Revelation 15:1-8
Q.1. What price will the victors over the beast pay? Do they conclude that God has been just? How will they celebrate? What is their theme-song? – (Rev.15:1-4)
John saw a ‘great and marvellous’ sign of seven angels with seven plagues – … which are the last, because in them the wrath of God is finished (Rev.15:1). He saw a numberless throng of – … those who had been victorious over the beast and his image and the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, holding harps of God (Rev.15:2 c.f. Rev.14:1-3). Though the 144,000 and their converts have triumphed, they are part of a heavenly choir – so they have paid with their lives for their faithfulness. This is not usually how we perceive victory. However, their theme-song makes it clear that they are far from sad or disillusioned as – 3 they sang the song of Moses, the bondservant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, great and marvellous are Your works, O Lord the Almighty; Righteous and true are Your ways, King of the nations! 4 “Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy; For all the nations will come and worship before You, for Your righteous acts have been revealed.” (Rev 15:3-4). The world’s history of rejection of God, His Son, and the saints of the Most High God, makes the outpouring of God’s wrath inevitable.
Q.2. Who dwells in the heavenly tabernacle of testimony? What mission does He give the seven angels? How focussed is the Lamb on bringing justice? – (Rev.15:5-8)
The earthly tabernacle was a copy of the heavenly one, where God dwells among His people (c.f. Ex.25:8-9, 22; Heb.9:11-12, 23-24). God reigns supreme from His heavenly throne room. The seven angels are commissioned to take the – … seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God, who lives forever and ever (Rev.15:7). This is a unique time in the purposes of God, as – the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from His power; and no one was able to enter the temple until the seven plagues of the seven angels were finished (Rev.15:8). This is one of the few occasions when a ‘do not enter’ sign blocks the entrance into God’s throne room. No one and nothing will distract God from executing His just judgment on an unrepentant and rebellious world.