Revelation Chapter 15
John could see what was coming. He had mentioned it briefly in chapter 14, the final pouring out of God’s wrath. This end is coming. In this chapter John refers to it as a sign. The sign that he sees is that of seven angels with seven bowls containing plagues. In chapter 16 there is a voice coming from the heavenly temple instructing the angels to pour out the contents of the bowls. It is interesting that the wrath that is in the bowls are called plagues. Plagues that the people on the earth will suffer because of their alliance with the dragon. Just as the people of Egypt who would not obey the law of God were subjected to the wrath of God in the form of ten plagues; these people on the earth will suffer terrible plagues.
John describes the plagues as great and amazing. The words John used from the original Greek, to describe his feelings when seeing the gravity of the situation, is more the idea of it being so terrible that it took his breath away.
Before the plagues are poured out of these seven bowls, there is a worship service once again breaking out for the one who sits on the throne. This time the worship is a song that has two titles – the song of Moses (found in Exodus 15) and the song of the Lamb.
Let's Reflect
1. What does verse 1 tell us about the pouring out of the seven bowls of judgement? There was the breaking of the seven seals, then the seven trumpets and now the seven bowls.
2. There are saints standing beside a sea of glass mingled with fire. (Some translations may say that they were standing “on” this sea). These saints are standing in victory, and they are consumed with worshipping their great God. What did these saints do that they are called victorious or that they conquered the beast? Note this would mean that they were martyred for their stand for Christ, but that also means that they get to be with Jesus.
3. Where is the sea of glass located? See also Revelation 4:6
4. In the words of the song there is a revelation that after God’s wrath is poured out, He will be worshipped by whom?
5. We also learn in this chapter that there is a literal temple or sanctuary in heaven. The tabernacle that Moses had been instructed to build was a copy of the heavenly one. What is it filled with?
Exodus 25:8-9And let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell in their midst. Exactly as I show you concerning the pattern of the tabernacle, and of all its furniture, so you shall make it.
6. As the seven angels are each handed a golden bowl, they will one by one dump the plagues out on the earth. Until all seven are empty no one will be able to go into the sanctuary in heaven. Why do you think that is?
