The Song of Moses and the Song of the Lamb

Lakeview Baptist Church

November 7, 2021

Revelation 15:1-4

Re 15:1 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. 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, saying, 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.

Introducing One

I love music. I believe it is the beat, rhythm, verse, and emotion that causes my audio sense to overpower the remaining senses.

Young

• Bad Man from Missouri

• Tennessee Ernie Ford – Sixteen Tons

• Floyd Creamer

Teens

• Beach Boys

• Jan & Dean

• Beatles

20’s to 30’s

• Boston

• Yes

• Eagles

• Alice Cooper

• Jethro Tull

Introduction to Contemporary Christian Music

• Petra

• The Talbot Brothers

• Kemper Crabb

• Keith Green

• Amy Grant

• Michael W. Smith

• DeGarmo and Key

• Mylon Lefevre and Broken Heart

Music Satisfies the Soul…God designed us that way. Today I search for Christian music that matches the scriptures and satisfies my spiritual and emotional needs.

That is where we come to today.

In the middle of the judgments from God, John identifies two songs: one from Moses and the other from the Lamb.

Introduction Two

The fourteenth and fifteenth chapters are unified in their approach to the enemies of God. They clarify that more judgments from God are about to be delivered to His enemies as they will be cut off from any chance of having a relationship with Him. Especially concerning that the power of the Beast (Antichrist) will be destroyed. For the believer, the church will be triumphant.

The fifteenth is the shortest chapter of the Revelation. It is the prologue to the “vial” or “bowl” judgments. Yet, it is another glimpse of heaven with all its benefits and joys to the believer.

As a reminder, we have already seen two sets of judgments on the creation including man. In the sixth chapter we were introduced to the seven seal judgments. After the interlude of the seventh chapter, the trumpet judgments were described in chapters eight and nine. And finally, in the sixteenth chapter we will see the finale of the bowl judgments.

The first two judgments occupy the first three- and one-half years of the Tribulation period.

Chapter fifteen is relatively parenthetical, for while it is a “rest” from the previous judgments, it is the foreword to the upcoming pouring out of the wrath of God in the bowl judgments. However we are reminded of the former judgments while looking at the glory to come.

If I can offer a description of chapter fifteen in a sports theme, it would be a glimpse into the locker room of before the game. The game plan is revealed, and the outcome is discussed.

This chapter sets the stage for the seven “vial” judgments containing God’s wrath which will be poured out in chapter 16, the fall of Babylon in chapter 17-18, and the return of the Messiah in chapter 19.

John’s attention is not on the earth but drawn once again to heaven, just as it was before the scroll judgments (Rev. 4-5) and the trumpet judgments (Rev. 8:2-6). In the previous chapter we were introduced to God’s wrath described as the cup of wine (14:10), the harvest (14:14-16) and the grape clusters (14:17-20), which will now be revealed to all the heaven and earth.

This chapter opens to the introduction of the seven angels that will carry out God’s final judgments. The description of these angels is different from the other angels mentioned in the Revelation. These seven angels are holding the seven last plagues in seven bowls.

The judgments are to be “poured out” are on the enemies of God, those “which had the mark of the beast, and upon them which worshipped his image.” (Rev 16:2) That means that those that love God, His church, will not be harmed. The Antichrist and his world system will be crushed, and he will in due course be destroyed.

This chapter will remind the earth and its inhabitants that God will carry out His promise to those that are disobedient to Him.

“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9)

SIGNS AND WONDERS IN HEAVEN

Revelation 15:1 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.

“And I saw another sign in heaven” – John is not describing what he is being told to write, instead he is describing what he sees, “and I saw.”

If I could take a few minutes to describe the Eiffel Tower in Paris, no matter how eloquent my words, it is not the same as experiencing it for yourself.

However, that is the task set out for John. His attention is drawn to another “sign” in heaven. This is the third of four signs or wonders mentioned by John.

The Greek word semeion is translated both as “sign” and “wonder.”

Rev 12:1 “And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars:”

Rev 12:3 And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads.

Rev 17:8 The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.

In the Old Testament, the Hebrew word “sign” has many different shades of meaning. The New Bible Dictionary defines “sign” as:

• A visible mark or object intended to convey a clear message - the mark on Cain (Gen 4:15).

• An reminder - the stones taken from the Jordan (Jos. 4:6).

• Works of God.

In its simplest form, a sign is used for a remembrance.

SEVEN LAST PLAGUES

“…seven angels having the seven last plagues” – The Greek word for plague is “plege” (pronounced, play-gay) meaning a blow, to be struck as with a calamity. It has been translated in the King James Version as:

• plague twelve times

• stripe five times

• wound four times

Therefore, these angels are going to “strike calamities” on the dwellers of the world.

“…great and marvelous” – What John sees fills him with awe. The plagues will be unveiled, one by one, by being poured out on the inhabitants of the earth. This horrible scene of the wrath of God may be viewed from two different standpoints. For the believer, it would represent “truth” of God becoming reality as God is going to judge the nonbelievers and the ungodly and justice will be served. For those that oppose God, it would be seen as horrifying, terrifying and severe acts of judgment.

In the Revelation of Jesus Christ, the wrath of God began with the introduction of the seven seal judgments. It will end with the last “woe” which is the seven last plagues held in seven bowls.

At this point, John saw the seven angels holding the seven vials of God’s wrath, poised for action. The wicked world is about to “drink of the wine of the wrath of God” (Rev. 14:10); but before the angels pour out their judgments, there is an “interlude” of blessing. Before sending the “third woe” (Rev. 11:14), God once again reassures His faithful people.

“…for in them is filled up the wrath of God” – The totality of God’s wrath is contained within the last seven plagues which these seven angels are holding.

Revelation 15:2 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.

“And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire” – John described his very first glimpse into heaven (Rev. 4:6) with the term “sea of glass.” The difference between the first look and the description here is that it is mingled with fire. The Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary defines mingled as: “to bring or mix together or with something else usually without fundamental loss of identity.” Interesting that fire and the sea can be in the same location without losing their identities. I have seen fire on water. After a boating accident on the Atlantic Ocean between two ships, fuel was spilt on the water and since the fuel was lighter than the water, the fuel floated on the surface of the water and burned until all the fuel was consumed. That image comes to my mind when I hear these words; “sea of glass mingled with fire.”

In the fourth chapter, the sea of glass was described as “a sea of glass like unto crystal.” Jamieson-Fausset-Brown compares the sea and the fire to the Old Testament practice of the priests cleansing themselves in the Laver and the life of the first century Christian:

The sea of glass--Answering to the molten sea or great brazen laver before the mercy seat of the earthly temple, for the purification of the priests; typifying the baptism of water and the Spirit of all who are made kings and priests unto God. mingled with fire--answering to the baptism on earth with fire, that is, fiery trial, as well as with the Holy Ghost, which Christ's people undergo to purify them, as gold is purified of its dross in the furnace.

“…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” – Before the seven angels, having the seven plagues are told to pour out the judgments; we see a scene of worship in heaven. Who are these that stand on the sea of glass mingled with fire? They are not the four beasts surrounding the throne of God, nor are they the twenty-four elders. I believe they are the same ones mentioned in chapter 14:2-3. They stand before God and worship Him.

I really like the ESV translation: “…those who had conquered the beast and its image and the number of its name.” They are standing on the sea of glass victorious because they had conquered the beast. It will be done during the Tribulation period under great persecution, what does that say about us living right now? We can overcome. One of my favorite verses in the Gospel of John is Jesus encouraging his disciples with hope.

John 16:33 These things have I spoken unto you, that in me ye may have peace. In the world ye have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

Those did not, willingly or by force, take “the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.” (13:7; 14, 16, 17, 18) They stood true to Christ and did not follow the masses by taking the mark of the beast; they had “victory over the beast.”

“…stand on the sea of glass” – The location of those victors that did not take the mark, is on the sea of glass in heaven with the Father and the Son. Fulfillment of the promise of Jesus would fill the hearts of the readers in the first century with joy and peace, as it should give you and me that same peace and joy in 2014.

John 14:1-3 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

“…having the harps of God” – These are not just any harps; these are the harps of God. They are holy, that is they are set aside for worship of God. This is the third time we hear about harps being in heaven (5:8; 14:2; 15:2). Harps are symbolic of the worship and praise music of heaven.

Revelation 15:3-4 And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, 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.

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.

Their song is the song of victory like that sung so many years before by Moses, recorded in Exodus. The beginning of the Song of Moses:

Exodus 15:1-2 Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the LORD, and spake, saying, I will sing unto the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea. 2 The LORD is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father's God, and I will exalt him.

Take a moment and read Exodus 15:1-21. It is a great example of praise and worship. The song of Moses is a song of praise unto God for the deliverance of the Children of Israel from Pharaoh’s army. The song of the Lamb is also a song of praise and deliverance from the world through the work of Jesus on the cross. They can sing and worship God for they are redeemed by power and by blood of Yeshua HaMashiach (Jesus Christ in Hebrew).

Although the words are not identical to Exodus 15:1-21, the similarity of the song is found in the object of their praise, God himself. The parallel between the horrible conditions the children of Israel suffered at the hands of the Egyptians, and these redeemed from the Tribulation is quite similar. In both instances, they break out in song and worship of God. Celebration through deliverance is clear: the redeemed are celebrating the coming judgment of God against the Antichrist and his world domination.

THE SONG OF MOSES

Moses wrote at least three songs recorded in the Old Testament.

• The first one was when the Children of Israel safely crossed the Red Sea, found in Exodus 15.

• The next was written in the last days of the life of Moses, The Lord told Moses to write a song and teach it to the people (Deut 31:19-21, 30). This song is found in Deuteronomy 32

• Another is found in the 90th Psalm.

God required the Israelites to learn the Song of Moses in anticipation of their future apostasy in the Land of Promise. With all of the Lord’s blessings on their lives, God knew Israel would turn their backs on Him and follow other gods, bringing divine judgment. The song would be a reminder, a “witness” against them.

Conclusion

1. Great and Marvellous are God’s Works

2. Just and True are His ways

3. All nations shall come and worship before thee