J Philip Bible Readings

15 Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and amazing, seven angels with seven plagues, which are the last, for with them the wrath of God is finished.

² And I saw what appeared to be a sea of glass mingled with fire—and also those who had conquered the beast and its image and the number of its name, standing beside the sea of glass with harps of God in their hands. ³ And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying,

⁵ After this I looked, and the sanctuary of the tent of witness in heaven was opened, ⁶ and out of the sanctuary came the seven angels with the seven plagues, clothed in pure, bright linen, with golden sashes around their chests. ⁷ And one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God who lives forever and ever, ⁸ 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.

Another lesson taught by this OT story – and this shows that aptness of the allusion in relation to the principles unfolded in Revelation - is the progression of evil and the hardening of sin. It is plain that although there were in fact two points at which Pharaoh was in the valley of decision (Exodus 9:27; 10:16), when he was under the conviction of the Spirit of God. But he hardened himself against God, and the conviction that was resisted led finally to the quenching of the Spirit until Pharaoh went beyond the pale, and God judicially hardened the heart that had refused His Word. This hardening of the heart on Pharaoh's part corresponds to the 'demonisation' of our modern situation. For demonisation does not come by accident, but by courting the devil. In the earlier stages of sin it may well be the waywardness of our hearts that leads us astray; but there is that admixture of rebellion and revolt against the will and word of God that, when sin is persisted in, soon takes over in a man's heart, until the demonic assumes control and man is possessed by the powers of darkness. It is this that invites the judgment of God, and brings it upon mankind. Thus the judgment of Pharaoh, and the ultimate victory of God's people reflects the final overthrow of evil in the world and the rejoicing of the saints in glory in the vindication of righteousness.