This chapter is introductory (like chaps. 12, 13, and 14) to the final outpouring of the Almighty's wrath upon the enemies of His Church. In chaps. 12 and 13 we had these enemies presented to us; in chap. 14 we had the assurance that, formidable as they were, they should neither be able to hurt the... [ Continue Reading ]
Revelation 15:1. The ANGELS spoken of have SEVEN PLAGUES WHICH ARE THE LAST; and the reason is assigned why they are so named, for in them IS FINISHED THE WRATH OF GOD. God's last and most terrible judgments are at hand.... [ Continue Reading ]
Revelation 15:2. The next thing seen is A GLASSY SEA MINGLED WITH FIRE. There can be no reason to doubt that this is the sea already spoken of at chap. Revelation 4:6. The difference is, that it is now ‘mingled with fire,' the same fire as that of chap. Revelation 14:18, the fire of judgment (comp.... [ Continue Reading ]
Revelation 15:3. Not only do they harp: they mingle song with their harping. THEY SING THE SONG OF MOSES THE SERVANT of GOD AND THE SONG OF THE LAMB, SAYING. The epithet ‘servant of God' applied to Moses awakens the remembrance of all that God did for Israel through Moses the great representative o... [ Continue Reading ]
Revelation 15:5. AND AFTER THESE THINGS I SAW, AND THE TEMPLE OF THE TABERNACLE OF WITNESS IN HEAVEN WAS OPENED. When at chap. Revelation 11:19 the ‘temple of God that is in heaven' was opened there was seen ‘the ark of the covenant' reminding of mercy here the same ark is seen, but now it is in ‘th... [ Continue Reading ]
Revelation 15:6. THE SEVEN ANGELS THAT HAVE THE SEVEN PLAGUES now issue from the TEMPLE, that is, from the innermost shrine of the heavenly sanctuary. Their clothing, according to the later and more correct reading of the Greek, has seemed to many to be absurd: they ARE CLOTHED WITH A STONE PURE AND... [ Continue Reading ]
Revelation 15:7. ONE OF THE LIVING CREATURES next gives to the seven angels SEVEN GOLDEN BOWLS. These living creatures, it will be remembered, are the representatives of redeemed creation, so that in the action here described the redeemed appear as giving the summons for the execution of judgment up... [ Continue Reading ]
Revelation 15:8. AND THE TEMPLE WAS FILLED WITH SMOKE FROM THE GLORY OF GOD AND FROM HIS POWER. This smoke is no smoke of incense, nor is it simply the thick cloud of the majesty of God. It is the smoke by which He is surrounded as the righteous Lawgiver, that which proceeds from the fire of His wra... [ Continue Reading ]