Revelation 15:1-4

Seven Angels with Seven Plagues
1I saw in heaven another great and marvelous sign: seven angels with the seven last plagues—last, because with them God's wrath is completed. 2And I saw what looked like a sea of glass mixed with fire and, standing beside the sea, those who had been victorious over the beast and his image and over the number of his name. They held harps given them by God 3and sang the song of Moses the servant of God and the song of the Lamb:
"Great and marvelous are your deeds,
Lord God Almighty.
Just and true are your ways,
King of the ages.
4Who 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."



15:1 - This is the third time that John has emphasized the importance of a sign, calling this one another great and marvelous sign. The emphasis on the conflict between the woman and the Dragon will now transition into the climax of the book: seven last plagues--last, because with them God’s wrath is completed. This doesn’t imply that these are the last plagues of all time, simply the last described in the book of Revelation. This will be the once-for-all abolishing of the Old Covenant.

15:2 - As this vision begins, John sees what looks like a sea of glass. This is the crystal sea before God’s throne (Rev. 4:6), similarly described as the sapphire pavement seen by Moses on the Holy Mountain (Ex. 24:10), the sapphire firmament through which Ezekiel passed (Ezek. 1:26), and which was symbolized by the sea (the laver) in the Temple (1 Ki. 7:23-26). In this vision, however, the sea is no longer blue, but has symbolically turned red. This ties it to images from the end of chapter 14 and the great river of blood running through the whole land, an ominous Red Sea through which the righteous have been delivered. The saints are standing beside the sea, celebrating just as the children of Israel rejoiced after crossing through the Red Sea (Ex. 14:30-31; 15:1-21). They had been victorious, the overcomers by escaping the Beast and his image and over the number of his name. As they rejoice they held harps given them by God. They are a new priestly choir standing at the precipice of their victory. Paul described the Red Sea deliverance as a baptism of sorts of God’s people (1 Cor. 10:1-2). This tribulation was surely the Church’s baptism of the same kind, baptism by fire. When the Israelites were delivered, their persecutors were sent to their destruction. In the same way, destruction will befall the people who have been primarily responsible for persecuting the Church.

15:3-4 - The saints sang the song of Moses the servant of God and the song of the Lamb. This song echoes both songs of Moses from Exodus 15 and Deuteronomy 32, although neither are directly quoted here. The song is full of Old Testament references, including: Great and marvelous are your deeds, Lord God Almighty (Ex. 34:10; Deut. 32:3-4; 1 Chron. 16:8-12; Ps. 92:5; 111:2; 139:14; Isa. 47:4; Jer. 10:16; Amos 4:13). Just and true are your ways (Deut. 32:4; Ps. 145:17; Hos. 14:9) Thou King of Nations (Ps. 22:28; 47:2, 7-8; 82:8). Here God is praised for his mighty actions, which are righteous and fair. What are these actions? The dual actions of his salvation of the saints and the destruction of the enemies of His kingdom. Both of these actions demonstrate that he is the true ruler of the world. He moves the armies of the earth to fulfill His purposes in judgment.

Who will not fear you, O Lord, and bring glory to your name? (Ex. 15:14-16; Jer. 10:6-7). In others words, who will not be converted to serve God, to worship Him, and obey Him? The implication is that at some point, a majority of all people will come to Jesus Christ for salvation. For you alone are holy (Ex. 15:11; 1 Sam. 2:2; Ps. 99:3, 5, 9; Isa. 6:3; 57:5, 15; Hos. 11:9). This refers not so much to God’s ethical qualities as it does to His unique majesty and transcendence. For all nations will come and worship before you, for your righteous acts have been revealed (1 Chron. 16:28-31; Ps. 2:8; 22:27: 65:2; 66:4; 67:1-7; 86:8-9; 117:1; Isa. 26:9; 66:23; Jer. 16:19). The conversion of all nations is both the goal and the result of God’s righteous judgment and His holiness. John is reminding us that the fall of Israel will eventually bring about the salvation of the world.