Well, things really got hot in Israel this past week, especially in the Gaza Strip.  Today, Hamas claimed that it was in sole control of the Gaza Strip.  Many of the security officials who belonged to the Fatah Party (you might remember that this was the party of Yassir Arafat and of the current President Abbas), either escaped to Egypt or many were executed by the Hamas terrorists.  Now, civil war is threatened in the West Bank.  Israel showed immense resolve to stay out of the bloodshed and fighting the Gaza Strip, except when Israeli citizens were directly threatened.  But I cannot help but wonder how much longer the IDF will remain quiet if and when violence knocks on the doorsteps of Jerusalem.  So, the current situation is this: Hamas - who has the majority in the Palestinian Parliament - now controls the area of Gaza; Fatah controls the areas of the West Bank.  In effect there is a duality.  This cannot continue for much longer.

Also, in a special election for leadership within the Labor Party in Israel, former Prime Minister Ehud Barak won.  He soon will become the Minister of Defense in the Olmert government, a government that is hanging on by its thumbs.  Early this past week we learned that Prime Minister Olmert had sent a secret letter to President Assad of Syria stating that if Syria would give Israel an unconditional peace and if Syria would promise to stop funding the Hezbollah in Lebanon and if Syria would sever its ties with Iran, then Israel would return the entire Golan Heights to Syria.  Now, friends, I have been to the Golan Heights four times in recent years.  Each time our Israeli guide stated that it would be suicidal to give those mountains back to Syria.  Olmert is desperate to keep his position.  Now, with the election of Barak, one of the main parties in his shaky coalition might withdraw causing the whole government to collapse. 

And, as you know, sectarian violence continues almost unabated in Iraq, only to be heightened this past week with the bombing of the Golden Mosque of the Shiites.  This was the second time this holy place in Shiite Islam has been bombed.  The last time, a horrific bloodbath resulted.  One can only anticipate that it will happen again this time.  Now Turkish forces are camped on the border with the northern Iraqi people group the Kurds.  And Iran is accused of selling arms to the Shiites in Iraq and to the Taliban in Afghanistan. 

I am presently teaching a special four-week class on Israel and the Middle East and how we got to this point.  Week one, we considered the Jewish viewpoint; week two - the Islamic viewpoint; week three - the Christian perspective; and week four - the prophetic picture of what is yet to occur.  Putting the class together has helped me to better understand that God is still in control.

Well, it seems that I left out one chapter in our study through Revelation.  So, now that we have completed the book, we will back up and examine briefly Revelation 15.  Perhaps it got overlooked because of its brevity.  It is only 8 verses long.  In this chapter we are given an introduction to the final wrath to be poured out during the closing days of the Tribulation.  Let's review for just a moment.  First, we had the seven seals.  Then followed the seven trumpets.  Soon, the seven bowls of God's wrath will be poured out.

I.  Revelation 15:1 - the introduction to the bowls

     These seven angels, pouring out the seven bowls of wrath, are indeed a great sign for when the bowls are poured out, God's wrath will be fully accomplished.  And this sign is a marvelous one because the more we study these chapters the more the weight of these final terrible visitations grow upon us.

II.  Revelation 15:2-4 - victors over the beast

     In these verses we see the saints of the Tribulation who believed and were martyred.  What does the "sea of glass" represent?  Perhaps it refers to the fiery persecutions under which these people have suffered.  Perhaps it is a reference to God Himself.  The sea celebrates, on the one hand, what they have passed through and, on the other hand, their nearness to and association with God. 

     What is the significance of the song they sing?  It is the Song of Moses - a song that celebrated the overthrow of Pharaoh and his army at the Red Sea.  It celebrated the mighty work of God.  The Song of the Lamb brings out God's righteous and true ways.  It is the song of God's grace. 

     What do they ascribe to God in this song?  1) He is mighty.  2) He is righteous and true.  3)  He is King of the nations and this kingship is about to be exercised.  4)  He is holy and for this reason men should fear and glorify Him.  And 5) He will be worship by the nations.

III.  Revelation 15:5-8 - the temple in heaven

     What do we know about this temple?  1) There is a literal temple in heaven - Ezekiel 25:40; Hebrews 9:23; Revelation 11:19; and Revelation 8:3.  2)  It is true that in the New Jerusalem John beholds no temple for Christ is the temple.  3) With the heavenly temple in the Revelation, only judgment matters are connected - Revelation 11:19 and Revelation 8:3-5.  In verse 6, the angels coming out of the heavenly sanctuary indicate that the judgments to be poured out stem from the holiness of God.

     Verse 8 declares that smoke filled the temple.  Smoke is frequently associated with the glory of God - Exodus 19:18; Exodus 40:34-35; 1 Kings 8:10-11.  The glory of the Lord is always manifested in the time of judgment. 

     When does God exercise His wrath?  1) God exercises His wrath when His love is sneered at - Galatians 6:7-8.  2)  God exercises His wrath when His gentle, merciful reproof is rejected - Proverbs 29:1.  And 3) God exercises His wrath when His long-suffering is ignored - Luke 12:17-20; Proverbs 27:1; James 4:13-14. 

Thoughts to Ponder: What a startling contrast is seen in this chapter between the glory of God and the thought of the coming plagues upon the earth.  The seven angels are dressed in clean, white linens.  They are surrounded by the smoke from the glory of God.  Yet they carry in their hands the awful punishments God is about the heap upon the earth.  I believe there is a great underlying truth here.  God's judgments, although awful for the human mind to comprehend, are a product of His glory and holiness.  If God did not judge sin, His glory would be tainted and His love tarnished.  Yes, those punishments come because of God's wrath.  God has been patient with sinful men and they have continually scorned that love.  If men do not honor God's glory by receiving His love, then they will honor His glory by receiving His wrath.  It is God's glory that will be upheld.

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK: The best gift a father can give to his son is the gift of himself - his time.  For material things mean little, if there is not someone to share them with.  (C. Neil Strait)

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