Here in Chapter 15, come across language similar to that found in the book of Exodus, join us as we use Exodus to shed light on Revelation 15.
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The Ultimate Exodus of God’s People
Revelation 15:1-8
The second book in our Bible is called the Book of Exodus. The word “exodus” means “a mass departure.” Well, that’s exactly what happened to the Jewish people in the Old Testament. They had been enslaved in Egypt, but God came and delivered them through the blood of the Passover lamb, and they departed in mass from Egypt to go to the Promised Land.
All of this is a type. Egypt represents the world. The Pharoah represents Satan. The children of Israel represent God’s people in His church. The Passover Lamb represents Jesus Christ who was slain to save us from God’s wrath. The departure from Egypt represents us being delivered out of this present evil age. The Promised Land represents our ultimate destination in heaven.
When we come to Revelation 15, we see Exodus language everywhere.
- The plagues: 15:1,6,8 just as God brought great plagues on Egypt
- The Sea of glass mixed with fire: just as God brought His people through the Red Sea
- Worshipers singing the Song of Moses and the Lamb: just as the Israelites sang the Song of Moses on the shore of the Red Sea.
- Worships have musical instruments (harps): as Miriam led singing and dancing with timbrels.
- Tabernacle of Testimony: points to the giving of the Law, and the construction of the Tabernacle in the wilderness.
There are several other places in the Book of Revelation which harken back to the Exodus:
- Revelation 1:5-6 “He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father” is taken almost verbatim from Exodus 19:6 “you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests…” The Exodus language for Israel is applied to the church.
- The symbolic name for the great city in which God’s witnesses are killed is Egypt (Rev.11:8).
- The great red dragon is the one who seeks to kill God’s people in Revelation 12. Interestingly, the Egyptian Pharoah is called “the great dragon” in Ezek. 29:3.
It is also interesting that the Scriptures seem to see Jesus as the embodiment and fulfilment of Israel:
- God says to Pharoah in Ex.4:22 “Israel is My son, My first-born.” Likewise God says of Jesus Christ at His baptism, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased.”
- In Hos.11:1 it says “When Israel was a youth I loved him, and out of Egypt I called My Son.” Matthew quotes that in 2:15, but applies it to Jesus who came up from Egypt after the death of Herod. Jesus is the antitype of Israel.
- Israel was tested in the wilderness for 40 years. Jesus was tempted for 40 days. All of Jesus’ Scriptural responses to Satan were drawn from Deuteronomy which involve Israel’s wilderness wanderings.
- Both periods of testing (Israel and Christ) come after a baptism. Israel was baptized into Moses at the Red Sea. Jesus was baptized in water by John.
- In Luke 9:31, Jesus’ crucifixion was referred to as His exodus.
And if we are in Christ, we also participate in the greatest and ultimate exodus imaginable. Revelation 15 describes it. We depart from this wicked world and we enter God’s eternal heaven.
So, with that as a little background, let’s dig into Revelation 15. This chapter forms a single vision, but it comes in three parts. Each of the parts begins with “I saw” or “I looked”.
Part 1: The Seven Angels
Part 2: The Victorious Worshipers
Part 3: The Heavenly Temple
Part 1: The Seven Angels
In Heaven: In the book of Revelation, the scene shifts back and from earth to heaven. This scene is located in heaven.
Sign: The word “sign” appears three times in the book of Revelation. In 12:1 – the sign is of a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. This sign points to Israel according to Joseph’s dream (Gen.37:9).
In 12:3 another sign of a great red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems on his heads. This sign points to Satan.
A sign is a miracle that points beyond itself. The miracle is that there are seven angels with seven plagues. What does this sign point to? “Which are the last, because in them the wrath of God is finished.” This sign points to God’s final judgment in which His wrath is finished.
Notice 15:1 and 15:8 it speaks of the seven plagues of the seven angels being finished. This is mentioned at the beginning of this vision in verse 1, and it is mentioned again at the end of the vision in verse 8. This is a literary device called an inclusion. These 2 references to this judgment of God are like bookends, telling us that the central idea in this vision is that of God’s judgment and wrath.
Plagues: There are 7 trumpet judgments in chapters 8 and 9. What Old Testament story do these 7 trumpet judgments remind you of? The fall of idolatrous Jericho, and the entrance of God’s people into the land by virtue of the destruction of their enemies. How did they enter? By the means of 7 priests blowing 7 trumpets on the 7th day, after they had marched around the city 7 times!
Now, we are not talking about trumpets, but plagues. This reminds us of the fall of idolatrous Egypt. That fall took place through the means of devastating plagues that God sent on Egypt. So too, the Ultimate Exodus of God’s people will happen in conjunction with God’s judgment upon this wicked world and its inhabitants.
The wrath of God is finished: 15:7. 7 seal judgments, 7 trumpet judgments, 7 bowl judgments. We have the tendency to read the book of Revelation through chronologically. I think that is a mistake. You will notice that at the end of each series of judgments we have a description of the end of the world and the second coming of Christ. Therefore, if we read the book of Revelation chronologically, we are going to have Jesus returning three different times!
Think of Revelation 6-19 as an orchestra performing a very said musical composition. It is a song of judgment and wrath. The first time through the song, only 1/3 of the musicians play – those musicians associated with the seal judgments. The music is frightening. The second time through the piece, an additional third of musicians play – those musicians associated with the trumpet judgments. This time the music is even more frightening. Then on the final time through the piece, all the musicians play to bring the piece to a climax. It is the same song, but it gets more intense the more musicians are added. So too, the seal judgments, trumpet judgments, and bowl judgments, are all the same judgment of God, but the longer we read in the book of Revelation, the more intense this judgment sounds. When the bowl judgments are poured out, God says, “I’m done.”
Part 2: The Victorious Worshipers
Who are they? “Those who had been victorious over the beast and his image and the number of his name.” We are told in 13:8 that everyone will worship the Beast whose name was not written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb. That means that these people who were victorious over the Beast, were those whose names were written in the book of life of the Lamb from the foundation of the world.
They are the same ones we saw in 14:1-5 – the 144,000. How do we know? Because 15:2 says these were victorious over the number of the Beast’s name. 14:1 says that they had the name of the Lamb and His Father written on their foreheads.
Also in 15:2 they are holding harps. Well, we have already seen in 14:2 that the 144,000 were playing on their harps.
Where are they? They are standing on a sea of glass. We have already seen this sea of glass in Revelation 4:6. It is before the throne of God, and it is like crystal. However this time we are told that the sea of glass is mixed with fire. Fire in the book of Revelation usually speaks of God’s judgment and wrath. In 14:10 we are told that those who worship the Beast “will also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is mixed in full strength in the cup of His anger; and he will be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb.” This sea of glass is mixed with fire, because God’s wrath is about to break out on this wicked rebellious world and bring His judgment to an end.
In the OT Exodus, the Israelites passed through the Red Sea, while their enemies were destroyed in it. Here in Revelation 15, the enemies of God experience the 7 plagues until the wrath of God is finished. They are destroyed. However, the people of God, the 144,000 are found standing on the sea of glass. They are not destroyed by the sea. They stand on it. And remember, the sea of glass is found in the very presence of the throne of God. So, rather than be destroyed, the 144,000 surround the very presence of God to worship Him.
What are they doing? They are singing accompanied with harps. Does this remind you of something else in Scripture? When God had destroyed Israel’s enemies and brought them safely through the Red Sea, the children of Israel sang a song of worship to the Lord. And the Jewish women, led by Miriam, used timbrels to accompany the singing. That song pointed forward to this one. This is the ultimate exodus, and this is the ultimate song of worship. That’s why it is called the Song of Moses AND the song of the Lamb. The Song of Moses is fulfilled in this song of the Lamb.
What does the song focus on?
God’s Works: “Great and marvelous are Your works, O Lord God, the Almighty… for Your righteous acts have been revealed.” This song praises God for what He has done. It would include His glorious act of creation – the billions of galaxies including stars, planets, moons, and asteroids. It would include the creation of all the different kinds of plants and animals, and man, His crowning creation. It would include His works and acts in salvation history, like the Flood, the calling of Abraham, the raising up of Moses, the giving of the Law, the plagues sent on Egypt, the deliverance of Israel from the Pharaoh, etc. Of course, the greatest work of God was sending His own Son, Jesus Christ, to save His people from their sins through His death and resurrection. The Book of Acts records God’s continuing works and acts in the church. And God has continued to do His works down through the centuries to this present day.
God’s Ways: “Righteous and true are Your ways, King of the nations!” God’s ways are righteous. God does His works according to His ways. He acts according to His attributes. Because He is righteous, holy, true, just, and sovereign, He acts accordingly. These are the ways He accomplishes His works.
God’s Worthiness: “Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy.” God alone is worthy of our worship! God alone is holy. God is set apart from everything else in His universe. He is different. He is other. He did not begin to exist. He has always existed. He has life in Himself. He is holy. Therefore He is worthy, and we should fear Him and glorify Him.
God’s Worship: “For all the nations will come and worship before You.” God is worthy of the worship of all the people of this world. John Piper is famous for his saying, “Missions exists because worship doesn’t.” Romans 1 tells us that God has made His existence evident to all people through creation. The greatest crime of the human race is that though we intuitively know that God exists, we refuse to worship Him.
Notice God’s Titles: Lord God – the Almighty – King of the nations.
Notice God’s Attributes: Righteous – True – Holy
Notice How We Should Respond: Fear – Glorify His Name – Worship
Notice this Song is All About God: Your works – Your ways – Your name – You alone – worship before You – Your righteous acts. The worshipers do not mention themselves once! Even though they were faithful, and had overcome the beast, and did not love their lives unto death, none of that is important to them. The one all-consuming thought is the Greatness and Glory of the Lamb and His Father.
Part 3: The Heavenly Temple
The Temple of the Tabernacle of Testimony: Notice this temple is in heaven. This heavenly temple is linked with the tabernacle of testimony. What was that? It was the tabernacle that God instructed Moses to construct in the wilderness, so that the people could offer sacrifice and draw near to God. The “testimony” is speaking about God’s testimony, the giving of the Law.
In Heaven was Opened: Why? So that we can see what is inside. The seven angels holding the seven bowls of wrath (plagues) came out of the temple, in order to pour them out on the wicked.
What are these 7 Angels Wearing? Linen, clean and bright, and girded around their chests with golden sashes. Linen is white, showing their purity. Their golden sashes show their dignity and status. We find from Revelation 1 that Jesus has a golden sash around his chest as well. This shows the close association of these angels with Jesus.
The 4 Living Creatures Gave 7 Bowls of Wrath: these four living creatures are the most elite of the angelic beings. They stand nearest to the throne of God. In Revelation, they are engaged in worship and bringing to pass God’s judgment on the wicked.
The Temple was Filled with Smoke: What is this smoke all about? There is only one other reference in the Bible to a temple filling with smoke. It comes from Isaiah 6, when Isaiah had a vision of the Lord sitting on a throne, lofty and exalted, with the train of His robe filling the temple. The Seraphim called out “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts, the whole earth is full of His glory.” At that, the foundations of the thresholds trembled and the temple filled with smoke. Isaiah responded by saying, “Woe is me, for I am ruined; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.”
We have another situation when Solomon’s temple had finally been built and was dedicated to the Lord. In 1 Kings 8:11 it says that after the ark of the covenant had been set up in the Holy of Holies, “the priests couldn’t stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled the house of the Lord.”
So, what does the temple filling with smoke signify? It points to the terrifying presence of the glory and power of God.
There is one other time in Revelation where we see the temple opened. It is in 11:19. There we see the ark of the covenant in the temple. The 10 commandments inscribed on stone were contained in this ark. Once a year the high priest would sprinkle the blood of an innocent animal who had been slain on top of this ark to atone for all of the violations of these commandments. The ark reveals that God provides mercy for sinners through shed blood. However, here in 15:8, when the temple is opened, we do not see the ark of the covenant. Here the opened temple is defined on the basis of God’s inflexible law – the “testimony.” This is Bad News for sinners. It means that which comes forth from this temple will contain no mercy. There is no opportunity for atonement. Only raw justice. Only the wrath of God.
All of this points to that time when God’s age of grace is over, all the wicked appear before Him, and His wrath is poured out on them.
Conclusion
Christians: What are the 144,000 praising and worshiping God for in this vision? We can tell from the surrounding context. 15:1 speaks about the seven plagues which finish the wrath of God. 15:7 speak of the seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God.
Not only that, but 15:3 indicates that the 144,000 are saying, “Righteous and true are Your ways.” Righteous and true in relation to what? We find the answer in the next chapter – 16:5-7. God is righteous and true when it comes to judging the wicked. And the 144,000 praise Him and glorify Him for His righteous and true judgment.
In the Book of Revelation we find the host of heaven worshiping God for three things: Creation (chapter 4), Redemption (chapter 5,14), Judgment (chapter 16,19).
In the Exodus of the children of Israel, after God had destroyed their enemies and they had passed through the Red Sea on dry land, they lifted up their voices and sang to the Lord, “I will sing to the Lord, for He is highly exalted; the horse and its rider He has hurled into the sea.” They praised God for His righteous judgment on their enemies.
One day, in heaven, we will do the same. Now, as we live in this world, we find it awkward and shocking to praise God for His judgments. Then, in the world to come, things will be different. We will see clearly then. We will know as we have been known. And the judgment of God will appear a righteous and true act of God that is deserving of our praise.
Non-Christians: There is a statement in 15:7 you need to give heed to. It speaks of “the wrath of God who lives forever and ever.” If you are not a Christian, that statement should terrify you! As long as God lives, He will execute His wrath on His enemies. If God could cease to exist, perhaps you could escape His wrath. But the fact that God lives forever and ever means that Hell will be eternal.
My only advice to you is the same as that of John the Baptist, “Flee from the wrath to come.” The only safe place for you is in Jesus Christ. In Him you will find forgiveness, and acceptance with God. Outside of Christ, you will only find wrath and judgment. Flee to Christ!
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