Verse By Verse Through Revelation
Chapter Fifteen
Revelation 15:1 “And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvellous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God.”
- The harvest of the land had taken place wherein blood outside of the city was high, to the mouths of the horses (Revelation 14:14-20).
- This continues with “And I saw another sign in heaven…” Think back to John saying: “And there appeared a great wonder in heaven…” (Revelation 12:1-7).
- This letter to the seven churches (Revelation 1:4) has included a book with seven seals (Revelation 5:1), seven angels with seven trumpets (Revelation 8:2), seven thunders with voices (Revelation 10:4), and now we have seven angels with the seven last plagues. There are more “sevens”, but these are the related sevens to this point.
- These will pour out the vials of the wrath of God (Revelation 16:1).
- God has poured out His wrath directly (Psalms 78:25-31) and indirectly (Ezra 5:12).
Revelation 15:2 “And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God.”
- Earlier in John’s revelation there was before the throne of God a sea of glass (Revelation 4:6). Now it is mingled with fire. Later, there will be “no more sea” (Revelation 21:1-5).
- This is a scene of victory after a battle. Remember the message to the seven churches is to overcome (Revelation 2:7, Revelation 2:11, Revelation 2:17, Revelation 2:26, Revelation 3:5, Revelation 3:12, Revelation 3:21, and Revelation 21:7).
- Think back to Jehoshaphat and Judah’s victory over the Moabites and the Ammonites as they rejoiced over their enemies (II Chronicles 20:24-30).
Revelation 15:3-4 “And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints. Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest.”
- Remember what we read in the previous chapter (Revelation 14:1-5).
- The singing of the song of Moses (cf. Deuteronomy 31:30) takes us back to the the celebration of Israel’s departure from Egypt (Exodus 15:1-18).
- Moses was the servant of God (Nehemiah 9:14).
- In addition, the vision has the singing of the song of the Lamb. Why? The Lamb provides the victory (Revelation 17:12-14).
- The Lord’s works are Great and marvellous (Job 5:8-9).
- The Lord’s ways are just (Deuteronomy 32:4) and true (Jeremiah 10:10).
- Saints (Psalms 16:3, Psalms 34:9, I Corinthians 1:2, and Colossians 1:12-14) know the Lord is the King (I Timothy 6:14-15).
- Seeing the might of the Lord, the inescapable conclusion is that everyone should fear Him (Jeremiah 5:22 and Jeremiah 10:6-8).
- The Lord’s holiness praised in Heaven (Revelation 4:8).
- What about the “only thou are holy” statement as others are and must be holy (Luke 9:26, Ephesians 3:5, Colossians 3:12, I Thessalonians 5:27, Titus 1:8, Hebrews 3:1, and I Peter 1:13-16)? The meaning is deeper than the word “holy” (I Samuel 2:2, Psalms 111:9, Isaiah 57:15, Acts 2:27, and Acts 13:35).
- God’s might and holiness is what brings people from all nations to worship before Him (Psalms 99:1-9).
Revelation 15:5-6 “And after that I looked, and, behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened: And the seven angels came out of the temple, having the seven plagues, clothed in pure and white linen, and having their breasts girded with golden girdles.”
- “After that” is what he saw in Heaven (Revelation 15:1-4).
- The temple in Heaven (Revelation 11:19, Revelation 14:17, and Revelation 16:17).
- The figures (Hebrews 9:24) seen by John here represent the O.T. temple that represents a figure of what now is in the greater tabernacle (Hebrews 9:1-11; cf. Exodus 25:21).
- The seven angels with the seven plagues (Revelation 15:1).
- Angels appearing in certain garments (i.e. Luke 24:1-8 and John 20:11-12).
Revelation 15:7-8 “And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever. And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled.”
- One of the four beasts (Revelation 4:6-9, Revelation 7:9-11, and Revelation 19:1-4).
- Seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, that will be poured out upon the earth (Revelation 16:1).
- The temple filled with smoke from the glory of God and His power. This vision takes us back, again as a figure, to what had occurred in the past in the literal tabernacle and then the temple (Exodus 40:34-35 and I Kings 8:10-11). Not to make too much of this, but it is interesting to note the difference of the wording of a “cloud” and then “smoke.” In visions like this the glory of the Lord is likened to smoke (Isaiah 6:1-4).
- No man [nobody] could enter the temple (cf. II Chronicles 5:14) till the seven plagues are fulfilled.
Check Back Weekly For More Notes To Be Added
Chapters: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22