Revelation 15

Chapter Overview

What happens in Revelation 15

John sees the victorious saints standing on a sea of glass, singing the song of Moses and the Lamb. Seven angels emerge from the heavenly temple with the seven last plagues, completing God's wrath.

Scripture

The Song of the Victorious Saints

Study note

John sees a great and marvelous sign: seven angels with the seven last plagues that will complete God's wrath. Before these plagues are unleashed, he witnesses those who overcame the beast standing on a sea of glass mixed with fire. They sing the song of Moses and the song of the Lamb, praising God's works as great and marvelous, his ways as just and true, and declaring that all nations will ultimately worship before him.

1 Then I saw another incredible sign in heaven: seven angels carrying the seven final plagues. With these plagues, God's anger will be complete. And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvellous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God.

2 I saw something that looked like a sea of glass mixed with fire. Standing on this glass sea were the people who had won the victory over the beast, its statue, its mark, and the number of its name. They held harps that God had given them. And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God.

3 They sang the song of Moses, God's servant, and the song of the Lamb: "How great and amazing are the things you do, Lord God Almighty! Everything you do is right and true, O King of the saints!" And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints.

4 "Who would not honor you, Lord, and praise your name? You alone are holy. Every nation will come and worship before you, because everyone can see that your judgments are right." Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest.

The Seven Angels with the Seven Bowls

Study note

The heavenly temple of the tabernacle of the testimony opens, and the seven angels emerge dressed in pure, bright linen with golden sashes. One of the four living creatures gives them seven golden bowls filled with the wrath of the eternal God. The temple fills with smoke from God's glory and power, and no one can enter until the seven plagues are complete, signifying the irreversibility of the coming judgment.

5 After this I looked. The innermost part of the temple in heaven -- the tabernacle of the testimony -- was opened wide. And after that I looked, and, behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened:

6 The seven angels carrying the seven plagues came out of the temple. They were dressed in spotless, gleaming white linen, with golden sashes across their chests. And the seven angels came out of the temple, having the seven plagues, clothed in pure and white linen, and having their breasts girded with golden girdles.

7 One of the four living creatures gave each of the seven angels a golden bowl. The bowls were full of the anger of God, who lives forever and ever. And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever.

8 The temple filled up with smoke from God's glory and power. Nobody could go inside the temple until all seven plagues from the seven angels were finished. And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled.

Key Themes

Themes in Revelation 15

The song of Moses and the LambVictory over the beastThe completion of God's wrathGod's holiness and justiceThe heavenly templeAll nations worshiping God

Prophetic Connections

How this chapter points to Christ

Revelation 15:3 Exodus 15:1-18

The song of Moses recalls Israel's victory song after crossing the Red Sea, celebrating God's triumph over Pharaoh's army and his sovereign power over the enemies of his people.

Revelation 15:5 Exodus 38:21

The temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven connects to the earthly tabernacle of the testimony, revealing that the heavenly original is now directly involved in executing judgment.

Revelation 15:8 1 Kings 8:10-11

The temple filled with smoke from God's glory parallels the dedication of Solomon's temple when the glory of the Lord filled the house so that the priests could not stand to minister.

Apply This Today

Living Revelation 15

Before the final judgments are poured out, God's victorious people sing of his justice and holiness. Their song connects the exodus deliverance with the Lamb's redemption, showing that God's saving work spans all of history. Even in the midst of the most severe judgments, God's character remains just and true. We can trust that his final acts of judgment, like his acts of mercy, flow from perfect righteousness. This assurance enables us to worship even when we do not fully understand what God is doing.

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