Lectionary Calendar
Friday, April 19th, 2024
the Third Week after Easter
the Third Week after Easter
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Bible Commentaries
Larkin's Study of the Prophetic Book of Holy Scriptures Larkin on Revelation
Copyright Statement
These files are public domain.
Text Courtesy of BibleSupport.com. Used by Permission.
These files are public domain.
Text Courtesy of BibleSupport.com. Used by Permission.
Bibliographical Information
Larkin, Clarence. "Commentary on Revelation 15". A Study of the Prophetic Book of Holy Scripture. https://studylight.org/commentaries/eng/clr/revelation-15.html.
Larkin, Clarence. "Commentary on Revelation 15". A Study of the Prophetic Book of Holy Scripture. https://studylight.org/
Whole Bible (54)New Testament (16)Individual Books (22)
Verse 1
1
THE SEVEN LAST PLAGUES OR VIAL JUDGMENTS.
Revelation 15:1.
“And I saw another SIGN in Heaven, great and marvellous, SEVEN ANGELS having the ’SEVEN LAST PLAGUES’; for in them is filled up the WRATH OF GOD.”
This is another “SIGN” or “Wonder.” It was great and marvellous, because it “FILLED UP THE WRATH OF GOD,” that is, it completed the pouring out of the accumulated “WRATH OF GOD.”
Verses 2-4
4
PRELUDE .
Revelation 15:2-4.
“And I saw as it were a ’SEA OF GLASS’ MINGLED WITH FIRE: 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. And they sing the SONG OF MOSES the servant of God, and the SONG OF THE LAMB, saying, Great and Marvellous are Thy Works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are Thy Ways, Thou King of Saints. Who shall not fear Thee, O Lord, and glorify Thy name? for thou only art holy! for all nations shall come and worship before Thee; for Thy judgments are made manifest.”
This “SEA OF GLASS” is the same “Sea of Glass” that we saw before the Throne in chapter 4:6. Then it was unoccupied, now it is occupied. Then its surface was crystal clear and plain, now its surface is of a “fiery” aspect, symbolizing the “fiery trials” of its occupants. The occupants of this “Sea of Glass” come out of the Great Tribulation, for they have gotten the victory over the “Beast,” and over his “Image,” and over his Mark, and over the “Number of His Name,” and they have harps, and they sing the “SONG OF MOSES” and the “SONG OF THE LAMB.” They are the “Harpers” of chapter 14:2, whose song only the 144,000 “Sealed Ones” could sing. John only heard them then, now he sees them. That they could sing both the “Song of Moses” and the “Song of the Lamb” implies that they were all or in part Israelites. Some think that the “Song of Moses” that they sung was the song the Children of Israel sang on the shore of the Red Sea after their escape from Egypt, as given in Exodus 15:1-22, while others think it is Moses’ “SWAN SONG” as found in Deuteronomy 31:19; Deuteronomy 31:22; Deuteronomy 31:30; Deuteronomy 32:43. They sang the “Song of the Lamb” because as Israelites they had been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb.
Verses 5-8
8
THE TABERNACLE OF TESTIMONY .
Revelation 15:5-8.
“And after that I looked, and behold, the Temple of the ’TABERNACLE OF TESTIMONY’ in Heaven was opened: and the ’Seven Angels’ came out of the Temple, having the ’SEVEN PLAGUES,’ clothed in pure and white linen, and having their breasts girded with Golden Girdles. And one of the ’Four Beasts’ gave unto the ’Seven Angels’ ’SEVEN GOLDEN VIALS’ full of the ’WRATH OF GOD,’ who liveth for ever and ever. And the Temple was filled with smoke from the Glory of God, and from His Power: and no man was able to enter into the Temple, till the ’SEVEN PLAGUES’ of the ’Seven Angels’ were fulfilled.”
Here again we see the Heavenly Temple. The “Seven Angels” that come out of it are clothed in priestly garments, and the “Golden Vials” that they carry were given them by one of the “Beasts” or Living Creatures, which one is not mentioned, and when he gave them to them the Heavenly Temple was filled with smoke. When the Tabernacle was finished by Moses, and the Temple by Solomon, there was a “cloud,” the “Shekinah Glory,” but no smoke. Exodus 40:34 to Exodus 36:1. Kings 8:10-11. The “cloud” means GRACE, the “smoke” means JUDGMENT. Isa. 6:14. Exodus 19:18.