In this thought-provoking episode, we delve deep into Revelation chapter 15 to uncover the profound significance of the great sign that appears in heaven. Bible teacher David Hawking guides us through the vivid imagery and monumental events, including the final plagues and the triumphant martyrs who withstand the mark of the beast. As we explore these prophetic insights, we are reminded of God’s unwavering justice and the certainty of His promises, offering us both a warning and the assurance of hope.
There is no church in America. There are only churches in America. Be careful of this language. It leads to world church type thinking. No, we only have local churches. The church universal is in heaven. It’s being assembled there. Some of you are looking at me now like, what is this new strange thing? No, this is just an old doctrine that needs to be brought up again because people are trying to make us all think that we’re one organizationally. No, we’re not.
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This is Hope for Today with Bible teacher and author, David Hawking. We’re in Revelation chapter 15 currently on the program, and this is where a great sign appears in heaven. Seven angels step forward, and what they have is the last plagues, the final measure of God’s wrath. A sea of glass burns with fire, and those who refuse the mark of the beast, they stand victorious, singing the song of Moses in the land. This is also a moment when God’s judgment reaches its full strength. There’s no escape. There’s no hiding. The holiness of God demands it, and the certainty of his justice is about to be poured out. It’s time for day two of our study in Revelation 15. David’s titled this, The Great Sign in Heaven. And he’ll open up the word in just a moment. This is going to shake you to your core, so stay tuned. First, here’s David with a special word.
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I need to talk to you openly about our financial need that’s going on right now and hope for today. I sometimes hesitate to even say it, but we… No other recourse. We don’t have a church or organization behind us. Nowhere else we can go except to our listeners and, of course, to our Lord. And we thank you for your prayers for us. But right now, financially, it’s one of the more serious times we’ve ever seen. We don’t want to go off the air where you’re listening. But we need your prayer support, and we need your gifts right now, over and above. This is David Hawking. Thank you for caring. God bless you all.
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Well, thank you, David. And if you’d like to send a much-needed financial gift our way to co-labor with us in ministry, you can simply call us at 875-BIBLE, that’s in the U.S., or 888-75-BIBLE in Canada. And Bible is 24253. Our website, davidhawking.com. And we’ll give you our mailing address a bit later in the program, so stay tuned for that. Right now, though, here’s David with day two of The Great Sign in Heaven, our message in Revelation 15, verses 1 to 8.
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And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous, seven angels having the seven last plagues, for in them is filled up the wrath of God. And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire and them that had gotten the victory over the beast and over his image and over his mark and over the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, having the 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 thy works, Lord God Almighty. Just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints. Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? For thou only art holy. For all nations shall come and worship before thee, for thy judgments are made manifest. And after that I looked, and behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened. And the seven angels came out of the temple, having the seven plagues, clothed in pure and white linen, and having their breasts girded with golden girdles. And one of the four beasts, or living creatures, gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials, or bowls full of the wrath of God, who liveth forever and ever.” And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from his power. And no man was able to enter into the temple till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled. When you look at the sign in heaven, there are two things I would point out to you. Number one, the importance of the sign has to be indicated by the opening words when it says, I saw another sign. The Greek word is another of the same kind. So it’s just as spectacular as the woman clothed with the sun and moon and the 12 stars. Just as spectacular as the great red dragon who also was pictured with seven heads and ten horns. Well, in addition to the importance of the sign, look at the identity of those that are standing on the sea of glass. The Bible says that John saw two things here. Verse 2, I saw, as it were, a sea of glass mingled with fire. And secondly, them that had gotten the victory over the beast, over his image, over his mark, and over the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, having the harps of God. Dear folks who go through the tribulation, who right now have never heard the gospel. Can you imagine it? with millions of people standing on the very sea of glass that’s around the throne that separates the Father from all of his subjects who have been redeemed. It’s just a marvelous picture here. Mingled with fire, yes, they came through the fire. They suffered greatly. The Bible says they were beheaded for their testimony, the testimony of Jesus and their commitment to the Word of God. They didn’t take the mark of the beast, so they were killed. By the antichrist, the false prophet saw to it. As many as had not received the mark were killed, the Bible teaches. But one day they’re going to stand on the sea of glass. And I love the fact that they’re standing. Let me just run three things down in your mind about these two things John saw. It seems, first of all, persecution is there. You can see that clearly because it says not only that the sea of glass is mingled with fire, but that they had gotten the victory over the beast, over his image, over his mark, over the number of his name. Hey, you can’t destroy the believer by killing him. Aren’t you glad of that? Turn back to Matthew chapter 16. Let me show you something. It may be a new twist on a passage. Matthew chapter 16, where Peter confesses at Philippi, right on the base of that mountain, Mount Hermon, where there’s a lot of pagan shrines still visible today. And right in the midst of all that paganism, he said, who do men say that I, the son of man, am? And Peter came out with the Correct answer, thou art the Messiah, the Christ, the Son of the living God. Verse 17, chapter 16 of Matthew, Jesus answered, said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon bar Jonah, son of Jonah, for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father who is in heaven. And I say also unto thee that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church. Now let’s dispense with that problem right off the bat. Thou art Peter is the Greek word petros, which refers to a little stone that you can throw. Peter, you’re just a little stone that I can throw wherever I want. But upon this rock, the word is Petra. You know, the rock city called Petra in Jordan. It’s referring to the site of a mountain, a huge rock that cannot be moved easily. So thou art Petros, a little stone, a pebble we can pick up and throw, but upon this solid rock, Petra, I’ll build my church. Possibly he’s referring to his confession. Thou art the Messiah, the Son of the living God. We do know in 1 Corinthians 3.11 that other foundation can no man lay, but that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. No, he’s not talking about the Pope here. He’s talking about Jesus Christ. He’ll build his church on himself and on the confession that Peter made, thou art the Messiah, the son of the living God. Well, having dispensed with that, the passage I want you to see is the last phrase of verse 18. It says, in the gates of hell, Greek word is Hades, the temporary abode of the lost, translated unseen, the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. Well, I don’t know how you feel about it, but it looks like we’re losing now. You understand what I’m saying? I don’t think we’re knocking down the gates of Hades at all. I think that’s a misinterpretation. First of all, in the book of Revelation, when we saw the four horsemen, we saw the fourth one, we had an interesting thing. We had death riding it and Hades following. In Revelation 20, the great white throne judgment, when the final hell is being dealt with, it says that death and Hades were both cast into the lake of fire. What it’s saying is the gate is the doorway into Hades will not overcome the church that Christ will build. Well, what’s the doorway in the Hades? The Bible is clear. It’s death. If you do not turn to Jesus Christ before you die, at your physical death, you will be in Hades awaiting the final judgment of God in the lake of fire. It’s an awesome thought. You’ll be in a place of torment just as surely as the final hell. And that word Hades is called hell in many English Bibles, as you know. It’s a temporary abode of the wicked dead who suffer and are being tormented, awaiting the final lake of fire. It’s an awesome thing. What’s the… Gateway into Hades in Luke 16. A rich man and Lazarus story. It says the rich man died and in Hades lifted up his eyes. The doorway into Hades, the gates of Hades, is death. You see, what this verse is really saying is that the death of the believer does not overtake or overpower the church. Why? Because of the resurrection. Why? Jesus said, don’t fear those who can kill your body. Fear him who can cast both body and soul into hell. Don’t fear those who can kill your body. In other words, you can’t wipe the church out by killing people. Why? Because according to Hebrews chapter 12, the only true universal church that has ever existed is being assembled in heaven. What’s down here on earth are churches. There is no church in America. There are only churches in America. There’s no church in Africa. They’re just churches in Africa. Be careful of this language. It leads to ecumenicity. It leads to world church type thinking. No, we only have local churches. When we talk about the universal body of Christ, let me remind you that most of them are already in heaven. They’re already there. The church universal is in heaven. It’s being assembled there. Some of you are looking at me now like, what is this new strange thing? No, this is just an old doctrine that needs to be brought up again because people are trying to make us all think that we’re one organizationally. No, we’re not. We’re one in Christ. And I happen to be one with people who’ve died already. as well as those of you who are living, some who look like they’re already dead. But anyway, okay, Hebrews chapter 12, all right? Hebrews chapter 12. Okay, here we go. Watch this carefully. In Hebrews 12, verse 22, he says, “…but you are come unto Mount Zion, unto the city of the living God.” Hebrews 12, 22. You come unto the heavenly Jerusalem and to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn, who are written in heaven, and to God the judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, that would be Old Testament believers, and to Jesus, the mediator of the new covenant, and so forth. So when you die, you’re going home. Heavenly city, innumerable company of angels, and to the church of the firstborn, all the Old Testament saints, God the Father, Jesus is there. That’s what you’re going home to when you die. Well, it’s a very important issue. So where’s the real church? Well, there’s some of them still walking around here, but we’re not really sure whether they’re saved or not. But all of us who have really been born again, who know the Lord, hey, we’re going to be assembled in heaven. That’s where the real universal body of Christ is. And there’s just a few of us left down here. And when the Lord comes again, even we who are alive remain are going to be changed and caught up together with those who have already died. The point is the majority of them are already in heaven. They’re waiting for us. So what am I saying? I’m saying that the devil and all the demons of hell don’t have any ability to overcome and overpower the church. If they kill us all, it doesn’t do anything. It just causes more of us to be in the great assembly in the sky where the church is really being assembled, which is in heaven. And down here, we just have earthly churches with lots of folks. We hope they’re all knowing the Lord, but we’re not sure. But in heaven, we got a true group. They’re all born again. Can you imagine what the praise meetings are going to be like in heaven when everybody is really born again? Just think of what it’s going to be like to praise the Lord. It’s going to be a wonderful time. Well, back to Revelation. We got a little afloat, but not too much. Revelation chapter 15. What we’re seeing here are the martyrs of the tribulation period. Persecution is all the way through this, but they have overcome the beast. Don’t worry about the mark of the beast, the antichrist and the image and all that stuff. So they kill them all. God’s going to resurrect him. Isn’t it interesting that he uses the word in terms of bodily position that represents resurrection? Standing. If you’re Jewish, you know that. We shall stand up in that day. It’s all a picture of the resurrection of the believer. And here they’re pictured standing on the sea of glass, fully accepted by the Heavenly Father. Wow. Wow. Well, remember in Revelation 5, 6, when they saw Jesus take the scroll, it says in their midst stood a lamb. His own resurrection was pictured. Because the Bible pictures the elders, 24 elders who represent the church in heaven, in Revelation 4, 4, as sitting. But the Lamb of God is standing. He is the resurrected Christ. And yes, he sits now at the right hand of the throne of God interceding for us. But in that day, he’s going to be the encouragement to all of the believers who have suffered and lost their lives as they will be resurrected to stand in his likeness. Persecution, their position is standing their praise. Look at the end of verse two, having the harps of God. Now, there’s a lot of conjecture about what this is. In fact, there’s some people in Israel who have designed what they believe are the harps of God based on the harps of King David. There’s some real replicas that go all the way back to the time of David. They’re very interesting to see. They’re kind of different shapes, and you can hold them, and you kind of strum them. Kind of a modified guitar, a little bit. But it says they have the harps of God. Everybody’s going to have it. Go back to Psalm 144. Isn’t it interesting how God is into music? He’s really into music. That’s why music should really be a part of our worship and praise always. Because God’s really in it. He loves music. God sings also. The Bible speaks of him singing. Be nice to hear him one day with our ears. audible rather than by faith, believing that we can actually hear him. Psalm 144, verse 9. I will sing a new song unto thee, O God, upon a psaltery and an instrument of ten strings will I sing praises unto thee. Look at Psalm 147, verse 7. Sing unto the Lord with thanksgiving, sing praise upon the harp unto our God. Psalm 149, verse 3. Let them praise his name in the dance. Let them sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp. Psalm 150, verse 3. Praise him with the sound of the trumpet. Praise him with the psaltery and harp. A harp appears quite frequently. The harps of God, an instrument of praise. Turn to Ephesians chapter 5. We know that in heaven, pictured by what we see in Revelation 15, that these martyrs who are now resurrected and standing on God’s sea of glass, they are, each of them, having harps of God. And music certainly illustrates our praise and our blessing to the Lord. Well, it just kind of hit me with a new freshness in Ephesians 5.18. We are commanded to be filled with the Spirit. Verse 19, speaking to yourselves, so not singing but speaking, and yet it uses songs to express that. Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs. God even talks about our verbal communication outside of music, just talking to each other as though it reflects the music and praise of God. that our conversations ought to have, as an essential ingredient in it, the blessing and praise and blessing of Almighty God. We ought to be characterized that way as believers in our talk with each other. There ought to be, as it were, notes in our vocabulary of praise to God. Blessed be the Lord, and thank you, Lord, for all you’ve done. We should really be thanking the Lord for that. We should really praise the Lord for what he has done. That should characterize the conversation of those who say they are spirit-filled. And the next statement says, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord. Making melody is a psalming or striking an instrument. And many believe it’s the harp or striking a stringed instrument. It’s the music of it. And just hit me. It’s in your heart. to the Lord. There’s a song in your heart. Your life may be a shambles. You may have so many things wrong. You’d say to your friends, man, I’m lucky to be here. But I’ll tell you, when you’re filled with God’s Holy Spirit, no matter what’s gone wrong today or this week or this last year or month or whatever, there is a song in your heart. Your whole life is like being played to say, God, I love you.
SPEAKER 04 :
That’s Bible teacher and author David Hawking. And this is Hope for Today. David will be back in a moment to close out our time in God’s holy word. So stay right there. First, though, Matt and I have a great hope-filled Bible study resource to tell you about. And you know something? This is a resource that is going to change your life. Matt?
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This month, Jim, we’re featuring our book, Hope in Difficult Times. And let me just read a few quick lines from it. Yeah, this is good. Go ahead. Hope is attractive. Its very mention can motivate us to take another step, to try again. It helps us to cope with the pain of the moment, always looking to the future and a better time. It is optimistic in a very pessimistic world. It looks for ways to help, to resolve conflict and to heal. It suggests that things do not need to remain as they are. It is a word that anticipates change for the better.
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Matt, I think of Romans 8, 28 as you read that. Again, that’s from your dad’s book. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose. And for those times when we’re just struggling to hang on to this truth, when life presses in and casts doubt in our hearts,
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You know, my dad drafted the book, you know, Hope in Difficult Times. For that purpose. And he named this ministry Hope for Today. That’s it. Because God’s word provides the hope we must have for today and every day. Certainly in these days when evil seems to run rampant and when you open this book, wow.
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Hope in Difficult Times. Yeah. You see and experience godly hope and biblical hope. Amen. Hope that certain – Because it counts on the absolute trustworthiness of our God to deliver every time on his promises.
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Yes, hope that is an earnest expectation that God has us securely held in his plan and purpose for our lives.
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We’ll discover the wonders of the Bible’s teaching on hope inside Hope in Difficult Times. Our featured offer for just $20. Your purchase will bless you, your family, and friends. And it will help the Ministry of Hope for today. To get your copy of Hope in Difficult Times or to request another resource such as our current Revelation series, all 48 messages on MP3, you can order that as well. Call us at 800-75-BIBLE in the United States or 888-75-BIBLE in Canada. And of course, you can order online at davidhawking.org. You know, as David mentioned at the top of today’s program, this ministry depends on the support of friends like you. There are many voices out there, but few that open the scriptures the way David does, carefully, verse by verse, bringing the Bible into focus with depth, clarity, and uncompromising truth. If hope for today were to cease, this distinctive teaching would no longer be heard on stations like this or online. So your gift makes sure this kind of sound biblical exposition continues to reach listeners who are hungry for the Word of God. It keeps Hope for Today on the air and online and provides resources for growth and makes the truth of Scripture available to those who might never hear it otherwise. If God has used this program to strengthen your faith, if so, would you prayerfully consider partnering with us to keep it going? Call 800-75-BIBLE in the U.S. or 888-75-BIBLE in Canada. You can also mail your gift to Hope for Today, Box 3927, tustin california 92781 in the u.s or hope for today box 15011 rpo seven oaks abbotsford bc v2s 8p1 in canada you can also give safely online at david hawking.org let’s get back to david for some closing comments on what we’ve studied
SPEAKER 02 :
Thanks for listening today. We’re in Revelation 15, and interesting in this passage, it talks about the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb. And it says, “‘Great and marvelous are thy works, Lord God Almighty! Just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints.'” Wow, I hope you’re enjoying our study. I’m excited about it, and we’re getting ready in chapter 15. It’s a setup for chapter 16, which will list all of those seven last plagues that are coming on planet Earth. It’s going to be a terrible time. I hope that you, my friend, have settled your relationship with the Lord. Our Lord Yeshua is the only one who can save you from sin, death, and hell. And hell is coming. Hell on earth would be a good name for the tribulation period. And folks, We’re not teaching this because it’s some fanciful myth or legend or something else. No, this is God’s Word, and it’s the truth of what’s coming on planet Earth. And I hope you’re ready. I hope you’ve made a personal commitment to our blessed Lord, the Messiah of Israel, the only one who can save us from sin, death, and hell. So plan to be with us. We’re going to need another message here in chapter 15 on the great sign in heaven. God bless.
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And friend, if you’d like to know more about a relationship with Jesus Christ, he loves you so much, he wants a personal relationship with you. If that’s the case, or if you’re new to the Christian faith, reach out at 1-800-75-BIBLE in the U.S. or 888-75-BIBLE in Canada, and we’ll send you David’s booklet, What Is Christianity?, as well as a Bible study by mail. Next time on the program, David wraps up our look at Revelation 15. You know, this is a scene of glory and dread and a warning to every soul still living in defiance of God. Don’t miss it right here on Hope for Today.
