REVELATION 15: A SONG OF EXPERIENCE AND VICTORY

Revelation 15:1

And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God.

Then I saw another wonder (sign, token, symbol) in heaven, great and marvelous [warning of events of ominous significance]: There were seven angels bringing seven plagues (afflictions, calamities), which are the last, for with them God’s wrath (indignation) is completely expressed [reaches its climax and is ended]. (Revelation 15:1 AMP)

“Another sign in heaven, great and marvelous, seven angels”

And I saw the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets. And the seven angels which had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound. (Revelation 8:2, 6)

And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth. (Revelation 16:1)

And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters. (Revelation 17:1)

And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb’s wife. (Revelation 21:9)

Revelation is filled with grand events related to angels. These angels represent messengers announcing key events in the unfolding of God’s plan for the salvation of mankind and in unfolding the history of this world through prophecy. In this chapter, the angels are messengers of doom. The number seven is often a symbol of completeness; here the seven angels bringing the plagues execute God’s complete wrath, this is the final giving up of the wicked to the darkness they have chosen.

“For in them is filled up the wrath of God”

Filled up—to end, i.e. complete, execute, conclude, discharge (a debt)1

[God] Who will render to every man according to his deeds: to them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: but unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile. (Romans 2:6–9)

But by your callous stubbornness and impenitence of heart you are storing up wrath and indignation for yourself on the day of wrath and indignation, when God’s righteous judgment (just doom) will be revealed. (Romans 2:5 AMP)

For the wages of sin is death. (Romans 6:23)

For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. (Romans 8:6–8)

Many who follow the beast system are worshippers of many gods and lords. Some continue to call upon the name of the true God and profess faith in Christ, although they have turned against revealed truth to follow a lie. It is a “faithless and perverse generation” (Luke 9:41) and “a wicked and adulterous generation” (Matthew 16:4) who will experience the fullness of wrath unmixed with mercy.

Why? “This is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved” (John 3:19–20). In the face of heaven’s last message of light and truth (see Revelation 18:1–4), the worshippers and followers of the beast have become so deluded by error and falsehood that they cannot and will not obey the truth.

“Because they [that perish] have said ‘no’ to the Truth; they have refused to believe it and love it, and let it save them, so God will allow them to believe lies with all their hearts, and all of them will be justly judged for believing falsehood, refusing the Truth, and enjoying their sins” (2 Thessalonians 2:10–12 TLB). Whether we receive the reward of the faithful and obedient children of God or the wrath that comes upon the worshippers of the beast is ultimately our own choice. “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting” (Galatians 6:7–8).

Revelation 15:2

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.

“Them that had gotten victory over the beast”

Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. (Revelation 14:12)

And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father’s name written in their foreheads. (Revelation 14:1)

These are they [the 144,000] which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb. And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God. (Revelation 14:4–5)

And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him [the beast], whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. (Revelation 13:8)

And they overcame him [the Accuser] by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. (Revelation 12:11, 17)

Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. (Revelation 3:10)

The verses above list the characteristics of those who will not yield to the beast power. Some will yield up their lives as martyrs, victorious in death. Others will live to see Christ come and will have obtained complete victory in Christ even when death is decreed upon all who refuse to follow the beast. All the redeemed saints shall gather round the throne of God, but here in Revelation 15 special mention is given as an encouragement and promise to those who overcome the beast system and the global apostasy near the end of this world’s history. God in mercy is warning us of the outcome of the two classes—wrath and tribulation for the worshippers of the beast, and eternal life, joy and peace for the faithful.

Revelation 15:3

And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, great and marvelous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints.

Song—chant, ode.2 An ode is “a short poem or song, poetical composition proper to be set to music or sung.”3

The book of Psalms is an example of short poems or songs written by David and others. They are made up mostly of the experiences of their lives with God. Thus the song the 144,000—the last generation of victorious saints—sing is not some obscure, unknown song once sung by Moses and Christ. It is a tale of an experience that parallels that of Moses and Christ. (See Revelation 14:3.)

Exodus 32:7–14 tells us of the self-sacrificing attitude of Moses in the midst of great apostasy among the children of Israel. Exodus 15 tells of a song of Moses when the children of Israel were delivered from impending destruction. Christ’s song of experience is one of triumph over sin and the grave. To the 144,000 this song will be sung as they too are delivered from the impending destruction of the universal death decree for not worshipping the beast or taking his mark. They, like Christ, will have gained the victory over sin and death. Thus, this new song is a song of an experience gained and a victory obtained.

“Great and marvelous are thy works”

Shew thy marvellous lovingkindness, O thou that savest by thy right hand them which put their trust in thee from those that rise up against them. (Psalm 17:7)

O sing unto the Lord a new song; for he hath done marvellous things: his right hand, and his holy arm, hath gotten him the victory. The Lord hath made known his salvation: his righteousness hath he openly shewed in the sight of the heathen. (Psalm 98:1–2)

In the song of experience is the acknowledgment of God’s mercy and love to save, a song of God’s marvelous miracles of deliverance on their behalf. Praise now ascends for the eternal victory gained in Christ over the beast and his image.

“Just and true are thy ways”

He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he. (Deuteronomy 32:4)

Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? prudent, and he shall know them? for the ways of the Lord are right, and the just shall walk in them: but the transgressors shall fall therein. (Hosea 14:9)

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)

Tell ye, and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath declared this from ancient time? who hath told it from that time? have not I the Lord? and there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me. Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else. (Isaiah 45:21–22)

“Thou King of saints”

Who would not fear thee, O King of nations? for to thee doth it appertain: [pertain to, befit] forasmuch as among all the wise men of the nations, and in all their kingdoms, there is none like unto thee. (Jeremiah 10:7)

For God is my King of old, working salvation in the midst of the earth. (Psalm 74:12)

Recognizing that the truth of God has been cast to the ground, the 144,000 know in their hearts that God is just and true and consequently obey Him in love. Though the beast system claims its decrees and doctrines are the only right way, the saints know the Lord’s ways alone are right. When Satan and the evil host mock them in their perplexity, they hold on to the promise that God is faithful and just to forgive and to save. Their song before the Father and before the universe will express the faith and hope gained by their experience on earth, then eternally and gloriously realized. This song resounds to the glory of God and the Lamb, the source and strength of the victory the saints gained over the beast and his mark, and over sin and death.

Revelation 15:4

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.

“Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name?”

The Wicked:

And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; and said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: for the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand? (Revelation 6:15–17)

The Righteous:

And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the Lord; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation. (Isaiah 25:9)

The Wicked:

And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk: neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts. (Revelation 9:20–21)

The Righteous:

Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord God; Repent, and turn yourselves from your idols; and turn away your faces from all your abominations. (Acts 5:31; Ezekiel 14:6. Christ came to give repentance. The righteous gladly received it, repented from their idols and abominations and were saved.)

The Wicked:

And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him [the beast], whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. (Revelation 13:8)

The Righteous:

Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters. (Revelation 14:7. God has a people who give Him glory and worship.)

The question of the 144,000—“Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify Thy name?”—is an acknowledgement of the goodness and mercy of God, for who would not love and fear Him if they only knew Him? Revelation reveals that most will refuse to love God. Their respect and awe of the majesty and power of God will come too late, and it will not be based on love. Nevertheless, God will have a remnant who loves Him while the majority of the world chooses to love a lie.

“All nations shall come and worship before thee”

Nations—race or tribe4

Open ye the gates, that the righteous nation which keepeth the truth may enter in. (Isaiah 26:2)

And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it [the holy city, New Jerusalem]: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it. (Revelation 21:24)

In the midst of the street of it [New Jerusalem], and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. (Revelation 22:2)

After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands. (Revelation 7:9)

These are not the nations of the world whom some mistakenly say shall be given a second chance. Neither are these the contemporary nations today under a future Messianic millennial rule. These are the righteous of every race and nation who shall make up the citizens of heaven and the earth made new: those who have gained a fitness for heaven through the mercy and grace of God. They lovingly follow His Word and obey His law.

This chapter opened with a scene of the angels who shall deliver the plagues. But God showed John before going into those awful scenes a people saved, happy and rejoicing in their eternal redemption. It is as if God wanted us to know that not all will reject Him, not all will receive the plagues. It is a an encouragement for us to be found faithful.

Revelation 15:5

And after that I looked, and, behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened.

Testimony—something evidential; i.e., evidence given or (specially), the Decalogue (in the sacred Tabernacle)5

“Temple of the tabernacle”

And thou shalt anoint the tabernacle of the congregation therewith [the holy anointing oil], and the ark of the testimony. (Exodus 30:26)

And thou shalt beat some of it [the perfume or incense] very small, and put of it before the testimony in the tabernacle of the congregation, where I will meet with thee: it shall be unto you most holy. (Exodus 30:36)

John is given a glimpse of the sanctuary in heaven. Here, in ancient times, God met with His people. Christ in the sanctuary in heaven has also interceded for His people, and by His Spirit sought to draw all to the light and truth and love of God.

John sees as well the testimony, the law of God, kept in the ark in the most holy place of the sanctuary. Our attention is drawn not only to the temple but also to the law, which is the standard of judgment, the violation of which in thought and action is sin. Above that law is the mercy seat. For thousands of years God has extended mercy to those who, moved by the grace of His Spirit, would repent of their sins.

But now mercy has been rejected, and the mercy that was available to the sinner is now only wrath to those who would not repent, obey and be saved. In ancient times only the high priest was allowed to enter the most holy place, which was separated from the holy place by a veil. This opening of the tabernacle shows that the work there has ceased and that the testimony or the law, the basis of the judgment, is open for all to see and understand.

Revelation 15:6–7

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.

We have seen in Revelation that all of heaven has been at work for the salvation of man. Now angels, messengers of God’s grace, and the four beasts or living creatures first seen in Revelation 5 and who stand before the throne of God, are each to act a part in delivering to mankind wrath rather than mercy. And they willingly carry out their task, as heaven declares, “Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are thy judgments” (Revelation 16:7).

Revelation 15:8

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.

“The temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God”

Now when Solomon had made an end of praying, the fire came down from heaven, and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the Lord filled the house. And the priests could not enter into the house of the Lord, because the glory of the Lord had filled the Lord’s house. And when all the children of Israel saw how the fire came down, and the glory of the Lord upon the house, they bowed themselves with their faces to the ground upon the pavement, and worshipped, and praised the Lord, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever. (2 Chronicles 7:1–3)

In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke. (Isaiah 6:1–4)

Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. And Moses was not able to enter into the tent of the congregation, because the cloud abode thereon, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. (Exodus 40:34–35)

Not just any part of the temple is opened here, but that portion of the temple containing the testimony, which is the law of God. Anciently, above the law of God between the cherubim was the mercy seat and the Shekinah glory, the visible token of God’s presence. Here mercy and justice met. Now, in John’s vision of heaven and the temple, there is only justice. Mercy has been beaten back, to return no more.

The temple is filled with smoke, but not from the prayers arising like incense or the sweet fragrance of Christ’s intercession. No, this smoke-filled temple reveals to us that no man can enter the temple. There is no longer any priest to intercede, and no sinner’s prayer and repentance is taken up by Jesus, our High Priest.

God’s glory is manifested in His mercy, but no less in His justice. Smoke now fills the temple, for intercession has ceased. The smoke symbolizes the hiding of God’s presence from the wicked who have spurned His love. (See 2 Samuel 22:7–16; Psalm 144:5–6.) The smoke may also be there to hide from the universe the tears of God for His lost and wayward children. “That He may do His work, His strange work; and bring to pass His act, His strange act” (Isaiah 28:10), in giving up the impenitent to the just doom they have chosen.


Endnotes

1.  James Strong, LL.D., S.T.D., Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Book House, 1987).

2.  Ibid.

3.  Noah Webster, American Dictionary of the English Language. (San Francisco, California: Foundation for American Christian Education, 1967).

4.  James Strong, op. cit.

5.  Ibid.
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