Revelation 15:1-4 (NKJV) Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous: seven angels having the seven last plagues, for in them the wrath of God is complete.
2 And I saw something like a sea of glass mingled with fire, and those who have the victory over the beast, over his image and over his mark and over the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, having harps of God. 3 They sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying: “Great and marvelous are Your works, Lord God Almighty! Just and true are Your ways, O King of the saints! 4 Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy. For all nations shall come and worship before You, For Your judgments have been manifested.”
V1 “Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous: seven angels having the seven last plagues, for in them the wrath of God is complete.” This great and marvelous sign indicates that what follows is the greatest, hardest judgments upon the evil people on Earth is about to happen. These 7 angels are those carrying the bowls of God’s wrath to pour out on Earth. These judgments have been issued by the King against evil. The word plagues is used to describe the horrors that the people and the Earth will experience. The Greek word for “plagues” is (G4127) πληγή plēgē, which means (BDAG) “a sudden calamity that causes severe distress, blow in the sense ‘a blow of fate.” Thus, these are a slug, blow, beating on the world as a punishment. It is used as a beating (Luke 10:30), a beating by government officials as given to Paul and Silas (Acts 16:23), and various places in the book of Revelation.
V2 “And I saw something like a sea of glass mingled with fire, and those who have the victory over the beast, over his image and over his mark and over the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, having harps of God.” This is God’s throne room. Compare Exodus 24:9-11, Ezekiel 1:22-28, and Revelation 4:6. The people in this scene are those who had gotten victory over antiChrist for he might have physically killed them but could not kill their souls (Matthew 10:28). They did not accept his mark, his image (idol in the temple), or his number (666).
V3 “They sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying: “Great and marvelous are Your works, Lord God Almighty! Just and true are Your ways, O King of the saints!” They sang a special song written by Moses praising the Lord God Almighty (Yahweh). Everything that He does is great and marvelous done in wisdom, love, and holiness. God is just, that is, even-handed in judgment without any bias. God is true, that is, everything about God is truth and reality. God’s way of life is perfect. They acknowledge this, so should we. Only two manuscripts have “King of saints.” It is most reasonable that it should be translated as “King of Nations.” Jesus is not just King of Saints, He is King of Kings and rules over the entire world (Zechariah 14:9 and Psalm 2:7-8).
V4 “Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy. For all nations shall come and worship before You, for Your judgments have been manifested.” How could anyone not glorify and worship God? How could anyone not glorify His name (His character traits, etc.)? They acknowledge that no one is holy except God. God’s ways, judgments, decisions, acts, blessings, His worldview, His laws, His lifestyle, His kingdom, and His administration of it are flawless. Indeed, all will come and worship. Compare Philippians 2:10 and Zechariah 14:16.
We learn:
- The final judgments will begin.
- The worship of God by the Tribulation believers.
- Characteristics of God and His kingdom.