Revelation 15

Rev 15 really serves as an introduction to the judgments of Chapter 16 .

1 Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and amazing, seven angels with seven plagues, which are the last, for with them the wrath of God is finished.

The last 7 plagues mentioned in this passage are referred to as the “Seven Bowl Judgments.”

The Bowl Judgments differ from the previous because they are universal in nature and will culminate with the end of all evil.

The outpouring of the wrath of God ends with these seven bowl judgments.

2 And I saw what appeared to be a sea of glass mingled with fire—and also those who had conquered the beast and its image and the number of its name, standing beside the sea of glass with harps of God in their hands.

This is the same “Sea ” that we read about in the following verse:

Revelation 4:6 - and before the throne there was as it were a sea of glass, like crystal and around the throne, on each side of the throne, are four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind:

Amidst the judgment and the termination of God’s wrath we see the Triumphant One.

3 And they sing (1) the song of Moses , the servant of God, and (2) the song of the Lamb , saying, “Great and amazing are your deeds, O Lord God the Almighty! Just and true are your ways, O King of the nations! 4 Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship you, for your righteous acts have been revealed.”

In Exodus 15 the Israelites were delivered from Pharoah and they celebrated by singing a song that commemorated the occasion.

Exodus 15:1–3: Then Moses and the people of Israel sang this song to the Lord, saying, “I will sing to the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider he has thrown into the sea. The Lord is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation; this is my God, and I will praise him, my father’s God, and I will exalt him. The Lord is a man of war; the Lord is his name.

The “Song of Moses” was sang by the Israelites as they celebrated their deliverance from Egypt

But what is meant by the “Song of the Lamb?” What would those people have been delivered from to constitute this song of praise ?

This is the song of the redeemed. These folks are martyrs of the tribulation. They have transitioned from physical tribulation to spiritual victory !

5 After this I looked, and the sanctuary of the tent of witness in heaven was opened, 6 and out of the sanctuary came the seven angels with the seven plagues, clothed in pure, bright linen, with golden sashes around their chests. 7 And 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, 8 and the sanctuary was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from his power, and no one could enter the sanctuary until the seven plagues of the seven angels were finished.

When Moses built the tabernacle , He followed God’s Heavenly blueprint !

Hebrews 8:5 - They serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things. For when Moses was about to erect the tent, he was instructed by God, saying, “See that you make everything according to the pattern that was shown you on the mountain.”

Hebrews 9:23 - Thus it was necessary for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these rites, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.

Verse 5 describes God’s Worship Center in Heaven !

During the time of the “Fullness of the Gentiles,” which is marked by the non-jewish community being the spiritual leaders of the world - the Bible teaches that “The Church” is the Worship Center.

This is the supernatural Body of Christ made up of those who have surrendered their lives to the Lord in an event we call salvation.

The Greek Word ekklesia means “a gathering of people” which we translate to english as “The Church.”

It appears 119 times in the NT, with 116 of those pointing to nothing other than a “Local Assembly” of believers.

Hebrews 10:24–25 - And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

What day that Hebrew 10:25 talking about?

It is speaking of the Second Coming of Christ! Which is where we basically are in our study of Revelation!

Acts 2:20 - the sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day.

God’s Word plainly teaches that the worship center of the NT is this local body of believers known as the church

In his physical ministry, Jesus established the church. He implemented the ordinances of the church: Baptism and The Lord’s Supper , which belongs to His corporate body not individuals.

You sometimes hear people say, “I am the Church.” But we must understand…

That a person is not the church, a person is a part of the church.

Example of a sports team…one member is not the team…they a part of the team.

We are a group of believers who have banded together for the purpose of carrying out ‘The Great Commission .”