… and the sanctuary was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from his power, and no one could enter the sanctuary until the seven plagues of the seven angels were finished. Rev 15:8
If the Sanctuary represents the place of worship, this passage then reveals that worship stopped (in heaven) until these last plagues were finished. It must be something very depressing to see, even in the sight of God. To see His creatures suffer His full wrath and at the same time enjoy worship was something God could not accommodate. Worship was suspended! It goes to show how grievous these plagues would be. Even heaven felt the pain, how much sorer would it be for men on earth, the partakers of the wrath of God.
The first plague– So the first angel went and poured out his bowl on the earth, and harmful and painful sores came upon the people who bore the mark of the beast and worshiped its image. Vs 2
Second plague– he second angel poured out his bowl into the sea, and it became like the blood of a corpse, and every living thing died that was in the sea. Vs 3
Third plague– The third angel poured out his bowl into the rivers and the springs of water, and they became blood… For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and you have given them blood to drink. It is what they deserve!” Vs 4-7
Fourth plague– The fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and it was allowed to scorch people with fire. They were scorched by the fierce heat, and they cursed the name of God who had power over these plagues. They did not repent and give him glory. Vs 8-9
Fifth Plague– The fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and its kingdom was plunged into darkness. People gnawed their tongues in anguish
Rev 16:11 and cursed the God of heaven for their pain and sores. They did not repent of their deeds. Vs 10-11
Sixth Plague– The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up, to prepare the way for the kings from the east…And they assembled them at the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon. Vs 12-16
Seventh Plague– The seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple, from the throne, saying, “It is done!” … And great hailstones, about one hundred pounds each, fell from heaven on people; and they cursed God for the plague of the hail, because the plague was so severe. Vs 17-21
The last plagues are similar to the plagues upon Egypt. Four of the plagues of Egypt are replicated in the last plagues but again with greater intensity. The plagues of water turned to blood Ex 7:14-25; of sores like the boils of Egypt Ex 9:8-12; of palpable darkness Ex 10:21-29 and of the great hailstones Ex 9:19-35. The plagues of Egypt were God’s judgment and punishment for the wickedness of Pharaoh and his people. But something interesting happened in Egypt which we see again in the last days- Pharoah did not repent.
They did not repent…
Why could they not repent? It was due to the hardness of their hearts. Like Pharaoh who saw the power of God in Egypt; even when the hand of God was clearly revealed as being against him, yet could not repent. There the Bible says God hardened his heart Ex 4:21; 7:3;14:4. Would it be just to harden the heart of someone and expect him to do what is right? Would it be right and fair to hold him accountable for wrongdoing when he is helplessly under another’s influence? It will be unjust on the side of a just God to do so. What God did was to withhold his grace from hearts that were inclined to do evil. It is by the grace of God that any man is able to turn to God- in repentance. If this is true, then the men who did not repent at the wrath of God meted out in severe measure are definitely without the grace of God to do so. The state is therefore hopeless and they are damned who are sentenced to such a condition as to be without hope and unable to experience God’s saving grace because His wrath had come.
Therefore, the prayer “may the grace of God be with you” is so profound. It is by grace, God’s free and favorable disposition toward a person, upon his heart and in his circumstances, that makes him worth anything. Without it a man is of no account and can do nothing.
May the grace of God be with you. Amen