plague consists of foul and painful sores upon man (vs. 2). Likewise, the sixth plague upon Egypt consisted of boils upon man and beast:

Then the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, 'Take handfuls of soot from a furnace and have Moses toss it into the air in the presence of Pharaoh. ⁹It will become fine dust over the whole land of Egypt, and festering boils will break out on men and beasts throughout the land.' ¹⁰So they took soot from a furnace and stood before Pharaoh. Moses tossed it into the air, and festering boils broke out on men and beasts. Ex. 9:8-10

The Second Plague consists of the sea being turned into blood and all marine life perishing (vs. 3). Likewise, the first plague upon Egypt consisted of turning the water into blood:

Moses and Aaron did just as the LORD had commanded. He raised his staff in the presence of Pharaoh and his officials and struck the water of the Nile, and all the water was changed into blood.Ex. 7:20

The Third Plague consists of the fresh waters being turned into blood (vs. 4). Again, this plague, too, corresponds to the first plague upon Egypt, which affected all the waters of the land:

The LORD said to Moses, 'Tell Aaron, Take your staff and stretch out your hand over the waters of Egypt, over the streams and canals, over the ponds and all the reservoirs, and they will turn to blood. Blood will be everywhere in Egypt, even in the wooden buckets and stone jars.' Ex. 7:19

The Fourth Plague consists in the sun scorching men with fire (Rev. 8-9). Whereas in the ninth plague upon Egypt the sun was darkened (Ex. 10:21-23, printed below), here the sun’s strength is intensified:

Then the LORD said to Moses, 'Stretch out your hand toward the sky so that darkness will spread over Egypt, darkness that can be felt.' ²²So Moses stretched out his hand toward the sky, and total darkness covered all Egypt for three days. ²³No one could see anyone else or leave his place for three days. Yet all the Israelites had light in the places where they lived. Ex. 10:21­-23

The Fifth Plague (vs. 10-11) appears to represent temporal judgments in the form of political and economic disruptions. The fifth plague is poured out upon “the throne of the beast,” i.e. the center and heart of his empire. Consequently, “his kingdom was darkened.” We may understand this to mean the “darkness” of disruptions, chaos, and disintegration in the political and economic realm. Consider Isaiah 19, (a prophecy against the nation of Egypt), as an example of such temporal judgments upon a nation and society.

Isaiah 19:2 speaks of civil strife: “I will stir up Egyptian against Egyptian, everyone shall fight against his brother, and everyone against his neighbor, city against city, kingdom against kingdom.” Isaiah 19:4 speaks of political tyranny and oppression, in this case by a foreign power: “Furthermore, I will hand the Egyptians over to a cruel master, a fierce king will rule over them, declares the Lord, the LORD of hosts.” Isaiah 19:5-10 speaks of economic and social calamities resulting from natural disaster, namely, a severe drought. Verses five and six describe the draught itself: “the waters of the [Nile] River will dry up, and the riverbed will become parched and dry. ⁶The canals will stink. The streams of Egypt will dwindle away and dry up. The reeds and rushes will wither.” Verse seven describes the crop failure that results from the drought: “The bulrushes along the Nile, by the edge of the Nile, and all the sown fields beside the Nile, will become parched, the topsoil will be blown away and vanish.” Verse eight describes the collapse of the fishing industry, another result of the drought: “The fishermen will lament, and all those who cast their hooks into the Nile will mourn, those who spread their [fishing] nets upon the waters will pine away.” Verse nine describes yet another result of the drought, the collapse of the textile industry that was dependent upon flax as a raw material: “Furthermore, the manufacturers of linen made from combed flax and the weavers of white cloth will despair.” What is described in verse ten is the collapse of the nation’s entire economy, a great depression, with countless people out of work: “The [economic] pillars [of Egypt] will be broken in pieces; all the wage earners will be grieved in their souls.”

The Sixth Plague produces the final battle of Armageddon (vs. 12-16). This plague is poured out upon the Euphrates River, the origin of many of the great military powers of the ancient world, such as Assyria, Babylon, and Media-Persia. Spirits of demons incite the nations of the world to engage in the final battle of Armageddon (vs. 13-14).

The Seventh Plague depicts the Final Judgment (vs. 17-21). With the pouring out of the seventh plague there comes a declaration from heaven, “It is finished!” That is to say, the final judgment of God, so long warned, has come, it has been carried out against the world of unrepentant mankind. There now follows “a severe earthquake” that causes the entire empire of man to collapse before the presence of God:

Then there came flashes of lightning and rumblings and peals of thunder and a severe earthquake. No earthquake like it has ever occurred since man has been on the earth, so tremendous was [the quake]. ¹⁹The great city split into three parts, and the cities of the nations collapsed. God remembered Babylon the Great, in order to give her the cup [filled] with the wine of the fierceness of his wrath. vs. 18-19

This “earthquake” brings about the destruction of the entire creation in its present form: “Every island fled and the mountains could not be found” (vs. 20).

Note how each successive wave of temporal judgments comes with a greater degree of intensity. With regard to the catastrophes in the realm of nature: with the breaking open of the Seven Seals “one fourth” of the world was affected (Rev. 6:8); with the sounding of the Seven Trumpets “one third” of the world was affected (Rev. 8:7); now with the pouring out of the Seven Bowls of Wrath “every living thing” is affected (Rev. 16:3). With regard to the judgments enacted against the political and social realm: they escalate from sporadic wars (Rev. 6:3-4), to world wars (Rev. (9:13-19), and finally to the battle of Armageddon (Rev. 16:12-16).

Also, note that all the temporal judgments lead up to and finally culminate in the Final Judgment. Each cycle of temporal judgments concludes with a description of the Final Judgment, indicating that that is the final destiny of sinful mankind. In a sense, the temporal judgments are acts of mercy, warning mankind of what is coming if they do not repent.

The second important thing we must know about the wrath of God is that it is revealed in both temporal judgments and the Final Judgment.

The Wrath of God Shall Not Fall upon Those Who Belong to Christ←⤒🔗

In Revelation 6:16-17, there was recorded the cry of sinful, unrepentant men as they are confronted by the Lord God on the day of Final Judgment:

Then the kings of the earth, and the princes, and the generals, and the wealthy, and the mighty, and every slave and free man, hid in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains. ¹⁶They say to the mountains and to the rocks, 'Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, ¹⁷for the great day of their wrath has come, and who is able to stand?'

Then, in Revelation 7:9, John saw a great multitude “standing before the throne and before the Lamb.” They are dressed in white robes, representing the perfect righteousness of Christ with which they are clothed. They have palm branches in their hands; palm branches are the symbol of praise and peace. One of the elders identifies this multitude in these terms: “They are the ones who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white by the blood of the Lamb” (vs. 14).

Now, in Revelation 15:2, John sees the same scene he saw previously:

I saw what looked like a sea of glass mixed with fire, and standing on the sea, those who were victorious over the beast and his image and the number [that represents] his name. They held harps [given them by] God.

John sees “a sea of glass mixed with fire” stretching out before the throne of God, much the same as he saw previously (cp. Rev. 4:6a). The “sea of glass” represents the crystal purity and unfathomable holiness of God. “Standing” upon this glassy sea are those “who were victorious over the beast;” those who have put their faith in Jesus the Messiah, receiving forgiveness by His cleansing blood and grace to be true to Him despite the opposition and allurements of the world. Whereas those who commit themselves to Christ the Savior are able to stand upon the crystal sea, those who remain unrepentant and aligned against the God of heaven are finally cast into the lake of fire:

And I saw the dead, the prominent and the insignificant, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. ¹³The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and every man was judged according to what he had done. ¹⁴Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, [namely], the lake of fire. ¹⁵If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. Rev. 20:12-15

The third thing we must know about the wrath of God is that it shall not fall upon those who belong to Christ: “Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him!” (Rom. 5:9)

One may ask, What about those who have never heard of Christ? The Scriptures indicate that men are condemned, not because they have rejected Christ, but because they have set themselves in defiance of God: “the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness... ²¹although they knew God, they did not glorify [him] as God, nor were they thankful” (Rom. 1:18, 21). If men are confronted by Christ, and they reject Him, they are rejecting the only means by which they may be spared from the just condemnation of which they are worthy.

Conclusion←⤒🔗

The wrath of God is a divine reality that is and that shall be revealed against the world of sinful mankind. For the sake of our soul and its eternal welfare, we must have a biblical understanding of the wrath of God; and we must make sure that we are right with God through Jesus Christ the Savior sent by God. May the awful truth of the righteous wrath of our holy God move us to pray for the proclamation of the gospel to the nations; and may we pray that many will respond to Christ in faith and repentance and so be spared from the wrath to come.

Discussion Questions←⤒🔗

1. What is now revealed to the Apostle John? See Rev. 15:1. Although they are acts of judgment, how is the mercy of God displayed in His temporal judgments? Note Rom. 2:4. As Christians, how must we respond to God’s chastening/disciplinary work in our lives? See Heb. 12:5b-6a. What happens when sinful man ignores or resists God’s temporal judgments? See Rom. 2:5; cp. Job 9:4,

And I saw another sign in heaven, [one that was] great and marvelous: seven angels with the seven last plagues; [last], because with them the wrath of God is completed. Rev. 15:1

What John is now about to witness in symbolic form are God’s final temporal judgments, culminating in the Final Judgment.

...do you despise the riches of his goodness, forbearance, and long-suffering, not realizing that the goodness of God [is intended to] lead you to repentance? Rom. 2:4

My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD, nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by him; ⁶for whom the LORD loves he chastens... Heb. 12:5b-6a

But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God... Rom. 2:5

His wisdom is profound, his power is vast; who can defy him and succeed? Job 9:4

2. But before the final judgments of God are revealed to John, what is presented to him? See Rev. 15:2-3a. What is significant about this revelation, and its being given before the revelation of the pouring out of the “bowls of wrath”? How are the redeemed enabled to stand on “a sea of glass mixed with fire” (i.e. enabled to stand in the very presence of our infinitely holy God)? See Rev. 7:9-10, 13-14. Have you ask God to wash away your sins by the blood of the Lamb, the Lord Jesus Christ? Note 1 Jn. 1:9,​

I saw what looked like a sea of glass mixed with fire, and standing on the sea, those who were victorious over the beast and his image and the number [that represents] his name. They held harps [given them] by God ³and they sang the song of Moses the servant of God and the song of the Lamb. They sang, “Great and marvelous are your works, O Lord God, the Almighty; righteous and true are your ways, O King of the ages. Rev. 15:2-3

After this, I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation and from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were dressed in white robes and held palm branches in their hands. ¹⁰They cry out with a loud voice, '[We attribute our] salvation to our God, the one who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!' ...¹³Then one of the elders addressed me, asking, 'These who are dressed in white robes, —who are they, and from where have they come?' ¹⁴I said to him, 'My lord, you know.' Then he said to me, 'They are the ones who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white by the blood of the Lamb.' Rev. 7:9-10, 13-14

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 Jn. 1:9

3. What is the song that the redeemed sing in the presence of God? See Rev. 15:3b-4. What attribute of God is emphasized, being mentioned in one form or another three times? As Christians, do we realize that the great purpose of our redemption is to be conformed to the holiness of God (cf. 2 Cor. 5:21), so that we may reflect that holiness (cf. 1 Pet. 2:9b) and share in the honor and blessing He bestows upon His Holy Son, Jesus? Note 2 Thess. 2:14,

...they sang the song of Moses the servant of God and the song of the Lamb. They sang, 'Great and marvelous are your works, O Lord God, the Almighty; righteous and true are your ways, O King of the ages. ⁴Who shall not fear you, O Lord, and glorify your name? for you alone are holy. All the nations will come and worship before you, for your righteous acts have been revealed.' Rev. 15:3-4

...[God] made [Christ] who knew no sin to be sin for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God in him. 2 Cor. 5:21

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people appointed to be [God’s] own possession, so that you might display the virtues of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 1 Pet. 2:9

...[God] called you by our gospel for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Thess. 2:14

4. What is John told about the temple, or sanctuary, of God? See Rev. 15:8b. How does this statement compare with the testimony the Apostle Paul makes on behalf of every Christian? See Phil. 1:23b; 2 Cor. 5:8,

The temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from his power, and no one was able to enter the temple until the seven plagues of the seven angels were completed. Rev. 15:8

I have the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better... Phil. 1:23

We are confident, indeed, well pleased rather, to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord. 2 Cor. 5:8

Although the definitive judgment of God has not yet fallen upon the world of sinful mankind, it has fallen upon Christ (cf. Jn. 19:30), thereby satisfying God’s justice on our behalf and thus granting us immediate and welcome access to God.

See Eph. 2:18,
...through [Christ] we...have access to the Father by one Spirit. Eph. 2:18

5. How does sinful man respond to the temporal judgments of God? See Rev. 16:9-11, 21. What does this tell us about the heart and nature of fallen mankind? What does this tell us about the absolute necessity of the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit? See Tit. 3:3-5. Have you experienced this regenerating work of the Holy Spirit by which He causes you to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, with the result that your sins have been forgiven and you have entered into the resurrection life of the Lord Jesus Christ?

Men were scorched by the intense heat, yet they blasphemed the name of God, who has the authority over these plagues, and they did not repent and thereby give him glory. ¹⁰The fifth [angel] poured out his bowl upon the throne of the beast, and his kingdom was darkened. [Men] gnawed their tongues in agony, ¹¹yet they blasphemed the God of heaven on account of their pains and their sores, and they did not repent of their works. Rev. 16:9-11

...we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another. ⁴But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, ⁵not by works of righteousness that we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit... Tit. 3:3-5

When a man takes a shower, he emerges clean; but when the Holy Spirit plunges us under the “shower” of the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, we not only have our sins washed away, we emerge from this “shower” as a new creation, united to Christ Jesus in His resurrection life. This is “the baptism of the Holy Spirit,” which every person who comes to Christ experiences, it is nothing other than conversion, sovereignly produced by the Holy Spirit.