Revelation 15:7 – Revelation 16:21

The Seven Last Plagues
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Today, we begin our study with the 8^th prophecy in the book of Revelation. This prophecy begins with Revelation 15:7 and it ends with 16:21. This prophecy contains, “The seven last plagues.”

 

This is a very compelling topic and at first glance, it appears to be a very horrible subject.

 

Preachers don’t talk much about this topic for two reasons. First, it is scary and expressing and second, it has nothing to do with the present time. However, I see this topic in a different light. I am convinced that the time has come to understand the books of Daniel and Revelation.

 

Of course, any pursuit to understand truth is subject to God’s timetable. We can’t discover things that God withholds. But this much is certain: When the time comes to discover a new truth, God sees to it that new truth is discovered! You have heard me say many times, “On or about the time of fulfillment, prophetic truth is always understood.”

 

Every effort we put forth to discover Bible truth produces wonderful discoveries – surprising results – even though we may not fully reach the objective of our studies!

 

Because the Great Tribulation is about to begin, the seven last plagues are an important topic. This subject involves a number of things about God’s character and government that He wants us to understand. And by the way, this topic is rather easy to interpret, but it can be a challenge to align it with God’s character of love if you don’t do your homework!

 

Chart on the seven bowls is drawn and discussed….

 

Because God is changeless, the seven last plagues will not be an out-of-character behavior nor an “end-time” appendage to the Great Tribulation. No! The seven last plagues are a revelation of an important aspect of God’s changeless character.

 

In other words, once we understand the role of the seven last plagues during the Great Tribulation, their necessity and justification, we will better understand other portions of Scripture because God is changeless.

 

>>>God’s policies for dealing with people and nations never change.

 

If you remember back a few years ago when we were studying the book of Ezekiel, I

Tried to demonstrate that God’s treatment of ancient Israel was but a mirror – a mirror reflecting His treatment of allnations.

God is no respecter of persons or nations. He treats all human beings and all nations the same!For example, look at this text: God told Abraham,

 

Genesis 15; 16   “In the fourth generation your descendants will come here [to this land], for the sin of the Amorites [who occupied the land] has not yet reached its full measure.”

 

God is not a thief. He did not “steal” land from the Amorites and give it to the descendants of Abraham. God waited until the Amorites had become degenerate before removing them for His land. Here’s the story:

 

After the flood, Noah’s son Ham had a son named Canaan. Canaan settles in a territory that eventually bore his name. Canaan had 11 sons and these sons became known as the Canaanites. Amor was one of Canaan’s sons. And the land God generously gave to the Amorites a wonderful land that flowed with milk and honey. God gave all of Canaan’s sons, including the Amorites a period of grace to exist as great nations.

 

But, what did the Amorites do? They became sexually immoral. They offended God by doing disgusting things. If you want to review Leviticus 18 in its entirety you will notice toward the end of the chapter this warning which God gave Israel:

 

Leviticus 18:24   ‘’Do not defile yourselves in any of these [sexually immoral] ways, because this is how the nations that I am going to drive out before you became defiled.

 

Leviticus 18:25   Even the land* was defiled; so I punished it for its sin, and the land vomited out its inhabitants.

 

Leviticus 18:28   “And if you [Israel] defile the land, it will vomityou out as it vomited out the nations that were before you.”

 

Notice:

God’s policy for the Amorites is the same policy for the Israelites.

 

Please consider this point:

By right of creation, every square inch of land on Earth belongs to our Creator for it was He who separated the landfrom the water on the third day.

 

In fact, to keep Israel from thinking that the Promised Land was theirs “no matter what,” notice what God told Israel:

 

Leviticus 25:23   “’The land must not be sold permanently, because the land is mine and you are but aliens and my tenants.”

 

Leviticus 26:14   “’But if you will not listen to me and carry out all these commands,

Leviticus 26:15   and if you reject my decrees and abhor my laws and fail to carry out all my commands and so violate my covenant…

 

Leviticus 26:33   I will scatter you among the nations and will draw out my sword and pursue you. Your land will be laid waste, and your cities will lie in ruins.”

 

Profound Point:  Down through the ages, a changeless God of love has treated all nations with the samegenerosity and kindness.

 

He has granted every government some land and a cup of grace and when that nation fills up its cup with sinful and disgusting behaviors, the land vomits out that government. God destroys the Amorites because they became hopelessly degenerate and decadent.

 

Centuries later, God also destroyed the nation of Israel, His own people, for the same reason.And, you can be sure that in the coming days He will justifiably destroy the United States of America and the whole world for the same reason.

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