“Write, ‘Blessed (happy, prosperous, to be admired) are the dead who die in the Lord from now on!’” “Yes, [blessed indeed],” says the Spirit, “so that they may rest and have relief from their labors, for their deeds do follow them.” Revelation 14:13 AMP
Welcome, welcome, to afaithtalk.com‘s Bible Study Tuesday, every Tuesday a new chapter from whatever we’re studying goes live. Your presence here matters to me. Thank you for studying with me. Before we being chapter 15, let’s pray.
Dear Lord Jesus, You have given us this book to show us what will soon take place (Rev. 1:1) and in light of that, Lord, help us learn. Use our time in this chapter to awaken awe and wonder in our hearts and also to verify and grow our faith. For You are the One we want to have lead us. In Your precious name, I pray. Amen.
Read Revelation 15:1
A Scene of Heaven
1 Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and wonderful [a warning of terrifying and horrible events]: seven angels who had seven plagues (afflictions, calamities), which are the last, because with them the wrath of God is finished [that is, it is completely expressed and reaches its zenith].
‘With them the wrath of God is finished.’… We’re getting to the best parts, but we’re not through the horrible yet. Trust Him, lean on Him, let Him guide you.
Read Revelation 15:2-4
2 Then I saw something like a sea or large expanse of glass mixed with fire, and those who were victorious over the beast and over his image and over the number corresponding to his name were standing on the sea or large expanse of glass, holding harps of God [worshiping Him]. 3 And they [a]sang the song of Moses, the bond-servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying,
“Great and wonderful and awe-inspiring
are Your works [in judgment],
O Lord God, the Almighty [the Omnipotent, the Ruler of all];
Righteous and true are Your ways,
O King of the [b]nations!
4 “Who will not fear [reverently] and glorify Your name, O Lord [giving You honor and praise in worship]?
For You alone are holy;
For all the nations shall come and worship before You,
For Your righteous acts [Your just decrees and judgments]
have been revealed and displayed.”
Can you hear it?
Great and wonderful and awe-inspiring are Your works,
O Lord God, the Almighty
Righteous and true are Your ways.
Righteous and true are Your ways,
O King of the ages!
For You alone are holy. You alone are holy.
I will glorify Your Name, Yes, I will glorify Your name!
Great and Wonderful
Righteous and True
Awe-Inspiring are Your works,
O Lord Almighty
For you alone are holy. You alone are holy.
I will glorify Your Name, Yes, I will glorify Your name!
Read Revelation 15:5-6
5 After these things I looked, and the temple (sanctuary) of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened, 6 and the seven angels who had the seven plagues (afflictions, calamities) came out of the temple, arrayed in linen, pure and gleaming, and wrapped around their chests were golden sashes.
The temple was open! The seven angels came out arrayed in linen and wrapped with golden sashes. Pure and Gleaming linen. So beautiful.
Read Revelation 15:7-8
7 Then one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath and indignation of God, who lives forever and ever. 8 And the temple was filled with [c]smoke from the glory and radiance and splendor of God and from His power; and no one was able to enter the temple until the seven plagues of the seven angels were finished.
Visualize that. The glory and radiance and splendor of God but no one was able to enter until… His power, He is the Almighty. Oh how I love these reprieves from horribleness, but those last ten words are promises that more horribleness awaits. – until the seven plagues of the seven angels were finished.
Footnotes
- Revelation 15:3 At the end, the old covenant that came through Moses is seen to be in complete unity with the new covenant in Jesus Christ.
- Revelation 15:3 Two early mss read ages.
- Revelation 15:8 The awe-inspiring manifestation of God’s shekinah glory was seen in the tabernacle, then when Solomon’s temple was dedicated, and the prophets said it would be seen again at the end.