Revelation 15. Yesterday we wrapped up a whole section of seeing spiritual war from the viewpoint of heaven (Revelation 10-14) with a picture of the final judgment that included the grim reaper (14:17-20). More than once, John has taken us through the whole range of God’s judgments as seen from different viewpoints – the seven seals and the seven trumpets were each a cycle of symbolic visions that ended with “the end”.

Now we approach one more cycle of symbolic visions – the seven last plagues or bowls (Revelation 15-16). There are seven angels that pour out the seven bowls, but there is something different in this cycle. John tells us the seven angels with the seven plagues (in bowls) are the last, for with them the wrath of God is finished (15:1). The emphasis is on the finality of this cycle – this is the final wrath of God, this is the end.

At this point the churches reading John’s letter may have been tempted to despair because of all the wrath and judgments and terrible things that seem to be poured out on the earth. (We too might despair of ever getting through the complexity of this book!) Yet John always inserted sections in the letter that were meant to anchor their faith and give them (and us) encouragement.

Here again is a picture of a sovereign God who is being worshipped by His people:

In the throne room of heaven, with a sea of glass mingled with fire, there was a large group of those who had conquered the beast and its image, and they had harps and they sung a song of Moses (15:2-3). Just think – there are those who have conquered the beast! The beast has been defeated, and those who belong to God and present in heaven, offering worship to Him! There is victory! There is worship!

Interesting that it was a song of Moses. In fact, the great deliverance of God’s people under Moses forms a pattern for the deliverance brought by the Slain Lamb. The exodus imagery is frequently present in Revelation – used in the seven trumpets (Revelation 8-9) and now again in the seven plagues/bowls. A song of Moses is entirely appropriate for celebrating the deliverance of God’s people.

Consider the character of God highlighted in the song: “Great and amazing are your deeds, O Lord God the Almighty! Just and true are your ways, O King of the nations! … You alone are holy.” Phrase after phrase of this song is drawn from the Old Testament, citing the Psalms and Jeremiah.

Even as the seven bowls of God’s final wrath are being prepared, God’s people are reminded that He is sovereign and just, worthy of all glory and honor and power.