Read Revelation 15
Seven Angels With Seven Plagues
15 I saw in heaven another great and marvelous sign: seven angels with the seven last plagues—last, because with them God’s wrath is completed.2 And I saw what looked like a sea of glass glowing with fire and, standing beside the sea, those who had been victorious over the beast and its imageand over the number of its name. They held harps given them by God 3 and sang the song of God’s servant Moses and of the Lamb:
“Great and marvelous are your deeds,
Lord God Almighty.
Just and true are your ways,
King of the nations.
4 Who will not fear you, Lord,
and bring glory to your name?
For you alone are holy.
All nations will come
and worship before you,
for your righteous acts have been revealed.”
5 After this I looked, and I saw in heaven the temple—that is, the tabernacle of the covenant law—and it was opened. 6 Out of the temple came the seven angels with the seven plagues. They were dressed in clean, shining linen and wore golden sashes around their chests. 7 Then one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls filled with the wrath of God, who lives for ever and ever. 8 And the temple was filled with smokefrom the glory of God and from his power, and no one could enter the templeuntil the seven plagues of the seven angels were completed.
Go Deeper
John’s vision in this chapter describes a group of people standing next to what appears to be a sea of glass. We know that these people are “those who had been victorious over the beast” (v. 2) so we can ascertain that they are the tribulation martyrs that were described in previous chapters. Just as important as who they are, though, is paying attention to what they are doing.
Revelation 15:2-3 says “They held harps given them by God and sang the song of God’s servant Moses and of the Lamb.” These tribulation martyrs, who were killed because of their faithfulness, are worshiping God with music in heaven. These saints’ belief in Jesus cost them their lives and the text tells us that they were described as “victorious” but their focus is not on what it cost them nor their own victory. Their complete focus is on giving glory, honor and praise to God.
In Deuteronomy 31:19, God told Moses to write a song which is commonly referred to as “The Song of Moses.” His instructions were “Now therefore write this song and teach it to the people of Israel. Put it in their mouths, that this song may be a witness for me against the people of Israel.” Deuteronomy 32 displays the lyrics of this song that both served as prophecy to the Israelites as well as reminded them of the faithfulness of God.
In Revelation 14:3 we were told that as the 144,000 stood before the throne, “they were singing a new song”. This is likely the Song of the Lamb. So as all these saints stand in worship, they sing of both the old covenant and of the new. They celebrate bondage and deliverance from the oppression of Egypt as well as bondage and deliverance from the oppression of sin. What follows is a unified song of praise that celebrates that God’s works are marvelous, that God’s way is just, that God alone is worthy, and that God deserves all worship. Even as the final judgment is about to be brought on mankind, heaven is echoing with a heart of true worship and understanding that it is all about God. Glory be to Him!
Questions
- What do you think is the purpose of worship?
- Does your heart reflect a true heart of worship?
- Write out your own song to the Lord that celebrates and praises him for who he is and what he has delivered you from.
Keep Digging
This is the second time that John references the “sea of glass” in Revelation (the first was in Revelation 4:6). To learn more about this reference, check out this article from GotQuestions.org.
Leave a Comment Below
Join the Team
Interested in writing for the Bible Reading Plan? Email hello@biblereadingplan.org.
4 thoughts on “Revelation 15”
This chapter captures the theme of the ultimate deliverance over all evil powers and the response of the people to God’s mighty acts. Let’s start now with hearts ablaze with gratitude that stirs our deepest affections for our all powerful God and informs our worship of him. Praise the Lord!
As a believer in Christ, Revelation should not scare me. It should make me more aware of the condition of the world I live in and that I need to speak the name of Jesus constantly and continualy. Now is the time. The time for my exercise spiritual condition is here and now. But only because of what God did through Christ am I able. By His grace I am empowered to serve Him NOW TODAY.
God thank You for listening hearing ears to know what and how You need me to serve. Thank You for obedience to do the tasks You ask. God I was made for such a time as this. Guide me, help me to show You throughout all of my day, hours and minutes. God thank You for loving me, thank You for helping me to pour out that love to others in these minutes of this day in Jesus name amen.
4 “ For you alone are holy.
All nations will come
and worship before you,”
So much of what we’ve been reading lately in Jeremiah and now in Revelation can be simply summarized as “turn from worship of idols and turn towards worship of the holy God!”.
Holy, Holy is He, God, our Father. Let us be strong and courageous as we battle against sin and evil. We are fighting on the winning side!