Bible Commentaries
Revelation 15

Verses 1-4

1. THE VISION OF THE REDEEMED. verses 1-4

Verse 2.

Near God’s throne is calm sea of God’s counsels--A sea so calm that it looked "LIKE GLASS." We saw this sea in 4:6. Now this sea of God’s counsels is ruddy "WITH FIRE"--"fire" is often a symbol of judgment--Hebrews 12:29; Matthew 3:12. This sea is not to be confused with the wild ungoverned sea of human passions out of which the wild beast arose in 13:1. Beside this fire-flushed sea are those who have been victorious over the wild beast.

Verses 1 and 4.

They sing "The Song of Moses and the Song of The Lamb." The Song of Moses is that which was sung when God gave Israel victory over Pharaoh at the Red Sea (Exodus 15:1-19). As ancient Israel saw the overthrow of a great world power then so these saints now sing the song of triumph over great world powers of every age. They also sing "the Song of The Lamb" for the victory is in Him (12:11). CAN WE SING THESE SONGS OF DELIVERANCE? The real victory is not to live in safety, not to evade trouble, BUT TO FACE THE WORST THAT EVIL CAN DO AND YET REMAIN FAITHFUL TO CHRIST EVEN TO DEATH. "May God deny you safety, and give you glory," said Unamus.

Verses 5-8

2. VISION OF THE ANGELS OF WRATH. verses 5-8.

Verse 5.

John saw "the tent of witness in heaven" (Acts 7:44) (It was so called because within it were the tables of the law witnessing to God’s just demands and the Ark of the covenant witnessing to God’s grace.)

Verse 6.

Seven angels came from the temple. Their clothing is like Christ’s (1:13) They are dressed as high priests for they come to do the work of God.

Verse 7.

Each angel has a bowl shaped like a saucer. Their contents could be poured out suddenly. They are full of the wrath of God. It is one of "the living creatures" who hands them these bowls. These "Living creatures" represent REDEEMED MANKIND. It is through redeemed men and women that God can visit the world--Matthew 24:14 --"this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness to all nations; and then shall the end come"--Revelation 14:7 shows Redeemed men preaching the gospel--handing the bowls to the angels of judgment.

Verse 8.

There are two thoughts here. (1) In the midst of judgment no man can understand the mind of God and no man can enter His presence. As Isaiah saw the temple "filled with smoke" (Isaiah 6:4), so while these plagues fall, the purposes of God are obscured to men nor can we see the Ark of His grace, but when the smoke is lifted men will see the Ark is there and has been there all the time. (2) And as men could not enter the tent in the wilderness (Exodus 40:34-35), or at the dedication of Solomon’s temple (1 Kings 8:11), so as these plagues fall on those who have rejected God, even the judgments of God fail to stir the conscience that has been deadened by sin. "Who shall not pray with an agony of earnestness, ’From hardness of heart, and from contempt of Thy word and commandment, good Lord, deliver us’?"

II. MEDITATION--Revelation 15:1-8

Can we sing the SONG OF DELIVERANCE referred to in verses 3 and 4?

We observe in this song of praise in these verses that there is not one word about the achievements on earth of the singers. Their song is all about God and His greatness and goodness.

Heaven is a place where men and women forget themselves and remember only God. In heaven self is forgotten. In heaven we will see at last the great plan and purpose of God and we will realize our own littleness. In heaven all self-importance is lost in the presence and glory of God.