Revelation 15

Chapter 15 starts the procession of events that lead to Judgment Day.  At the end of chapter 9, the seventh trumpet sounded as the third woe.  Now, after the interlude of chapters 10-14, we see that the wrath of God will be made complete.

Each of these judgments have come in series of seven.  There were seven Seals, seven Trumpets, and there will be seven Bowls.  Chapter 15 is an introduction to these last seven judgments. 

¹ Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous: seven angels having the seven last plagues, for in them the wrath of God is complete.

These are the “last plagues”.  There are no more beyond these.  Once these are done, the judgment is complete.

² And I saw something like a sea of glass mingled with fire, and those who have the victory over the beast, over his image and over his mark and over the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, having harps of God. ³ They sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying:

“Great and marvelous are Your works,
Lord God Almighty!
Just and true are Your ways,
O King of the saints!
⁴ Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name?
For You alone are holy.
For all nations shall come and worship before You,
For Your judgments have been manifested.”

I would assume that the sea of glass is the same as than the sea of glass that is before the throne as described in chapter 4 verse 6.  This time he describes it as mingled with fire.

There is some question as to who “those who have victory over the beast” represent.  Martyred saints is a possibility mentioned.  Another is the 144,000.  I tend to see these as the saints who experience the tribulation but do not lose their love for God and stay faithful to Him in those terrible times.  The reference to victory over the beast, his image, and his mark would seem to reference those who have lived during this tribulation time.  However, it could reference all saints who are in heaven as those who have victory in Jesus.

They sing the song of Moses and the song of the Lamb.  These saints who have come through the fires of the persecution in the Tribulation have not lost their song.  They sing of God’s redemptive work for the Hebrews (song of Moses) and for the redemptive work of the Lamb (song of the Lamb).  It is a worship song for all of God’s people who are redeemed.  This also shows that those at the throne acknowledge that God is the God of the whole Bible, the God of all time, the God of all people who call Him Lord.  What about you today?  Have you lost your song?  We aren’t in these terrible times, but are we having a difficult time keeping our heart from a little root of bitterness?  Hebrews 12:15 instructs us that bitterness will define many.  Isn’t it remarkable that these tribulation saints who have lived through the horrors we’ve read about have kept their song of praise for God!  Let us follow and not lose our song.

“Great and marvelous are Your works” and “Just and true are Your ways” the song sings.  What an astounding song of praise to the perfection of God in the midst of terrifying judgments.  It is only by being in the presence of God and knowing His perfection and righteousness that you can sing of His greatness works and just ways in the witness of so many people following the beast and hunting fellow brother and sister Christians for persecution. 

“Your judgments have been manifested.”  The judgments are now a substance, they are real.

⁵ After these things I looked, and behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened. ⁶ And out of the temple came the seven angels having the seven plagues, clothed in pure bright linen, and having their chests girded with golden bands. ⁷ Then 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 The temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from His power, and no one was able to enter the temple till the seven plagues of the seven angels were completed.

The temple of the tabernacle of the testimony relates to the presence of God’s Word and promise.  The manifestation of His promises is opened.  Seven angels clothed as priests are given the final seven wraths of the eternal God.  Smoke fills the temple as an illustration of the presence of God.  The presence of fire and smoke to symbolize the presence of God was used with Moses on Mount Sinai and after Israel placed the ark of the covenant on the tabernacle.  When Solomon built the Temple the glory of the Lord filled it in the form of a cloud.  The smoke symbolizes the extreme power of the living Lord as His judgments are given out and the temple is so filled that no other presence can enter it.