Revelation 15

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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. 

To Begin With

There should really be no chapter break between Ch. 14 and Ch. 15.  This can be seen from how 15:1 begins with the word, "And" • • •  "And"..., in addition to what has just been said in chapter 14, that the wine of the vine of the earth has begun to be produced, that, "the winepress was trodden without the city," specifically, "I saw a sign in heaven" that revealed that the final act which would lead to the complete redemption of Israel from out of the nations was about to take place.

What takes place in chapter 14 has to signify "Judgment is in the earth." Otherwise we could not be warned and ready for the 7 last plagues.  Just as in Egypt the wrath of God was kindled when He heard the cries of His children the Israelites in the severity of bondage that was forced upon them, so here it is the suffering of the children of Israel that provokes the wrath of God.

We will have to look at every detail of the relationship between these 7 vials and 7 trumpets which preceded them. The theme that the warning is now complete, and that it has to now be complete, is most important and needs to be well understood.  There can be no more warnings! When we come to chapter 16 we will see this. We will see how that these final plagues in the Revelation fulfill the intention of the plagues that produced the redemption of Israel from Egypt and result in the completion of that redemption.

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. 

Fire Is In The Sea

This is the same sea of glass as we have seen at the first, but is not simply called "the sea of glass" here, but rather, "as it were a sea of glass". Fire is now in the sea of glass. 

We had harpers before. We also have harpers here, all like the Psalmist, David, who overcame the evil inclination.  The harpers here are those who have not believed the lying world king, who has lied and claimed that he loves his kingdom, the unified global kingdom of this world and its citizens. But who is a liar, because he has come in his own name and loves only himself and the Serpent, the great enemy of God.  Fire is in the sea; the harpers are on the sea. The victory of God is in the music of the air. 

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 Your works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are Your ways, You King of saints.

Song of Moses and The Lamb

There is only one song here, not two. All the way through the heavenly visions of the Revelation the Mashiach is referred to as the Lamb.  The Revelation is about the complete and final redemption of Israel, according to the covenanted promise that God made to Abraham.

The Revelation is about the Good News of Israel and Her Messiah.  It is about the redemption that began with Moses and the passover lamb in Egypt. That Lamb is now become this Lamb, Israel’s suffering servant, who incarnated the prayer of Moses for forgiveness and complete redemption for Israel.

What was the meaning and significance of the Passover Lamb in Egypt? The firstborn in all of Egypt were killed. But The firstborn of whoever partook of the Passover Lamb according to the instructions of God was spared.

The firstborn in Egypt represented the office of ruler of the world inherited from Adam. The great and marvellous works of God involve removing the headship of the first Adam over Humanity. of God, in which all the families of the earth may be saved through faith in these marvellous works of God.  For these are the ways of God, the ways of justice and truth, which reverse the ways of the sin and rebellion of Adam.  As this was demonstrated upon Pharaoh in Egypt, so it is demonstrated upon the beast in the end of days.

Revelation - 15:4

Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name? for You only are holy: for all nations shall come and worship before You; for Your judgments are made manifest.

Corporate Repentance

At the time when the seven angels having the seven last plagues come forward the truth of the judgments of God shall be made manifest in the earth.  At first, the whole world will unite to fight against the truth of the judgments of God, just as Pharaoh and all Egypt came together to fight against the word of Moses and Aaron. But in the end of these judgments there shall be corporate repentance in Humanity.  At first the world will refuse to repent, but when God's judgments are fully known Humanity, witnessing God's salvation and redemption of Israel, will desire beyond all else to be granted the opportunity of repentance.  Here at this place in the Revelation we do not yet see this.  But as we proceed, step by step, to the end all of these things will be revealed with great clarity.

Revelation - 15:5

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

And Now It Begins 

The Temple is the Temple of the Tabernacle, and the Tabernacle is the Tabernacle of the Testimony, the Ark of the Covenant.  The covenant that God made with Israel at Mount Sinai is the full expression of the covenant that God made with Abraham, which is the promise of the Good News of the death and resurrection of Israel with Her Messiah.  This full expression of the covenant is the Torah.  Even though the making of the covenant with Israel at Mount Sinai was broken by Israel, it was made anew, the same covenant, by God, through Mashiach, through the Lamb, with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, that they might be one house of God forever.

In accordance with this covenant Israel has suffered with Mashiach.  In accordance with this covenant Israel must be raised up again in redemption unto life with Mashiach.  This is the testimony of the Ark of the Covenant in the Tabernacle in the Temple in heaven, and from this place the angels having the seven last plagues come forth, to bring the judgments that will bring about this promised redemption, this keeping of the covenant of God.

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.

The Time of Judgment, The Time of Redemption

The angels come out of the Temple in heaven with the seven last plagues dressed in the dress, as it were of the High Priest of Israel.  We will see why this is when we look, in the next chapter, at each of the specific plagues and their timing.

As the angels are only the agents, it is as if the plagues themselves come out of the Temple.  This perspective has great importance for understanding the goodness and grace of God's judgments, and that they are foundational to salvation.

Revelation - 15:7

And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who lives for ever and ever.

The Hand of Judgment

These for angelic beasts are four seraphim, which together one chariot and throne of Almighty God.  This is made known in Holy Scripture.  As it is through them that God rules over His creation, it is fitting that here one is responsible for handing the seven golden vials to the seven angels of judgment.  Through these judgments creation itself will be made worthy of being made new and incorruptible.

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 Glory of Hashem Filling His Temple

The complete fulfillment of these judgments comes only when all that is intended to be accomplished by them is accomplished.  Just as what was ultimately accomplished by the plagues in Egypt, including the final plague of the death of the firstborn sons of Egypt, was the complete redemption of Israel, so hear too, the ultimate accomplishment is that All-Israel is saved and united with Mashiach upon his appearing.  Until then the Temple in heaven is filled with the cloud of the glory of Hashem, bringing about His will in the place of all holy sacrifice and life.