Seven angels and a sea of glass
Rev 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.
We are going back before the end, to see more of the wrath of God poured out upon the ungodly; this time seven angels with seven vials of plagues. We have seen the seal judgments in Rev. 6, The trumpet judgments in Rev. 8 and 9, Now the final vial or bowl judgments. The Revelation is not always in order. We saw the end of the antichrist in Rev. 14 and also in Rev 6. This chapter shows the ultimate Exodus, the freedom of God's people from a sinful and persecuting world.
Rev 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.
The sea of glass was the presence and glory of God. It was holy ground.
Rev 4:6 And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal...
The sea could also remind us of the Red Sea deliverance of God's people.
Fire represents the judgment of God.
Mat 3:12 Whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.
Those standing on the sea of glass were those who came out of the tribulation, them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, they are the martyrs described in Rev 7.
Rev 7:9 After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;
Rev 7:10 And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.
They were worshipping God with harps and music, as did the 24 elders before the throne of God.
Rev 5:8 And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.
Rev 5:9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof...
Rev 14:2 And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps:
Rev 14:3 And they sung as it were a new song before the throne...
These two earlier references to harpists, said that they sang a new song. We are to sing new songs to glorify God, from the heart. The multitude on the sea of glass sing an old song, (I like the old hymns); the song of Moses, a victory song.
Rev 15:3 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.
Rev 15:4 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 new title to the old song of Moses; the song of Moses and the song of the Lamb. The old covenant and the new together in victory; law and grace. This song of worship and praise is all about God, they sang songs to glorify him. Let us sing praises to Him, it's not about us Lord; you are to be glorified.
The heavenly tabernacle of testimony
Rev 15:5 And after that I looked, and, behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened:
The tabernacle of the testimony first appeared on earth with Moses in the wilderness. Instructions were given to build a holy place to keep the ark of the testimony. The Testimony included the law of God, the ten commandments, manna, that God provided as daily bread and Aaron's priestly rod that budded almond blossoms.
The tabernacle was the presence of God, the dwelling place of God with his people. As they moved in the wilderness they followed his glory, a cloud by day and fire by night.
Num 9:15 And on the day that the tabernacle was reared up the cloud covered the tabernacle, namely, the tent of the testimony: and at even there was upon the tabernacle as it were the appearance of fire, until the morning.
Num 9:16 So it was alway: the cloud covered it by day, and the appearance of fire by night.
Num 9:17 And when the cloud was taken up from the tabernacle, then after that the children of Israel journeyed: and in the place where the cloud abode, there the children of Israel pitched their tents.
Num 9:18 At the commandment of the LORD the children of Israel journeyed, and at the commandment of the LORD they pitched: as long as the cloud abode upon the tabernacle they rested in their tents.
The earthly tabernacle was a type of the heavenly tabernacle. The Ark of the testimony now is in heaven. Our hope from Gods word, Jesus, our savior and daily bread and our great high priest. We serve God almighty and nothing is impossible with him. He is Spirit, the creator of all things.
Rev 15:6 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.
White and gold represent purity, The angels were holy. This was God's pure and holy judgment of those who chose to disobey him and side with the devil, the time was at the fulness. Their rotten fruit was over ripe for destruction.
Rev 15:7 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.
We are for God or we are against him. We are in Christ our savior or we are with the antichrist. God's wrath is against all who reject him and his son, for they are evil. God is judge of evil and full of righteousness and goodness; his love is pure and undefiled by sin. It was the time of judgment upon the wicked of the earth. The seal judgments, the trumpet judgments and now the vial or bowl judgments. God's wrath poured upon the wicked on the earth.
Rev 15:8 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.
The temple was filed with the glory cloud, His glory and power were moving. No man may enter the temple at this time.
It was the same when Moses could not enter the Tabernacle when the smoke of the cloud of God's glory, sometimes called the Shekinah filled the tent .
Shekinah - A visible manifestation of the divine presence as described in Jewish theology.
Exo 40:34 Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.
Exo 40:35 And Moses was not able to enter into the tent of the congregation, because the cloud abode thereon, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.
No man in the flesh could enter the temple. Nor do we enter into heavenly places in the flesh; only by the Spirit. It was to be the judgment of men by God through his angels. Angels do the work of God from heaven. Men do the work of God from earth, through his Spirit. Because of our salvation in Christ Jesus, no man will experience the wrath of God.
Rom 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Rom 5:9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
We are a grateful people, saved by grace and reaching out to the lost, warning them and inviting them to Jesus and salvation, to be saved from God's wrath.
Rom 12:19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
The seven angels were ready to pour out the wrath of God as commanded. Are you in Christ Jesus, saved from God's wrath upon sin?
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