Keys to Revelation – Chapter 15
Taken from the HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION (C) 1978 by the New York
International Bible Society, used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers.
BIBLE TEXT COMMENTARY
REV 15:1 I saw in heaven another [another great…sign] – Since the
great and marvelous sign: seven first chapter John has observed one
angels with the seven last plagues- amazing revelation after another.
-last, because with them God’s
wrath is completed. [seven last plagues] – The anger of
God has been pent up until now, when
it is about to burst forth. These
plagues are the last warning God will
give to man. Mankind cannot say that
God failed to communicate His anger
over their sinful ways.
[wrath is completed] – These plagues
usher in the final phase of God’s
judgment of mankind on earth.
REV 15:2 And I saw what looked [sea of glass] – Same glass that was
like a sea of glass mixed with fire seen by Moses in Exodus 24:10, “..and
and, standing beside the sea, those saw the God of Israel. Under His feet
who had been victorious over the was something like a pavement made of
beast and his image and over the sapphire, clear as the sky itself.”
number of his name. They held harps This sea is before the throne of God
given them by God (REV 4:6) and simply speaks of His
great glory and majesty.
[mixed with fire] – Adds to the awe
of our Mighty God, speaking of divine
judgment proceeding from His precious
holiness.
[those…victorious] – The martyred
dead that have been destroyed by the
beast and his followers. They would
not worship the beast or receive his
mark.
[held harps] – These instruments
were seen in the hands of the elders
in REV 5:8 and the 144,000 in 14:2.
Harps are an instrument that pleases
God and can be expected to be played
all through eternity in praise and
honor of His name.
REV 15:3 and sang the song of [song of Moses…Lamb] – The Song of
Moses the servant of God and the of Moses has been identified in the
song of the Lamb: “Great and following two sections of the Bible
marvelous are your deeds, Lord God EXO 15:1-8 and DEU 31:30-32:47. But
Almighty. Just and true are your here a new song is listed, and titled
ways, King of the ages. (REV 15:3-4) the Song of Moses and of
the Lamb.
This song is a song of praise to God
for His great and marvelous acts.
The song does not rejoice in the
judgment of God upon His enemies but
the righteousness of His great
redemptive acts.
REV 15:4 Who will not fear you, O
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.”
REV 15:5 After this I looked and [the temple] – The tabernacle of
in heaven the temple, that is, the Testimony. In the OT it was called
tabernacle of the Testimony, was the “tent of the testimony” and
opened. contained the ark with the stone
tablets from Sinai (NUM 17:7; 18:2;
EXO 32:15; DEU 10:5). It was the
place where God met with man.
This earthly tent was modeled after
a heavenly tabernacle where God
dwelled. In this verse, it represents
the very presence of God.
REV 15:6 Out of the temple came [Out…came] – Out of the presence of
the seven angels with the seven God came the seven angels. These are
plagues. They were dressed in same angels mentioned in 15:1.
clean, shining linen and wore
golden sashes around their chests. [shining linen] – Like the garments
of the saints, they represent the
righteousness and holiness of the
wearer. Their robes also denote the
nobleness and sacredness of their
position.
[golden sashes] – These angels are
servants of the God of the Universe
and one would expect that they would
be adorned with precious garments.
The sash was used in both the OT and
NT times to hold up the long flowing
robes.
REV 15:7 Then one of the four [living creatures] – Guardians of the
living creatures gave to the seven Throne of God seen in (4:6; 5:6; 6:1;
angels seven golden bowls filled 7:11; 14:3; 15:7; 19:4) and they act
with the wrath of God, who lives as intermediaries between God and
for ever and ever. these avenging angels.
[bowls] – In REV 5:8 there were
golden bowls filled with incense
which represented the prayers of the
saints. God now answers these prayer
requests, for judgment upon sin and
“His Kingdom Come” by filling golden
bowls full of His wrath.
[wrath of God] – Our God is a Holy
and righteous God who must by His
nature punish sin and all who fail
to give Him the glory that He
deserves. Man can never “pay back”
to God for the wrong they have done
towards Him. Torment and agony for
ever and ever is what God has decided
will satisfy and yet even that never
will pay the price.
The wicked with their free wills have
willfully chosen to disobey God and
have refused His grace in order to
remain in their sin. The writer of
Hebrews said of God’s wrath, “It is
a dreadful thing to fall into the
hands of the living God” (HEB 10:31).
REV 15:8 And the temple was filled [filled with smoke] – Symbolizes the
with smoke from the glory of God power and glory of God (EXO 19:18;
and from his power, and no one 40:34; ISA 6:4). The smoke here
could enter the temple until the reveals the presence of God and that
seven plagues of the seven angels He is glorifying Himself by judging
were completed. sin and a wicked world with the seven
last plagues.
[no one could enter] – The glory of
God was so dense and no one could
stop His final judgments for the time
for intercession is past.
Tony Capoccia
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