CHAPTER 15

Revelation 15:1

I saw in heaven another great and marvelous sign: seven angels with the seven last plagues-last, because with them God's wrath is completed.

John sees another heavenly scene and this introduces the next series of judgments that will plague the earth. He sees seven angels who have in their possession the seven last plagues which are seven Golden Bowls filled with the Wrath of God. These are the last for when they are all poured out God's wrath on mankind is completed. This should indicate to us that the wrath of God did not begin with these judgments but that they do end it all.

Leviticus 26:21

Then, if you walk contrary to Me, and are not willing to obey Me, I will bring on you seven times more plagues, according to your sins.

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Revelation 15:2

And I saw what looked like a sea of glass mixed with fire and, standing beside the sea, those who had been victorious over the beast and his image and over the number of his name. They held harps given them by God.

John once again is given a view of a 'sea of glass' such as we read about in chapter 4:6. This 'sea of glass' is mingled with fire, some say this is a reminder of the fires of judgment, others say it alludes to the Red Sea and the Jewish nations deliverance from their bondage in Egypt. These people he sees are Tribulation Martyrs, those who are victorious over the Antichrist because they refused to worship him and take his mark; these are described in chap. 7:9-17. They have been given harps which they will play as they sing and worship their God.

Revelation 15:3-4

3 They sang the song of Moses the servant of God and the song of the Lamb: "Great and marvelous are your deeds, Lord God Almighty. Just and true are your ways, King of the ages.

4 Who will not fear you, O Lord, and bring glory to Your name? For You alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before You, for Your righteous acts have been revealed."

These redeemed martyrs are given the divine blessing of joining in the worship service in Heaven by singing the song of Moses and the song of the Lamb. This song of Moses and of the Lamb are in reality one song, it focuses on God and not the ones singing and it gives praise to God's worthiness, works, ways and His worship.

Exodus 15:1-2

1 Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the LORD: "I will sing to the LORD, for He is highly exalted. The horse and its rider He has hurled into the sea.

2 The LORD is my strength and my song; He has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise Him, my father's God, and I will exalt Him.

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Revelation 15:5-7

5 After this I looked and in heaven the temple, that is, the tabernacle of the Testimony, was opened.

6 Out of the temple came the seven angels with the seven plagues. They were dressed in clean, shining linen and wore golden sashes around their chests.

7 Then one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls filled with the wrath of God, who lives for ever and ever

John saw that the Temple was open and directly from the Throne room of God come the seven Angels who had the seven last plagues, they were clothed in pure white linen and their chests were encircled with golden bands. The dress of these Angels suggests to us that God's judgments are completely pure and righteous. One of the four beasts from around the throne gives the Angels seven golden vials (Bowls) overflowing with the wrath of God, this will come swiftly and suddenly, unmixed with mercy. God s mercy will no longer stand between Him and man and the period when man can choose between salvation and damnation is fast coming to the end.

Revelation 15:8-16:1

And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from His power, and no one could enter the temple until the seven plagues of the seven angels were completed.

The Bowls are given, the Temple is filled with God's Shekinah glory and no one could enter the Temple until the plagues were completed. It has reached the point where God's door of Mercy is closed and His judgment is irreversible; nothing and no one can hinder or stop it from happening. This scene of the smoke filling the Temple has happened before such as the time Moses could not enter when the Shekinah glory filled the tent. What we have just read makes it very clear that these judgments come directly from God and not from anything man or Satan has anything to do with.

Exodus 40:34-35

34 Then the cloud covered the Tent of Meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.

35 Moses could not enter the Tent of Meeting because the cloud had settled upon it, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.