A Scene Of Heaven
Revelation 15:1: Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous: seven angels having the seven last plagues, for in them the wrath of God is complete.
Revelation 14 described the ending of all things, with the Battle of Armageddon. Now John backtracks to describe God’s judgment in more detail. The idea of stating and re-stating in more detail is common in prophecy and Hebrew literature.
We also saw the end in Rev. 6:12-17. Then John took us over the same material in greater detail again. This reminds us that Revelation is not strictly in chronological order.
Seven angels having the seven last plagues: ‘Seven plagues’ is also seen in 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. The seven last plagues are God’s judgment on a disobedient and contrary world.
For in them the wrath of God is complete: There are two words for wrath or anger in Biblical Greek: thymos (volatile, passionate anger) and orge (anger from a settled disposition). Settled and deliberate anger is a reaction to perceived deliberate harm or unfair treatment by others. This kind of anger is episodic. Meaning, it is not the typical character of the one angered.
Orge is the more common word for God’s anger in the New Testament. Thymos (a place where God’s anger flashes hot) is used only 11 times, and 10 of those are in Revelation. It is the book that reveals the judgment of God against a Jesus-rejecting world.
Is complete: The ancient Greek word used here, etelesthe, means to reach an end or an aim. The wrath of God will fulfill an eternal purpose.
A Sea Of Glass
Revelation 15:2: 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.
“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
Many of the images in this chapter are connected to the Book of Exodus. Some see ‘fire’ as the color red and an allusion to the Red Sea. Also in this chapter, we see plagues, Moses, the tabernacle, and the cloud of God’s glory. This is the ultimate Exodus, the total and final freedom of God’s people from a sinful and persecuting world.
An interesting thing to consider: The Old Testament was written at different times, between about 1200 & 165 BC. The New Testament was written about 50 to 95 AD. There was about a 400-year gap between the two.
Those who have victory over the beast: These are the tribulation martyrs described in Rev. 7:9-17. They were victorious over the beast through their faithfulness unto death. Even though the Antichrist kills them, they are not losers, they are victorious over the beast. Also, they aren’t those who survive the tribulation, as Chapter 15 is still very much in the midst of the tribulation. The bowl judgments are still to come.
A Song Of Praise
Revelation 15: 3-4: They sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying: “Great and marvelous are Your works, Lord God Almighty! Just and true are Your ways, O King of the saints! Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy. For all nations shall come and worship before You, for Your judgments have been manifested.”
Only one song is sung, but it goes by two names (the song of Moses and the song of the Lamb). It is the perfect union between law and love, between the Old Covenant and New.
The song is deeply rooted in the Old Testament and gives praise to God’s works (great & marvelous), ways (just & true), worthiness (You alone are holy), and worship (all nations shall come and worship before You).
These martyrs are only focused on God. They bring no attention to their own costly but glorious victory. They have the heart of true worship, understanding that it’s all about God, not about us.
Seven Bowls Of Judgment
Revelation 15: 5-6: After these things I looked, and behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened. And out of the temple came the seven angels having the seven plagues, clothed in pure bright linen, and having their chests girded with golden bands.
Exodus 25:8-9 & Hebrews 8:9 remind us that the tabernacle God told Moses to build was based on a heavenly pattern. The temple of the tabernacle here refers to the heavenly reality of the tabernacle, not the earthly copy.
Seven angels having the seven plagues: It is important to note, that these angels came directly from heaven’s temple and the presence and throne of God. They do not act on their own authority but God’s alone. They bring God’s judgment.
Their clothing, pure bright linen & girded with golden bands, is a reminder that God’s judgment is always completely pure and righteous.
Golden Bowls Full Of Wrath
Revelation 15:7-8: 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. The temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from His power, and no one was able to enter the temple till the seven plagues of the seven angels were completed.
Seven golden bowls: These bowls were shallow, pan-like, golden bowls, such as were used in the temple to hold the fire when incense was burned. The contents of such a shallow bowl were quickly, easily, and completely poured out.
When the cloud of glory fills the temple in heaven, no one can enter. It was the same for Moses when the smoke of the cloud of God’s glory filled the tent (Exodus 40:34-35). 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 amid devastating judgment.
No one being permitted to enter the temple until the plagues were completed declares that judgment was now irreversible. Nothing could hinder it any longer, because access to this temple in heaven would not long be denied.
As Christians, knowing that it won’t be long until we are permitted into the very temple of God unhindered, should bring us hope in a world where all hope seems lost.