The Book of Revelation
Chapter Fifteen
Preface
Chapter 15 is the shortest chapter in the book of Revelation. It is the preface to the final series of judgments that come on the earth during the “Great Tribulation” (a designation for the last three and a half years of the Tribulation Period). Chapters 15 and 16 belong together, since they both concern themselves with God’s 7 bowl-judgments. These judgments are so terrible and inclusive that it is inconceivable to understand how anyone experiencing them could do anything but turn to God in repentance. Yet, this will not be the case.
It is well at this point to remind the reader that the Church, i.e., believers during this dispensational age, will in no way be subject to the Tribulation Period. Yes, there will be believers who are converted during the Tribulation that will experience many of the effects of God’s judgments, along with the persecution and murdering actions of Satan during the Tribulation-but the Church of God will not be with them. The Church, as previously noted, will be gathered or caught up (in the Rapture) to Christ to remain with Him prior to this terrible time of judgment upon the earth. After chapter 3, the Church is never again mentioned in this book until it returns to earth with Christ at His Second Coming, as depicted in chapter 19:14.
The Church of God is classified as one of three classes of people upon the earth, as is seen in 1 Corinthians 10:32, Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks [Gentiles] or the church of God. The Church of God is composed of all believers in Jesus Christ and includes both Jewish believers and Gentile believers. But in this verse, it is differentiated spiritually from Jewish and Gentile unbelievers. And it will be spatially differentiated from them during the Tribulation Period.
Other passages confirming that the Church will not enter into and go through the Tribulation Period (known as the “coming wrath,” “the great day of Their wrath,” and “the day of the Lord”) are as follows:
1 Thessalonians 1:10
and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead--Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath [Tribulation Period].
Here “the coming wrath” is speaking of God’s day of wrath, i.e., the Tribulation Period. This term is also found in Revelation 6:17, For the great day of Their [the Father and the Son] wrath [Tribulation Period] has come, and who can stand?
1 Thessalonians 5:1-9
Now, brothers, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, for you [Church] know very well that the day of the Lord [Tribulation Period] will come like a thief in the night. While people [unbelievers] are saying, "Peace and safety," destruction will come on them [unbelievers] suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they [unbelievers] will not escape. But you [Church], brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you [Church] like a thief. You [Church] are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We [Church] do not belong to the night or to the darkness. So then, let us [Church} not be like others [unbelievers], who are asleep, but let us [Church] be alert and self-controlled. For those [unbelievers] who sleep, sleep at night, and those [unbelievers] who get drunk, get drunk at night. But since we [Church] belong to the day, let us [Church] be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. For God did not appoint us [Church] to suffer wrath [includes the Tribulation Period and eternal punishment] but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.
As shown, it is important to pay attention to the personal pronouns in this passage. Whereas unbelievers will enter in and go through the Tribulation Period, the Church will not. One other point worth noting is that which Tim LaHaye makes in his book, Understanding Bible Prophecy for Yourself, and is as follows:
“But here is something important to consider: According to Scripture, the rapture phase of Christ’s coming for His church will be sudden and unexpected. Except for those who ‘look for Him’ and are ‘ready at His coming’ (in other words, are spiritually prepared for Him), Christ’s coming will catch people unprepared-after all, we do not know the hour of His coming (Matthew 24:44), and Christ will come ‘as a thief in the night’ (1 Thessalonians 5:2). If the Lord is to come for His church after the Tribulation, then His coming cannot be unexpected ‘as a thief in the night.’ If we who are Christians had to go through the Tribulation before Christ comes, then the timing of Christ’s coming would no longer be a surprise. . .What’s more, for believers to go through the Tribulation before Christ comes to receive them to Himself is hardly ‘the blessed hope’ that Paul challenges Christians to look forward to. Can you imagine challenging Christians to look forward to the coming of Christ and then adding, ‘Oh, by the way, before He comes you must suffer the horrors of the tribulation period’!”
The bottom line is the Church will NOT enter in and go through the Tribulation Period.
As has been previously mentioned on several occasions during this commentary, the chronology of events is interpreted differently by various very sound, very dedicated and very fundamental Bible expositors. One of the reasons is that throughout the Bible, the Holy Spirit will surface an event and then subsequently retrace the same event in greater detail. In J.Vernon McGee’s Thru The Bible commentary on this chapter there are cogent remarks regarding this issue, which simply must be shared at this time. These remarks follow.
“From chapter 12 to the return of Christ are a series of events which are mutually related. This does not mean that there is a chronological order but rather a logical order of retracing the same events with added detail. This method is the personal signature of the Holy Spirit, seen first in Genesis 1-2. In Genesis 1 we are given the account of the Creation, the seven days describing God’s handiwork. In chapter 2 the Holy Spirit lifted out the account of the creation of man and went over it again, adding details. For another example, we have the giving of the Mosaic Law in Exodus and then in Deuteronomy the interpretation of the Law with forty years of experience in the wilderness and a great deal of detail added. Also, when we come to the New Testament, we find not one, not two, but four gospel records because it takes four to give the many sides of the glorious person of Christ who came to earth over nineteen hundred years ago.”
Other examples showing the “retracing method” of the Holy Spirit’s authorship can be found throughout God’s Word. This is another reason why it takes the Holy Spirit to lead in the interpretation of His Book.
Now for the commentary.
Revelation 15:1, 2
I saw in heaven another great and marvelous sign: seven angels with the seven last plagues--last, because with them God's wrath is completed. And I 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. They held harps given them by God
The purpose of the Tribulation Period, and especially the Great Tribulation (as designated by Christ Himself in Matthew 24:21), is judgment. As mentioned in the “preface,” this time has no application to the Church. These events should bother no believer of today, since our “blessed hope,” (Titus 2:13) which we look forward to, is the Rapture that will take us from this earth and exclude us from the Tribulation Period. And should we “fall asleep” (die) prior to the Rapture, so much the better. In either case, we will be with our Savior and will not experience any of His judgments during the Tribulation Period.
The first four verses of this chapter are an interlude, which introduce the seven remaining angels with the seven bowl-judgments and which depict “Tribulation saints” worshipping God. John first sees “a great and marvelous sign,” the third of three signs that John sees in heaven. The first and second signs he saw in chapter 12, one was the “woman” that represented the nation Israel and the other was the “red dragon” representing Satan (and the one-world government). Here John translates the “sign” immediately, as “seven angels with seven last plagues.” He also makes the statement that they are called “last plagues,” because once they are executed the wrath of God (during the Tribulation Period) will be completed and the stage will be set for the Second Coming of Christ.
John now sees either the same “sea of glass” as was mentioned in chapter 4:6 or another one. If it is the same one, it now is mixed with “fire.” The “sea of glass” symbolizes humanity, and the “fire” symbolizes judgment or persecution. Beside this sea John sees the Tribulation saints who had been victorious over the beast and his image and over the number of his name. It is natural to conclude that these saints came out of the mass of humanity of the Tribulation Period, having experienced great persecution by Satan and his minions. One question this passage definitely answers is whether or not there will be believers during the Tribulation Period. It also confirms that those converted during the Tribulation will be victorious over Satan. These saints will have come through the most horrifying persecution during the Tribulation. This will be a period of time when no one will be able to buy or sell unless he has the mark of the beast. Just to acquire food will be nearly impossible. This is the reason Christ, speaking of this period in His Olivet Discourse, said that whoever will give a cup of cold water in His name will not lose his reward (Matthew 10:42). Why? Because anyone doing so will place his own life in jeopardy-the beast would put that person to death for harboring what he will classify as a criminal.
What makes these saints “victorious” is the fact that they placed their faith in Jesus Christ. Even if they lost their “earthly life,” they have gained an “eternal one.” This is the ultimate victory for any human being born on earth throughout history, past, present or future.
These saints also had harps, which were given to them by God. It is not certain if they then represent the “harpist” mentioned in chapter 14:2, 3, who also sang the “new song,” which no one could understand except the 144,000 servants of God. Depending on which version of the Bible one reads, conflicting interpretations regarding these singers of the new song can be made. The King James Version makes it clear that the harpist are the singers; whereas, other translations provide plausibility for them to be the 144,000. Clarence Larkin, arguably the best Bible expositor on dispensational doctrine, in his book, The Book of Revelation, maintains that the “harpist” in 14:2 and 3 are one and the same as the “victorious” ones [Tribulation saints] in 15:2. He also maintains that the “new song” in chapter 14 is a “double song,” which is now revealed in chapter 15 as the Song of Moses and the Song of the Lamb. John F. Walvoord, although with minor variation, holds this same view as expressed in his book, Every Prophecy of the Bible. This view is the one most convincing to this writer.
Revelation 15:3
and sang the song of Moses the servant of God and the song of the Lamb: "Great and marvelous are Your deeds, Lord God Almighty. Just and true are Your ways, King of the ages. Who will not fear You, O Lord, and bring glory to Your name? For You alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before You, for Your righteous acts have been revealed."
These victorious Tribulation saints sang the “song of Moses,” which is recorded in Exodus 15:1-18 and Deuteronomy 32:1-43; and it is a song of praise, victory, salvation and faithfulness. This song originated after God had delivered the children of Israel from the pursuing army of Pharaoh and through the Red Sea. They combined this “song of Moses” with the “song of the Lamb,” which certifies the fact that Jesus Christ and God Almighty are One. An examination of the Lamb’s song as it is depicted here reveals that not only is Christ referred to as “Lord God Almighty” and “King of the ages,” but also many of the attributes of God are attributed to Him. These attributes are as follows:
All powerful-“great and marvelous are Your deeds”
Just and Truthful-“Just and true are Your ways”
Worthy of worship-“King of the ages. Who will not fear You, O Lord, and bring glory
to Your name” and “All nations will come and worship. . .you”
Holiness-“For You alone are holy” and “Your righteous acts”
The primary point is that Jesus Christ, as one member of the Trinity, is God Almighty. This is an absolute key issue of correct Bible doctrine. Some of the most pitiful people in the world are the “religionists” (this includes all systems of philosophical thought, e.g., the “isms,” the cults, etc.) who do not know or refuse to accept the Deity of Jesus. The book of Revelation not only presents Jesus Christ as God Almighty, but it also reveals Jesus Christ as He is today-and will be through eternity.
A paragraph in J. Vernon McGee’s Thru The Bible commentary on this passage is particularly noteworthy.
“Again let me call your attention to the fact that the Book of Revelation is Christocentric, that is, Christ-centered. Don’t let the four horsemen carry you away, or don’t be distracted by the blowing of the trumpets or by the seven performers. And don’t let your interest center on these bowls of wrath. Let’s keep our eyes centered on Christ. He is in charge; He is the Lord. In this book we have the unveiling of Jesus Christ in His holiness, in His power, and in His glory. The Man Christ Jesus is wonderful! He is the One who can put His hand in the hand of God and who can put His other hand in the hand of man and bring them together. He can do this because He is God.”
Revelation 15:5-7
After this I looked and in heaven the temple, that is, the tabernacle of the Testimony, was opened. Out of the temple came the seven angels with the seven plagues. They were dressed in clean, shining linen and wore golden sashes around their chests. Then one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls filled with the wrath of God, who lives forever and ever.
Seven priestly angels, depicted by their “clean shining linen-indicating their righteousness” and by their “golden sashes-signifying their royal priesthood,” emerge from the heavenly Temple and its “mercy seat.” One of the four living creatures issues seven golden bowls filled with the “wrath of God” to these angels, one to each of them.
Revelation 15:8
And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from His power, and no one could enter the temple until the seven plagues of the seven angels were completed.
A couple of paragraphs in Daymond R. Duck’s book, Revelation-God’s Word for the Biblically-Inept, say it well.
“Things just keep getting worse for those who reject God. When the priestly angels leave the Temple, it will be filled with smoke from the glory and power of God. No one will be able to go back in or enter the Holy of Holies. No one can change their mind and pour blood on the mercy seat. There will be no more mercy, no more delays, and no more opportunities to repent until the seven plagues have passed.
This is a warning to those on earth who won’t listen to the pleas of God made through His messengers-the 144,000 Jews, the two witnesses, the angel, and others. At some point in the Tribulation Period, God will say, ‘It’s over. The destiny of those who keep rejecting my Son is sealed forever.’ He will pour out His wrath, keep people away from the mercy seat, and refuse to hear the pleas of those crying out for one more chance.”
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