“Revelation 12, 13, and 14 formed an interlude during which the scenes depicting the series of judgments being poured out by God upon the earth are interrupted to illustrate other important events associated with the Tribulation. Now at Revelation 15, the scene shifts back to the judgments – specifically the preparations for the final set of seven judgments to be poured out upon the earth dwellers and the kingdom of the Beast. The event which led to the scene before us now was the sounding of the seventh trumpet (Rev. 11:15). The sounding of the seventh trumpet was met with the announcement that the Lord’s kingdom would be underway as a result of the judgments under that trumpet. The bowl judgments introduced here are the final plagues from God which bring about the establishment of His kingdom on earth” (Precept Austin/Rev. 15).
“Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous, seven angels who had seven plagues, which are the last, because in them the wrath of God is finished.”
REV. 15:1 (NASB1995)
As seven angels had 7 trumpets earlier in our study, another set of 7 angels will carry the seven “plagues” (another word to describe vials or bowls). “It is most significant that they are described as ‘last,’ more emphatic in the Greek (literally ‘having seven plagues, the last ones’)” (Walvoord, The Revelation of Jesus Christ, p. 226). It is with these “plagues” that God’s wrath on the earth will be finished.
“And I saw something like a sea of glass mixed with fire, and those who had been victorious over the beast and his image and the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, holding harps of God.”
REV. 15:2 (NASB1995)
You might remember that John mentioned the “sea of glass” back in Revelation 4:6. He described it as being “like unto crystal.” However, in Revelation 15, the “sea of glass” is described as being “mingled with fire.” Walvoord says, “The symbolism, however, is rich. 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 is mingled with fire [and] speaks of divine judgment proceeding from God’s holiness. The fact that the saints are able to stand upon it reflects the faithfulness of God in upholding His own in keeping with His divine character. Some suggest that the sea is specifically the Word of God with its many precious promises to the saints” (The Revelation of Jesus Christ, p. 227). I absolutely love his thoughts on that.
Notice who is standing on the sea. “The text does not say that they are martyrs, but this is almost certain. They appear in heaven prior to the end of the Tribulation (before the final seven bowls come forth from the Temple) and their victory involves refusing to worship the Beast which subjected them to the death penalty” (Precept Austin/Rev 15). The text describes these saints as “having harps of God.” Precept Austin adds, “since this scene occurs prior to the end of the Tribulation, it probably precedes John’s vision of the Lamb and the 144,000 standing on Mount Zion. If so, these could be among those who play their harps in heaven which John heard ‘the sound of harpists playing their harps’ (see Rev. 14:2).”
Revelation 15:3-4 says, “And they sang the song of Moses, the bond-servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, ‘Great and marvelous are your works, O Lord God, the Almighty; Righteous and true are your ways, King of the nations! Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy; FOR ALL THE NATIONS WILL COME AND WORSHIP BEFORE YOU, FOR YOUR RIGHTEOUS ACTS HAVE BEEN REVEALED” (NASB1995).
The last part of verse 4 is a direct quote from Psalm 86:9! Don’t you just love it when Scripture quotes Scripture? The song the Tribulation Saints are singing includes a psalm of David! That is so awesome to me. What’s even more amazing is that since the church is already in heaven at this point, we will witness this amazing moment! Because of the use of the definite article in both “the” song of Moses and “the” song of the Lamb, Walvoord suggests they are singing two separate songs. He says, “The [song of Moses] recounts the faithfulness of God to Israel as a nation in recognition that a large number of Israelites are among these martyred dead” (The Revelation of Jesus Christ, p. 227). Both Exodus 15 and Deuteronomy 32 contain a song of Moses. We don’t know which one is being sung here, but both of these “ascribe praise to God and are similar in many ways to the hymn here recorded” (Walvoord, p. 227).
The “song of the Lamb” appears to be a reference back to Revelation 5:9-14 which records the song sung to the Lamb by the 4 living creatures, the 24 elders, and the voice of many angels; the group numbering “myriads of myriads, and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, ‘Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing” (see Rev. 5:11-12).
“After these things I looked, and the temple of the tabernacle of testimony in heaven was opened,”
REV. 15:5 (NASB1995)
“Our attention is arrested by the phrase, “I looked, and, behold.” This expression always introduces something dramatically new” (Walvoord, The Revelation of Jesus Christ, p. 229). “When the heavenly temple was last opened, the ark of His covenant (the ‘testimony’) was seen together with manifestations of judgment (Rev. 11:19). The same idea is present here. Whatever is about to come forth from the temple is a manifestation of God’s judgment for those who fall short of the testimony (witness) of the law and who have not sought Christ for refuge from God’s wrath (Rom. 2:12; 3:19-20, (Precept Austin/Rev. 15).
“As John observes, the Holy of Holies in the heavenly Tabernacle is opened. The expression ‘the temple’ refers to the inner holy place of the Tabernacle, the design of which God gave to Israel during the wilderness wandering” (Walvoord, The Revelation of Jesus Christ, p. 229). Then John notices “the seven angels who had the seven plagues” coming out of the temple “clothed in linen, clean and bright, and girded around their chests with golden sashes” (Rev. 15:6). The Greek phrase used to describe the angels’ pure white clothing is “katharon kai lampron.”
“Lampron” is the word “from which we get our English word lamp, [and] is used to describe heavenly bodies, the sun, and the morning star (see Rev. 22:16).”
Precept Austin/Rev. 15
John then sees one of the four living creatures giving seven golden bowls full of the wrath of the everlasting God to the seven angels (Rev. 15:7). “The wrath contained in these bowls represents God’s response to the mountains of prayers over the ages by the saints of God to avenge the blood of the martyrs (Rev. 6:10) and to bring His kingdom to earth” (Precept Austin/Rev. 15). The finality of God’s wrath is seen in these seven bowls.
“And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from His power, and no one was able to enter the temple until the seven plagues of the seven angels were finished” (Rev. 15:8 NASB1995).
Walvoord says, “As the angels emerge from the sanctuary, it is filled with smoke proceeding from the glory of God and His power, a pointed reminder of the ineffable holiness of God. The scene can be compared to that when the cloud filled the Tabernacle in Exodus 40:34-35. Access into the sanctuary is made impossible by the smoke until the judgments contained in the seven plagues are fulfilled. It is an ominous sign of impending doom for those who persist in their blasphemous disregard of the sovereignty and holiness of God” (The Revelation of Jesus Christ, p. 230).
Homework Reflections
Day One: God’s Final Outpouring of Wrath
- Why are the “7 plagues (bowls)” considered the “last” in Revelation 15:1?
- Read Isaiah 26:20-21. How does this describe what Revelation 15 says is about to happen to the earth when the angels pour out the bowls of wrath in the last 3.5 years of the tribulation?
- How does this remind you of the vintage wine press of God as described in Revelation 14:17-20?
Day Two: The Martyred Saints Standing on the Sea of Glass
- Read Revelation 15:2 and Revelation 4:4-8. What information does Revelation 4 add to the scene in Rev. 15?
- Read Exodus 24:9-10. How does what Moses, Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and the 70 elders saw compare with what you read in Rev. 15 and 4?
- Read Rev. 7:13-17, and Rev. 12:11. How are the Tribulation Saints described? Read Romans 5:1-5. How could the idea of standing in His grace compare with the Tribulation Saints standing on the sea of glass? Could the sea of glass be a picture of God’s grace (in addition to His glory and holiness)? Why or why not?
Day Three: The Song of Moses & The Song of the Lamb
- Read Exodus 15:1-21 and list all that God did for the children of Israel described in this song of Moses.
- Read Deuteronomy 32. Record any insights you have about this song of Moses.
- Read Rev. 5:9-14 and list everything you learn about Jesus in the song of the Lamb.
Day Four: Almighty God
- Rev. 15:3b says “Great and marvelous are Your works, O Lord God, the Almighty.” Read the following passages and record what you learn about God’s greatness: Job 5:9; Job 37:5; Ps. 78:12-13; Ps. 139:14-15; Ex. 34:10.
- Rev. 15:3c says, “Righteous and true are Your ways, King of the nations!” Read the following passages and record what you learn: Deut. 32:2-4; Ps. 85:10-13; Ex. 34:6; Rom. 3:3-4; Heb. 6:18; Tit. 1:2; Ps. 2:8-9; Ps. 24:1-10.
Day Five: Final Observations
- Why is the Ark of the Covenant, which contains the Law (or testimony), a sign of condemnation to unbelievers? Read the following verses and record your answer: Romans 2:12; Romans 3:19-20; Romans 4:15.
- Why are believers not threatened by the Law according to Romans 7:6 and Col. 2:14?
- How do you see God’s glory displayed in the Tabernacle and Temple in the following verses: Ex. 40:34-35; 1 Kings 8:10-11. How do you see it revealed in the heavenly temple depicted in Isaiah 6:1-4? How does this compare with the glory in the heavenly temple in Rev. 15:8?
Simply Persuaded 