By Stan Szymanski
I have been reading through the book of Exodus. This past weekend I got to Chapter 15 where in The Song of Moses, He (Moses), gives credit and thanksgiving to The Lord for delivering His people from Pharaoh and for victory for His people.
It reminded me of Revelation 15:
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, stand 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. (Revelation 15:2-3 KJV)
So in both Exodus 15 and in Revelation 15, God’s people express thanks to The Lord through the singing of The Song of Moses; In Revelation 15 they add ‘The Song of the Lamb’ as well.
Isn’t it interesting that both Exodus 15 and Revelation 15 feature the song of Moses? I find it fascinating that both of these books feature thanksgiving to God because of His deliverance of His people from a powerful enemy. And I would be remiss if I did not state the obvious that they both were in the 15th chapter of each book.
I never used to give credence to biblical ‘numerology’ until I started following the Bible teachings of Pastor David Lankford at The Voice of Evangelism (and at his YouTube channel of the same name). Pastor Lankford is THE expert on the subject of why a ‘Pre-Tribulation’ Rapture does not compute. Please seriously consider buying his book-‘The Second Coming, A Second Look!’
What does the number 15 mean in Biblical numerology? The number 15 means rest (also confirmed here). So not only did He give His people rest after being delivered from Pharoah in Chapter 15 (15 means rest) of Exodus, but He also gave His people rest as they overcame in Revelation 15:
…’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, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God.’…
If you had just spent what was most likely (3 1/2) years suffering and being persecuted by the Antichrist, having a harp in your hands is the most unlikely of happenings. Have you ever seen anyone playing a harp who was agitated or upset? No, me either. The harpist is usually a picture of tranquility. Harp music is soothing and restful.
Now we can with certainty say that those who were alive and on the earth who had not taken the mark of the beast entered into rest during the time of Revelation 15.
The wrath of God is poured out upon the earth in Revelation 16:1
…’“And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth.” (Revelation 16:1 KJV)
So I believe that the Christians will be ‘raptured’ out of the earth between the singing of the Song of Moses/Song of the Lamb (Rev. 15) and the pouring out of the wrath of God in Revelation 16:1.
As Christians-sons and daughters of God-we are not subject to the wrath of God:
…“Therefore, since we have now been justified [declared free of the guilt of sin] by His blood, [how much more certain is it that] we will be saved from the wrath of God through Him.” (Romans 5:9 AMP)…
Unfortunately (sorry pre-tribbers) we as believers trusting in the finished work of Jesus on the cross will be subject to the wrath of the devil:
…’ Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.’…(Revelation 12:12 KJV)
IMHO, one of the things that is misunderstood by people who push or believe in a ‘pre-tribulation’ rapture is that there will be 2 different components regarding the suffering that will be inflicted: one will be the ‘wrath of the devil’ and one will be the ‘wrath of God’. In Revelation 6 when the seals begin to be opened, they are opened by the Lamb: (Please consider purchasing ’The Great Tribulation or The Wrath of God’ by Pastor David Lankford to read it for yourself from this expert preacher and man of God):
…’“And when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb (Christ), each one holding a harp and golden bowls full of fragrant incense, which are the prayers of the saints (God’s people). And they sang a new song [of glorious redemption], saying, ‘Worthy and deserving are You to take the scroll and to break its seals; for You were slain (sacrificed), and with Your blood You purchased people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.‘ “
(Revelation 5:8-9 AMP)
Christ is worthy to open the seals. So starting in Revelation 6, Jesus Christ is giving his ‘go ahead’ for wrath to be dispensed on the earth with the opening and of the seals even though it is not His work of wrath.
There is precedence in the Word of God for Elohim to allow the devil to work his work:
…“Again there was a day when the sons of God (angels) came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan (adversary, accuser) also came among them to present himself before the Lord. The Lord said to Satan, “From where have you come?” Then Satan answered the Lord, “From roaming around on the earth and from walking around on it.” The Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered and reflected on My servant Job? For there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God [with reverence] and abstains from and turns away from evil [because he honors God]. And still he maintains and holds tightly to his integrity, although you incited Me against him to destroy him without cause.” Satan answered the Lord, “Skin for skin! Yes, a man will give all he has for his life. But put forth Your hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh [and severely afflict him]; and he will curse You to Your face.” So the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, he is in your hand, only spare his life.”
(Job 2:1-6 AMP)
So in an earlier analogy to the suffering inflicted on humanity when the seals are opened on humankind, here is the devil being governed by the hand of God in just how far he (the devil) can go in his affliction of Job. In Revelation, the seals are opened by the Lamb (the governing authority) but are not the ‘wrath of God’, just as Job’s suffering was not God’s wrath, however God allowed it to happen.
There most certainly is an element of judgement in the book of Revelation:
…“Then the seventh angel sounded [his trumpet]; and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdom (dominion, rule) of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ; and He will reign forever and ever.” And the twenty-four elders, who sit on their thrones before God, fell face downward and worshiped God, saying, “To You we give thanks, O Lord God Almighty [the Omnipotent, the Ruler of all], Who are and Who were, because You have taken Your great power and the sovereignty [which is rightly Yours] and have [now] begun to reign. And the nations (Gentiles) became enraged, and Your wrath and indignation came, and the time came for the dead to be judged, and [the time came] to reward Your bond-servants the prophets and the saints (God’s people) and those who fear Your name, the small and the great, and [the time came] to destroy the destroyers of the earth.” And the temple of God which is in heaven was opened; and the ark of His covenant appeared in His temple, and there were flashes of lightning, loud rumblings and peals of thunder and an earthquake and a great hailstorm.” (Revelation 11:15-19 AMP)
So it is easy to see that this is the introduction of a time of judgement and reward when you read …’And the temple of God which is in heaven was opened; and the ark of His covenant appeared in His temple’…Please consider that in Revelation 15:1 the seven angels are still in the temple (‘cued up’ as it were):
…“Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and wonderful [a warning of terrifying and horrible events]: seven angels who had seven plagues (afflictions, calamities), which are the last, because with them the wrath of God is finished [that is, it is completely expressed and reaches its zenith].” (Revelation 15:1 AMP)
And then seven angels go into action to pour out God’s wrath beginning in Revelation 16:1:
…“Then I heard a loud voice from the temple, saying to the seven angels, “Go and pour out on the earth the seven bowls of the wrath and indignation of God.” (Revelation 16:1 AMP)
So I have written all this to say in my rudimentary way that there is a big difference between the wrath of the devil and the wrath of God. As blood bought, born again believers those, as authentic Christians, if still alive, will be subject to the wrath of the devil but not the wrath of God.
Those same Christians, if they did not take the mark of the beast (and were victorious over the beast and over his image and over the number of his name), will be given rest and will not be subject to the wrath of God. Just as the Israelites were given rest in Exodus 15, the people of God will be given rest before the exercise of the wrath of God in Revelation 16.
The people of God were given rest because in both cases they had been persecuted and pursued to the point of extermination. If there was a ‘pre-tribulation’ rapture, God would not have to give His people rest because according to the pre-tribbers they are getting out of here (this world) before anything bad happens to them. Antithetically, Jesus said:
… “Remember [and continue to remember] that I told you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also..’…(John 15:20 AMP)
As some know, I am a musician. My personal goal (if God wills it) is to endure and be victorious and to sing the Song of Moses and the Song of the Lamb in the choir of those who persevered in the time of the end for Jesus Himself said:
…“But the one who endures and bears up [under suffering] to the end will be saved.” (Matthew 24:13 AMP)
If we love Jesus, should not all of us have a goal of enduring to the end? Isn’t that what Jesus did for us, enduring to the end? If He did not drink the cup, would our sins even be forgiven? If Christians would rather ‘opt out’ than choose to endure to the end, are they any better than cowards? Where do cowards end up?
…But as for the cowards and unbelieving and abominable [who are devoid of character and personal integrity and practice or tolerate immorality], and murderers, and sorcerers [with intoxicating drugs], and idolaters and occultists [who practice and teach false religions], and all the liars [who knowingly deceive and twist truth], their part will be in the lake that blazes with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” (Rev 21:8 AMP)
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Stan Szymanski (of Encouraging Angels) is not a medical doctor. This is not medical advice. In all matters pertaining to the health and care of a human being consult a medical doctor. This is not legal, financial or personal advice. Consult appropriate professionals in those fields for that type of advice.