Revelation - Week 26

Day 1 

Trampling Out the Vintage

READ

Revelation 14:19-20

19 So the angel swung his sickle over the earth and loaded the grapes into the great winepress of God’s wrath. 20 The grapes were trampled in the winepress outside the city, and blood flowed from the winepress in a stream about 180 miles long and as high as a horse’s bridle.

This passage records what an angel was told to do. It is a picture of God pouring out His wrath. This likely has to do with the campaign of Armageddon that climaxes with this battle. The bloody stream will flow for 180 miles. The blood “as high as a horse’s bridle” may not be a stream that deep but blood splashing up to a horse’s bridle. Whichever the case, there is a massive amount of bloodshed.

REFLECT

Think of what an awful time of warfare this will be.

RESPOND

With a fellow believer talk about how terrible it will be for those who deny God and experience His wrath. Read Hebrews 10:30-31 in this regard.

Day 2

Holding Harps

READ

Revelation 15:1-2

1 Then I saw in heaven another marvelous event of great significance. Seven angels were holding the seven last plagues, which would bring God’s wrath to completion. 2 I saw before me what seemed to be a glass sea mixed with fire. And on it stood all the people who had been victorious over the beast and his statue and the number representing his name. They were all holding harps that God had given them.

These verses introduce the seven last plagues on the earth. They will “bring God’s wrath to completion.” These verses tell of the apostle John’s vision of the followers of God who had not worshiped the beast nor received his mark. God had given them harps and they are about to sing.

REFLECT

Think about how God cares for His own even in the midst of wrath being poured out on the world.

RESPOND

Encourage a fellow believer by reading Isaiah 43:2 to be assured even now that God is with His followers and will help them through the storms of life.

Day 3

All Nations Will Worship

READ

Revelation 15:3-4

3 And they were singing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb: “Great and marvelous are your works, O Lord God, the Almighty. Just and true are your ways, O King of the nations. 4 Who will not fear you, Lord, and glorify your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before you, for your righteous deeds have been revealed.”

With their harps, those believers who had not worshiped the image nor received his mark are now singing the song of Moses and of the Lamb. They praise the Lord for His marvelous works. They praise Him for being the King of all nations. Even though the nations rage against God now they will someday come and worship before Him.

REFLECT

Think how humbling it will be for the nations who reject God now to someday be forced to worship Him.

RESPOND

Read Philippians 2:5-11 to see the attitude Jesus had, which is an example to all believers. He did not think of Himself but others. Someday even unbelievers will bow before Jesus and admit that He is God. Pray that people with trust in Him as Savior now so they are not forced to bow before Him in the future.

Day 4

Seven Plagues

READ

Revelation 15:5-6

5 Then I looked and saw that the Temple in heaven, God’s Tabernacle, was thrown wide open. 6 The seven angels who were holding the seven plagues came out of the Temple. They were clothed in spotless white linen with gold sashes across their chests.

This passage refers to a temple, or tabernacle, in heaven. This heavenly temple has been referred to in the Bible previously. At this time there are seven angels holding seven plagues that are about to be released on the earth. John described what their clothing looked like. Each of the seven angels will bring judgment to the earth.

REFLECT

Think of this passage as giving the background of the judgments to be seen in the following chapters in Revelation.

RESPOND

Regarding where the temple in heaven is mentioned previously in the Bible, read Hebrews 8:3-5. Jesus could not be a priest on earth because His human lineage was the tribe of Judah, not the tribe of Levi. He is our heavenly priest, however, as mentioned in Hebrews 3:1-3.

Day 5

Gold Bowls

READ

Revelation 15:7-8

7 Then one of the four living beings handed each of the seven angels a gold bowl filled with the wrath of God, who lives forever and ever. 8 The Temple was filled with smoke from God’s glory and power. No one could enter the Temple until the seven angels had completed pouring out the seven plagues.

A bowl is something that can be easily and quickly poured out. Revelation 16 lists the bowls that bring devastating judgments on the earth. Each bowl was filled with the wrath of God. After the seven angels were each given a bowl, smoke from God’s power and glory filled the temple. No one was able to enter the temple until the seven plaques were poured out.

REFLECT

Do you see from this passage that God is still in control? There is no more comforting thought than to realize God is in ultimate control (see Proverbs 21:1).

RESPOND

In reading the Bible, attempt to skip the break in chapter divisions that sometimes interrupts the flow of the content. Chapter and verse divisions were added after the original manuscripts were written. This short chapter of Revelation 15 leads you directly into chapter 16 that tells of the seven plagues.