The harpists joined in singing two songs: the song of Moses and the song of the Lamb. Both songs celebrate redemption by God's almighty hand. The song of Moses was sung initially on the banks of the Red Sea after God had miraculously led His people through the Red Sea and then drowned Egypt's cavalry in the rushing water (Exodus 15).

Similarly, God had triumphed over the beast on behalf of His tribulation saints. The song of the Lamb presumably celebrates Jesus as the Passover Lamb, whose blood redeemed the tribulation saints. They extoll the Lord as performing great and amazing deeds that only the Almighty one could perform. They characterize the Lord as just and true in His ways. His judgments are just, and He makes no mistakes because His ways are true. The wicked deserve the punishment they are about to receive. Further, the saints characterize the Lord as the "King of the nations." Following His judgments, no wicked person will be left to enter Jesus' earthly kingdom. The King of kings and Lord of lords will take custody of the nations.

Revelation 15:1–4 focuses on seven angels with seven plagues that conclude the outpouring of God's wrath on the wicked. The event causes the victors over the beast, his image, and number to celebrate. They play harps and sing the song of Moses and of the Lamb. These are songs of redemption, parallel to those seen in Exodus 15 and Deuteronomy 32. Their song of the Lamb praises the Lord for His character and deeds and anticipates the time all nations will worship Him.

This chapter reports that the apostle John saw an amazing sight in heaven. First, he saw seven angels having seven plagues, which he said are the last plagues to occur to finish God's wrath. Next, he saw what appeared to be a sea of glass mingled with fire. Those who had conquered the beast, its image, and its ''666'' number were standing in front of the sea of glass, and they were holding harps. They sang the song of Moses and the song of the Lamb. They addressed God as the Lord God Almighty and the King of the nations. Finally, John saw the sanctuary of the tent of witness in heaven open. The seven angels with the seven plagues emerged from the sanctuary. They were clothed in pure bright linen with golden sashes around their chests. He saw one of the four living creatures give each of the seven angels a bowl full of the eternal wrath of God. Then smoke from God's glory and power filled the sanctuary. No one could enter the sanctuary until the seven plagues were finished.

Revelation 15 falls between the trumpet judgments and the bowl judgments. Like the events described in chapter 14, the events given in chapter 15 do not occur in chronological order. Like the opened seals and the trumpets, the judgments introduced in this chapter number seven. They are said to be the final judgments. They involve terminal judgments on the empire of the beast from the sea and the beast from the land (Revelation 13).

The word ''revelation'' means ''an unveiling or disclosure.'' This writing unveils future events such as the rapture, three series of judgments that will fall on the earth during the tribulation, the emergence of the Antichrist, the persecution of Israel and her amazing revival, as well as Jesus' second coming with His saints to the earth, the judgment of Satan and his followers, and finally, the eternal state. This content, combined with the original Greek term apokalypsis, is why we now refer to an end-of-the-world scenario as ''an apocalypse.''

Accessed 10/31/2025 4:07:08 PM

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