Here are some questions based on last Sunday’s sermon text (Revelation 15:5 – 16:21), in case they’re helpful to you for personal growth or group discussion…

• [15:6-7] The seven angels look like Jesus with their golden sashes (see Rev. 1:13). They represent Jesus as they pour out their “seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God who lives forever and ever.” This scene is a picture of the holy and pure wrath of God completely emptied out upon people. Does your conception of Jesus include his wrath? Why or why not? Does God being wrathful imply that he is evil or cruel? Why or why not?

• [16:1-4] God’s wrath was poured out upon Jerusalem in particular, for their sustained violence against Jesus (their own Messiah!) and his people (the church). They had refused to listen to him, to repent, to come to him for mercy (Matt. 23:37-38). Does this give you a right to despise or condemn unbelieving Jews? Are there any areas in your life where you know you are unwilling to listen to Jesus, to repent, and to come to him for mercy?

• [5-7] God is praised as just for his judgments upon those who killed his faithful witnesses—they are getting their just desserts for being destroyers. (The Christian knows that either we get what we deserve from God, or we get what Jesus deserves through faith in him.) You cannot destroy others without being destroyed yourself. How does it damage you when you resent, hate, or attack others?

• [8-10] The “sun” represents a great ruler (probably the Roman Emperor). The “throne of the beast” represents the demonic, anti-Christian authority of the Roman Empire. Bowls of wrath were poured out on both of these so that they terribly afflicted the unbelieving Jews, culminating in the destruction of Jerusalem in 70AD. Many times throughout the Old Testament, God used wicked instruments to accomplish his righteous purposes. Does this mean “the ends justify the means,” or that God is himself wicked? Is it difficult for you to read about God working in these ways? Why or why not? What does the Gospel of Jesus Christ have to say to the “problem” of God using the wicked to accomplish his righteous and good purposes?