Revelation 15 - Outline of Revelation (Book Notes menu page)

15:1 And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvellous,
  sign {GK= semeion, sign, miracle, wonder} - The word occurs 7x in Revelation:
    Four times, in reference to false signs & wonders (13:13,14; 16:14; 19:20).
    Three "signs in heaven" are given:
    - The woman (ie., Israel), 12:1,
    - the Dragon (ie., Satan), 12:3,
    - the angels with the last plagues (here).
    In the NT, 'signs' were given to Israel, to confront them with the truth (eg., Luk 2:34; Acts 2:22; 1Cor 1:22). Yet, no 'signs' are applied to the church. This fact underscores the centrality of Israel to the conflict between God & Satan during the Tribulation.
seven angels having the seven last plagues;
for in them is filled up the wrath of God.
  seven plagues- cp. God's warning to Israel in Lev 26:14-45
    (note the repeated phrase: 'seven times' in Lev 26:18,21,23-24,27-28, and yet: v.44-45)
  in them is filled up {GK= teleo, 'is finished' or 'is completed'} the wrath of God.-
    This is stated prophetically, as accomplished fact, before the first bowl is poured out,
    and again. with a different word, at the pouring of the seventh bowl, in Rev 16:17: "It is done" {GK= ginomai, 'is come to pass' or 'is fulfilled'}.
  the wrath {GK= thumos, hot anger} of God.-
    Ch. 12 & 13 focused on the wrath of the Dragon against God, the Lamb, Israel, and the saints.
    God is about to pour out His wrath (cp. Psa 79:6,7).
15:2 And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire:
  sea of glass- cp. the sea of glass "clear as crystal," which spoke of
    God's holiness applied to His people by the washing of the Word. See Note at Rev 4:6.
  mingled with fire- 'Fire' speaks of God's holy anger against sin (eg., Mat 3:11,12).
    Here, God's holiness is about to be applied to His enemies. cp. Deu 9:3; Heb 12:29
and them that had gotten the victory over the beast,
and over his image, and over his mark, [and] over the number of his name,
stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God.
  them that had gotten the victory...-
  - Where are they? In heaven, the location of the sea of glass (Rev 4:6).
  - Who are they? The martyred tribulation saints (cp. 6:9-11; 7:9-17).
  - What is the source of their victory? Faith in Christ (1Joh 5:4,5; Rev 2:10,11; 12:11).
  stand on the sea- ('on' is GK= epi, in, upon, by, before)
    These martyred saints, having endured trial by fire in the Tribulation (cp. 1Pet 1:7-9), stand alive in Christ before God's throne, and rejoice as God pours out His wrath upon the enemies of righteousness (Rev 6:9-11).
15:3 And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God,
  they sing- The martyred saints, who have come out of the Tribulation,
    are not overcome with bitterness. cp. Psa 30:4,5; Heb 12:11-15
  the song of Moses- There are 2 'songs of Moses' recorded:
    1. Praise for deliverance from Pharoah at the Red Sea. Ex 15:1-21
    2. Israel's story foretold prophetically in song (Deu 31:21,29-30).
    (This song, recorded in Deuteronomy ch. 32, is outlined below.)
  The latter song is no doubt the one for the end of the Tribulation (cp. Deu 31:21).
    Outline: (references below are from Deuteronomy 32)
    1. Jehovah, Israel's Rock (Deu 32:1-6)
    2. Jehovah's gracious care for Israel (32:7-14)
    3. Israel's ingratitude provoked God to jealousy (32:15-18).
    The name Jeshurun (v.15, "righteous one") is descriptive of Israel's privileged position before the Lord. A position which she squandered.
  - Israel would be provoked to jealousy with a foolish people (32:19-21). [cp. Rom 10:19; 11:11]
  - Israel's affliction, Jacob's Trouble (32:22-35)
      'their rock' versus 'our Rock' (v.31) -
      ie., the false confidences of the ungodly nations versus the faithful God of unfaithful Israel.
  - Israel, in their extremity, will see no rock but Jehovah (32:36-40).
  - Jehovah will take vengeance on the nations,
      and then, bring healing to Israel and the nations (32:41-43).
      This song summarizes the Lord's purpose for Israel. Though they rebelled against Him, He has worked through the centuries to bring them back to Himself. His purpose will be realized at the end of the Time of Jacob's Trouble. When they eventually recognize and turn to their Rock, the whole world will rejoice with the restored nation of Israel, which will truly be 'Jeshurun,' because of who He is and what He has done (Jer 23:5,6; 33:16).
and the song of the Lamb,

  This song may be...
    - The new song of the Church, in praise to the Lamb (Rev 5:9,10).
    This song may be shared by all who are redeemed by the blood of the Lamb (eg., 7:14).
  - The new song of the Lamb, as pre-recorded in the Messianic Psalms, such as:
    - Psalm 22, Christ's song of suffering the judgment for sin, in behalf of His own.
        In the first 21 verses, we hear His voice in the agony of bearing our sins upon the cross. From v.22 to the end, He sings in unbounded rejoicing with the redeemed. The final words of the Psalm are literally: "It is done." The righteousness purchased for us by the Lamb, is the basis for the joyful conclusion of the song of Moses.
    - Psalm 40, Christ's 'new song' in which He is joined by those He redeemed.
      Outline of Psalm 40:
      1. His 'new song' of deliverance (v.1-5).
      2. His coming as foretold in prophecy,
         1. to fulfill the Law perfectly (v.6-8),
         2. to preach righteousness (v.9-10), and
         3. to bear the sins of many (v.11-13).
      3. The fate of His enemies (v.14,15).
      4. His prayer for the redeemed, and for His resurrection (v.16,17),
           by which He enables them to sing His new song (v.1-5).
    saying, Great and marvellous [are] thy works, Lord God Almighty;
    just and true [are] thy ways, thou King of saints {some MSS read: King of nations, cp. v.4}.
    15:4 Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? {cf. Rev 13:4; cp. 14:7}
      Jer 10:7-11
    for [thou] only [art] holy:
    for all nations shall come and worship before thee;
      Psa 86:7-10; Jer 23:5-8; Zeph 2:11; Php 2:9-11
    for thy judgments are made manifest.
      are made manifest {ie., have been shown openly}
      judgments {GK= dikaioma, "judicial acts characterized by righteousness" [Wuest]}
        see Psa 7:9; 11:5-7; 107:1,40-42.
        The nations will not submit until God exercises judgment. Isa 26:9
        Yet, it has always been evident that God must judge man's sin.
        Revelation ch.15 reminds us that:
        1. Judgment fulfills the Promises of God (v.1-4).
        2. Judgment flows from the Holiness of God (v.5-8).
    15:5 And after that I looked, and, behold,
    the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened:
      the temple {GK= naos, holy place}
      the tabernacle {GK= skene, tent, dwelling place} of the testimony-
        In Exodus, the Ark, containing the stone tables of God's covenant with Israel, was housed in the Tabernacle. Though God's people had broken the covenant, it remained unbroken within the Ark. The blood sprinkled annually upon the Mercy-Seat covered their sin, allowing God to dwell among them. The earthly tabernacle was a "pattern" of the reality in Heaven, where Christ (the One who perfectly kept the Law, and purged the sins of His people by His own blood) is dwelling today. Ex 25:16,21-22,40; Ex 32:15; Lev 16:14,15; Heb 9:23-28
        During the Tribulation, the Dragon & the beasts will seek to destroy God's people (Rev 13:7). But the reality remains, that God's covenant with Israel is eternally secure, in Christ. (See Note at Rev 11:19.)
      testimony {GK= marturion} -
        The same root is translated "testify, witness, record" in Joh 5:39,40; 3:31-33; 1Joh 5:9-12
        The Testimony of God (God's Word) is:
        1. to His people, the sure promise of eternal blessing.
        2. to His enemies, the sure promise of inescapable endless ruin.
    15:6 And the seven angels came out of the temple,
      Judgment proceeds out from the holy place, and from the holy presence of God and of the Lamb, whose heart delights in God's Law, and whose blood provides propitiation for sin. The world has despised and rejected the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the Ark of the Covenant and the Mercy Seat personified.
      God's holiness requires punishment for the obstinate and impenitent. [JBS]
    having the seven plagues,
    clothed in pure and white linen,
      clothed in pure and white linen-
        Only untainted holy angels dwell in the Presence of the holy God.
        Their garments reflect the glory of His holiness (eg., Mat 28:2-4).
      linen- Note that there is a distinction between the holiness of the angels
        and the righteousness of the Lamb's Bride (Rev 19:8,14).
        While both are clothed in "pure {ie., clean} and white linen," different words are applied.
        - Here (v.6), the angels are 'clothed in' {GK=enduo, lit., sunk into} 'linen' {GK=linon, flax (some MSS read: GK= lithos, stone)},
        which depicts their inherent holiness (as unfallen creatures).
  - In ch. 19, the saints are arrayed {GK=periballo, lit., cast around, invested} in 'fine linen' {GK=bussinos (root: HB=buwts)}.
      This 'fine linen' material, made from a special variety of flax, was used for exquisite priestly and royal robes, and in the veil of the second Temple, (eg. 2Chr 3:14; 5:12).
      The Bride's garment of righteousness (in stark contrast to her natural state, Eph 2:1-6), has been 'granted' by the Lamb to His Bride, whom He redeemed and purified for marriage to Himself. Her garment depicts "the righteousnesses of the saints," who, as sinners saved by Grace, have been prepared for His presence, by both imputed righteousness (salvation) and imparted righteousness (sanctification) received from Christ.
and having their breasts girded with golden girdles.
  These angels are outfitted to act as Christ's representatives (cp. Rev 1:13).
15:7 And one of the four beasts {ie., living creatures} gave unto the seven angels
seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever. (cp. v.1)
  The four living creatures (4:6-8) continually guard God's holiness.
    This action shows again that the 7 plagues are necessitated by the holiness of God.
  the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever- (in contrast to the false trinity)
    The God, who first decreed death for sin, still lives to execute the sentence. [JBS]
    These judgments are the direct action of God, in contrast with some of the previous plagues which were carried along by the wickedness of men & Satan. [McGee]
15:8 And the temple was filled with smoke
from the glory of God, and from his power;
and no man {ie., no one} was able to enter into the temple,
till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled.
  The Day of Grace has ended. Access to the Throne of Grace is closed, both to the sinner who would repent, and to the saint who would plead for the sinner. Judgment Day has come. It is too late to pray. cp. Rev 22:11
  If you are reading these words before that awful hour, call upon the Savior while you may (Rom 10:1-13).

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