CHRIS' COMMENTARY NOTES FOR REVELATION CHAPTER 15
Revelation Chapters 15-16. This section has been called “The Seven Vials” and “The Bowl Judgments. ”Halley's says, "judgments of God by which the power of the beast is broken (15:2; 16:2, 10, 13): evidently, the Leopard-Lamb-Beast of chapter 13, identified as 'Babylon' in 16:19, and detailed in chapters 17 and 18" (Source 1, p. 728). The last bowl (Rev 16:17-21) ends the Seventh Seal (see note titled, "Revelation, chapters 6-11" for more) (Source 2, p. 2013).
Timeline: In my OPINION Revelation chapters 15-16 are the details from chapter 14, much like in chapter 12 where vv. 7-12 is a detailed view of vv. 1-6. I think this because the last part of chapter 14 appears to be the end of the world but we still have 8 chapters to go. Also the winepress from 14:19-20 appears to be the battle of Armageddon in the valley of Megiddo which perfectly corresponds to the final bowl of wrath in Rev. 16:16. In my OPINION the first reaping (Rev. 14:14-16) are Christians and the second reaping (Rev. 14:18-20) are non-believers, so here in chapters 15-16 these are non-believers going through the Seven Bowls.
Revelation 15. This chapter has been titled, “Prelude to the Bowl Judgments.” Nordquist says, “Revelation 15:1 states that John saw 7 angels having the 7 last plagues, filled up with the wrath of God. But then in verses 6 and 7 we see the 7 angels come out of the temple and are given the vials full of the wrath of God. John starts the subject stating that they are there, goes to another vision of the saints in heaven, and then returns to the angels and gives more information on how they got the vials” (Source 3).
Timeline: In my OPINION Revelation chapters 15-16 are the details from chapter 14, much like in chapter 12 where vv. 7-12 is a detailed view of vv. 1-6. I think this because the last part of chapter 14 appears to be the end of the world but we still have 8 chapters to go. Also the winepress from 14:19-20 appears to be the battle of Armageddon in the valley of Megiddo which perfectly corresponds to the final bowl of wrath in Rev. 16:16. In my OPINION the first reaping (Rev. 14:14-16) are Christians and the second reaping (Rev. 14:18-20) are non-believers, so here in chapters 15-16 these are non-believers going through the Seven Bowls.
Revelation 15. This chapter has been titled, “Prelude to the Bowl Judgments.” Nordquist says, “Revelation 15:1 states that John saw 7 angels having the 7 last plagues, filled up with the wrath of God. But then in verses 6 and 7 we see the 7 angels come out of the temple and are given the vials full of the wrath of God. John starts the subject stating that they are there, goes to another vision of the saints in heaven, and then returns to the angels and gives more information on how they got the vials” (Source 3).
Notes on Revelation 15:1-8.
15:1. I saw another sign in heaven. This is another of the “Great Signs” which were first mentioned in Rev. 12:1 (see note there titled, “A great sign”).
Seven angels having the seven last plagues. See note under “Revelation 7” titled, “Six, pause, Seven Model” for more info.
the wrath of God is complete. God’s judgment is based upon His desire to see every person come to Him. But there is a cutoff when people have had their chances and at that point, God’s “wrath” will be “complete.” This helps us understand that God’s wrath is perfect and perfectly justified. This is not the same as the justice that will keep people in torment in hell for eternity. This “wrath” has an expected outcome of repentance and reconciliation.
15:2. Something like a sea of glass mingled with fire. Here “sea of glass” represents a multitude of people still on earth. These people are both at peace (like “glass”) and yet suffering/ have suffered (as if on “fire”). See below:
Regarding “sea of glass”, it is my OPINION that this “sea” is a multitude of people still on earth partially because 1. it has been used elsewhere (see the following notes for other times: Rev. 4:6 titled, “sea of glass”; Rev. 12:15 titled, “Spewed water”, and Rev. 17:15 titled, “the waters which you saw, where the harlot sits” and “are peoples, multitudes, nations and tongues”). 2. because the words “something like” are used to assume that this is a literal sea seems preemptive. 3. The context from Rev. 4:6 is a calm people who have come through difficulties.
Again, in my OPINION, the people “mingled with fire” are Christians who have come through Tribulation trials: I believe these are the same people mentioned in Rev. 4:6. It would make sense that a group who has overcome the Devil and his tricks (probably the 144,000, see Rev. 14:1-5, and note titled, “Revelation 14”) would stand on the shoulders (i.e. the foundation laid by Jesus via His servants) of their fellow Christians who have endured trials.
Although I disagree with Jamieson, Fausset and Brown who view the “sea” as the bronze laver in front of God’s throne which was for “the purification of the priests” and therefore a picture of “baptism” for Christians, when they explain the “mingled with fire” portion I do agree with some of it. They say it answers “to the baptism on earth with fire, that is, fiery trial, as well as with the Holy Ghost, which Christ's people undergo to purify them, as gold is purified of its dross in the furnace” (Source 4).
those who have the victory over the beast. Guzik explains these "are the tribulation martyrs, described in Revelation 7:9-17. Initially I thought these were not those who survive the tribulation" since the bowl judgments hadn't happened yet. But in my OPINION this section (as a preface) and chapter 16 are the details of Revelation 14. If that’s the case the earth is reaped of Christians prior to the 7 Bowl Judgments. Therefore it is possible that here, “those who have the victory over the beast” don’t die at the hand of Satan but are actually taken home by the Lord and since they have persevered against Satan they are considered victors. But even if I’m wrong and Satan (or the Antichrist) does kill them Guzik has an interesting view: "Therefore, even though the Antichrist kills them, they have victory over the beast - they are not losers. The early church consistently described the day of martyrdom as "a day of victory" (Source 5).
over his image and over his mark and over the number of his name. “His image” is in reference to the Abomination of Desolation (for more see note on Rev. 13:14 titled, “Make an image to the beast”). “His mark” is in reference to something that Satan will piut on people to identify them as his property. It could be in any form: a tattoo, a microchip, scarification, or more likely something that we have yet to see (for more see note on Rev. 13:16 titled, “To receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads”). “The number of his name” is in reference to “666” (for more see note on Rev. 13:18 titled, “calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666”).
standing on the sea of glass. See note directly above titled, “Something like a sea of glass mingled with fire” for how the “sea” is representative of people. So those who “have the victory over the beast” (see note directly above) apparently stand on the proverbial shoulders of those who came before them (the “sea of glass mingled with fire”).
having harps of God. In my OPINION these could be the 144,000 who had harps similar to these and were also singing songs in Rev. 14 (see notes on Rev 14:2 titled “The sound of harpists playing their harps” and note titled, “Revelation 14:1-5”, for more).
15:3. Song of Moses. This is found in Exodus 15. MacArthur notes the context is “sung by the people of Israel immediately after their passage through the Red Sea and their deliverance from the Egyptian armies (Ex. 15:1-21; cf Deut. 32:1-43), this was a song of victory and deliverance that the redeemed who overcome Antichrist and his system will readily identify with” (Source 2, p. 2013).
Saints. Other texts read this as “nations.” Note “nations” in Rev. 15:4.
15:5. Temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven. MacArthur says, "This refers to the ark of the covenant in the Holy of Holies (temple) where God dwells (see note on 11:19)" (p. 2013). See note titled “The Temple” under “Keys to Understanding Revelation 4-22” at the beginning of Revelation chapter 4 for more).
15:6. Clothed in pure bright linen. The linen is a type of cloth and here it represents “holiness and purity” which is noted from Rev. 19:14 (Source 2, p. 2013). See Ezekiel 44:17-18 where God decrees the priests ephod’s be made from linen. The reason for that is that their work shouldn’t be hard causing them to sweat (as in they struggle through it without God’s help). Although the color of the linen isn’t given it would make sense if it is white since the priest’s ephods just mentioned were white and other cloth noted as “pure” has been white (see Rev. 3:5; 7:9) but that’s just an assumption.
Their chests girded with golden bands. MacArthur says, “These are belts or girdles, running from the shoulder to the waste, that each of the seven angels wear over his garments. The bands demonstrate riches royalty and untarnished glory" (p. 2013).
15:7. Four living creatures. These are the four living creatures mentioned in Rev. 4:6-8.
15:8. Filled with smoke from the glory of God and from his power. See Exodus 19:16–18; 40:34–35; 1 Kings 8:10, 11; Isaiah 6:4. Guzik says this is the Shekinah glory (Source 5).
No one was able to enter the temple till the seven plagues of the seven angels were completed. Guzik explains “When the cloud of glory fills the temple in heaven, no one can enter. It was the same when Moses could not enter the Tabernacle when the smoke of the cloud of God's glory, sometimes called the Shekinah filled the tent (Exodus 40:34-35)” (Source 5).
References:
Source 1: Halley’s Bible Commentary, 1965.
Source 2: John MacArthur, The MacArthur Study Bible, 1997.
Source 3: Dan Nordquist, Understanding Revelation and the timeline of events, http://www.prophecyandtruth.com/revelation.htm.
Source 4: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown,
http://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/jfb/Rev/Rev_015.cfm?a=1182001
Source 5: David Guzik, http://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/guzik_david/StudyGuide_Rev/Rev_15.cfm?a=1182001.
15:1. I saw another sign in heaven. This is another of the “Great Signs” which were first mentioned in Rev. 12:1 (see note there titled, “A great sign”).
Seven angels having the seven last plagues. See note under “Revelation 7” titled, “Six, pause, Seven Model” for more info.
the wrath of God is complete. God’s judgment is based upon His desire to see every person come to Him. But there is a cutoff when people have had their chances and at that point, God’s “wrath” will be “complete.” This helps us understand that God’s wrath is perfect and perfectly justified. This is not the same as the justice that will keep people in torment in hell for eternity. This “wrath” has an expected outcome of repentance and reconciliation.
15:2. Something like a sea of glass mingled with fire. Here “sea of glass” represents a multitude of people still on earth. These people are both at peace (like “glass”) and yet suffering/ have suffered (as if on “fire”). See below:
Regarding “sea of glass”, it is my OPINION that this “sea” is a multitude of people still on earth partially because 1. it has been used elsewhere (see the following notes for other times: Rev. 4:6 titled, “sea of glass”; Rev. 12:15 titled, “Spewed water”, and Rev. 17:15 titled, “the waters which you saw, where the harlot sits” and “are peoples, multitudes, nations and tongues”). 2. because the words “something like” are used to assume that this is a literal sea seems preemptive. 3. The context from Rev. 4:6 is a calm people who have come through difficulties.
Again, in my OPINION, the people “mingled with fire” are Christians who have come through Tribulation trials: I believe these are the same people mentioned in Rev. 4:6. It would make sense that a group who has overcome the Devil and his tricks (probably the 144,000, see Rev. 14:1-5, and note titled, “Revelation 14”) would stand on the shoulders (i.e. the foundation laid by Jesus via His servants) of their fellow Christians who have endured trials.
Although I disagree with Jamieson, Fausset and Brown who view the “sea” as the bronze laver in front of God’s throne which was for “the purification of the priests” and therefore a picture of “baptism” for Christians, when they explain the “mingled with fire” portion I do agree with some of it. They say it answers “to the baptism on earth with fire, that is, fiery trial, as well as with the Holy Ghost, which Christ's people undergo to purify them, as gold is purified of its dross in the furnace” (Source 4).
those who have the victory over the beast. Guzik explains these "are the tribulation martyrs, described in Revelation 7:9-17. Initially I thought these were not those who survive the tribulation" since the bowl judgments hadn't happened yet. But in my OPINION this section (as a preface) and chapter 16 are the details of Revelation 14. If that’s the case the earth is reaped of Christians prior to the 7 Bowl Judgments. Therefore it is possible that here, “those who have the victory over the beast” don’t die at the hand of Satan but are actually taken home by the Lord and since they have persevered against Satan they are considered victors. But even if I’m wrong and Satan (or the Antichrist) does kill them Guzik has an interesting view: "Therefore, even though the Antichrist kills them, they have victory over the beast - they are not losers. The early church consistently described the day of martyrdom as "a day of victory" (Source 5).
over his image and over his mark and over the number of his name. “His image” is in reference to the Abomination of Desolation (for more see note on Rev. 13:14 titled, “Make an image to the beast”). “His mark” is in reference to something that Satan will piut on people to identify them as his property. It could be in any form: a tattoo, a microchip, scarification, or more likely something that we have yet to see (for more see note on Rev. 13:16 titled, “To receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads”). “The number of his name” is in reference to “666” (for more see note on Rev. 13:18 titled, “calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666”).
standing on the sea of glass. See note directly above titled, “Something like a sea of glass mingled with fire” for how the “sea” is representative of people. So those who “have the victory over the beast” (see note directly above) apparently stand on the proverbial shoulders of those who came before them (the “sea of glass mingled with fire”).
having harps of God. In my OPINION these could be the 144,000 who had harps similar to these and were also singing songs in Rev. 14 (see notes on Rev 14:2 titled “The sound of harpists playing their harps” and note titled, “Revelation 14:1-5”, for more).
15:3. Song of Moses. This is found in Exodus 15. MacArthur notes the context is “sung by the people of Israel immediately after their passage through the Red Sea and their deliverance from the Egyptian armies (Ex. 15:1-21; cf Deut. 32:1-43), this was a song of victory and deliverance that the redeemed who overcome Antichrist and his system will readily identify with” (Source 2, p. 2013).
Saints. Other texts read this as “nations.” Note “nations” in Rev. 15:4.
15:5. Temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven. MacArthur says, "This refers to the ark of the covenant in the Holy of Holies (temple) where God dwells (see note on 11:19)" (p. 2013). See note titled “The Temple” under “Keys to Understanding Revelation 4-22” at the beginning of Revelation chapter 4 for more).
15:6. Clothed in pure bright linen. The linen is a type of cloth and here it represents “holiness and purity” which is noted from Rev. 19:14 (Source 2, p. 2013). See Ezekiel 44:17-18 where God decrees the priests ephod’s be made from linen. The reason for that is that their work shouldn’t be hard causing them to sweat (as in they struggle through it without God’s help). Although the color of the linen isn’t given it would make sense if it is white since the priest’s ephods just mentioned were white and other cloth noted as “pure” has been white (see Rev. 3:5; 7:9) but that’s just an assumption.
Their chests girded with golden bands. MacArthur says, “These are belts or girdles, running from the shoulder to the waste, that each of the seven angels wear over his garments. The bands demonstrate riches royalty and untarnished glory" (p. 2013).
15:7. Four living creatures. These are the four living creatures mentioned in Rev. 4:6-8.
15:8. Filled with smoke from the glory of God and from his power. See Exodus 19:16–18; 40:34–35; 1 Kings 8:10, 11; Isaiah 6:4. Guzik says this is the Shekinah glory (Source 5).
No one was able to enter the temple till the seven plagues of the seven angels were completed. Guzik explains “When the cloud of glory fills the temple in heaven, no one can enter. It was the same when Moses could not enter the Tabernacle when the smoke of the cloud of God's glory, sometimes called the Shekinah filled the tent (Exodus 40:34-35)” (Source 5).
References:
Source 1: Halley’s Bible Commentary, 1965.
Source 2: John MacArthur, The MacArthur Study Bible, 1997.
Source 3: Dan Nordquist, Understanding Revelation and the timeline of events, http://www.prophecyandtruth.com/revelation.htm.
Source 4: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown,
http://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/jfb/Rev/Rev_015.cfm?a=1182001
Source 5: David Guzik, http://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/guzik_david/StudyGuide_Rev/Rev_15.cfm?a=1182001.