LECTURE XIII THE SEVEN VIALS OF GOD'S WRATH 15: 1~16:21
In chapters fifteen and sixteen the Spirit of God takes us back to the events of chapter thirteen, and gives additional, detailed information concerning the judgments that will come upon the earth as a result of the worship that the nations will give to the "man of sin." "And I saw another sign In heaven, great and marvellous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God" (15:1). The seven last plagues will be. meted out upon this earth just prior to the visible, bodily return of the Lord Jesus Christ. God will thus judge the earth. It has proved itself impenitent and has closed its heart to ·all His appeals to forsake sin and turn to Him.
THE FAITHFULNESS OF Goo IN WARNING MEN OF JUDGMENT TO COME
We have seen in our former studies that, after the church is caught away, the hatred of God against sin will be ex pressed in three series of judgments: in connection with the opening of the seven seals, the blowing of the seven trumpets, and the pouring forth of the seven vials of the wrath of God. The judgments connected with the seven seals are called "the wrath of the Lamb" (6: 16), whereas the last seven plagues are called "the wrath of God" ( 15: 1). These last shall con stitute the fiercest, the most intense expression that God has given of His eternal hatred of sin, and that expression shall be given just prior to the time when the Son of God returns to this earth in glory. After God has spoken to the earth in judgment in connec tion with the breaking of the seven seals, He pauses in order to give to the world a message. He sends forth the 144,000, and they preach that message; it is a call to the world to re-
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