Revelation

15.1-8

In this shortest chapter of the book of Revelation, John sees the prelude in heaven to the pouring out of the final displays of God's wrath - the seven bowl judgments on Earth (v1). The scene unfolds before the stage of God's throne which appears as a sea of glass - this time mixed with fire (v2). Moses described this same stage/sea of glass in Exodus 24:10, when from a vision of heaven, he "saw the God of Israel; and under His feet there appeared to be pavement of sapphire, as clear as the sky itself." Ezekiel's described it "like the awesome gleam of crystal" (Eze. 1:22). The song of Moses and the song of the Lamb are sung (vv3-4) before the sanctuary of the tabernacle of testimony (heavenly arc of the covenant) is opened (v5) and the seven plagues emerge (v6) filling the sanctuary with the smoke of God's glory (v8). Moses' song from the Old Testament had been sung to the Israelites, in victory following their escape from the Egyptians (Ex 15:1-18). The song of the Lamb was declared earlier in this book (5:8-14). Dr. John Philips (1927-2010) compared these songs: "The song of Moses was sung at the Red Sea, the song of the Lamb is sung at the crystal sea; the song of Moses was a song of triumph over Egypt, the song of the Lamb is a song of triumph over Babylon; the song of Moses told how God brought His people out, the song of the Lamb tells how God brings His people in; the song of Moses was the first song in Scripture, the song of the Lamb is the last. The song of Moses commemorated the execution of the foe, the expectation of the saints, and the exaltation of the Lord; the song of the Lamb deals with the same three themes." It is difficult for the follower of Christ not to echo the words of this song from verse four, "WHO WILL NOT FEAR, O LORD, AND GLORIFY YOUR NAME? For You alone are holy."

CHAPTER 15

Seven Angels, Seven Plagues

1 Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous, seven angels who have seven plagues, which are the last, because in them the wrath of God is finished.
2 Then I saw something like a sea of glass mixed with fire, and those who have overcome the beast and his image and the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, having harps of God.
3 And they sang the song of Moses, the slave 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!
4 “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.”
5 And after these things I looked, and the sanctuary of the tabernacle of testimony in heaven was opened,
6 and the seven angels who have the seven plagues came out of the sanctuary, clothed in linen, clean and bright, and girded around their chests with golden sashes.
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 And the sanctuary was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from His power; and no one was able to enter the sanctuary until the seven plagues of the seven angels were finished.