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."



Dig Deeper

The long season had reached a high point, and the high school basketball team that I coached had made an amazing comeback. Down by 10 points in the conference championship game with just a few minutes to go, they had stormed back and won the game and the conference title. After the game the exuberance of the boys was evident and the only way for them to seem to be able to adequately express the joy they were feeling seemed to be in song. They sang and danced and celebrated, releasing the pure joy that was point up in them.


There is something about the way God made humans that seems to draw us to song and dance when we are jubilant. It is one of the chief ways that we can, not only express, but ultimately release the joy that becomes pent up inside us after something wonderful happens. The scene that John depicts here is no different. The judgment of God on those who have opposed Him and the salvation that has come to the world through the Messiah has been poured out, and the people of the Messiah, who have been vindicated and are victorious, can only do what comes so naturally. They sing and dance and make music. Certainly music can and has been used in ways that are rebellious to God and worldly, but it does not have to be that way. Singing and music that is offered up in genuine praise of God, like the kind depicted here is honoring to God. In fact, a community that cannot break out into song and music in praise of God, like the glorifying kind pictured here, is likely missing out on one of the most God-honoring activities in which they could ever take part.


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) King of the ages (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). This is a rhetorical question that could be taken one of two ways. The first possibility is that it is being declared that at some point in history a vast majority of people will be converted to serve God, to worship Him, and obey Him? In other words, that at some point, a majority of all people will come to Jesus Christ for salvation. The second option is that this is a rhetorical question that wonders who could not possibly be converted and bring glory to the Lord based on His mighty acts.


The song goes on to declare, "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). This seems to be implying (bolstering the first option listed above) that conversion of all nations is both the goal and the result of God’s righteous judgment and His holiness. John is apparently reminding us that the fall of Israel will eventually bring about the salvation of the world.


Devotional Thought

John seems to believe that there is a time when people will stream into the Kingdom of God. Do you believe that? Do you work for it to happen in your lifetime? What can you do today to expand God’s Kingdom? Who can share with about God’s immense holiness?