Free Bible Commentary
“Revelation 15:1-4”
Categories: Revelation“Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous, seven angels who had seven plagues, which are the last, because in them the wrath of God is finished. And I saw something like a sea of glass mixed with fire, and those who had been victorious over the beast and his image and the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, holding harps of God. And they sang the song of Moses, the bond-servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, ‘Great and marvelous are Your works, O Lord God, the Almighty; righteous and true are Your ways, King of the nations! Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy; for all the nations will come and worship before You, for Your righteous acts have been revealed.’”
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“The last three chapters exhibit the spiritual reasons behind the struggle between the church and her persecutors. Satan was identified as the great red dragon who gave power to two allies, the great sea beast and the false prophet. Having failed in a direct conflict with God, Satan then attempted to destroy the kingdom of God left on earth. A glimpse of the church was then portrayed in its heavenly state, redeemed from the earth and victorious. In contrast, the allies and followers of Satan were cast into the great winepress of God’s wrath. The present vision enlarges upon that judgment and reveals its intensity.” (Harkrider)
The “seven plagues” in today’s vision are “the last, because in them the wrath of God is finished” (verse 1). At a certain point in time God’s patience with the sinfulness of men and His forbearance with their reckless folly runs out. When the measure of the fullness of sin has reached the top (Genesis 15:16), the wrath of the perfect and just Creator attains its full measure (Revelation 14:10). This present “sign in heaven” is also “great and marvelous” because John beholds the glorious gathering of the saved singing redemption’s jubilant victory song. As dark and despairing as chapters 12 and 13 were, chapters 14 and 15 exceed them in cheerfulness and assurance for God’s elect.
In Revelation 4:6 we were given glimpse of “something like a sea of glass, like crystal” stretched out before the throne of God; “and in the center and around the throne, four living creatures full of eyes in front and behind.” We noted in an earlier commentary that “This ‘barrier’ places a bit of shimmering separation between the glorious Creator and His lowly creation, but when the Lord returns and His people are perfected, there will be ‘no longer any sea’ of severance (21:1).” Today’s rendition of this sheer, still, solid sea contains an admixture of “fire” (verse 2). This is very likely a symbol for the “trial by fire” that the saints who had emerged “victorious” endured at the hands of Satan’s ministers (Zechariah 13:9; Malachi 3:2-4; 1 Corinthians 3:12-15; 1 Peter 1:7).
Homer Hailey wrote regarding verse 3: “The song of Moses is sung by victorious warriors who had overcome in the conflict set forth in verse 2. The song is one of victory and praise to Jehovah and the Lamb who gives victory. ‘The song of Moses’ is the song sung by Moses and the children of Israel after crossing the Red Sea (Exod. 15), praising God for their deliverance from the Egyptians. Pharaoh’s army lay dead in the sea; Jehovah had redeemed His people and would bring them in ‘and plant them in the mountain of [His] inheritance.’ And now, under the same mighty hand of God, the Lamb had given deliverance and victory to these who had overcome the forces of the dragon.”
“Great and marvelous” are God’s works! “Righteous and true” are God’s ways! Even though most people and nations refuse to show reverential “fear” for the Lord and “glorify” His holy name, “all the nations will come and worship before” Him sooner or later (verse 4; Psalm 86:9). At the great and awesome day of Final Judgment, “every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and…every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:10-11) Those of us who do so worshipfully and willingly upon this earth will be spared God’s wrath for eternity, and will be gathered unto His throne to sing His righteous praises forever in glory!
Please read Revelation 15:5-8 for tomorrow.
Have a great day!
-Louie Taylor
