Down to Earth But Heavenly Minded

What does Revelation Chapter 15 mean?

Revelation 15 is a short chapter, bridging two sections in John’s series of visions. After the trumpet judgments, the focus of Revelation changed from a more-or-less chronological account to a description of certain people and events. Among these are infamous concepts such as the woman clothed with the sun, the Antichrist, the False Prophet, and the mark of the beast. Here, John will see one final vision before he is shown the rest of the tribulation judgments, represented by bowls.

The first vision John sees here is that of seven angels. These carry the last judgments God will use during the tribulation. The scene is one of celebration, as redeemed believers sing a song of worship to God. This echoes similar songs of praise offered by Israel after their deliverance from slavery in Egypt (Exodus 15). The sea of glass mentioned here is presumably the same one referred to in Revelation 4 (Revelation 15:1–4).

Revelation presents God’s final judgments on sin in three groups of seven. The first set of judgments was represented by the opening of seals on a scroll (Revelation 5:1). The second set was represented by trumpets (Revelation 8:6). This last pattern will involve bowls, symbolically filled with the wrath of God. This segment also indicates that the sanctuary in heaven was filled with smoke during this time, preventing anyone from approaching God until the judgments were completed (Revelation 15:5–8).

After this brief interlude, Revelation will resume explaining the end-times judgments in chapter 16. There, the catastrophic bowl judgments will begin.

Chapter Context
Revelation 15 falls between the trumpet judgments and the bowl judgments. Like the events described in chapter 14, the events given in chapter 15 do not occur in chronological order. Like the opened seals and the trumpets, the judgments introduced in this chapter number seven. They are said to be the final judgments. They involve terminal judgments on the empire of the beast from the sea and the beast from the land (Revelation 13).

Verse by Verse

Verse 1. Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and amazing, seven angels with seven plagues, which are the last, for with them the wrath of God is finished.

John sees another awesome sight in heaven. It was another sign that John described as “great and amazing.” In Revelation 12 he saw two signs: the sign of the woman, representing persecuted Israel, and the sign of the dragon, representing Satan. The sign of the woman concerns God’s protection and preservation of His persecuted people until the end of the tribulation. The sign of the dragon concerns God’s bitter foe, the Devil, who spews his hatred against the woman.

The angels of this verse represent God’s agents who execute His wrath at the end of the conflict between the Devil and God’s persecuted people. They carry out God’s final vengeance at the close of the tribulation, “for with them the wrath of God is finished.” God’s judgment may not always fall on sin immediately, but it will fall inevitably. When it falls, there will be no further opportunity to repent and avoid it.

Context Summary
Revelation 15:1–4 focuses on seven angels with seven plagues that conclude the outpouring of God’s wrath on the wicked. The event causes the victors over the beast, his image, and number to celebrate. They play harps and sing the song of Moses and of the Lamb. These are songs of redemption, parallel to those seen in Exodus 15 and Deuteronomy 32. Their song of the Lamb praises the Lord for His character and deeds and anticipates the time all nations will worship Him.

Verse 2. And I saw what appeared to be a sea of glass mingled with fire — and also those who had conquered the beast and its image and the number of its name, standing beside the sea of glass with harps of God in their hands.

John looked at what appeared to be a sea of glass mingled with fire. Revelation 4:6 identifies a sea of glass lying before God’s throne. In Old Testament times priests washed in a bronze basin before offering sacrifices. However, there is no need of cleansing or sacrificing in heaven, so a sea of glass appears before God’s throne.

The fire in the sea of glass may represent divine judgment that is about to fall on the wicked when the seven angels release the seven plagues mentioned in verse 1. The crowd seen standing before the sea of glass may be martyrs, or they may be survivors of the tribulation. This statement is contained in the part of Revelation which is not in any exact chronological order. Regardless, these crowd members are victors. They refused to worship the beast or his image. And they refused to receive the mark of the beast having his number: 666. This group of victors hold harps, indicating they are ready to celebrate.

Verse 3. And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, “Great and amazing are your deeds,O Lord God the Almighty!Just and true are your ways,O King of the nations!

The harpists joined in singing two songs: the song of Moses and the song of the Lamb. Both songs celebrate redemption by God’s almighty hand. The song of Moses was sung initially on the banks of the Red Sea after God had miraculously led His people through the Red Sea and then drowned Egypt’s cavalry in the rushing water (Exodus 15).

Similarly, God had triumphed over the beast on behalf of His tribulation saints. The song of the Lamb presumably celebrates Jesus as the Passover Lamb, whose blood redeemed the tribulation saints. They extoll the Lord as performing great and amazing deeds that only the Almighty one could perform. They characterize the Lord as just and true in His ways. His judgments are just, and He makes no mistakes because His ways are true. The wicked deserve the punishment they are about to receive. Further, the saints characterize the Lord as the “King of the nations.” Following His judgments, no wicked person will be left to enter Jesus’ earthly kingdom. The King of kings and Lord of lords will take custody of the nations.

Verse 4. Who will not fear, O Lord,and glorify your name?For you alone are holy.All nations will comeand worship you,for your righteous acts have been revealed.”

The celebrating saints recognize that everyone should reverence the Lord and glorify His name. The psalmist wrote: “I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised” (Psalm 18:3). He asks: “For who is God, but the LORD? And who is a rock, except our God?” (Psalm 18:31). The saints also recognize that only God is holy (Revelation 15:4; Isaiah 6:3). Being holy, God is set apart from sin. He cannot be tempted with evil; nor does He tempt anyone to do evil (James 1:13).

During the tribulation, multitudes will worship the beast, but when Jesus returns to earth and sets up His kingdom, the nations will gather to worship the Lord, the King of kings and Lord of lords. They will be aware of His righteous acts. Zechariah 14:9 proclaims, “And the LORD will be king over all the earth.” Further, Zechariah 14:16 predicts: “Then everyone who survives of all the nations that have come against Jerusalem shall go up year after year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Booths.”

Verse 5. After this I looked, and the sanctuary of the tent of witness in heaven was opened,

After hearing the harps and voices blending in the song of Moses and the song of the Lamb—songs of redemption and victory— John looked and saw the temple being opened in heaven. This temple is a real temple. In Revelation 8:3–5 the prayers of God’s people ascend to the golden altar. In Revelation 11:19, we read that God’s temple in heaven opened and revealed the ark of the covenant. When God commanded Moses to build the tabernacle’s furnishings, He instructed him: “See that you make them after the pattern for them, which is being shown you on the mountain” (Exodus 25:40; 26:30; 27:8) Hebrews 9:23 calls the tabernacle’s furnishings, “copies of the heavenly things.” So, currently there is a temple in heaven, and John saw that it was opened in heaven. However, the New Jerusalem will not include a temple, “for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb” (Revelation 21:22).

Context Summary
Revelation 15:5–8 describes the seven angels emerging from the sanctuary in heaven in possession of seven plagues. They receive seven bowls full of the wrath of God. No one is able to enter the sanctuary until the seven plagues end. Chapter 16 of Revelation tells what happens when the seven angels pour out the bowls of wrath onto the earth. The great day of God’s wrath is described in Revelation 19:11–15 and prophesied in Isaiah 13:6. Matthew 13:40–42 reports Jesus’ prediction that rebels will be taken away from the earth.

Verse 6. and out of the sanctuary came the seven angels with the seven plagues, clothed in pure, bright linen, with golden sashes around their chests.

Seven angels with seven plagues emerged from the sanctuary. John described the angels as clothed in pure, bright linen. This attire is reminiscent of what Jesus was wearing when He appeared to John (Revelation 1:13). The pure, bright linen represents purity. These angels, therefore, contrast sharply with the evil angels who followed Lucifer in rebellion against God. They represent Christ in His purity and are faithful messengers of God.

Their golden sashes also remind us of what Christ wore when He appeared to John on the island of Patmos. Revelation 1:13 says He wore a golden sash around His chest. Gold symbolizes purity. Exodus 25:11 describes the ark of the covenant as overlaid with pure gold. Also, the table of the presence and its four rings were made of pure gold (Exodus 25:26). Even the plates, dishes, flagons, and bowls used in worship were made of pure gold (Exodus 25:29). In the case of the risen Savior and the seven angels, gold represents both purity and the glory of God.

Verse 7. And one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God who lives forever and ever,

One of the four living creatures, of whom we read in Revelation 4, handed seven golden bowls to the seven angels. As in verse 6, the gold is meant to symbolize purity and the glory of God. The judgments that will fall shortly are executed by God who is holy and glorious in all His deeds.

The seven bowls are full of God’s wrath. He is said in this verse to live forever. He will live far beyond the brief reign of the beast, and the fallen world, and sin. Just as God expressed to Moses through the burning bush, He simply “is” and always will be (Exodus 3:14).

There are two sides to God’s relationship with human beings. The first side is His love. In love He gave His Son as the perfect sacrifice for our sin (John 3:16). The other side is His wrath that He pours out on those who reject His offer of love in Christ (John 3:36). Although many people discard the belief that God and wrath are compatible, Scripture clearly supports the belief. This is just one such passage. Others include 2 Chronicles 28:11, Ezra 10:14, Psalm 110:5, John 3:36, Romans 1:18, Ephesians 5:6, and Colossians 3:6.

Verse 8. and the sanctuary was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from his power, and no one could enter the sanctuary until the seven plagues of the seven angels were finished.

As the fires of judgment burn, the sanctuary in heaven fills with smoke. The smoke arises from God’s glory and power. From this time until the end of the tribulation, when the seven plagues end, no one is allowed to enter the temple in heaven. An event similar to one described in this verse occurred after Moses finished the work of building the tabernacle and furnishing it. Exodus 40:34–35 says, “Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. And Moses was not able to enter the tent of meeting because the cloud settled on it, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.”

Similarly, when Solomon dedicated the temple, “fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the LORD filled the temple. And the priests could not enter the house of the LORD, because the glory of the LORD filled the LORD‘s house” (2 Chronicles 7:1–2). Without God’s gracious invitation to draw near to Him, no human being would ever be able to survive the glory of His presence.

End of Chapter 15.

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