Revelation Chapter 15
(Rev 15:1) Another great and marvelous sign in the sky
I saw another great and marvelous sign in the sky: seven angels having the seven last plagues, for in them God's wrath is finished.
Another great and marvelous sign in the sky:
This is the third great “sign” seen by John in heaven (see Revelation 12:1, 3), enabling him to look forward to the glorious future after the final series of judgments have cleansed the earth. (Henry Morris)
God's wrath is finished:
Revelation 15:1 announces the last of the three great series of judgements in the Book of Revelation. This series is usually called the 7 bowls (or 7 vials).
The judgements themselves happen in chapter 16; chapter 15 records the preparations in heaven for those judgements. The events on earth will be the result of what happens in heaven.
The reason for those judgements is God’s anger. In fact, Revelation 15:7 says that the 7 bowls contain God’s anger.
Many people consider it hard to believe that God can be angry. God’s character is perfect love; so they argue that anger is the opposite of love. However, the Bible insists that God is angry.
Of course he is angry. He is angry at how the devil and his evil forces have taken control of this world. He is angry because people are choosing to do every kind of evil action. He has seen how people’s thoughts, plans, actions and desires are constantly evil (Romans 3:10-18). God would not be good if he did not hate such things.
However, God’s anger is different from human anger in many ways. Human anger is often unholy and evil. God’s anger is completely holy and good. Human anger often achieves nothing worthwhile. God’s anger will bring about the defeat of every evil force, and the perfect rule of Christ. Human anger is often without limit and without end. People cannot control their anger. However, God’s anger will have an end. It will end when it has achieved its purpose. Soon, all these judgements will be complete and then Christ’s rule on earth will begin. (Keith Simons)
(Rev 15:2) A sea of glass mixed with fire
I saw something like a sea of glass mixed with fire, and those who overcame the beast, his image, and the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, having harps of God.
A sea of glass mixed with fire:
“The sea is designed to reflect the glory of God. In chapter 4 its description ‘like unto crystal’ speaks of the holiness of God. Here the sea mingled with fire speaks of divine judgment proceeding from God’s holiness.” (Walvoord)
Because many of the images in this chapter are connected with the Book of Exodus, some simply see an indication of the color red, with it an allusion to the Red Sea and the deliverance from bondage. Also in this chapter we see plagues, Moses, the tabernacle, and the cloud of God’s glory. This chapter shows the ultimate Exodus, the freedom of God’s people from a sinful and persecuting world. (David Guzik)
Those who overcame the beast:
These are those who were victorious over the beast through their faithfulness unto death. They are the tribulation martyrs, described in Revelation 7:9-17.
They are not those who survive the tribulation. As much as we can discern any sort of chronology from Revelation (which is difficult), we are still very much in the tribulation – the bowl judgments still wait.
Therefore, even though the Antichrist kills them, they have victory over the beast – they are not losers. The early church consistently described the day of martyrdom as “a day of victory.” (David Guzik)
Having harps of God: The only people seen with harps before were the twenty-four elders (Revelation 5:8). These tribulation martyrs are given the blessing of worshipping God with music in heaven. (David Guzik)
(Rev 15:3-4) They sang the song of Moses
They sang the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying,
"Great and marvelous are your works, Lord God, the Almighty!
Righteous and true are your ways, you King of the nations.
Who wouldn't fear you, Lord,
and glorify your name?
For you only are holy.
For all the nations will come and worship before you.
For your righteous acts have been revealed."
The song of God’s people on this occasion is called ‘the song of Moses and the Lamb’. It is not a song to express joy, but a serious song to give honour to God. Soon, God’s final judgements against the evil forces in this world will happen. It does not please God that evil people will suffer in those judgements (Ezekiel 18:32). However, those judgements are necessary so that God can complete his work to save his people from every evil power. Christ’s rule on earth can only begin when those judgements are complete.
The reference to Moses and the Lamb reminds us about the two previous occasions when God saved his people by his judgements. At the time of Moses, God rescued his people from Egypt. At the Red Sea, there was a terrible act of judgement that destroyed Egypt’s army. Then Moses sang the song in Exodus 15:1-18. It was right and necessary to give God honour for his judgements on such an occasion. His judgements are holy and absolutely right; by those judgements God saves his people.
In the Book of Revelation, the Lamb is a title for Christ. It refers especially to his judgement against sin (evil deeds) by his death on the cross. At his death, Christ took upon himself the sins of the world (2 Corinthians 5:21). He did it so that God could forgive the sins of his people. Because of Christ’s death for them, they have a right relationship with God. For these reasons, God’s people should give honour to God. All that he does is great and wonderful. His ways (how he behaves, and how he teaches people to behave) are true and right. He deserves honour from everyone, in every nation. His holy character is perfect. His judgements will end the power of every evil force. (Keith Simons)
(Rev 15:5-6) The temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened
After these things I looked, and the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened. The seven angels who had the seven plagues came out, clothed with pure, bright linen, and wearing golden sashes around their breasts.
Another vision now introduced by John as a later development constitutes the immediate introduction of the judgments represented in the vials. Our attention is arrested by the phrase “I looked, and, behold.” This expression always introduces something dramatically new. As John observes, the Holy of Holies in the heavenly Tabernacle is opened. The expression “the temple” (Gr., naos) refers to the inner holy place of the Tabernacle, the design of which God gave to Israel during the wilderness wandering. The expression “the tabernacle of the testimony” is a reference to the whole tentlike structure, a portion of which contained the Holy of Holies. It is described as “the tabernacle of the testimony” because of the presence of the tables of stone containing the ten commandments which were placed in the ark of the testimony in the Holy of Holies (cf. Exodus 32:15; Acts 7:44) and is mentioned frequently in the Old Testament (Exodus 38:21; Num. 1:50, 53; 10:11; 17:7-8; 18:2).
As John looks intently on the scene, the sanctuary is opened, that is, the curtain is parted, and seven angels are seen coming out of the sanctuary. The holy place, into which the high priests alone could go and only after proper sacrifices, does not exclude holy angels who have no sin. Each of the angels is carrying one of the vials containing the seven plagues and is described as being clothed in pure white linen and girded with a golden girdle.
The whole scene is most symbolic of what is about to happen. The angels coming out of the sanctuary indicate that the judgments to be poured out stem from the holiness of God and are properly required of God who must do all things right. (John Walvoord)
(Rev 15:7-8) Seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God
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. The temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power. No one was able to enter into the temple, until the seven plagues of the seven angels would be finished.
Seven golden bowls: These bowls are broad, flat bowls or saucers used ritually for drinking or for pouring libations in sacrifice. The contents of such a shallow bowl were quickly, easily, and completely poured out.
The temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from His power: When the cloud of glory fills the temple in heaven, no one can enter. It was the same when Moses could not enter the Tabernacle when the smoke of the cloud of God’s glory, sometimes called the Shekinah filled the tent (Exodus 40:34-35).
Filled with smoke from the glory of God and from His power: Both the bowls and the cloud came from the glory of God and from His power. This is a reminder of God’s special presence and glory, even in the midst of devastating judgment.
No one was able to enter into the temple, until the seven plagues of the seven angels would be finished: This declares that judgment was now irreversible. Nothing could hinder it any longer, because access to this temple in heaven would not long be denied.
(David Guzik)