15:1 Another Great and Marvellous Sign in Heaven SUMMARY OF REVELATION 15: Seven Angels with the Seven Last Plagues. The Sea of Glass. The Song of Moses, and the Song of the Lamb. The Temple Opened. The Temple Filled with the Glory of God. I saw another sign in heaven. Another scene displayed, different from those just past, and startling in its character. Seven angels having the seven last plagues. Called the last plagues because they are the final plagues which are sent upon the beast and its image; they bring the series to a close. They fill up the wrath of God. The great feature of this vision is the seven angels with the seven last plagues, but they are not seen at first when the vision opens; not until Re 15:7 is reached. The vision opens with the scene of Re 15:2. 15:2 I saw as it were a sea of glass. In Re 4:6 the sea of glass, clear as crystal, was seen about the throne of God. It is the emblem of the calmness and purity of God's rule. Here the sea is mingled with fire, a symbol always denoting judgments. This shows that the time for judgments, coming from the throne of God, has come. And them that had gotten the victory over the beast. These are the redeemed of Re 14:1, who are there seen standing with the Lamb on Mount Zion. They now engage in triumphant songs over the approaching overthrow of their great enemy. Having the harps of God. Musical instruments wholly dedicated to his praise. 15:3 They sing the song of Moses... and the song of the Lamb. When Israel was delivered from Egypt they sang the song Moses as they had done on the shores of the Red Sea. Here, the spiritual Israel, redeemed, standing on the crystal sea, sings a song of deliverance, but it is the old song to a new strain; the song of the Lamb now; of the Redeemer. Just and true [are] thy ways. The salvation of the true worshipers and the judgment seat upon which the wicked beast, demonstrated the truth and justice of God. 15:4 Who shall not fear thee? The judgments now given to the seven angels showed that God is a consuming fire, as well as a sun and a shield. We are left in no doubt concerning the identity of these singers. They are them that had gained the victory over the beast, etc. (Re 15:2). The ground of their rejoicing is also recorded. For thy judgments are made manifest. The mighty arm of God is to be revealed in bringing to naught the powers of evil, and especially all the great enemies over whom they had been victorious. The saints who have undergone the persecution of the beast are represented as rejoicing because the day of its judgment has come. 15:5 After that I looked. The apostle looks again and Behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened. The tabernacle of the testimony was the Holy of Holies. Into it none but the High Priest entered, and he only to make intercession for the forgiveness of sins. It is the type of the Holy of Holies above, the mercy seat in the heavens where our High Priest intercedes for us, and where the smoke of the incense of prayer arises to God. 15:6 And the seven angels came out of the temple. The angels mentioned in Re 15:1. Clothed in pure and white linen. Arrayed with [precious] stone, pure [and] bright (Revised Version). Probably precious stones covered their garments like those of the robe of the high priest. They come out of the temple as priests of destruction. 15:7 One of the four beasts. For notes on The Four Living Creatures, see topic 9657. Gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God. As the servant and agent of the Almighty he hands the seven vials of God's wrath to the angels. The thought is that in succession seven plagues are to be poured upon the earth. 15:8 And the temple was filled with smoke... and no man was able to enter into the temple. Does this mean that the heavens are shut against man during this period? Does it mean that no one can enter the true Church until the plagues are poured out? So some have mistakenly maintained. The doors of the kingdom were opened on Pentecost, and will never be closed until the marriage supper of the Lamb. The true meaning is plain. The place of intercession has just been seen. The seven wrath angels came forth. The smoke then fills the temple so that no one can approach the place of intercession. The Greek original says no one, instead of no man. It means that the Divine purpose is fixed; the wrath angels shall pour out their vials, there is no place longer given for intercession to prevent the just judgments of God. The time of intercession has passed by, and the time for judgment has come. No one can enter the temple to the tabernacle of testimony, the place of intercession, to avert these judgments till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled. | |