Revelation Chapter Fifteen
Do you ever wonder what Noah must have put up with? He struggled against all odds and persecution to build a boat to protect himself and his family against the rains to come. Imagine ungodly neighbors taunting him. “Rain? What’s rain? Water falling from the sky? Are you daft? Water doesn’t fall from the sky! Pitiful, demented old fool.”
But he and his family floated in safety above the waters as his neighbors washed away. Here is a picture of God’s redeemed saints who endure persecution to dwell in the peace and security of God’s presence in paradise. While the Church is in heaven preparing for the wedding supper of the Lamb, all over the earth God’s wrath will be poured out on the unrepentant and ungodly.
The Noah’s ark story is a type of the Church. God has prepared a place of security for the church, above the destruction and judgement. Like Noah, the redeemed will be lifted up above the wrath to come; to watch the judgement but not experience it. Psalm 91:4-8
Whether a Christian believes in the rapture or not is unimportant. (However, by faith are you saved.) God created the Church as the ark of safety for His redeemed. I know in Whom I believe and am persuaded He is able to keep what I commit to Him against the day.
2 Timothy 1:12
No matter how harsh judgement on earth becomes, His people will be safe as long as they are in the ark. But don’t jump over the railing for a quick swim; you may be left behind.
Though we are born again and redeemed by the blood of the Lamb, we will experience tribulation and persecution, but not judgement. We are already judged; God judged us when He judged His Son who bore our sins. The Father turned His face from the Son because of those sins. Believers will never again be forsaken.
Chapter fifteen consists of two different visions, the first in verses two through four, the second in verses five through eight. Verses two through four show the peace and tranquility of God’s saints, the redeemed, as they reside safely in heaven during the judgement going on below. The second vision, verses five through eight, consists of the angels bearing the bowls of wrath representing God’s judgement.
The Vision of Heaven
Revelation 15
1 Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous: seven angels having the seven last plagues, for in them the wrath of God is complete. 2 And I saw something like a sea of glass mingled with fire, and those who have the victory over the beast, over his image and over his mark and over the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, having harps of God.
Sea of glass is symbolic of the peace and tranquility of God’s presence. The word translated glass is the Greek hualinos, meaning transparent or like glass. Glass was around in John’s day though not used in windows as it is today. Only the rich used glass windows.
The word hualinos comes from the root huo, to rain, a shower. When the rain of the Holy Spirit falls, He brings peace and tranquility. Remember, no words used in the Bible are accidental. They are all inspired by God.
The glass is mingled with fire. This is symbolic for the tribulation suffered by the saints. (John 16:33) Fire is symbolic of cleansing and purification. Fire burns off the dross, and leaves purity behind. The peace and tranquility the Church experiences in the presence of God is flavored with the persecution and tribulation suffered on earth. Fire makes the sea more beautiful.
This second verse refers to those who gain victory over the beast. It is possible to gain this victory before the person of the Antichrist appears. The spirit of Antichrist was in the world from the beginning of mankind. He lied to Eve. He tried to have Joseph killed by his brothers to stop the Abrahamic family line. Joseph trusted God and gained victory. The spirit of Antichrist tempted David to sin with Bathsheba. David repented and again gained the victory, continuing the Messianic lineage. The spirit of Antichrist tried to destroy the Christ Child as Herod killed all the babies around Bethlehem. Mary and Joseph gained the victory by being obedient to God and fleeing to Egypt with the child Jesus.
In fact, if you bear the mark of God, you have won the victory over the spirit of Antichrist, the beast.
The saints stand on the sea of glass, playing the harps of God. Standing on the sea is symbolic for abiding in the midst of peace, and the joy of God’s presence.
(Matthew 25:21, Psalm 16:11) Harps represent praise and worship. While mankind on earth is being annihilated, the saints will be in heaven, praising and worshiping The Lamb.
3 They ( the saints) sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying:
“Great and mighty are your works, Lord God Almighty!
Just and true are Your ways, O King of the saints!
4 Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name?
For You alone are holy. All nations shall come and worship before You, for Your judgements are manifested.”
The song of Moses is found in Exodus 15:1-21. Moses is a type of Christ. The deliverance of Israel from Egypt is a shadow of the deliverance God supplies for His people the Church, those redeemed by the blood of the Passover Lamb.
References to this passage are found throughout the bible. Here are a few:
Great and marvelous . . . Deuteronomy 32:3
Just and true . . . Psalm 145:17
Who shall fear You . . . Exodus 15:14
Holy . . . Leviticus 11:44
All nations shall come . . . Isaiah 66:23
The Vision of God’s Wrath
Verses five through eight are the second part of the vision. The first verse is the summation; . . . For in them the wrath of God is complete.
These four verses are a vision of God’s wrath against sin and fallen mankind as judgement is completed. Like the Genesis flood, all mankind not in the ark will be destroyed. They are judged and found guilty. Now the sentence is carried out.
When did God judge them? At Jesus’ crucifixion. Jesus said, “Those who are not with Me are against Me.” (Matthew 12:30) All those not bearing the mark of God and His Christ bear the mark of Satan the Antichrist. Nonchalance and complacency are not an excuse. “I’ll wait and see what happens-” and you’ll be left. “There’s still time-” and He’ll catch you unprepared like a thief in the night. Those who reject Jesus today also gave approval of His crucifixion. Those who rebel against God and reject His love held the nails driven into His hands and feet.
5 And after these things I looked, and behold, the temple of the tabernacle of testimony in heaven opened. 6 And out of the temple came the seven angels having the seven plagues, clothed in pure white linen, and having their chests girded with golden bands.
The NIV and original Greek show this to translate as the tabernacle of testimony. The word testimony is the Greek marturia, evidence given (as in court), record, report, evidence, witness. Marturia is from the root martus, from which comes the word martyr. Webster defines martyr as, “one who by his death bears witness to a belief.” Revelation 20:4 is about the martyrs beheaded for the witness of Jesus. Witness is the same Greek word, Marturia. Witness and testimony are used interchangeably.
Numbers 9:15 refers to the tabernacle of Moses as the tent or shrine of witness, and the tabernacle of testimony. The tabernacle housed the ark of the covenant and Moses’ tablets, the ten commandments, the written legal documents of God’s covenant with man. The fact they existed was testimony of His presence, and His faithfulness to keep His side of the covenant.
Substituting the Greek word marturia, the tabernacle of witness represents the testimony of all the martyrs, and all those who died for their testimony of Jesus. These are those who bear witness in the heavenly court of law.
The temple was opened. This witness of the martyrs came to the remembrance of all heaven, God in particular. Revelation 11:19
Seven angels came out of the tabernacle of testimony, bearing seven plagues. Deuteronomy 32:35 says, “Vengeance is mine; I shall repay,” says the Lord. (Also, Romans 12:19-20)
Seven is the number of completion. These seven angels represent the completion of the job; the exact amount required to complete the job. Seven plagues are symbolic for the total and completeness of God’s wrath. God is pouring out all His wrath on ungodly mankind. If this doesn’t make the hair rise on the back of your neck, you are truly fearless! Thank You, Jesus, You prepared an ark for us.
Two sides exist in any covenant . God’s covenant with man states; “If you do this, I will do that. If you refuse, I will lift My hand from you, and allow sin to have his way.” For those who choose to keep our side of the covenant, He will give us Zoe, eternal life, peace, prosperity, and health. For details of the blessing and cursing, refer to Deuteronomy 28.
The bowls coming out of the tabernacle of testimony are the witness of the fulfillment of God’s covenant with His creation.
7 Then one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls of the wrath of God Who lives forever and ever. 8 The temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from His power, and no one was able to enter the temple till the seven plagues of the seven angels were completed.
Who are the living creatures? They represent the Church. (Revelation 4:6) Does this mean the Church hands the bowls of God’s wrath to the angels? In Revelation 11:5, the witnesses (the Church) call down fire (the Holy Spirit) on the unrepentant servers of Satan. The martyrs in Revelation 6:9-11 cry out, “How long, O Lord, before You take vengeance?” The answer, “Just a little longer.”
The living creature is of course, symbolic. The Church may not be handing out the bowls of wrath, but the wrath comes because of her. It is common to misunderstand our position in Christ. The Church—each of us—are the body of Christ on earth, His hands, His feet, His voice. (1 Corinthians 12:27) Our words are much more powerful than we realize.
Verse eight shows the temple filled with smoke. This is the glory of the presence of the Lord. The temple in this chapter is the place where the martyrs wait. If I can spend eternity in that kind of presence, kill me now.
No one could to enter the tabernacle because of the smoke and glory. All mankind received their chance; all who will be saved are in. When Noah and his family entered the ark, God shut and sealed the door. Once the rain started to fall and the door shut, it was too late. Genesis 7:20-23
Remember, this is a “snapshot,” a moment in time. We will run up against this closed door again in Revelation 19:10.
Matthew 25:10-13 is the parable of the ten virgins. Once the bridegroom closed the door, servants allowed no more in. No excuses. A time will come when God’s spirit will no longer strive with man. 2 Thessalonians 2:7, Genesis 6:3
As God’s wrath is poured out on mankind, they will harden their hearts and refuse to repent; even blaspheme the only One able to save them. Revelation 16:9, 11, 21.