Comfort for the Saints (Revelation 15)

Let's call to mind that in Revelation 6:10, the saints asked God how long it would be before He avenged the blood of the slain saints shed by their oppressors.  Here they are told that it is now time for the punishment due for the suffering brought about by the dragon and his allies.  The forces of heaven are given the directive to implement the wrath of God upon the enemies of righteousness.  Those who are still alive are given a picture of the triumphant martyrs who, having died at the hands of Domitian, kept their faith and endured to the end.  The assurance to the oppressed is that if they too shall overcome the persecution to be inflicted upon them, they also shall receive the crown of life.  It is as if the fallen martyrs are cheering their earthly brethren on to victory. 

It is significant to note that once again, the saints are being exhorted to keep the faith.  Don't give in, don't give up, the God of all creation is aware, still in control, angry with the beast and is about to step in and set things right.  The cruel oppressors are about to face the wrath of God.  In the end, the Roman Empire, as powerful as it seems, will succumb and the faithful saints of God will emerge victorious.  "What then shall we say to these things? If God (is) for us, who (is) against us?" (Romans 8:31). (ASV)

Revelation 15:1
And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvellous, seven angels having seven plagues, (which are) the last, for in them is finished the wrath of God. (ASV)

John saw a great and marvelous sign in heaven.  There were seven angels with seven plagues to dispense on the earth.  The number seven represents completeness to the people of the time.  This would suggest that John's vision previews the complete wrath of God which is to be directed toward the unrighteous.  Biblical history is replete with examples of God's punishment upon the unrighteous.  Sodom and Gomorrah, Egypt, Babylon, Assyria and many others suffered defeat at the direction of God due to their rebellion.  These judgments on earth pale to insignificance in the view of the judgment yet to come, when the eternal punishment of Hell shall be manifested upon them. 

Notice that the text refers to the "finished" wrath of God.  This is no way means that the punishment of the unrepentant oppressors is over.  God's eternal wrath will continue to be upon those outside of Christ, manifested in the eternal punishment of Hell.  (Reference Revelation 14:10-11).  This merely means that God's anger is complete and will be poured out on the Roman Empire until His purpose is fully executed.  The Christians are being told here that the Roman Empire is going to eventually fall as a result of their persecution.

Revelation 15:2
"And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire; and them that come off victorious from the beast, and from his image, and from the number of his name, standing by the sea of glass, having harps of God." (ASV)

This "sea of glass" was mentioned previously in Revelation 4:6, "And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind."  The glass was mentioned in conjunction with the eyes of the living creatures and probably illustrates the transparency of everything to God who knows all things. (cf. 1 John 3:20) and sees all the works of man, (Job 34:21-22, Hebrews 4:13).  The sea represents a barrier between two points.  A barrier from which turmoil and disaster can erupt suddenly and with little warning.  Fire represents both the judgment of God and purification from sin.  The "sea of glass mingled with fire"  here would then seem to represent the all seeing eye of God, burning with the fire of the impending judgment.  And standing there by the sea of glass are those who were "victorious from the beast", separated from God by the confines of their physical existence but still in fellowship with Him as Christians.  Those who rejected emperor worship and refused to accept the mark of the beast are there, ready to witness the coming fire.  "How long, O Master, the holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?" (Revelation 6:10).  The time has come and the faithful are there, looking on, encouraging their still living brethren and praising God.  In revelation 21, the sea which stands between God and His children on earth is gone.  The saved then stand in the actual presence of God in Heaven.

Let's pause and look at the "harps of God" in this context.  The victorious are represented as standing beside the sea of glass mingled with fire having the harps of God.  Attempts have been made to literalize the "harps of God" in an attempt to legitimize the use of Manmade instruments of music in our worship today.  The first problem with this is that if one is going to literalize the harps of God, one needs to look at literalizing the sea of glass mingled with literal fire too.  The second problem with this that must be dealt with is that if there are literal harps of God in heaven, we can be assured they are not made by the fleshly hands of men.  A third problem with this is that this vision is not one of the saints in the eternal bode of heaven, rather, the vision is of the redeemed still on earth, known as the body of Christ. 

Revelation 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, O Lord God, the Almighty; righteous and true are thy ways, thou King of the ages."

Moses and the Israelites sang a song of victorious deliverance over the Egyptian forces after they were destroyed in the Red Sea, (cf. Exodus 15:1-19).  The Christians of the day, especially the Jewish Christians, would recognize this figurative representation of victory instantly.  The song of the lamb is a figurative expression for the deliverance from the bondage of sin.  Thus the combined effect of both songs is a song of deliverance from both earthly oppression and the complete and utter deliverance and triumph over sin that is realized through Christ Jesus, the lamb.  Moses' song of deliverance and Jesus' song of redemption are the ones only the redeemed who were "purchased out of the earth" can sing, (cf. Revelation 14:3). 

"O Lord God, the Almighty; righteous and true are thy ways, thou King of the ages."  Notice the similarity to the wording from Psalms 145:17, "Jehovah is righteous in all his ways, and gracious in all his works,"  The book of Revelation is saturated with allusions to Old Testament scripture. 

Revelation 15:4
"Who shall not fear, O Lord, and glorify thy name?"  

We will let the Bible comment on this beautiful verse.

Isaiah 45:23
"By myself have I sworn, the word is gone forth from my mouth (in) righteousness, and shall not return, that unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear."  See also Romans 14:11, Philippians 2:10-11. 

Revelation 15:4 " ...for thou only art holy"  

1 Samuel 2:2
"There is none holy as Jehovah; For there is none besides thee, Neither is there any rock like our God."

Revelation 15:4 "...for all the nations shall come and worship before thee; "

Psalms 86:9
"All nations whom thou hast made shall come and worship before thee, O Lord; and they shall glorify thy name."

Revelation 15:4 "...for thy righteous acts have been made manifest."

2 Thessalonians 1:4-5
4 "so that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions which ye endure;
5(which is) a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God; to the end that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer:"

Let's back up now and look at the whole of John's description of praise in its entirety. 

Revelation 15:3-4
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, O Lord God, the Almighty; righteous and true are thy ways, thou King of the ages.
4 Who shall not fear, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy; for all the nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy righteous acts have been made manifest.
ASV

What a beautiful picture of praise to God we have here. It embodies so much.  Entire books could be written about these two verses of scripture and never fully cover their content.  As one studies through John's Revelation and struggles with understanding the symbolic language, it is a great comfort that intermingled within this letter are passages that stand out so clear to us in their meaning.  One of the main things we pick up from this and other similar passages is that praise and worship to God is the privilege of the redeemed.  While this blessing is extended to all, not all decide to avail themselves of it, choosing rather to live in rebellion to God's will.  And it is those who so refuse who will never know this privilege.

Revelation 15:5
"And after these things I saw, and the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened:"

The word "temple" here is rendered from the Greek word "naos"  This word alludes directly to the inner sanctuary of the Tabernacle, known as the Holy of Holies.  Within this chamber of the tabernacle was kept the Ark of the Covenant which contained the tables of the law, called "the testimony."  The image here is that the royal throne room of Heaven itself was opened up and what was about to come forth was coming forth from Jehovah Himself and will be supervised under His personal direction.  God is angry and the doors of the inner sanctuary are thrown open to the view of John, thus revealing the gravity of God's intentions. 

Revelation 15:6
"and there came out from the temple the seven angels that had the seven plagues, arrayed with (precious) stone, pure (and) bright, and girt about their breasts with golden girdles."

And there came out from the very holiness of God Himself, the plagues of judgment.  Seven plagues carried by seven angels.  As noted earlier, the number seven is representative of that which is complete.  The seven seals in Revelation 5 and 6 reveal the wrath of God, the seven trumpets announce and warn of the coming wrath of God, (Revelation 8), and the seven bowls execute the wrath of God.  The doom of the Roman Empire is sealed.  It will be methodically and absolutely trodden out under the feet of God like treaders pressing the juice out of grapes in a winepress. 

The glorious array of the angels with their precious stones in golden girdles most likely signifies that these angels are coming forth from the presence of God almighty with a solemn mission to carry out.  The adjectives "pure" and "bright" are representative of the purity and holiness of the judgments of wrath to come. 

Revelation 15:7
"And one of the four living creatures gave unto the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever."

The four creatures here being the same ones mentioned in Revelation 4:6; 5:6-8; 5:14; 6:1-6; 7:11; 14:3, and later on in 19:4.  The idea here being that in understanding the symbolism of John's Revelation, the figurative language is consistent and a consideration of all of it throughout can be used to help unravel the mysteries of this book. 

The wrath of God's judgment is now given over to the angels for implementation.  The plan is complete, God's will on the matter is settled.  The time has come.  The blood of the martyrs, just like the blood of Cain's brother Abel, is crying out from the ground, (cf. Genesis 4:10), and now the punishment has been dispatched to the angels for execution and is about to commence. 

Revelation 15:8
"And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and none was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels should be finished."

The temple here is still indicative of the Holy of Holies.  Looking at this from the view of the oppressed Christians, it is probable that the smoke is representative of God's anger.  However this is not always the case in the Old Testament.  For example, Mt. Sinai in its entirety smoked and quaked from the presence of God when he descended to speak with Moses.  The smoke could therefore be representative of God in action.  Either view is consistent with the theme of the scene being described by John. 

None were able to enter into the temple until all was finished.  There will be no intercessions.  There will be no distractions.  The execution of God's wrath on the Roman Empire is of a paramount priority, under the personal supervision of almighty God Himself, with the doors of Heaven's throne room itself thrown open wide to His view. 

What a picture of comfort this must be to the living saints.  God is in control.  The Roman Empire as evil and cruel as they have been in their persecutions is now going to be called out for their actions.  The oppressed Christians can't buy, they can't sell, they can't participate in any kind of transaction whatsoever.  Their friends and families have been turned over to the state, tortured, maimed, sold into slavery and killed.  They worship God in fear of their lives every day, often assembling in secret places out of the public eye.  They have seen their brethren rounded up and fed to beasts in the Roman games for the enjoyment of the citizens of Rome.  They have seen their brethren hung on posts in the street, doused with oil and lit afire to serve as street lamps.  They have seen their properties seized, their children abused.  They have been persecuted and ostracized by the general populace who hate them and blame them for every thing bad that happens.  This message of divine intervention could not come at a better time.  God is about to put a stop to this and nothing is going to stand in His way or detract Him from this mission.  When He is finished, the Roman Empire who has so viciously and cruelly oppressed the innocent faithful will fall.

Sermon Outline: Comfort for the Saints
By David Hersey of the church of Christ at Granby, MO
Revelation 15

I. God Answers the Cry of the Martyrs

• In Revelation 6:10, the saints cried out, “How long, O Lord?”

• Revelation 15 begins with God’s answer—He is about to avenge their blood.

• The seven angels with seven plagues signal the full execution of divine wrath.

• This judgment is for the oppressors of God’s people—especially the Roman Empire.

II. The Finished Wrath of God (v. 1)

• “Finished” does not mean God’s wrath is over—it means the outpouring is complete.

• These are the final earthly judgments, but eternal wrath continues in hell (cf. Revelation 14:10–11).

• Seven angels, seven plagues—God’s perfect, complete justice.

III. The Sea of Glass Mingled with Fire (v. 2)

• The sea represents separation and danger; fire symbolizes judgment and purification.

• The faithful, victorious saints stand near this sea, still on earth but spiritually near God.

• They have rejected the beast and refused his mark; they now await justice.

• Their position and praise is a symbol of their faithfulness and God’s awareness.

IV. The Song of Moses and the Lamb (vv. 3–4)

• Echoes of Exodus 15—deliverance from earthly oppression.

• The Lamb’s song adds the theme of redemption from sin.

• This dual song is for those delivered from both the beast and the bondage of sin.

• The language alludes to Psalm 145 and Isaiah 45, confirming the righteous nature of God.

V. The Holy Temple Opens (vv. 5–6)

• “Naos” (temple) refers to the inner sanctuary—God’s presence.

• The opening of the temple indicates direct divine action is about to take place.

• Angels come out in holy array—purity and solemnity represent the justice of what is to follow.

• This is no distant wrath—it is personally directed by Jehovah Himself.

VI. The Bowls of Wrath Are Given (v. 7)

• One of the four living creatures (seen throughout Revelation) hands the angels seven bowls.

• These bowls contain the complete, measured-out wrath of God.

• The time for intercession is past—judgment is now.

VII. The Temple Is Filled with Smoke (v. 8)

• Smoke symbolizes either God’s presence or His anger—either interpretation shows divine intensity.

• No one may enter—nothing is to interfere with what God has now set in motion.

• This emphasizes the seriousness of what is to follow: the unstoppable downfall of Rome.

VIII. A Message of Divine Comfort

• Oppressed saints, unable to buy, sell, or live in peace, are assured of God’s intervention.

• The vivid picture of judgment is not meant to terrify the faithful—it is meant to strengthen them.

• The faithful must know: God sees, God cares, and God will act.

Call to Action
To the saints then and now: never give up. God hears the cries of the faithful. Though the world may press us down, restrict our freedoms, and hate us for righteousness' sake, the Lord is not blind or idle. There is a day appointed when all wrongs will be made right, and all oppressors will fall before His wrath. Let us, like those in Revelation 15, stand with faith, worship in truth, and overcome the beast of our own time—whatever form he may take. If you are not yet a child of God, now is the time to repent, obey the gospel, and find comfort in the promises of Christ. God will act. Will you be ready?

Scripture Reference List with Key Points

• Revelation 6:10 – The saints cry out for justice; God promises to answer.

• Revelation 15:1 – Seven angels with seven plagues signal complete divine wrath.

• Revelation 15:2 – Victorious saints stand near the sea of glass and fire, symbols of judgment and separation.

• Revelation 15:3–4 – Song of Moses and the Lamb; praise for deliverance and redemption.

• Exodus 15:1–19 – Song of Moses, celebrating victory over Egypt.

• Psalm 145:17 – God’s ways are righteous and true.

• Isaiah 45:23 / Romans 14:11 / Philippians 2:10–11 – Every knee shall bow; all will acknowledge God's authority.

• 1 Samuel 2:2 – God alone is holy.

• Psalms 86:9 – All nations will worship before God.

• 2 Thessalonians 1:4–5 – The patience of persecuted saints is a token of God’s righteous judgment.

• Revelation 15:5–8 – The holy temple opens; smoke fills the room; judgment is now irreversible.

• Genesis 4:10 – The blood of the innocent cries out to God.