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Revelation 15

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The Victorious Martyrs Sing 1–4

1
And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvellous, seven angels having seven plagues, which are the last, for in them is finished the wrath of God. ​
2
And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire; and them that come off victorious from the beast, and from his image, and from the number of his name, standing by the sea of glass, having harps of God. ​
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, O Lord God, the Almighty; righteous and true are thy ways, thou King of the ages. ​
4
Who shall not fear, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy; for all the nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy righteous acts have been made manifest. ​

The Seven Angels Commissioned 5–8

5
And after these things I saw, and the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened: ​
6
and there came out from the temple the seven angels that had the seven plagues, arrayed withprecious stone, pure and bright, and girt about their breasts with golden girdles. ​
7
And one of the four living creatures gave unto the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever. ​
8
And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and none was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels should be finished. ​

Bible text: American Standard Version (1901) · Public domain

Study Notes for Revelation 15

Verse 1

another sign in heaven — Semeion, the third sign set 'in heaven', after the woman (Rev 12:1) and the dragon (Rev 12:3). 'Filled up' is teleo, to finish; the same verb ends the chapter at v.8 ('were fulfilled'). The number seven for plagues is already in the Law: 'I will bring seven times more plagues upon you' (Lev 26:21).

Verse 2

a sea of glass mingled with fire — This is the sea 'like unto crystal' before the throne (Rev 4:6), now mingled with fire. Those standing on it 'had gotten the victory' (nikao, overcame) over the beast, his image, his mark and the number of his name, the four things pressed on all in Rev 13:15–18. They hold 'the harps of God', as the elders do in Rev 5:8.

Verse 3

the song of Moses the servant of God — Moses' song at the Red Sea ends 'The LORD shall reign for ever and ever' (Ex 15:18); another song of his says 'all his ways are judgment: a God of truth… just and right is he' (Deut 32:4), the thought of 'just and true are thy ways'. The Lamb's song is joined to it. 'Great' (Ps 111:2) and 'marvellous' (Ps 139:14) are both said of the LORD's works.

Verse 4

thou only art holy — The word is hosios, holy in devotion: 'thine Holy One' of Ps 16:10 in Acts 2:27, and Christ in Heb 7:26. 'All nations shall come and worship before thee' takes up Ps 86:9; 'Who shall not fear thee' answers Jer 10:7. 'Judgments' is dikaiomata, righteous acts, rendered 'righteousness of saints' in Rev 19:8.

Verse 5

the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony — The 'testimony' is the law placed in the ark (Ex 25:21), and the 'tabernacle of testimony' is the Law's name for the tent (Num 1:50). Here the heavenly temple (naos) is 'opened', as when 'the ark of his testament' was seen in it (Rev 11:19). The seven angels come out of it (v.6).

Verse 6

clothed in pure and white linen — Linen was the priests' dress when they entered the inner court (Ezek 44:17). The 'golden girdle' about the breast is worn by the one like the Son of man: 'girt about the paps with a golden girdle' (Rev 1:13). The angels carry the plagues out of the sanctuary (v.5), as another angel 'came out of the temple' in Rev 14:15.

Verse 7

seven golden vials — Phiale is the bowl of Rev 5:8, where the elders hold 'golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints'; here the same word holds the wrath of God, and the seven bowls are poured out in ch.16. One of the four living creatures, the 'beasts' of Rev 4:6–9, gives them. The wrath is that of the One 'who liveth for ever and ever' (Rev 4:9).

Verse 8

the temple was filled with smoke — The glory of the LORD 'filled the tabernacle' so that 'Moses was not able to enter' (Ex 40:34–35), and at Solomon's temple 'the priests could not stand to minister' (1 Kgs 8:10–11). Isaiah too saw 'the house… filled with smoke' (Isa 6:4). Entry is shut 'till the seven plagues… were fulfilled' (teleo, as in v.1).