Revelation Chapter 15

Revelation Chapter 15

Distributed by:  KJV Bible Studies

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Introduction:  The fifteenth chapter of Revelation is essentially an introduction to the fulfillment of the vial judgments. The chapter returns to the chronological sequence of events. Here the seven angels, which will pour out their vials upon the earth, prepare to do so while a great heavenly choir sings praises to God.

I.  John Sees 7 Angels with the 7 Last Plagues

(Rev 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.

Once again, the book picks up the chronological events last mentioned in the latter portion of chapter 11. John wrote, “And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvellous.”   This verse is a summary preview of events to be detailed in the succeeding text. Moreover, this sign is portrayed as “great and marvellous.” The latter word “marvellous” is translated from the Greek word (yaumastov) thaumastos and has the sense of ‘astonishing’ or ‘amazing.’

A portion of the sign were “seven angels having the seven last plagues.” The word translated as plagues (plhgh pleges), in this context, has the sense of ‘calamities.’ Perhaps more significantly, John recorded, “for in them is filled up the wrath of God.” The word translated as filled up (telew teleo) has the sense of ‘finished’ or ‘completed.’

The greater thought is that through these seven angels, the wrath of God against the earth will be finished. They are the last of the judgments of the Tribulation. They apparently will take place over a relatively short period of time.

(Rev 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.

The scene remains in heaven and likely presents more of the great sign John saw.   He continued, And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire. John first wrote of the sea of glass in 4:6 and there it is described as before the throne of God in heaven. Here, John described it additionally as being “mingled with fire.” The thought may be of the ominous portent of lightning visible through the sea of glass. Such lightning is referred to in 4:5. It may refer to the impending final judgment about to be poured out upon the earth.

In short, John saw what was the gathering storm of God’s final judgment just prior to it being unleashed against the earth. This, no doubt, was part of the great and astonishing sign he saw.  He went on to note, 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.

This evidently is the same multitude described in 7: 9 and 6:9. They are those who turn to Jesus Christ during the Tribulation; and are martyred as a result. They are described as having “gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and the number of his name.” Truly, one of the seeming paradoxes of Christianity is at hand. These are they who have been killed by the antichrist; yet, they are seen in heaven as great victors.

What is loss to the world is victory for God’s people, particularly in the case of martyrdom.  These are noted as having harps from God. As will be noted in the following verse, they sing praise to God. Though unstated, implied is that they also provide instrumental accompaniment on their stringed instruments. This great multitude becomes a vast heavenly orchestra for praising God. Unstated, but implied is that God has given them miraculous ability to play their instruments with masters’ skill.

(Rev 15:3)  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.

John goes on to describe how they also sing praise to God. What a great choir that will be. Specifically, they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb.  The song of Moses likely is recorded in Exodus 15:1-19. However, there appears to be an addition or new stanza praising the redemption of the Lamb.  This may be the new song noted in Revelation 5:9 and 14:3. This great hymn of praise includes the words, “Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints”.

Not only do all praise the greatness and astonishing character of God’s works, addressing Him as “Lord God Almighty,” they also praise His very character, — “just and true are thy ways.”  The very nature of God is righteous (just) and the essence of truth. He, moreover, is acclaimed as “King of saints.” The word translated as saints (‘agiovhaigos) literally means ‘holy ones’ and refers to all His people.

(Rev 15:4)  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.

This great heavenly choir continues, ‘Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name?”   Indeed, when sinful man is confronted by the righteous character and absolute truth of God Almighty, the only recourse is to fear Him and to glorify His name. It is God alone who is altogether and absolutely holy. None other receives the threefold appellation of holiness (Isaiah 6:3 and Revelation 4:8).

Isa 6:3  And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. 

In looking forward into the coming millennial reign of Christ and on into the eternal kingdom thereafter, the great heavenly choir sings, “for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest.” Yes Sir! The day is coming first in the Millennium and in the eternal kingdom thereafter when all gentile nations will come before the presence of God in worship.

The word translated as judgments (dikaiwma dikaioma) is directly related to the more basic principle of righteousness. It has the idea of a ‘righteous sentence’ in a judicial sense. As the nations of that day look back on the judgment of God throughout the Tribulation, they will clearly realize His righteous character and praise God. The righteousness of His judgment against a wicked world is then clearly understood and manifest.

(Rev 15:5)  And after that I looked, and, behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened:

After witnessing this great heavenly choir and orchestra standing upon the sea of glass (flickering with ominous lightnings) and the seven angels with the final of judgment of God,  John continued and reference is made to the Temple of God in heaven. The earthly Tabernacle and subsequent Temples at Jerusalem were mere models of this true Temple in heaven itself.

The reference to the “tabernacle of the testimony” may hearken back to the tent of the tabernacle of witness mentioned in Numbers 9:15 and 17:7.

Num 9:15  And on the day that the tabernacle was reared up the cloud covered the tabernacle, namely, the tent of the testimony: and at even there was upon the tabernacle as it were the appearance of fire, until the morning.

The latter were other names for the more common ‘Tabernacle’ described throughout the Pentateuch. Both the earthly and the heavenly temples are “of the testimony” (witness) of God. Each testifies to the truth of God. Thus, after the awesome sign witnessed by John in the first four verses of this chapter, the doors of the Temple in heaven are opened, perhaps with great solemnity and ceremony.

(Rev 15:6)  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.

John records, And the seven angels came out of the temple, having the seven plagues. This clearly refers to that described in verse 1.  There, John may have been giving a summary of what he will describe in detail here and the following text. He goes on to describe these great angels as being clothed in pure and white linen, and having their breasts girded with golden girdles. Of note is that Jesus Christ Himself was similarly described in Revelation 1:13.

Rev 1:13  And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.  

The succeeding text will reveal that these seven angels exit the Temple of heaven for the express purpose of inflicting the final great judgment of God upon the earth. 

(Rev 15:7)  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.

The scene clearly is in heaven. The four beasts mentioned are, of course, those first described in Chapter 4:6-8. See notes thereto for greater discussion.   In short, they are four angelic creatures before the throne of God. One of them steps forward and gives to the seven angels golden vials. The word vial so translated (fialh phiale) literally refers to ‘bowls’ or ‘deep saucers.’

The greater idea is of basin-like containers. These basins are not full of incense, but rather the wrath of God. As noted in verse 1, this is the final outpouring of God’s wrath of the Tribulation period.  There may be linkage to Jeremiah 25:15 where the cup of the fury of God’s wrath toward all nations is mentioned. Isaiah 51:17 likewise refers to the cup of His fury.

Isa 51:17  Awake, awake, stand up, O Jerusalem, which hast drunk at the hand of the LORD the cup of his fury; thou hast drunken the dregs of the cup of trembling, and wrung them out. 

John misses no opportunity to ascribe praise and greatness to God. He here refers to Him as the one “who liveth for ever and ever.”  His eternality is clearly in view.

(Rev 15:8)  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.

And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power. Various attempts have been made to describe the significance of the Temple being filled with the smoke of the glory of God.  It may simply be a symbol of His wrath being vented as the final stage of the Tribulation commences.

In any event, His glory and power are related to this heavenly smoke. And no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled.  The word translated as no man (oudeiv oudeis) literally means ‘no one.’ Thus no one, angelic or otherwise, was allowed into the Temple of God in heaven until the final seven vial judgments were poured out upon the earth.

In other words, no one could enter the Temple thereafter until the Tribulation was complete.

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Prov 4:18  But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.

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