Revelation Chapter 15:
Chapter 15 opens as John views another sign in heaven: seven angels have the seven last plagues. This sign relates back to the two signs he saw in chapter 12. The first one represented believing Israel and God’s dealings with her during the Tribulation. The second sign represented Satan and his empire as it will be manifest during the Tribulation; and this third and last sign represents the full wrath of God which will be poured out as His final judgment upon the world. This sign is described as “great and marvelous,” which indicates that the mighty judgments to follow will be awesome and astonishing. These seven last plagues which will be poured upon the earth cover the last 3½ years of Tribulation. This is called the “great tribulation” in Matthew 24:2l.
Next, John saw a sea of glass mingled with fire. This is the same sea of glass mentioned in chapter 4:6, and is a reminder of the purity of all who stand here. It is the answer to the laver of the Tabernacle in which the priests washed their hands and feet before ministering in the Tabernacle. In the heavenly scene, it is a sea of glass rather than of water, because there is no more need for continual cleansing in heaven. There is no defilement there.
The fire mentioned here no doubt refers to the suffering this group of believers went through while on the earth. They have gotten the victory over the beast, his image, his mark and the number of his name—meaning they refused to bow down to him or give allegiance to him. Therefore, even though they endured suffering and martyrdom at his hand, they now stand in victory and sing praises to God. They are probably the remnant of the seed of the woman in the wilderness (chapter 12: 17), and also the “blessed ones” of chapter 14: 13. They have harps of God to play as accompaniment to their voices as they sing the song of Moses and the song of the Lamb.
The song of Moses is recorded in Exodus 15. It is a song of victory that Moses and the children of Israel sang unto the Lord after He gave them victory over Pharaoh (type of the anti-Christ) and his army by taking them throughthe sea. The ones of whom we read here in Revelation were victorious over the anti-Christ even though they had to go through death. They now stand onthe sea in heaven, which indicates complete and eternal victory. This is only possible because of Jesus’ sacrifice as the Lamb of God; hence, they also sing the song of the Lamb. They acknowledge God as being just and true even though they have been martyred. Their praise to Him is beautiful! They had witnessed all nations worshiping the anti-Christ, but they affirm here that all nations will one day worship the real King. “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him and given Him a name which is above every name; That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:9-11)
After this time of worship in heaven, John beheld the heavenly temple of the tabernacle of the testimony opened. This was mentioned in chapter 11:19, and is at the same period of time, chapters 10-14 being a parenthesis that explains conditions and events surrounding the judgments that will come upon the world. The temple of God in heaven is the answer to the Holy of Holies in Moses’ tabernacle in the wilderness. The ark was placed in the Holy of Holies, and the tables of law were placed in the ark. Moses’ tabernacle was just a figure of the true (Hebrews 9:24). Therefore the heavenly temple of the tabernacle of the testimony is a witness against the world of their direct disobedience of God’s holy law. The very first commandment is, “Thou shall have no other gods before Me.” Then the next, “Thou shall not make unto thee any graven image…..thou shall not bow down thyself to them nor serve them.” (Exodus 20:3-5) God is certainly just and true in all His ways!
So John saw seven angels come out of the temple, clothed in pure and white linen. Linen, in scripture, always indicates righteousness. Just who are these angels? In chapter 21:9, one of these angels told John he would show him the bride, the Lamb’s wife, and the angel then showed John the holy city, New Jerusalem. Then note chapter 22:8-9, where we read that John fell down to worship this angel, who immediately said, “See thou do it not; for I am thy fellowservant and of thy brethren, the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book. Worship God.” From these scriptures, we understand that these angels are not some of God’s spiritual created beings, but rather, they are believers who minister as priests from the Most Holy place and agree with God in these judgments. That is why their breasts are girded with golden girdles, showing mercy is being restrained at this time. The overcomers of the church, depicted as the four living creatures, also assist with these judgments. (Note 1 Corinthians 6:2)
Verse 8 tells us that the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from His power. Smoke is often connected with the glory of God, and His glory is manifest here even at the time of judgment. In fact, divine judgment proceeds from His glory and holiness. The fact that no man was able to enter into the temple till the 7 plagues are fulfilled indicates that no one will be able to enter the temple to make intercession during the time of the Great Tribulation. This is truly an awesome 3½ years.
Next, John saw a sea of glass mingled with fire. This is the same sea of glass mentioned in chapter 4:6, and is a reminder of the purity of all who stand here. It is the answer to the laver of the Tabernacle in which the priests washed their hands and feet before ministering in the Tabernacle. In the heavenly scene, it is a sea of glass rather than of water, because there is no more need for continual cleansing in heaven. There is no defilement there.
The fire mentioned here no doubt refers to the suffering this group of believers went through while on the earth. They have gotten the victory over the beast, his image, his mark and the number of his name—meaning they refused to bow down to him or give allegiance to him. Therefore, even though they endured suffering and martyrdom at his hand, they now stand in victory and sing praises to God. They are probably the remnant of the seed of the woman in the wilderness (chapter 12: 17), and also the “blessed ones” of chapter 14: 13. They have harps of God to play as accompaniment to their voices as they sing the song of Moses and the song of the Lamb.
The song of Moses is recorded in Exodus 15. It is a song of victory that Moses and the children of Israel sang unto the Lord after He gave them victory over Pharaoh (type of the anti-Christ) and his army by taking them throughthe sea. The ones of whom we read here in Revelation were victorious over the anti-Christ even though they had to go through death. They now stand onthe sea in heaven, which indicates complete and eternal victory. This is only possible because of Jesus’ sacrifice as the Lamb of God; hence, they also sing the song of the Lamb. They acknowledge God as being just and true even though they have been martyred. Their praise to Him is beautiful! They had witnessed all nations worshiping the anti-Christ, but they affirm here that all nations will one day worship the real King. “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him and given Him a name which is above every name; That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:9-11)
After this time of worship in heaven, John beheld the heavenly temple of the tabernacle of the testimony opened. This was mentioned in chapter 11:19, and is at the same period of time, chapters 10-14 being a parenthesis that explains conditions and events surrounding the judgments that will come upon the world. The temple of God in heaven is the answer to the Holy of Holies in Moses’ tabernacle in the wilderness. The ark was placed in the Holy of Holies, and the tables of law were placed in the ark. Moses’ tabernacle was just a figure of the true (Hebrews 9:24). Therefore the heavenly temple of the tabernacle of the testimony is a witness against the world of their direct disobedience of God’s holy law. The very first commandment is, “Thou shall have no other gods before Me.” Then the next, “Thou shall not make unto thee any graven image…..thou shall not bow down thyself to them nor serve them.” (Exodus 20:3-5) God is certainly just and true in all His ways!
So John saw seven angels come out of the temple, clothed in pure and white linen. Linen, in scripture, always indicates righteousness. Just who are these angels? In chapter 21:9, one of these angels told John he would show him the bride, the Lamb’s wife, and the angel then showed John the holy city, New Jerusalem. Then note chapter 22:8-9, where we read that John fell down to worship this angel, who immediately said, “See thou do it not; for I am thy fellowservant and of thy brethren, the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book. Worship God.” From these scriptures, we understand that these angels are not some of God’s spiritual created beings, but rather, they are believers who minister as priests from the Most Holy place and agree with God in these judgments. That is why their breasts are girded with golden girdles, showing mercy is being restrained at this time. The overcomers of the church, depicted as the four living creatures, also assist with these judgments. (Note 1 Corinthians 6:2)
Verse 8 tells us that the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from His power. Smoke is often connected with the glory of God, and His glory is manifest here even at the time of judgment. In fact, divine judgment proceeds from His glory and holiness. The fact that no man was able to enter into the temple till the 7 plagues are fulfilled indicates that no one will be able to enter the temple to make intercession during the time of the Great Tribulation. This is truly an awesome 3½ years.