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Revelation 15
1 I saw another great and marvelous sign in the sky: seven angels having the seven last plagues, for in them God's wrath is finished. 2 I saw something like a sea of glass mixed with fire, and those who overcame the beast, his image, and the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, having harps of God. 3 They sang the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, "Great and marvelous are your works, Lord God, the Almighty! Righteous and true are your ways, you King of the nations. 4 Who wouldn't fear you, Lord, and glorify your name? For you only are holy. For all the nations will come and worship before you. For your righteous acts have been revealed."
I saw another great and marvelous sign in the sky
A great sign was seen in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. (Revelation 12:1)
Nebuchadnezzar the king, to all the peoples, nations, and languages, who dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied to you. It has seemed good to me to show the signs and wonders that the Most High God has worked toward me. How great are his signs! and how mighty are his wonders! his kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion is from generation to generation. (Daniel 4:1-3)
There will be great earthquakes, famines, and plagues in various places. There will be terrors and great signs from heaven. (Luke 21:11)
They sang the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, "Great and marvelous are your works, Lord God, the Almighty! Righteous and true are your ways, you King of the nations. (Revelation 15:3)
In the New Testament, only these two verses couple great and marvelous to each other. As our view of God's activities are refined through the revelation of His heart by His Son Jesus Christ, it becomes clearer how these corroborate a goodness-only kind of God.
In the Old Testament there are five verses that have both of these words. Four of them involve God with one describing Uzziah, a king of Judah who set himself to seek God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding in the vision of God: and as long as he sought Yahweh, God made him to prosper. (2 Chronicles 26:5) Where these two words show up in relation to him is in the description of some of his inventions of war. He made in Jerusalem engines, invented by skillful men, to be on the towers and on the battlements, with which to shoot arrows and great stones. His name spread far abroad; for he was marvelously helped, until he was strong. (2 Chronicles 26:15)
Here are more verses containing both of these words (in the original):
If you do not carefully observe all the words of this law that are written in this book, that you may fear this glorious and awesome name, THE LORD YOUR GOD, "then the LORD will bring upon you and your descendants extraordinary plagues-great and prolonged plagues-and serious and prolonged sicknesses. (Deuteronomy 28:58-59 NKJV)
Then the lord will render notorious your calamities, and the calamities of your seed, great and surprising calamities, and severe and sure diseases. (Deuteronomy 28:59 ABP+)
For who is the one hiding you counsel, and sparing words, and imagines to hide you? And who announces to me things which I knew not, great and wonderful, things which I had no knowledge? (Job 42:3 ABP+)
For a child was born to us; a son was given to us, of whom the sovereignty became upon his shoulder; and his name is called, Messenger of great counsel, wonderful, counselor, mighty God, potentate, ruler of peace, father of the eon about to be. For I will bring peace upon the rulers, and his health. (Isaiah 9:6 ABP+)
And I prayed to the LORD my God, and made confession, and said, "O Lord, great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant and mercy with those who love Him, and with those who keep His commandments, (Daniel 9:4 NKJV)
Here are a few more verses that resonate with the same theme:
But as for me, I would seek God. I would commit my cause to God, who does great things that can't be fathomed, marvelous things without number; who gives rain on the earth, and sends waters on the fields; so that he sets up on high those who are low, those who mourn are exalted to safety. (Job 5:8-11)
Show your marvelous loving kindness, you who save those who take refuge by your right hand from their enemies. (Psalms 17:7)
Sing to Yahweh a new song, for he has done marvelous things! His right hand, and his holy arm, have worked salvation for him. (Psalms 98:1)
Praise Yah! I will give thanks to Yahweh with my whole heart, in the council of the upright, and in the congregation. Yahweh's works are great, pondered by all those who delight in them. (Psalms 111:1-2)
Men will speak of the might of your awesome acts. I will declare your greatness. (Psalms 145:6)
therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvelous work among this people, even a marvelous work and a wonder; and the wisdom of their wise men will perish, and the understanding of their prudent men will be hidden. (Isaiah 29:14)
Thus says Yahweh of Armies: "If it is marvelous in the eyes of the remnant of this people in those days, should it also be marvelous in my eyes?" says Yahweh of Armies. Thus says Yahweh of Armies: "Behold, I will save my people from the east country, and from the west country; and I will bring them, and they will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem; and they will be my people, and I will be their God, in truth and in righteousness." (Zechariah 8:6-8)
seven angels having the seven last plagues
There is a helpful saying I learned in school long ago as an assist for unpacking the meaning of messages being read. It was a series of questions that can be applied to anything to sort of cover the bases in order to appreciate more fully the intent of the writer. The questions were each summarized with a single word – Who, What, Where, When, How and Why.
When I apply that list of questions I find a surprising tight fit with this chapter. Let me just summarize and then we can dig deeper into each one as we move through this chapter.
Who – seven angels.
What – they have seven last plagues related to God's wrath, and are given bowls full of something.
Where – John sees a sea of glass mixed with fire.
When – when these people have overcome the beast, his image and the number of his name.
How – they are standing on top of the sea, using harps of God and singing songs of victory.
Why – because God is great and marvelous, righteous and true, holy and worthy of worship.
The tell-tale clues here connect these 7 angels to God's loyal friends who follow the Lamb wherever He goes and who rely on His methods alone. They may well be the 144,000.
The seven angels who had the seven plagues came out, clothed with pure, bright linen, and wearing golden sashes around their breasts. 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. The temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power. No one was able to enter into the temple, until the seven plagues of the seven angels would be finished. (Revelation 15:6-8)
These 7 plagues will be unpacked in greater detail in the next chapter. But before we jump to conclusions about how or why they transpire, we need to better understand this chapter first.
Notice the identifying feature here of the last 7 plagues and how it links to the meaning of God's wrath in the rest of this sentence. This alludes to the plagues that came on Egypt during the deliverance of the Israelites from slavery by God. In that story there are 10 plagues, with the first 3 affecting everyone including God's people in Goshen. But beginning with number 4 God made a distinction between those loyal to Him and the unbelieving Egyptians during the last 7 plagues.
What is the significance of this distinction, and how might this impact how we interpret this prophecy? This final round of plagues expose a clear distinction so there is no longer any question as to who everyone on earth is serving and from whom they are deriving their identity.
I will set apart in that day the land of Goshen, in which my people dwell, that no swarms of flies shall be there; to the end you may know that I am Yahweh in the midst of the earth. I will put a division between my people and your people: by tomorrow shall this sign be. (Exodus 8:22-23)
"They shall be mine," says Yahweh of Armies, "my own possession in the day that I make, and I will spare them, as a man spares his own son who serves him. Then you shall return and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him who serves God and him who doesn't serve him." (Malachi 3:17-18)
God is the one taking the initiative to make the distinction here. Keep in mind the context we have been seeing for several chapters, how those who worship the beast, the image and have the mark are similar to those who wielded power in Egypt. The mark of the beast will also involve a counterfeit day of worship based on a false view of God that makes Him out to be like the dragon. This will be concentrated in an imposition of forced worship on a substitute day refuting the true day of rest that symbolizes God respect for the freedom of each person to choose for themselves who they will serve.
Speak also to the children of Israel, saying, 'Most certainly you shall keep my Sabbaths: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that you may know that I am Yahweh who sanctifies you. (Exodus 31:13)
Moreover also I gave them my Sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am Yahweh who sanctifies them. (Ezekiel 20:12)
I am Yahweh your God: walk in my statutes, and keep my ordinances, and do them; and make my Sabbaths holy; and they shall be a sign between me and you, that you may know that I am Yahweh your God. (Ezekiel 20:19-20)
It is no coincidence that the word sign is directly linked with the true Sabbath, and that sign is also describing what is outlined in this and the following chapter.
These plagues are identified as the last ones because this is the point in history where it finally becomes completely clear whose side each person has chosen to be on permanently.
in them God's wrath is finished
The temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power. No one was able to enter into the temple, until the seven plagues of the seven angels would be finished. (Revelation 15:8)
This phrase is of extreme importance, so an accurate understanding of the true meaning of God's wrath is essential to properly unpack the symbols of these chapters. We have reviewed this many times, but as a reminder, God's wrath involves His strange act to withdraw His protective power from around people who have so stubbornly resisted His love and truth that He is blocked from preventing terrible but inevitable consequences from taking over their lives.
For the LORD will rise up as on Mount Perazim, he will rage as in the valley of Gibeon; to do his deed--strange is his deed! and to work his work--alien is his work! Now therefore do not scoff, or your bonds will be made stronger; for I have heard a decree of destruction from the Lord GOD of hosts upon the whole land. Listen, and hear my voice; Pay attention, and hear my speech. (Isaiah 28:21-23 NRSV)
The seventh poured out his bowl into the air. A loud voice came forth out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, "It is done!" (Revelation 16:17)
I, Yahweh, am its keeper. I will water it every moment. Lest anyone damage it, I will keep it night and day. Wrath is not in me, but if I should find briers and thorns, I would do battle! I would march on them and I would burn them together. Or else let him take hold of my strength, that he may make peace with me. Let him make peace with me. (Isaiah 27:3-5)
"Your words have been stout against me," says Yahweh. "Yet you say, 'What have we spoken against you?' You have said, 'It is vain to serve God;' and 'What profit is it that we have kept his charge, and that we have walked mournfully before Yahweh of Armies? Now we call the proud happy; yes, those who work wickedness are built up; yes, they tempt God, and escape.'
Then those who feared Yahweh spoke one with another; and Yahweh listened, and heard, and a book of memory was written before him, for those who feared Yahweh, and who honored his name. They shall be mine," says Yahweh of Armies, "my own possession in the day that I make, and I will spare them, as a man spares his own son who serves him. Then you shall return and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him who serves God and him who doesn't serve him. (Malachi 3:13-18)
How does this discernment happen? By observing the reaction of those exposed by the glory of God through the praises, thanksgiving and reflection of His character in His children on earth.
Discernment is what true judgment involves. The greatest light of truth about God and reality comes alone through the witness of Jesus, and He declared that His light is the cause of true judgment, defined as what happens in reaction to His words and presence. Truth, light and love polarizes people as it exposes their disposition and character, making obvious what was obscured previously. That summarizes what is happening in these two chapters we are are coming into now.
The incarnation, teachings, life, death and resurrection of Christ as a human was the greatest act of judgment ever. He plainly said that it will be the words He has spoken that will be our judge on the final day of God's judgment. Particularly in the last hours of His life leading up to His death, we see parallels that can shed light on the nature of these plagues that will be experienced by the rejectors of God's mercy. At the grand climax of Jesus' suffering that was caused by absorbing the effects of all the sins of the world into Himself, He triumphantly cried out, It is finished! That is the anchor point for appreciating what these ensuing chapters reveal to us about the nature of God's wrath. This is key for unpacking the true meaning behind the symbols used in these two chapters.
The heavens and the earth were finished, and all their vast array. On the seventh day God finished his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. (Genesis 2:1-2)
This is the interpretation of the thing: MENE; God has numbered your kingdom, and brought it to an end; TEKEL; you are weighed in the balances, and are found wanting. PERES; your kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians. (Daniel 5:26-28)
I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand to heaven, and swore by him who lives forever that it shall be for a time, times, and a half; and when they have made an end of breaking in pieces the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished. (Daniel 12:7)
I glorified you on the earth. I have accomplished the work which you have given me to do. (John 17:4)
When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, "It is finished." He bowed his head, and gave up his spirit. (John 19:30)
For we who have believed do enter into that rest, even as he has said, "As I swore in my wrath, they will not enter into my rest;" although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. (Hebrews 4:3)
Not only is exposure of God's truth and love finished, but also the fruit of sin will be completely exposed. This is what we found as we studied the two harvests at the end of the previous chapter.
But each one is tempted, when he is drawn away by his own lust, and enticed. Then the lust, when it has conceived, bears sin; and the sin, when it is full grown, brings forth death. (James 1:14-15)
But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, then those who are Christ's, at his coming. Then the end comes, when he will deliver up the Kingdom to God, even the Father; when he will have abolished all rule and all authority and power. (1 Corinthians 15:23-24)
What we have listed here are parallels that have already been experienced and exposed by Christ's suffering. This time however, this same testimony will be exhibited on a global scale through faithful witnesses, a select group in Revelation – the Lamb's special ops forces. I believe these are who are represented in this chapter, because they so thoroughly identify with the Lamb that God can entrust them with the privilege of channeling His glory in the darkness of depravity and evil, once again inducing an explicit distinction between those who serve God and those who do not. They reflect God's glory in their patient endurance and total dependence on Christ in them, their hope of glory, the true reflector of God's heart. This is in sharp contrast to the sinister views of those reacting violently to the terrible 'punishment's' the wicked imagine as being inflicted on them by God.
This 'finish' is a key thread that runs through this book and cannot be ignored. We find it in strategic locations that help to organize in our thinking how these sets of 7's intersect with each other. Here are clues that can help weave the larger picture together.
I saw a mighty angel coming down out of the sky, clothed with a cloud. A rainbow was on his head. His face was like the sun, and his feet like pillars of fire. He had in his hand a little open book. He set his right foot on the sea, and his left on the land.
The angel who I saw standing on the sea and on the land lifted up his right hand to the sky, and swore by him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and the things that are in it, the earth and the things that are in it, and the sea and the things that are in it, that there will no longer be delay, but in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, then the mystery of God is finished, as he declared to his servants, the prophets. (Revelation 10:1-2, 5-7)
It is key for understanding the meaning of this thread, to trace the true identity of this mighty angel along with the contexts where He shows up. He is also found in the prophecies of Daniel.
"At that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince who stands for the children of your people; and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone who shall be found written in the book. Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. Those who are wise shall shine as the brightness of the expanse; and those who turn many to righteousness as the stars forever and ever.
But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run back and forth, and knowledge shall be increased." [This back and forth relates to searching the scrolls for better understanding by those in the time of the end. That is us right now. This is a promise that wisdom and knowledge will be increased for those searching and praying for it, to improve appreciation for how God will accomplish final resolution of the problem of evil with His methods alone.]
Then I, Daniel, looked, and behold, there stood other two, the one on the brink of the river on this side, and the other on the brink of the river on that side. One said to the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, How long shall it be to the end of these wonders? I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand to heaven, and swore by him who lives forever that it shall be for a time, times, and a half; and when they have made an end of breaking in pieces the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished. (Daniel 12:1-7)
Let's gain an even clearer ID check on this man in linen mentioned by Daniel in this passage that so closely parallels what we are reading here in Revelation.
In the four and twentieth day of the first month, as I was by the side of the great river, which is Hiddekel, I lifted up my eyes, and looked, and behold, a man clothed in linen, whose thighs were girded with pure gold of Uphaz: his body also was like the beryl, and his face as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as flaming torches, and his arms and his feet like burnished brass, and the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude. (Daniel 10:4-6)
Both this description and the one in Revelation 10 correspond closely to what is described as Jesus in Revelation 1 and other places. This is important to help clarify in our thinking the identity of the active agents at work in the various prophecies.
It is pre-incarnate Jesus who is the Prince of God's chosen people that was referred to by an angel in the hearing of Daniel.
It is Jesus who previously had taken on the form of an angel (Philippians 2:7) called Michael, that name meaning One who is like God.
It is Jesus who stands above the river, while from John's perspective He is seen as having one foot on the land and one on the sea/waters.
It is Jesus who lifts His hand and swears with an oath, emphasizing the extreme importance of what He is declaring as being absolutely infallible and trustworthy.
In Daniel's vision this 'Angel,' who at that point had not yet taken on the human form we now call Jesus, declared under oath that it shall be for a time, times, and a half. Whatever it is (and this is hinted at in the words that follow), it comes to an end after this specified period of time repeated in various places prophetically, including in Revelation 11. This is the same period of time as mentioned in Daniel when Michael says, when they have made an end of breaking in pieces the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished. In Revelation we find something similar outlined.
A reed like a rod was given to me. Someone said, "Rise, and measure God's temple, and the altar, and those who worship in it. Leave out the court which is outside of the temple, and don't measure it, for it has been given to the nations. They will tread the holy city under foot for forty-two months. I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred sixty days, clothed in sackcloth." (Revelation 11:1-3)
This same number is repeated, albeit in different formats, three times between these two passages. This must involve something very aggressive and hostile to the people of God, a force that will break their power in pieces and trample their holy city. In Daniel it is seen in the future while in Revelation it is more present tense. This is expanded in Revelation 10-11 involving two witnesses, and this description is strategically placed as happening just before the 7th trumpet sounds.
This brings us back to where we began, looking at the key players who are involved in all this.
but in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, then the mystery of God is finished, as he declared to his servants, the prophets. (Revelation 10:7)
It goes without saying that one of the prophets this is referring to is the prophecy we looked at by Daniel. This prophecy is paralleled in Revelation as a launching pad to expand on it.
Let's condense this some to help wrap our mind around it to see how the pieces might fit with each other. Keep in mind the context in which we are working here. We are seeking to identify implications of something very profound, large and mysterious being brought to a finish point, a culmination, a point of clarity and fuller resolution, for awareness instead of continued mystery.
A key point here is when these 7 angels complete their assigned tasks, then God's wrath is finished. Let's see how this idea of being finished links with the other references here.
In chapter 10 in the time just preceding the 7th trumpet, the mystery of God is finished.
In the prophecy of Daniel, finished is linked to a specific period of time – 1260 years.
The same number is found in Revelation with further context in chapter 11.
When creation was finished, God rested on the seventh day.
When redemption was finished by Christ on the cross, God rested on the Sabbath day.
When sin is full grown (finished, completed) it brings forth death.
The final finish described by Paul includes a hint at what we are finding here in chapter 15.
But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, then those who are Christ's, at his coming. Then the end comes, when he will deliver up the Kingdom to God, even the Father; when he will have abolished all rule and all authority and power. (1 Corinthians 15:23-24)
Christ is the one who created this world in concert with the Father and the Spirit. When the creating work was finished, the Sabbath became a commemoration of that victory. This has a lot to do with finishing, completion of a final resolution of all doubts that our creation was designed to address.
On the cross Christ again finished a work He came to do. That work was again to address the lies, doubts and theft of the peace and harmony throughout the universe caused by the agitation of the enemy who became exposed as the Son of God allowed the very heart of evil to torture and kill God while only responding in love and forgiveness to the point of death. At the completion of that demonstration, both of ultimate evil and full revelation of God's heart, Jesus cried out with a loud voice, 'It is finished!' This is who Paul refers to as being the first fruit. So how might 'those who are Christ's' fit into this finishing of the mystery and/or the wrath of God here in the time of the end?
I find it likely that this group of beings are portrayed here as being entrusted by the Lamb to demonstrate the same revelation of God's heart, this time on a worldwide scale. They suffer similar abuse, resistance and contradiction of sinners as did Christ, only this time there is no redemptive death needed, only a final revelation through humans to fully convince the entire cosmos that God is love and is fully worthy of all trust, because He can accomplish what He says He can do, by transforming sinful human beings into matured specimens of glorious humanity restored to their original design to give expression to the image of their Maker and develop His likeness of character.
Thus the mystery of God is finished – the mystery of how rebels can become authentic saints.
Thus the wrath of God is finished – releasing rejectors of His mercy to the effects of their choices.
