Chapter 15
There are sections in Revelation that add detail and there are sections that promote and advance the narrative in a chronological fashion. Chapters 15 and 16 would once again be advancing the timeline of the tribulation after the added details of chapters 13 and 14. The Revelation of John at times looks back on age-old stories and themes in Scripture in order to bring them to consummation amidst the grander narrative of God’s Kingdom being established in full.
Dr John Walvoord points out that the word used for ‘complete’ in verse 1 is the Greek word for finished, which was used by Jesus on the cross when He declared that ‘it is finished’ (John 19:30).
Just like Jesus brought to completion the work of salvation and redemption, so too will God bring to completion the judgment of the word and wickedness with the finished work of His wrath.
This was the sign that John saw in the heavens. This is also the third sign that he saw. The first being the woman, the second being the beast and the third being the complete and final judgment of God in the second half of the Tribulation.
These seven last plagues that are about to be poured into the world will culminate in the Second Coming of Jesus bringing about the finality of His Kingdom come, His will be done on earth as it is in Heaven (Matthew 6:10). That is the moment that all creation (Romans 8:19, humanity (Isaiah 9:7), and Israel (Isaiah 16:5, Psalm 89:4, 2 Sam 7:16) are expectantly waiting for. In fact, the famous Joy to the World carol was written about this event more than His first coming.
This style of worship and song will not be isolated to earth during this life but is also seen in heaven from the tribulation saints who have been martyred. They are seen to be singing two songs. The song of Moses and the song of the lamb (15:4). The two songs represent the faithfulness of God to Israel to save His national brethren out of the time of Jacob’s trouble, as well as the faithfulness of the lamb to non-israeli saints who called upon the name of Jesus throughout the time of God’s judgment.
These are the ones who in Revelation 12:11 overcame the beast by the blood of the lamb and their testimony, both with their words and life, that their heart surrendered to God and His Kingdom.
There are two strong images in chapter 15 of God’s glory and His holiness. The first being the sea of glass that these saints stood on, mingled with fire. The other being the smoke of His glory emanating from the Tabernacle. Both God’s holiness and glory cannot be separated. Several times in the bible there are depictions of the presence of God being synonymous with His holiness and glory represented by smoke (Exod 40:34-35, 1 Kings 8:10-11, Isa 6:3-4, Ezek 1:4). This is the shekinah glory of God is filling the tabernacle with not only His presence andHis very glory, but His holiness is being poured into the final bowls of judgement. Unrepentant humanity and the nations that have raged against God (Psalm 2:1-3), are about to experience His glory and holiness, but not in the way that the redeemed do. His glory and holiness are so powerful that sin and evil are destroyed in His presence (Exod 33:20, 1 Tim 6:16).
To those who are redeemed by the blood of the lamb, Heaven is seen open with no veil. Perfect access to God and His presence. To the rebellious, unrepentant humanity on earth, Heaven has filled the last seven bowls of judgement with the fury of His wrath. The finality of God’s divine judgement is about to take place. God’s righteousness and holiness are about to be unbridled without disguise which will result in one fearsome and awesome display of His Glory.
Here’s what we can live from these verses:
- God Will Bring Evil to and End. Chapter 15 is the prelude to the final seven bowl judgments of God. We see here that not only are the judgments coming to an end but there is also completion to them. As Jesus declared it is finished on the cross, so too the pouring out of God’s wrath will bring a finished work to His judgement. His work will be complete, evil will be removed and immediately after the completion of His judgments, Jesus will return in power and glory. Today let’s be confident that the finished work of Jesus at the cross makes way for us to escape the finished work of God’s wrath (1 Thess 5:9).
- Those Who Are Victorious Sing About His Faithfulness. The Tribulation Saints who were victorious over the beast, the image, the mark and over the number of his name, sing about the faithfulness of God. Just like Moses sang about the faithfulness of God’s judgments over Egypt and Pharaoh and the freedom He brought to the people of God, these saints will sing about the faithfulness of the Lamb in the judgments over the world and antichrist and the freedom He brought to the people of God. Today let’s worship God and constantly be praising Him for His faithfulness to deliver us from all our enemies and the freedom that He has given us.
- God’s Holiness and Glory Are Awesome to Behold. C.S Lewis in his book, Mere Christianity talks about the reality of Christ’s Second Coming when God shows up without disguise. In the prelude to the bowl judgments we see the smoke of His holiness and glory filling the temple which is beautiful to the believer, but to the unrepentant heart, the most horrible of judgments are about to take place. Lewis says it this way.
’God will invade. But I wonder whether people who ask God to interfere openly and directly in our world quite realise what it will be like when He does …something so beautiful to some of us and so terrible to others that none of us will have any choice left? For this time it will be God without disguise; something so overwhelming that it will strike either irresistible love or irresistible horror into every creature.’
