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Revelation 15
5 After these things I looked, and the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened. 6 The seven angels who had the seven plagues came out, clothed with pure, bright linen, and wearing golden sashes around their breasts. 7 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 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.
After these things
Therefore write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after these things. (Revelation 1:19 NAS95)
After these things I looked and saw a door opened in heaven, and the first voice that I heard, like a trumpet speaking with me, was one saying, "Come up here, and I will show you the things which must happen after this." (Revelation 4:1)
After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude, which no man could number, out of every nation and of all tribes, peoples, and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, dressed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands. (Revelation 7:9)
After these things, I saw another angel coming down out of the sky, having great authority. The earth was illuminated with his glory. (Revelation 18:1)
After these things I heard something like a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying, "Hallelujah! Salvation, power, and glory belong to our God: (Revelation 19:1)
This phrase, after these things, could easily be mistaken to merely apply to consecutive sequence. However, I think it may be more helpful to view this as referencing context in order to supply perspective to better appreciate and understand deeper meaning. What this may be instructing us is to keep in mind the things we just read previous to this as key to interpreting what is about to be revealed from this point on.
I looked and behold
This combination of the words looked or saw with behold, seems to be something to alert us to discover important threads, particularly through this book. This shows up a couple places in Acts.
I know your works (behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one can shut), that you have a little power, and kept my word, and didn't deny my name. (Revelation 3:8)
This is an interesting translation of the word as know that is usually rendered as see or look.
And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth. (Revelation 5:6 NKJV)
I looked, and behold, a white horse, and he who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer. (Revelation 6:2 NAS95)
When He broke the third seal, I heard the third living creature saying, "Come." I looked, and behold, a black horse; and he who sat on it had a pair of scales in his hand. (Revelation 6:5 NAS95)
I looked when He opened the sixth seal, and behold, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood. (Revelation 6:12 NKJV)
I saw, and behold, the Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with him a number, one hundred forty-four thousand, having his name, and the name of his Father, written on their foreheads. (Revelation 14:1)
I looked, and behold, a white cloud; and on the cloud one sitting like a son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle. (Revelation 14:14)
I saw the heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and he who sat on it is called Faithful and True. In righteousness he judges and makes war. (Revelation 19:11)
Now while Peter was very perplexed in himself what the vision which he had seen might mean, behold, the men who were sent by Cornelius, having made inquiry for Simon's house, stood before the gate, (Acts 10:17)
Now, behold, I know that you all, among whom I went about preaching the Kingdom of God, will see my face no more. (Acts 20:25)
the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened
The twenty-four elders, who sit on their thrones before God's throne, fell on their faces and worshiped God, saying: "We give you thanks, Lord God, the Almighty, the one who is and who was; because you have taken your great power, and reigned. The nations were angry, and your wrath came, as did the time for the dead to be judged, and to give your bondservants the prophets, their reward, as well as to the saints, and those who fear your name, to the small and the great; and to destroy those who destroy the earth."
God's temple that is in heaven was opened, and the ark of the Lord's covenant was seen in his temple. Lightnings, sounds, thunders, an earthquake, and great hail followed. (Revelation 11:16-19)
I saw the heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and he who sat on it is called Faithful and True. In righteousness he judges and makes war. (Revelation 19:11)
Notice how the idea of judgment is closely linked to opening of the temple. This is because judging, according to Jesus' definition of judgment, is exactly that – light exposing what is hidden in darkness.
Let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them. (Exodus 25:8)
In the year that king Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up; and his train filled the temple. Above him stood the seraphim. Each one had six wings. With two he covered his face. With two he covered his feet. With two he flew. One called to another, and said, "Holy, holy, holy, is Yahweh of Armies! The whole earth is full of his glory!" The foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke. (Isaiah 6:1-4)
Jesus cried again with a loud voice, and yielded up his spirit. Behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from the top to the bottom. The earth quaked and the rocks were split. The tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection, they entered into the holy city and appeared to many. (Matthew 27:50-53)
But to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart. But whenever one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord, the Spirit. (2 Corinthians 3:15-18)
The seven angels who had the seven plagues came out
Another angel came out from the temple, crying with a loud voice to him who sat on the cloud, "Send forth your sickle, and reap; for the hour to reap has come; for the harvest of the earth is ripe!" (Revelation 14:15)
Another angel came out from the temple which is in heaven. He also had a sharp sickle. (Revelation 14:17)
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)
A voice came forth from the throne, saying, "Give praise to our God, all you his servants, you who fear him, the small and the great!" (Revelation 19:5)
Moses said to Aaron, Take your censer, and put fire therein from off the altar, and lay incense thereon, and carry it quickly to the congregation, and make atonement for them: for there is wrath gone out from Yahweh; the plague is begun.
Aaron took as Moses spoke, and ran into the midst of the assembly; and behold, the plague was begun among the people: and he put on the incense, and made atonement for the people. He stood between the dead and the living; and the plague was stayed. (Numbers 16:46-48)
The voice from the throne of God gives instruction for us to give praise to our God. This praise is directly linked with the New Song lyrics which in turn is the secret power that alone can defeat the empire of darkness and fear the enemy depends on to remain in power.
When the context of this passage in Numbers is examined, what can be seen is an old song way of dealing with rebellion in contrast to what we are discovering here in the transition from the Song of Moses over to complete reliance on the Song of the Lamb. After examining Numbers 16 for nearly 2 weeks now, I am coming to see the way Moses reacted to a critical challenge of his leadership and authority given him and his brother Aaron by God, became distorted because his anger. His response was influenced in how he used his access to God's power to quell one uprising after another. Rather than simply assuming that everything Moses did or wrote as being God's direct instructions to him, we would do well to keep in mind that the Lamb of the gospels is a far superior revelation of God's ways and disposition over the inferior ways practiced by Moses and other prophets.
What is coalescing from my study of comparing these two songs is that the Song of Moses is formatted on the world's system of reward and punishment, a dualistic view of God originating in the serpent's assertion that God knows both good and evil and we should do the same. This immature view of God permeates every religion of the world including Christianity. However, what we are learning in this book is that the only way evil can be effectively defeated is not by resorting to violent repression or punishment, but rather by the very opposite. The symbol of the willingly humble, violently slaughtered Lamb who alone is discovered to be qualified to be God's Christ and accept the job of addressing the rebellion and accusations involved in the sealed scroll, is the most significant truth in the entire book. Thus the New Song is a complete rewrite of the whole way we think, the way we perceive God and His motives, and the way we communicate with others.
I believe this chapter is pivotal to understanding the nature of how the empire of evil is brought down in the next chapter, and what we have just studied in the first 4 verses is key to unlocking proper perspective for the following verses. It includes transitioning from the old Song of Moses into embracing the New Song of the Lamb. This empowers these 'angels' to rely entirely on incense released through their prayers and praises of God. This potency of the New Song power is increasingly highlighted as we progress through this prophecy, and this chapter is key in that transition. While the previous old song is rooted in a binary view of God, the New Song is rooted in a 1 John 1:5 view of God, as purely light with no hint of darkness at all in Him. This singular view of God is best described in John 17 where Jesus describes the kind of intimate unity of heart, mind, soul and spirit with the mind and heart of God that is the ultimate goal of the whole plan of salvation. This is what is involved in the opening of the temple of the tabernacle that most explicitly describes the hearts and lives of God's people who respond to His passionate love in them most willingly.
The cords of Sheol were around me. The snares of death came on me. In my distress I called on Yahweh, and cried to my God. He heard my voice out of his temple. My cry before him came into his ears.
Then the earth shook and trembled. The foundations also of the mountains quaked and were shaken, because he was angry. Smoke went out of his nostrils. Consuming fire came out of his mouth. Coals were kindled by it. He bowed the heavens also, and came down. Thick darkness was under his feet. He rode on a cherub, and flew. Yes, he soared on the wings of the wind. He made darkness his hiding place, his pavilion around him, darkness of waters, thick clouds of the skies.
At the brightness before him his thick clouds passed, hailstones and coals of fire. Yahweh also thundered in the sky. The Most High uttered his voice: hailstones and coals of fire. He sent out his arrows, and scattered them; Yes, great lightning bolts, and routed them.
Then the channels of waters appeared. The foundations of the world were laid bare at your rebuke, Yahweh, at the blast of the breath of your nostrils. He sent from on high. He took me. He drew me out of many waters. He delivered me from my strong enemy, from those who hated me; for they were too mighty for me. They came on me in the day of my calamity, but Yahweh was my support. He brought me forth also into a large place. He delivered me, because he delighted in me. (Psalms 18:5-19)
David lived under the old song paradigm, viewing God through a lens of reward/punishment as the way to explain how things were perceived from that perspective. We all have similar limited perspective so that when we report what we perceive as God's work in our lives, it is always tainted by our presuppositions as to what we imagine are God's motives. This is why Paul says ...let God be found true, but every man a liar. As it is written, "That you might be justified in your words, and might prevail when you come into judgment." (Romans 3:4) This is not an accusation but simply an acknowledgment that only the true Lamb of God understands and gives expression to the real truth that is beyond our capacity to fully appreciate. Consider how David here describes what he believes to be God's response to his cry for deliverance from his enemies, yet when we compare it to a similar description given by God to Job, we discover that it is actually describing a mythical creature representing Satan, the king over all the sons of pride.
His [Leviathan's] sneezing flashes out light. His eyes are like the eyelids of the morning. Out of his mouth go burning torches. Sparks of fire leap forth. Out of his nostrils a smoke goes, as of a boiling pot over a fire of reeds. His breath kindles coals. A flame goes forth from his mouth. There is strength in his neck. Terror dances before him. (Job 41:18-22)
Jesus went out from the temple, and was going on his way. His disciples came to him to show him the buildings of the temple. But he answered them, "Don't you see all of these things? Most certainly I tell you, there will not be left here one stone on another, that will not be thrown down." (Matthew 24:1-2)
The earthly temple more than once became an idol, a stone of stumbling for God's chosen people of Israel. It was this temple Jesus went out from even while His disciples were trying to distract Him by pointing out the inferior glory they imagined was so important in the physical structures. We remain in the same danger ourselves because we too so often fall into the trap of putting so much emphasis on literal, physical things rather than viewing them as greatly inferior symbols pointing us towards far greater and grander realities in the spiritual realm. Many make the Bible an idol that they worship (even specific translations of the Bible) more than trusting the revelation of God in His Son sent to correct our perceptions through His life, example and teachings. Jesus went out from the temple for the last time, leaving it desolate and abandoned by God as it had become a pointless symbol because of the stubborn resistance to love by the religious leaders bent on rigidly enforcing the Song of Moses as the only right way to serve God.
The Lamb was sent to teach us the New Song, and He illustrated the far superior power of the New Song in His teachings and through His earthly ministry. Yet few choose to believe and embrace His version of God and reality, because they choose to cling to the binary version of reality that has dictated human reasoning ever since the fall of Adam. But we are now invited to move beyond that.
clothed with pure, bright linen
I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, that you may become rich; and white garments, that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes, that you may see. (Revelation 3:18)
It was given to her that she would array herself in bright, pure, fine linen: for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. (Revelation 19:8)
Do not be distracted and miss the key phrase in this verse. It is all too easy to imagine it is our job to array ourselves with righteous acts, forgetting that everything must be first freely received before we can produce fruit. Everything needed for living out the righteous acts of God's goodness is provided for all who are willing to accept them. Without first receiving the goodness, kindness, graciousness and even the faith of Jesus, it will be impossible to display those attributes and fruit of the Spirit evidenced in our interactions with others. The bride of the Lamb arrays herself in this pure, bright, fine linen because she first receives what is given to her generously by her Bridegroom in love.
The armies which are in heaven followed him on white horses, clothed in white, pure, fine linen. (Revelation 19:14)
I believe what we glimpse here is a reminder that we humans here on earth are not the only ones who are in need of dramatic revisions of what God is like. While the hosts of heaven are ahead of us on this learning curve, and their allegiance to the Lamb's version of God was only solidified when they witnessed the horrific treatment of their beloved divine leader at the instigation of Satan at the cross. They had to also learn that God's ways are not our ways and that the wrath of man/Satan does not accomplish the righteousness of God. It is the Lamb, the Son of God/Son of Man who alone is both God's Christ and our Christ.
It is the Son of God, Jesus Christ who is the unifying magnet drawing all who are willing to Himself. He is the liberating truth about our Father's heart and character. God's passionate love flows through Jesus without any inhibiting resistance. The angels of heaven were deeply affected by the exposure of their previously beloved leader Lucifer who turned traitor, yet this was not fully sealed until the death of Christ. Upon witnessing the the Lamb's testimony that transforms sinners into saints by means of kindness bringing them to repentance, the armies of heaven fall in line behind the true Champion here seen as riding a white horse, who judges and wages war only in righteousness.
Pharaoh said to his servants, "Can we find such a one as this, a man in whom is the Spirit of God?" Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Because God has shown you all of this, there is none so discreet and wise as you. You shall be over my house, and according to your word will all my people be ruled. Only in the throne I will be greater than you."
Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Behold, I have set you over all the land of Egypt." Pharaoh took off his signet ring from his hand, and put it on Joseph's hand, and arrayed him in robes of fine linen, and put a gold chain about his neck, and he made him to ride in the second chariot which he had. They cried before him, "Bow the knee!" He set him over all the land of Egypt. (Genesis 41:38-43)
Bring Aaron your brother, and his sons with him, near to you from among the children of Israel, that he may minister to me in the priest's office, even Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron's sons. You shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother, for glory and for beauty. You shall speak to all who are wise-hearted, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom, that they make Aaron's garments to sanctify him, that he may minister to me in the priest's office. These are the garments which they shall make: a breastplate, and an ephod, and a robe, and a coat of checker work, a turban, and a sash: and they shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother, and his sons, that he may minister to me in the priest's office. (Exodus 28:1-4)
It happened, when the priests were come out of the holy place, (for all the priests who were present had sanctified themselves, and did not keep their divisions; also the Levites who were the singers, all of them, even Asaph, Heman, Jeduthun, and their sons and their brothers, arrayed in fine linen, with cymbals and stringed instruments and harps, stood at the east end of the altar, and with them one hundred twenty priests sounding with trumpets;) it happened, when the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking Yahweh; and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music, and praised Yahweh, saying, For he is good; for his loving kindness endures forever; that then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of Yahweh, so that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud: for the glory of Yahweh filled the house of God. (2 Chronicles 5:11-14)
wearing golden sashes around their breasts
And among the lampstands was one like a son of man, clothed with a robe reaching down to his feet, and with a golden sash around his chest. (Revelation 1:13)
I can't emphasize enough that these are the only two places in all of Scripture that describe this unique accessory specifically as a golden sash. I find this highly significant as it tells me that whoever is represented here as being 7 angels commissioned to carry out this last assault against the kingdom of darkness, they sport an identical outfit that is only seen being worn by the Hero of this book who introduced Himself to John at the very outset of this book.
You shall weave the coat in checker work of fine linen, and you shall make a turban of fine linen, and you shall make a sash, the work of the embroiderer. (Exodus 28:39)
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 10:5-6)
Here we find more similarities linking together clues indicating that it is the Son of God who originates this unique lifestyle outfit reflective of God's pure character of love and truth. His thighs are girded with pure gold. In Revelation his chest is adorned with a golden sash as are those here in chapter 15. The message of Jesus to Laodicea is to buy from Him white garment and gold along with eye salve so they can see and dress and act just like the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Now we find agents who have done just that. This is part of why I am convinced these angels represent the special agents of the Lamb labeled the 144,000.
This golden sash may represent all who cling to Jesus' version of God. They reflect God's heart just as Jesus did while on earth and in this way add their testimony to that of Jesus and accomplish bringing glory to His reputation. This has been God's passionate desire for us from the very beginning, yet His will has repeatedly been thwarted and spurned throughout history until finally this last generation accepts His offer to dwell in them and completely transform them into beautiful examples of His glorious love and kindness.
For as the belt cleaves to the waist of a man, so have I caused to cleave to me the whole house of Israel and the whole house of Judah, says Yahweh; that they may be to me for a people, and for a name, and for a praise, and for a glory: but they would not hear. (Jeremiah 13:11)
So then, my beloved, even as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God who works in you both to will and to work, for his good pleasure. Do all things without murmurings and disputes, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you are seen as lights in the world, holding up the word of life... (Philippians 2:12-16)
the mystery which has been hidden for ages and generations. But now it has been revealed to his saints, to whom God was pleased to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory; (Colossians 1:26-27)
Now the Lord is the Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord, the Spirit. (2 Corinthians 3:17-18)
We learned when studying the message to Laodicea that gold represents faith and love. Here we find this gold is wrapped entirely around their hearts motivating them with the faith of Jesus and the fire of God's passionate love consuming out of them anything dissonant with God's heart of agape love. This is the ultimate ring of fire.
These angel/humans parallel Abraham's interceding with God in the story of Sodom (Genesis 18:23-33) with bold confidence in His faithfulness, compassion and love. This is the disposition of these agents who exhaust every last possible effort, seeking for any residue of hope to rescue even one last soul out of a wicked world totally immersed in iniquity and rebellion. Throughout the next chapter they are found interceding along with God just as Jesus intercedes, in a final attempt to discover if might be any left willing to repent.
In nothing be anxious, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7)
