What image comes to your mind when you hear the word “judgment”? Many people consider the word judgment to be negative. But today’s scripture (chs. 15-18) convinces us that we need a God of judgment. We need God’s righteous judgment.
During World War II, some men in a German prisoner of war camp received a secret message that Germany had surrendered to the Allies, but it was three more days before the Germans at the camp heard that news. During those three days, their miserable circumstances were no different than before, but their spirits were uplifted only because they now had hope. The news was certain, but not yet realized.[1]
Today’s scripture tells us the twofold aspect of the gospel. When Jesus returns, when Jesus executes the judgment, it’s a day of liberation, a day of vengeance, a day of salvation for God’s people. God will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be gone, tears gone, crying gone, pain gone. But as for the disobedient, it’s a day of destruction, a day of dreadful judgment.
Judgment on Egypt
During World War II, some men in a German prisoner of war camp received a secret message that Germany had surrendered to the Allies, but it was three more days before the Germans at the camp heard that news. During those three days, their miserable circumstances were no different than before, but their spirits were uplifted only because they now had hope. The news was certain, but not yet realized.[1]
Today’s scripture tells us the twofold aspect of the gospel. When Jesus returns, when Jesus executes the judgment, it’s a day of liberation, a day of vengeance, a day of salvation for God’s people. God will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be gone, tears gone, crying gone, pain gone. But as for the disobedient, it’s a day of destruction, a day of dreadful judgment.
Judgment on Egypt
In Revelation 15 and 16 John sees the vision of the seven bowls and the seven plagues, which reminds us of God’s judgment on Egypt. When God brought his justice, it was a day of salvation for Israel, and at the same time, it was a day of destruction for Egypt. The Israelites groaned under their slavery for 430 years. They cried out for help and justice for 430 years. God heard their groaning, and he remembered his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. God saw what was going on with Israel. And he knew it was time to act (cf. Ex 2:24-25). Through the hands of Moses God brought his justice, his judgment on the Egyptians – the ten plagues. Ten chances to repent! Ten chances to humble themselves and turn to God! But Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he just refused to let the Israelites go. He refused to repent. So Pharaoh and his people perished. Through God’s judgment on the Egyptians Israel was saved.
Judgment on Babylon
Judgment on Babylon
We see the same pattern here in Revelation 15-16. In this vision each of the seven angels pours his bowl, which is filled with the wrath of God. Like Pharaoh, those who endure the first five of the plagues harden their hearts, curse God, do not repent. The day of God’s judgment is coming.
In the next two whole chapters, 17 and 18, we see who Babylon the Harlot is (ch. 17) and how she is fallen (ch. 18). In the immediate context, which is in the first century AD, Babylon was Rome – invincible, luxury, enlightened, idolatrous, immoral, proud, godless. The Bible clearly tells us that Babylon was not just Rome. But Babylon has flourished throughout the world. Babylon is Vanity Fair, wherever it exists. And it will continue to exist until the day of judgment comes.
In his book Pilgrim’s Progress John Bunyan vividly describes Babylon, Vanity Fair – what it looks like in today’s world. The devil and his agents saw the path made by the pilgrims on their way to the Celestial City. So they set up a vanity fair – open and ongoing the whole year. At this fair they sell such merchandise as houses, land… honors, promotions, titles… lusts, and pleasures of all sorts, including things such as wives, husbands, children… silver, gold, pearls, precious stones, and much more. They also offer constant entertainment and other amusements of every kind. Here visitors can also find free offers that include thefts, murders, adulteries, perjuries.[2] When Christian and Faithful arrived at the fair, one merchant asked them, “What will you buy?” The pilgrims answered, “We buy the truth.” Then the merchant and others began to mock them, abuse them, beat them, put them into a cage, and later one fo them, Faithful, eventually died a martyr there.
One time Jesus said to his disciples about the signs of the end times, “But be on your guard. Don't let the sharp edge of your expectation get dulled by parties and drinking and shopping (literally, self-indulgence, drunkenness, and cares of this life). Otherwise, that Day is going to take you by complete surprise, spring on you suddenly like a trap” (Lk 21:34 MSG). So Jesus prayed for us, “Holy Father, protect them from the evil one. Though they may live in the world [Babylon], may they not be of the world. May they not follow or be captive to the ways of the world [Babylonian ways]” (cf. John 17:11, 14-16). Like the Apostle John, may we hear the voice from heaven saying: "Come out of her [Babylon], my people, so that you will not share in her sins, so that you will not receive any of her plagues” (Rev 18:4 NIV).
“It Is Done!”
In the next two whole chapters, 17 and 18, we see who Babylon the Harlot is (ch. 17) and how she is fallen (ch. 18). In the immediate context, which is in the first century AD, Babylon was Rome – invincible, luxury, enlightened, idolatrous, immoral, proud, godless. The Bible clearly tells us that Babylon was not just Rome. But Babylon has flourished throughout the world. Babylon is Vanity Fair, wherever it exists. And it will continue to exist until the day of judgment comes.
In his book Pilgrim’s Progress John Bunyan vividly describes Babylon, Vanity Fair – what it looks like in today’s world. The devil and his agents saw the path made by the pilgrims on their way to the Celestial City. So they set up a vanity fair – open and ongoing the whole year. At this fair they sell such merchandise as houses, land… honors, promotions, titles… lusts, and pleasures of all sorts, including things such as wives, husbands, children… silver, gold, pearls, precious stones, and much more. They also offer constant entertainment and other amusements of every kind. Here visitors can also find free offers that include thefts, murders, adulteries, perjuries.[2] When Christian and Faithful arrived at the fair, one merchant asked them, “What will you buy?” The pilgrims answered, “We buy the truth.” Then the merchant and others began to mock them, abuse them, beat them, put them into a cage, and later one fo them, Faithful, eventually died a martyr there.
One time Jesus said to his disciples about the signs of the end times, “But be on your guard. Don't let the sharp edge of your expectation get dulled by parties and drinking and shopping (literally, self-indulgence, drunkenness, and cares of this life). Otherwise, that Day is going to take you by complete surprise, spring on you suddenly like a trap” (Lk 21:34 MSG). So Jesus prayed for us, “Holy Father, protect them from the evil one. Though they may live in the world [Babylon], may they not be of the world. May they not follow or be captive to the ways of the world [Babylonian ways]” (cf. John 17:11, 14-16). Like the Apostle John, may we hear the voice from heaven saying: "Come out of her [Babylon], my people, so that you will not share in her sins, so that you will not receive any of her plagues” (Rev 18:4 NIV).
“It Is Done!”
God’s glory was revealed through his judgment on the Egyptians. God’s glory will be revealed through his judgment on Babylon on the last day. But not only that, God reveals his glory and himself as a God who is merciful and just, as he executes his righteous judgment shown on the cross. When the seventh angel pours his bowl into the air, a loud cry comes out of the throne, saying, “It is done” (16:17). The exact same Greek verb was used when Jesus cried from the cross, “It is done” (John 19:30). The wrath of God is finished!
Suppose you are twenty and just have your car. One day you drive 105 mph in a 55 mph zone. You’re just flying. The cop has you on radar and you’re done. They impound your car, and bring you straight to the courthouse to face the judge. The good news is that your dad at that time happens to be the judge for that case. So now you’re thinking that you’re golden. He loves you, he’ll let you off, everything will be fine. But as you are entering the courthouse, your remember that your dad is a really good judge. He never punishes the innocent. He always punishes the guilty. He is a good and just judge. Now you’re a little nervous. He is your good, loving dad, but at the same time, he is a just judge. So he looks at you and says, “That will be $500 or a week in jail. Guilty as charged.” Then, he stands up, takes off his robe and walks down from behind the bench. He takes out his checkbook and writes the court a check for $500, paying that penalty himself, on your behalf.[3]
That’s what God did on the cross. We were dead because of our sins. We were stuck in our old-dead life, we were incapable of responding to God. But God brought us alive. He forgave us all our sins. God did it on the cross. He canceled the record of the charges against us (“scarlet letter”) and took it away, nailing it to the cross. On the cross he disarmed the enemy and his agents. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross! (Col 2:13-15) On the cross God has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved Son. It is done!
Worship God
Suppose you are twenty and just have your car. One day you drive 105 mph in a 55 mph zone. You’re just flying. The cop has you on radar and you’re done. They impound your car, and bring you straight to the courthouse to face the judge. The good news is that your dad at that time happens to be the judge for that case. So now you’re thinking that you’re golden. He loves you, he’ll let you off, everything will be fine. But as you are entering the courthouse, your remember that your dad is a really good judge. He never punishes the innocent. He always punishes the guilty. He is a good and just judge. Now you’re a little nervous. He is your good, loving dad, but at the same time, he is a just judge. So he looks at you and says, “That will be $500 or a week in jail. Guilty as charged.” Then, he stands up, takes off his robe and walks down from behind the bench. He takes out his checkbook and writes the court a check for $500, paying that penalty himself, on your behalf.[3]
That’s what God did on the cross. We were dead because of our sins. We were stuck in our old-dead life, we were incapable of responding to God. But God brought us alive. He forgave us all our sins. God did it on the cross. He canceled the record of the charges against us (“scarlet letter”) and took it away, nailing it to the cross. On the cross he disarmed the enemy and his agents. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross! (Col 2:13-15) On the cross God has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved Son. It is done!
It’s done: the great transaction’s done!
I am the Lord’s and he is mine;
He drew me and I followed on,
Charmed to confess the voice divine.
Happy day, happy day,
when Jesus washed my sins away!
He taught me how to watch and pray,
And live rejoicing every day.
Happy day, happy day,
when Jesus washed my sins away!
Worship God
For those who hear the good news and believe in Jesus, the day of judgment is “Happy Day.” It’s a day of liberation. It’s a day of salvation. So in today’s passage, Revelation 15:1-4, when God brings his righteous judgments, his people sing and worship, saying,
"Great and amazing are your deeds, Lord God the Almighty! Just and true are your ways, King of the nations! Lord, who will not fear and glorify your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before you, for your judgments have been revealed.”Worship God. That’s the purpose of the whole book of Revelation. That's the point of all God's judgments from beginning to end – Worship God. Don't worship the wealth of Babylon, don't worship the power of Babylon, don't worship the pleasures of Babylon. Come out of it right now, my people, and worship God!
Worship is not one-hour performance a week. Worship is not the performance of a routine of hymns and prayers and preaching. Worship is a lifestyle. Worship is all of life – a life before God, a life with God 24/7. In Romans 12:1 Paul says, “I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.” I like the way Eugene Peterson translates this verse, saying, “Take your everyday, ordinary life – your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life – and place it before God as an offering.”
The day of last judgment is coming. Jesus said, “See, I am coming like a thief!” (Rev 16:15) So brothers and sisters in Christ, let us stay awake. Let us encourage one another as we see the Day approaching. Let us come out of Babylon and worship God. Let us show his worth by the way we use our time, our money, our life. Then the day of judgment will be a day of rejoicing. Amen.
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[1] Steven J. Cole, “Lesson 98: Why You Need the Old Testament” (Romans 15:4), https://bible.org/seriespage/lesson-98-why-you-need-old-testament-romans-154
[2] John Bunyan, Pilgrim’s Progress (Aneko Press), 99-100.
[3] “The Judge Illustration,” The Compass: A Tool for Disciplers, https://www.cru.org/content/dam/cru/legacy/2012/01/thejudgeillustration.pdf
The day of last judgment is coming. Jesus said, “See, I am coming like a thief!” (Rev 16:15) So brothers and sisters in Christ, let us stay awake. Let us encourage one another as we see the Day approaching. Let us come out of Babylon and worship God. Let us show his worth by the way we use our time, our money, our life. Then the day of judgment will be a day of rejoicing. Amen.
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[1] Steven J. Cole, “Lesson 98: Why You Need the Old Testament” (Romans 15:4), https://bible.org/seriespage/lesson-98-why-you-need-old-testament-romans-154
[2] John Bunyan, Pilgrim’s Progress (Aneko Press), 99-100.
[3] “The Judge Illustration,” The Compass: A Tool for Disciplers, https://www.cru.org/content/dam/cru/legacy/2012/01/thejudgeillustration.pdf
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