A thorough study of the Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to show his servants things which must shortly come to pass. (Rev. 1:1)
Welcome to our study of the Revelation of Jesus Christ given unto Apostle John.
I am Phillip Smith, your host and fellow servant of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
As we continue our study in the Revelation of Jesus Christ, as given to John, we begin in chapter 15.
As we continue our study of the visions John received from Jesus Christ, we enter a group of ‘seven’ vials of the ‘last plagues’. These are described as ‘last’ because in them is filled (completed) the wrath of God. When the seventh vial is poured out it is said, “It is done.” Rev. 16:17.
Let us begin in chapter 15 and verse 1.
15 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.
The number seven represents the complete amount, whole, group of events of a connected idea or activity. Here we shall see the spirit realm and their called activity to bring about the full wrath and complete wrath of God upon unrighteousness. It will usher in the last of the life of mankind upon earth with the destruction of everything God made in the natural earthly realm.
This set of events is said to be ‘great and marvellous’. What is great and marvellous about the end and punishment of the earth? First of all, Heaven will be opened unto the saints (the righteous). Second, no pain or sorrow will be allowed in Heaven. No evil shall tempt a heavenly being. Third, all righteous mankind shall be eternally with the Lord and Saviour. Fourth, all hope and faith shall become reality.
Rev. 15:2-3a. 2 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 And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb,
John saw something like a sea of glass and it was mingled with fire. The streets of Heaven are said to be of pure gold. Rev. 21:18b. …and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass. Also, Rev. 21:21b. …and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass.
When light reflects off pure glass, it can resemble the flickering glow of flames of fire. These which held victory over the beast of Satan, his image and his mark with the number of the beast, stood in victory having harps to praise God Almighty in song. This song was a special song. It was the Song of Moses and the song of the Lamb. (Jesus, the Lamb of God)
What were the lyrics of the song? Rev. 15:3b-4. …Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints. 4 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.
We have been told we shall praise God Almighty throughout all eternity. Here, the chosen, the elect of the earth are doing that. God is the one to whom we are to praise, ‘for thou art holy’.
In the song, the saints are saying ‘all nations shall come and worship before thee;. God, Jesus and the prophets, all, spoke of not just Israel, but all languages, nations, and kindreds shall come into the presence of God in Heaven to dwell for eternity. We have witnessed this truth with John in this vision.
Rev. 15:5-8. 5 And after that I looked, and, behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened: 6 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 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 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.
The saints were in heaven, but not in the holy city as yet. Perhaps this was a scene of Paradise. The final judgment upon evil mankind is yet to be complete. The seven angels with the last vials of God’s wrath are given their tasks. They are robed with white representing they are holy and pure servants of God. They are girded with a golden girdle. The gold represents all which have been refined by fire and are as pure as gold. It represents the faith and riches of Heaven. These angels are equipped with the backing of the saints, those refined as pure gold. They are backed with all the power of Heaven.
The beasts of God which stand before the throne, (Rev. 4:6,8. 6 And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind. 8 And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.) one of them gave the seven angels the last vials of the wrath of God. [T]he 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. (vs. 8) The throne was still off limits unto the ones who were victorious over the Beast of Satan. They could sing the song of victory but it appears God was not through and ready for the marriage ceremony of the ‘church’, the bride of Christ, and the Son, Jesus. There was work to be completed, first.
Next lesson we will open the seven vials of the last plagues of the wrath of God.
