A Daily Walk

Guest (Male): Pastor John Randall on the battle we face in our daily walk.

Friend, listen to today, we are in a spiritual battle. The battle, it's the Lord's. He has the victory, and we fight this battle from a place of victory, but it's still a battle. It's light against darkness, it's heaven against hell, it's truth against lies, it's death against life. But the Bible tells us in 1 Corinthians chapter 15, verse 57, "But thanks be to God because he gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."

Here on A Daily Walk, our journey through Revelation is nearing the point of the grand finale. It is here in Revelation 15 that we read an introduction to the final outpouring of God's judgment upon the earth. Now, while this is an ominous chapter, Pastor John Randall says we must not miss the hope, the joy, and the singing that is here as well.

John Randall: Revelation chapter 15 this morning, with a message entitled "Victory and Judgment." Revelation chapter 15 this morning, beginning in verse 1, if you would follow along with me as we read from God's word.

"Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous: seven angels having the seven last plagues, for in them the wrath of God is complete. And I saw something like a sea of glass mingled with fire, and those who have victory over the beast, over his image and over his mark and over the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, having harps of God. And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying: 'Great and marvelous are your works, Lord God Almighty! Just and true are your ways, O King of the saints! Who shall not fear you, O Lord, and glorify your name? For you alone are holy. For all nations shall come and worship before you, for your judgments have been manifested.'"

With only eight verses, Revelation chapter 15 is the shortest chapter in the book of Revelation, and it sets the stage for the coming of God's final judgment on the earth, which will be followed by the second coming of Jesus Christ. What is so intriguing about this chapter is in one scene, you have this joyful celebration of worship and praise being lifted to God, and in the next scene, you have the final judgment and wrath being poured out from God. There is a completion of God's judgment and there is a victory and triumph over evil.

It's easy to become overwhelmed by the evil in this world. In these days, the darkness appears darker. The hate and division seem stronger. The lies more deceptive, the threats closer, the end nearer. Evil will persist until Christ comes, but we can rest assured that there is coming a great day of victory when the Lord will triumph over all that is evil, and he will rule and reign with righteousness and justice forever, the Bible says.

Here in Revelation chapter 15, we gain insight into the events that will unfold right before that victory transpires. The chapter opens with the Apostle John seeing another vision. In verse 1, he said, "I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous: seven angels having the seven last plagues, for in them the wrath of God is complete." This is the third sign that John has seen in heaven. When he uses the word "another," it connects and refers to the two preceding signs that he had observed in heaven that we mentioned when we were in chapter 12.

You may recall in Revelation chapter 12, verse 1, John said that he saw a sign of a woman clothed with the sun, the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of 12 stars. It was a representation of the nation of Israel. Then in Revelation chapter 12, verse 3, John says he saw another sign, this time a great red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads were seven crowns. The dragon represented the devil and all of those who were aligned with him who desired to destroy Israel.

But now John sees a third sign in heaven, this time seven angels, and he describes this sign as great and marvelous. There are only two times in Scripture where these two Greek words, "great" and "marvelous," appear together in a verse, and they express the extreme importance of what John is observing. Also, make note of the number seven when used in the Bible, for it is a number that represents completion. There are seven angels having seven bowls; they contain the final completion of God's judgment. John mentions that these will be the last of the plagues to come upon the earth. Once these bowl judgments are poured out, the wrath of God is complete, which is a word that is translated "finished."

It's actually the same word that Jesus used when he hung upon the cross, when he completed redemption of the world. Do you remember what he said? "It is finished." It's complete. Just as the Lord completed the work of redemption, he will also complete the work of judgment and retribution.

The next thing that John observes is a sea of glass in verse 2: "And I saw something like a sea of glass mingled with fire." Now, here within our community, when we think of a sea of glass, we envision the ocean minus onshore winds. But in the book of Revelation, the sea of glass is symbolic. It was back in Revelation chapter 4 where the Apostle John was in the heavenly realm and he described what it was that he observed that was before the throne of God. He wrote, "There was a sea like unto crystal." A glassy sea like crystal.

In the Old Testament, when Moses had a meeting with the Lord, he described a similar experience. In Exodus 24, verse 10, Moses says that he saw God of Israel, and there was under his feet, as it were, a paved work of sapphire stone. It was like the very heavens in its clarity. The prophet Ezekiel described a similar experience as well in a vision that he had in Ezekiel chapter 1, verse 22, when he said, "The likeness of the firmament above the heads of the living creatures was like the color of an awesome crystal, stretched out over their heads." And here in Revelation 4, the description of the sea being likened unto crystal appears again. John says here again in chapter 15, this sea around the throne of God was like a sea of crystal or like glass, but this time it's mingled with fire.

Some see this fire that is mentioned as referring to the judgment of God that is to be poured out upon the earth. Fire is often associated with judgment in Scripture. Others suggest that the fire that is seen around the sea of glass speaks of the trials that those who are standing on the sea of glass had come through and experienced.

While these angels are preparing for judgment, John the Apostle sees a group of people now standing on the sea. In verse 2, those who have—notice this—who's standing there? Those who have the victory over the beast, over his image, over his mark, and over the number of his name. They are standing on the sea of glass and they have harps of God and they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb.

This group that overcame had victory over the beast, which is a reference to the Antichrist, over his number, which is a number that will be given to every person; without it, they will not be able to buy or sell. Those who have these harps in their hands, they're praising and worshiping God. These are the ones who were martyred for their faith during the tribulation period. These did not go in the rapture of the church. It wasn't until later on that they came to faith in Christ during the tribulation period, but they would have to die for their faith. The beast is the Antichrist. This group overcame him. They're standing there victorious. They had been redeemed during the tribulation.

They did not go in the rapture. Perhaps they heard the testimony of the 144,000 and they responded, or they heard the testimony of the angel that it says was flying to and fro throughout the earth, proclaiming the everlasting gospel. Whatever it was, they responded to the gospel during the time of tribulation. They were saved and then they were martyred for their faith. But now they are standing victorious and they are worshiping God. The reason is because they were unwilling to bow to the beast. They were unwilling to take his mark. They did not buy into the ideology or the world system, and for that, they were put to death for their faith. But they were victorious.

Friend, listen to today, we are in a spiritual battle. The battle, it's the Lord's. He has the victory, and we fight this battle from a place of victory, but it's still a battle. It's light against darkness, it's heaven against hell, it's truth against lies, it's death against life. But the Bible tells us in 1 Corinthians chapter 15, verse 57, "But thanks be to God because he gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." Jesus won the ultimate victory at the cross. Sin was atoned for and the power of sin and death was broken.

After Jesus' death on the cross and burial, he rose from the dead three days later, and now we share in that victory. Satan thought that he had won the ultimate contest with the death of Christ. Instead, that death of Christ released our chains, set us free from the prison of sin, and disarmed the supernatural powers of evil. The key to achieve victory in Jesus is faith in Jesus. That's how you have the victory. Friend, listen, the Bible says in 1 John chapter 5 and verse 4, "Everyone who is born of God"—that is, a person who has a relationship with God—"overcomes this world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world, your faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God."

Do you want to walk in victory in this world? Then trust in Jesus. Keep your eyes on Jesus. Have faith in Christ. Take hold of his promises, and that is where you will find victory in the midst of this spiritual battle. As long as we remain in this fallen world, we will still have struggles to overcome, battles to fight. As believers, we fight our battles in the spiritual realm from our knees through prayer.

The Bible says in 2 Corinthians chapter 10, "For though we live in this world, we do not wage war as the world does. For the weapons of our warfare are contrary to the weapons of this world. They have divine power," it says, "to demolish strongholds." Folks, listen, we have an arsenal that is enough to withstand the onslaught of the adversary. These are not carnal weapons. These are weapons of warfare in the spiritual realm that are able to pull down strongholds. This is the victory that we have.

The Bible says that the day will come when the victories of Jesus Christ will be fully realized and celebrated in the new heavens and new earth. Listen to what the Bible says prophetically in Isaiah chapter 25, verse 8: "He will swallow up death forever, and the Lord will wipe away tears from all faces. The rebuke of his people he will take away from all the earth, for the Lord has spoken."

This is what awaits us. This is the victory that we experience through Christ. So this group, standing victoriously on the sea, they are singing a song. This victory has prompted them to a place of worship, and that is always the response of people who are walking in the victory of the Lord. They love to worship the Lord. They love to praise him for who he is and what he's done. And in Revelation 15, verse 3, notice it says they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, "Great and marvelous are your works, Lord God Almighty!"

Now, there has been some differing opinion as to what the song of Moses refers to. For example, some suggest that the song of Moses refers to the song there in Exodus chapter 15. It was a song that was sung by Moses and the children of Israel after they crossed over the Red Sea and all of their enemies drowned in their pursuit of them. When they got to the other side, the response to this victory, to this deliverance, to this redemption, was praise to God! They began to praise God for the victory they had, for what God had done. They couldn't do it. This was something that was beyond their ability. They could not part the Red Sea. They could not deliver themselves from the Egyptians. They could not overcome the enemy. They needed God. God was the one who provides the victory.

Friends, listen, we need God. We need God to provide the victory. There's a lot of people today talking about government. I need God. I need God's help. And I want to say to you, listen carefully to me in case you misunderstand what my motivation is or what I'm about. Maybe you don't know me. Listen, listen carefully. I hope this comes across clear. We need more than a governor. We need God to solve the problems in California. And I'm all about what's going on, but I'll tell you this: if that's where it stops, then nothing ultimately is going to change because the heart of man can't be changed by a leader in power. The heart of man is changed through the gospel of Jesus Christ. That's what changes hearts. That's what we need: the gospel.

So yes, I live here, but I'm a citizen of heaven. Yes, I'm a part of this, and I do my part, and I pray, and I vote. My heart is not set on this temporary world; my heart is set on a journey, on a pilgrimage that leads to heaven, and people need the gospel of Jesus Christ. California needs the gospel of Jesus Christ. That's the answer to the problem. I hope that's clear.

So they sing this song of redemption. They sing this song of praise because God delivered them. Others suggest that perhaps the song of Moses refers to Deuteronomy chapter 32, that was personally authored by Moses and he taught it to the children of Israel. He told them, "I want you to sing this and I want you to teach it to your children. This song right here in Deuteronomy chapter 32, when they come into the land, listen, remember this tune! Don't forget these lyrics! Teach it to your children. Remind them of the faithfulness of God, of the power of God, of the redemption that God has provided. Pass it on to the next generation."

Both songs are connected to Moses and they speak of deliverance of their enemies and entrance into the promised land. And I think it's an appropriate song. I think it's a relevant song for this group to be singing because both the song of Moses and the song of the Lamb praise God for who he is and for what he's done. I love what J.B. Phillips wrote concerning this. Listen carefully. He gave a wonderful description of this song when he said, "The song of Moses was sung at the Red Sea. The song of the Lamb is sung at the crystal sea. The song of Moses was a song of triumph over Egypt. The song of the Lamb is a song of triumph over Babylon. The song of Moses told how God brought his people out. The song of the Lamb tells how God brings his people in. The song of Moses was the first song in Scripture, and the song of the Lamb is the last song in Scripture."

The song of Moses commemorated the execution of their enemies, the expectation of the saints, the exaltation of the Lord. The song of the Lamb deals with the same three themes. What song are you singing this morning? What kind of praise are you offering to God? This song, the lyrics of the song of the Lamb, first of all, make note of the fact, friends, that it praises his works and emphasizes his power. It says, "Great and marvelous are your works, Lord God Almighty!" What a theme for a song: the greatness and the power and the might of God! You want to lift your heart out of the depression of this world? You want to be raised up out of all of the chaos that is currently in the culture? Remember who your God is! Remember how powerful, how great, how awesome he is, and then take a visual of what's going on around you. It changes your perspective; it changes the atmosphere.

The psalmist declared in Psalm 145, "All your works shall praise you, O Lord, and your saints shall bless you. And they shall speak of the glory of your kingdom and talk of your power, to make known to the sons of men his mighty acts and the glorious majesty of his kingdom." Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures throughout all generations. This is what the church needs to be singing about today: the greatness of God, the kingdom of God that lasts forever. Do you ever take time, friend, to pause and ponder and praise the Lord for the good work that he's done in your life, the mighty power that he has?

Oh, this song not only praises God for his works, but it also praises God for his ways. It emphasizes his plan when it says, "Just and true are your ways, O King of saints!" Oh, we don't always exactly know what God's plan is. I don't always know what God—you have a plan, right? I mean, you know what you're doing up there, right? You sure you got this? Okay, I just—you have a plan. Yes, he has a plan! And this song emphasizes the plan of God. Listen, the Bible says in Proverbs 19:21, "There are many plans in man's heart; nevertheless, the Lord's counsel will stand." God knows what he's doing. Do we praise him for his ways? Do we trust his plans?

Listen, the Bible says in Jeremiah 29:11, a passage of Scripture that you are probably familiar with, when the Lord says, "I know the plans that I have for you," says the Lord, "and they are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope." Friend, you might not know this today, but God has a plan for your life. And his plan for your life is salvation, first and foremost, that you would be saved from your sins, that you would have the hope of heaven, that you would not be separated from him in hell for eternity. That's why Jesus came. This is the plan of God, a plan of redemption. It was a plan to save you, to save me from my sins, to redeem this world. That's God's plan.

Do you know that God has a plan for you? The only way you're going to know God's plan for you is if you turn your life over to God. And when you do, he reveals that plan. Some of you here today, you may be missing the plan of God because you haven't yet come to God for salvation. Oh, friend, but the moment you do, it's amazing what begins to unfold.

It's a song of praise also for the worth of God as it emphasizes his perfection. It says, "Who shall not fear you, O Lord, and glorify your name? For you alone are holy." It speaks of the worth of God, the greatness of God. Psalm 29, verse 2 says, "Give unto the Lord the glory that is due his name. Worship the Lord"—listen to this—"in the beauty of his holiness." We worship the Lord in the beauty of his holiness. Think about that phrase: the worth of God. This song of praise emphasizes his works, his ways, his worth.

Oh, but it also highlights the word of God, for it says here, "All nations"—notice that—"all nations shall come and worship before you, for your judgments have been manifested." Throughout the Old Testament Scriptures, there have been prophetic verses spoken time and time again that emphasize the day in which the nations of the world will come and worship before our King. The Bible says in Zechariah 14, "The Lord shall be king over all the earth, and in that day shall there be one Lord and his name one." That hasn't happened yet; obviously, look around, you know this. It hasn't happened. But the Bible says it's going to happen. It's going to happen.

Guest (Male): The Lord is going to be king over all the earth. How exciting is that? Today on A Daily Walk, we've been covering Revelation 15 with Pastor John Randall. It's a message called "Victory and Judgment." There's more to come in just a moment. You can listen to today's message from Revelation again or catch up on what you may have missed at adailywalk.org or oneplace.com.

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John Randall: Now, John hears this song being sung, the melodies of the martyrs, and his attention is directed toward another vision. Notice this: we're almost through verse 5. "After these things"—after he sees them standing there, playing their harps, singing their song—"after these things I looked, and behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened. And out of the temple came seven angels having seven plagues, clothed in pure bright linen, having their chests girded with golden bands."

John says, "I looked," which means he's about to introduce yet another powerful vision. This time he says there's a temple in heaven that opened up. Now, you know this if you studied with us through the Bible, studied through the book of Hebrews and other places; you know that the temple that is in heaven was modeled in the tabernacle or the temple on the earth. God was very specific when he told Moses, "This is how you build the temple." Very specific when Solomon built the temple: "This is what it's supposed to look like. This part goes here, this part goes here." Why? Because it was a representation of what was going on in heaven.

And so here, John gets this glimpse of the temple opening, the Holy of Holies there in heaven. And out of this place comes these angels, and they come out and they're about to bring judgment upon the earth. It's interesting because John sees the temple in heaven open, and out of the holiest of all places come these seven angels, and he gives us a description: they were clothed in linen garments, they had a gold band around their chest, they were carrying seven remaining plagues, the final plagues. And as they come out of the sanctuary, they reveal that these judgments are about to be poured out, and they come from the holiness of God, guys.

Guest (Male): And next time on A Daily Walk, the bowl judgments are about to be poured out as Pastor John Randall visits Revelation chapter 16. This program is made possible through your generosity and brought to you by Calvary South OC.