Revelation 15
Author: Steve Amato
Description: Bible study guide for the book of Revelation with commentary
Keywords: bible study,bible, revelations, end times, apocalypse, antichrist, anti-christ, beast, rapture, millenial kingdom, millenium, tribulation

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# Revelation 15 (web)

# Intro to the Seven Plagues

15:1 I saw another great and marvelous sign in the sky:
seven angels having the seven last plagues, for in them God's wrath is finished.

15:2 I saw something like a sea of glass mixed with fire,
and those who overcame the beast,
his image,{TR adds "his mark,"} and the number of his name,
standing on the sea of glass, having harps of God.
15:3 They sang the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying,

"Great and marvelous are your works, Lord God,
the Almighty; Righteous and true are your ways, you King of the nations.
15:4 Who wouldn't fear you, Lord, And glorify your name?
For you only are holy. For all the nations will come and worship before you.
For your righteous acts have been revealed."

15:5 After these things I looked,
and the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened.
15:6 The seven angels who had the seven plagues came out,
clothed with pure, bright linen, and wearing golden sashes around their breasts.

15:7 One of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels
seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God, who lives forever and ever.
15:8 The temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power.
No one was able to enter into the temple,
until the seven plagues of the seven angels would be finished.

# Comments

By this time, I believe the resurrection and rapture have occurred, and now the final wrath will be poured out upon the unbelievers. Compare the Charts for the 7 Trumpets and 7 Plagues and notice the correlation.

vs 2 The sea of glass was first mentioned in chapter 4 and I assumed it to refer to the population of the earth. Now it is mixed with fire, symbolized the wrath to be poured out on the earth, the believers having left, and now stand beside the sea, having been victorious. (Actually Revelations can be summarized in two words "we win!")

vs 3,4 The entire song of Moses can be viewed in Exodus 15:1-18. The song here is not a direct quote, but in the spirit of the song in Exodus. Keep in mind how the redeemed characterize God so that you may contrast it later with the unbeliever's reaction to the plagues.

vs 5 The Tabernacle of Testimony is the heavenly equivalent of that which Moses was commanded to construct in the Book of Exodus, as Acts also mentions

> "Our fathers had the tabernacle of witness in the wilderness, as he had appointed, speaking unto Moses, that he should make it according to the fashion that he had seen." Ac 7:44

The temple in Jerusalem was also modeled after it, which had also be made desolate by the abomination set up in it over three and a half years prior to this.

vs 8 When earthly temple was first built and dedicated, this filling with smoke also occurred.

> "It came even to pass, as the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the LORD; and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of musick, and praised the LORD, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: that then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the LORD; So that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud: for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of God." 2Chron 5:13,14

I believe the Jews call one example of the Shekinah Glory, referring to a symbolic representation of God's presence. Interesting that God's presence sometimes gets in the way of serving God. Sometimes times it's more important to be overwhelmed by the presence of God than it is to serve him; as in Jesus's advice to Martha:

> "But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her." Luke 10:40-42

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