LHC Midday Word: The REVELATION of Jesus Christ

1 I saw in heaven another great and marvellous sign: seven angels with the seven last plagues – last, because with them God’s wrath is completed. 2 And I saw what looked like a sea of glass glowing with fire and, standing beside the sea, those who had been victorious over the beast and its image and over the number of its name. They held harps given them by God 3 and sang the song of God’s servant Moses and of the Lamb:

‘Great and marvellous are your deeds,

Lord God Almighty.

Just and true are your ways,

King of the nations.

Who will not fear you, Lord,

and bring glory to your name?

For you alone are holy.

All nations will come

and worship before you,

for your righteous acts have been revealed.’

5 After this I looked, and I saw in heaven the temple – that is, the tabernacle of the covenant law – and it was opened. 6 Out of the temple came the seven angels with the seven plagues. They were dressed in clean, shining linen and wore golden sashes round their chests. 7 Then one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls filled with the wrath of God, who lives for ever and ever. 8 And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from his power, and no one could enter the temple until the seven plagues of the seven angels were completed.

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Word by Word Meditations

by Fred Ursell

Revelation 15: “bowls” (v.7)

Do you believe the pessimistic old adage that ‘troubles come in threes’? Perhaps they do sometimes, but Revelation indicates things can be a lot worse. John saw “7 angels with the 7 last plagues” (v.1).

In his vision “they were given 7 golden bowls filled with the wrath of God” (v.7).

Note:

[A] “bowls”, in contrast to plates, have some depth and will normally hold liquid rather than solid, indicating that judgement will be poured out;

[B] there are “seven” and they are “golden”, both pointing to divine origin;

[C] “the wrath of God” is very unpopular, as people want God to be ‘nice’ even if they aren’t!

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READINGS

The REVELATION of Jesus christ

Chapter Fifteen

Read by Sir David Suchet