Reflection on Revelation 15

Chapter 15 has only eight verses which make it the shortest chapter in the book. But it contains two main visions. The first one pictures the victorious ones worshipping the Lord Almighty. The second one portrays the seven glorious angels holding golden bowls filled with God's wrath.

As John moved his eyes away from the horrors of God's winepress of His wrath described in chapter 14, he saw seven angels bringing seven last plagues. These will be the last plagues because "with them God's wrath is completed." 

Then he saw "what looked like a sea of glass mixed with fire and, standing beside the sea, those who had been victorious over the beast and his image and over the number of his name." This glassy sea probably is the same glass sea, "clear as crystal" before the throne of God described by John in chapter four. Only this time it has red glow. The color may connect with the theme of God's judgment, or remind us the blood of the Lamb, or symbolize the very fire through which the martyrs passed. There is no clear explanation for the color. But it is very clear what those victorious ones are doing by the sea shore. They are celebrating the One who made them being victorious. Standing by the sea are the conquerors who vanquish the dragon by the blood of the Lamb. Filled with God's own magnificent strength, they love and follow God and the Lamb, worship Him with all the energy of their souls. They refuse to take on perspectives and habits of those who follow the beast. The context of their daily life is the worship of God. These victorious believers play harps to accompany "the song of Moses the servant of God and the song of the Lamb" right before the execution of the seven bowl judgments.

Moses composed one praise song in Exodus 15 to celebrate Israel's victory over the Egyptians at the Red Sea. The Jewish people sang it by the bank of the Red Sea. Now the victorious ones sing their song beside the glassy sea. Moses wrote another praise song in Deuteronomy 32 before his death to recount God's discipline and defense of His people. The content of this song is reflected in the lyrics of the heavenly worship. 

The Song of the Lamb could point to the praise song from chapter five. The Song of Moses and the Song of the Lamb share a common theme: the great acts of God and the Lamb. 

The chorus John heard beside the sea praises both the deeds and ways of God. The deeds of the Lord God Almighty are "great and marvelous." The ways of the King of the ages are "just and true." The song goes on to ask, "who will not fear you, Lord, and bring glory to your name?" God will prevail over all His enemies. Everyone in every nation will ultimately fear and submit to Him. God alone is holy, distinct from His creation in essence and nature. Everything God does to execute His justice and righteousness is excellent and beautiful in every way.

After he listened to the chorus, John sees "the tabernacle of the Testimony" opened. This heavenly temple is the place where the tablets of God's covenant law were kept, is the place God revealed Himself and confirmed His Word. This scene tells us that God judges based on His Law. God's judgments are always rooted in His faithfulness to keep His covenant, to keep His law which includes deliverance of His people from sin. The law breakers are going to pay for their guilty if they don't accept Jesus' offer of salvation.

Seven angels dressed in white and gold emerge from the tabernacle. One of the four creatures gives them "seven golden bowls filled with the wrath of God, who lives forever and ever." When the cup is full, God will act. His timing is perfect. Our Lord Jesus spoke of "the cup" when He prayed "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet, not as I will, but as you will." Jesus accepted and endured the cup of God's eternal wrath when He died on the cross, fully absorbing God's wrath for His people's sin. Those who are not saved by Jesus' sacrifice will have to drink the cup themselves to bear the forever punishment.

As the bowls are given to the angels, the smoke of God's magnificent, holy presence fills the temple. "No one could enter the temple until the seven plagues of the seven angels were completed." Our God is consuming fire, powerful and glorious, and no one may enter His presence until the task of judgment has been completed. Life as we know could not continue until evil is driven out of God's creation. And it seems at this moment all of the heaven is in the state of suspension as God brings out His final act of judgment. All of the heaven is waiting to see what would happen.