Prelude to the Vials of God s Wrath Jason K. Boothe Revelation 15:1-8 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. 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. Introduction Chapter 15 prepares the reader for the coming final judgements of God against this sinful world. Vials, or bowls, filled to the overflowing, symbolize God s complete repulsion with the world s rebellion and sin. It is clear from the text that God s judgements will be swift and dreadful. However, Christians are seen in this chapter praising and worshiping God. Believers in Jesus must get to the place in their walk with God that the only thing that really matters is God s purpose and plan. This is why we pray, Thy will be done! Christians can stand in amazement as God s terrible and holy will unfolds, praising God during every moment because His holiness requires it, for He is altogether pure and righteous. O, there will soon come a day, a time, when time itself shall be no more! Famine, drought, disease, sickness, stress, inequality, and despair shall be vanquished by the soon Coming King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Again, it is necessary to understand, that while God will judge the sin in this world, He will be most merciful to those who call on His name, for whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. With attentive hearts and alerts minds, let us look together at chapter 15, one verse at a time.
Outline V. 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. A. Seven Angels, having the last plagues - Seven is God s number of completion. In His righteous fury, He will rain down complete and utter destruction upon the powers of this sin cursed world. B. For in them is filled up the wrath of God - God s wrath is here pictured as being filled to the point of overflowing. People must never doubt the awesome power and glory of our great and most terrible God! V. 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. A. I saw a sea of glass mingled with fire - (Gill) Not baptism, but rather the blood of Christ, which may be compared to a sea, for its abundant virtue and efficacy in cleansing from all sin; and to a sea "of glass", since in it are clearly seen free justification, full pardon, peace and reconciliation; and may be said to be "mingled with fire", being attended in the application of it with the Spirit of God, whose gifts and graces are sometimes signified by fire: and so, according to others, this sea may represent the pure church of God, as washed in the blood of the Lamb; compared to a sea for the multitude of which it consists, and to a sea of glass, because of the transparency and clearness of its principles and practices, and may be said to be mingled with the fire of love and zeal: B. And them that had gotten the victory over the beast - (Gill) over the beast, that rose up out of the sea, and out of the earth, Rev_13:1 and which are the same, and were but one, though in different forms, as from hence appears: the beast first overcame the saints, by slaying of them; and they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony, by preaching and professing the Gospel, by their close and constant adherence to it, and by dying for it: C. Over his mark, over the number of his name - The sanctified church of the living God overcomes because they are firmly rooted in the pure and precious Gospel of Christ, made possible by His death on the cross of Calvary. D. Stand on the sea of Glass - God s church stands, not in their own strength, but because of the very blood of Christ - for no other foundation can men lay, than that which is laid in Christ Jesus.
V. 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. A. The song of Moses - God s people will sing the victory song of Moses because of the mighty deliverance accomplished by God on their behalf. Exodus 15:1-20: 1 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. 3 The LORD [is] a man of war: the LORD [is] his name. 4 Pharaoh's chariots and his host hath he cast into the sea: his chosen captains also are drowned in the Red sea. 5 The depths have covered them: they sank into the bottom as a stone. 6 Thy right hand, O LORD, is become glorious in power: thy right hand, O LORD, hath dashed in pieces the enemy. 7 And in the greatness of thine excellency thou hast overthrown them that rose up against thee: thou sentest forth thy wrath, [which] consumed them as stubble. 8 And with the blast of thy nostrils the waters were gathered together, the floods stood upright as an heap, [and] the depths were congealed in the heart of the sea. 9 The enemy said, I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil; my lust shall be satisfied upon them; I will draw my sword, my hand shall destroy them. 10 Thou didst blow with thy wind, the sea covered them: they sank as lead in the mighty waters. 11 Who [is] like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods? who [is] like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful [in] praises, doing wonders? 12 Thou stretchedst out thy right hand, the earth swallowed them. 13 Thou in thy mercy hast led forth the people [which] thou hast redeemed: thou hast guided [them] in thy strength unto thy holy habitation. 14 The people shall hear, [and] be afraid: sorrow shall take hold on the inhabitants of Palestina. 15 Then the dukes of Edom shall be amazed; the mighty men of Moab, trembling shall take hold upon them; all the inhabitants of Canaan shall melt away. 16 Fear and dread shall fall upon them; by the greatness of thine arm they shall be [as] still as a stone; till thy people pass over, O LORD, till the people pass over, [which] thou hast purchased. 17 Thou shalt bring them in, and plant them in the mountain of thine inheritance, [in] the place, O LORD, [which] thou hast made for thee to dwell in, [in] the Sanctuary, O Lord, [which] thy hands have established. 18 The LORD shall reign for ever and ever. 19 For the horse of Pharaoh went in with his chariots and with his horsemen into the sea, and the LORD brought again the waters of the sea upon them; but the children of Israel went on dry [land] in the midst of the sea.
B. Song of the Lamb (Gill) the Lamb of God, who was slain for the sins of men; the same song of which mention is made, Revelation 5:9 the song of redeeming love, a song of praise for the blessings of grace which come through him, and of deliverance by him: Revelation 5:9,10-9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; 10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. V. 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. A. All nations are called to render unto God the fear, glory, and worship, due to such a discovery of his truth and justice: Who shall not fear thee? Vv. 5-8 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. A. Seven golden vials full of the wrath of God - the Lord will smite the sinful world with an onslaught of holy fury, delivered to earth through the means of his holy angels, or messengers. The Gospel itself is one of these weapons, for it is the Word of God, sharper than any two-edged sword. B. No man was able to enter into the temple, till the plagues were fulfilled - (Gill) None of the anti-christian party will attempt to enter in, because of their blindness and obduracy; nor can they get in to do any mischief, because the glorious and powerful presence of God is a defence against them: and this may also have some respect to the darkness of God's judgments, which will not be clearly manifest until these seven plagues are accomplished; till that time God's judgments on antichrist will remain a great deep, and be unsearchable; there will be no entering into the temple, so as fully to understand them, which is meant by going into the sanctuary of God, Psa_73:17 and this makes the interpretation of the pouring out of these vials, in the next chapter, very difficult.
Conclusion This chapter serves as a prelude to the coming final judgement, upon the world and it s sinful system. While it will be difficult to flesh out the meanings of the next chapter, all of what God wants us to know is in fact contained therein. God has a plan and purpose for His church. We are the ones who, through Him, overcome the world. We can praise God for His faithfulness and watch in amazement as He pours His judgement from the vials of wrath. - Amen.