Revelation Chapter Fifteen

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”

Revelation 15:1

“another sign in heaven”

• The Greek word “semeion” translated sign or wonder means a sign of forth coming events
• This same word is used in Rev. 12:1 to introduce the woman with the crown of 12 stars and the events related to the close of probation
• John now sees another “sign in heaven”
• The sign in Revelation 12 describes the origin of sin and then emphasizes the reign of Satan as the 8^th king and the close of probation
• The sign in Revelation 15 & 16 describe the results of sin as manifested in God’s wrath (7 plagues)

“great and marvelous”

• refers to the far reaching effects of this sign

 “seven angels”

• These are the seven angels with “the seven last plagues”
• Literally, “seven plagues, the last”
• These are the last of their kind (there will be no more after these)
• These plagues will be described in chapter 16

“filled up”

• Greek “teleo” means to finish or to perform or to execute
• These plagues will finish God’s wrath against the beast and its image (Rev. 15:2; 16:2)

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

• The seven last plagues contain God’s wrath for the beast and its image

• This is the wine of God’s wrath which is poured out on those who have the mark of the beast (Rev. 14:10)
• This wrath represents the judgment and vengeance that the saints called out for in Rev. 6:10
• This judgment will occur after the last of their brethren is killed (Rev. 6:11) which is the close of probation

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.”
 

Revelation 15:2

“sea of glass”

• This is the sea of glass before God’s throne (Rev. 4:6)
• This glass represents transparency: the entire judgment process would be completely transparent, God would hide nothing

“mingled with fire”

• The glass was reflecting God’s glory (fire)

 “them that had gotten the victory”

• This refers to those who responded to the warning messages of Revelation 14 and were saved
• This is the living grain reaped at the end of Revelation 14
• This is the 144,000 who are sealed when the plagues begin since the wicked have their mark at the beginning of the plagues (Rev. 16:2)

”gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name,”

• This group exists along with the beast (Papacy) and its followers at the end of time
• This group exists at the end of time
• This group is part of the “wise” of Daniel 11 & 12
• This group refuses to worship the beast (Papacy) or its image (US controlled by apostate Protestantism) at the end of time
• This group refuses to accept the beast’s mark (Sunday Law) or its number

”stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God.”

• This group will overcome and stand on God’s sea of glass
• “harps” or lyres used to accompany their singing

Revelation 15:3

“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.”

Revelation 15:3

“they sing the song of Moses the servant of God,”

• Moses was called the servant of God (Joshua 14:7)
• This group will sing the “song of Moses” (Exodus 15)
• Moses song was a song of deliverance
• This song will be a song of deliverance from the beast and its image

“the song of the Lamb”

• The Lamb’s song is also a song of deliverance
• Jesus delivered His saints thru His death

”Great and marvellous are thy works”

• The saints are describing God’s works of salvation and judgment

“Lord God Almighty”

• This means “Ruler of All”, “Omnipotent”

 “just and true are thy ways”

• God’s decisions in the judgment are true and just (Rev. 16:7; 19:2)

“thou King of saints.”

• Better “King of Nations”  or “King of Ages”

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.”

Revelation 15:4

“Who shall not fear thee, O Lord,”

• This refers to Revelation 14:7 which warns to “fear God” for His hour of judgment has come
• The saints are those who fear God and the rest are lost

“for thou only art holy”

• Only God is holy
• This is why we should glorify Him

“glorify thy name?”

• All the nations will glorify God’s name (Psalms 86:9 and Rev.15:4)

 “for all nations shall come and worship before thee;”

• All nations will come before God and worship Him
• This will occur on earth at the 3^rd coming just prior to the destruction of the wicked

“for thy judgments are made manifest.”

• God is worthy of worship because He is holy and because His judgments are now being revealed

Revelation 15:5 

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

Revelation 15:5

“the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony”

• The temple of the tabernacle is God’s temple in heaven
• This is the temple after which Moses patterned the earthly sanctuary (Heb. 8:5)
• This temple contains God’s throne room whose door was opened in Revelation 4:1,2

• This temple is where the 24 elders, The Lamb Slain, and God the Father conduct the investigative portion of the judgment prior to the 2^nd Coming (compare Dan. 7:9,10 and Rev. 4:2-4)
• This is the temple where the seals are opened (Rev. 6:1,3,5,7,9,12,and Rev.8:1)
• This is the temple where the censer is cast down from the altar (Rev. 8:3-5)
• This is the temple where the seven trumpets are blown (Rev. 8:6,7,8,10,12; 9:1,13; 11:15)
• This is the temple where God’s people are measured (Rev. 11:1)
• This is the temple where the seven trumpets are blown (Rev. 8:6,7,8,10,12; 9:1,13; 11:15)
• This is the temple from where the reapers are sent forth (Rev. 14:15,17,18)
• This is the temple out of which the 7 angels will bring the 7 last plagues (Rev. 15:6)

”In heaven was opened:”

• This temple has been open since the investigative judgment began in 1844
• This temple was opened in Revelation 4:1 after the Laodicea church began (Rev. 3:14)
• This temple is about to be closed (see Rev. 15:8)
• This temple will be closed once the 7 last plagues begin because probation has closed for mankind

Revelation 15:6 

“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.”

Revelation 15:6

“And the seven angels came out of the temple, having the seven plagues,”

• These angels are sent from God’s throne room to administer His wrath
• The seven plagues will be described in Revelation 16

 “clothed in pure and white linen, and having their breasts girded with golden girdles.”

• This pure white linen represents their purity since they have never sinned

Revelation 15:7 

“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.”

Revelation 15:7

“one of the four beasts”

• This is one of the four creatures described in Rev. 4:6-8 who surround God’s throne
• These beasts are involved in the investigative judgment and the seals

“seven golden vials full of the wrath of God,”

• These seven vials or bowls contain the seven last plagues which are the wrath of God

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.”

Revelation 15:8

“And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power”

• Smoke represents God’s glory (Ex. 40:34,35; Isa. 6:4)
• The temple is now filled with God’s glory
• God has been vindicated:           
• The case against God has been won
• Trust has been restored in heaven
• The temple has been cleansed of sin’s stain

“no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled.”

• “No man” literally means “no one”
• No one can access the mercy seat anymore
• The investigative judgment has ended
• God’s people are sealed: the 144,000
• Satan’s people are sealed or marked
• Intercession has ended
• Probation for mankind has closed

Summary

• Revelation chapter 15 describes the events that were introduced in Revelation 14:
• The living grain described as being harvested (Rev. 14:15) are the 144,000 alive at the close of probation
• This group has conquered the beast and its image
• This group is seen singing a song of deliverance (the Song of Moses and the Lamb)
• They are praising God because He is revealing His judgments which refers to His wrath (7 plagues)
• This has been longed for by His saints (Rev. 6:9-11)
• Revelation chapter 15 describes the events that were introduced in Revelation 14:
• The grapes or wicked are those who will suffer the 7 last plagues (Rev.16:2)
• They are those who worship the beast and its image (Rev. 14:9) and have its mark (Rev. 14:9)
• John sees the temple open but about to be closed, which means that the investigative judgment is about to end
• The temple was opened in Revelation 4 when the investigative judgment began which occurred in 1844
• The temple is now going to close as the investigative phase of judgment ends and the executive phase begins
• The temple is closed once the seven angels with the seven last plagues leave it
• Now no one can enter which means that probation for this world has ended
• This means that everyone has chosen either to serve God or to reject Him
• This means that the 144,000 are sealed and the 4 angels can be released (Rev. 7:1-4) to harm the earth and sea which occurs during the plagues (Rev. 16:2,3)