a study by Rev. Paul A. Bartz

The seven plagues which begin in chapter fifteen and conclude in chapter 16 are God's seven last warnings to unbelievers. The comfort for believers is that they are marked with Christ's seal, visible to the angels who are God's agents on earth carrying out the destruction. Yet this is the time Jesus spoke of when He warned that in the last days things would get so bad on earth that even the elect would be deceived, if that were possible (see Matthew 24:22-25). From these words, it is clear that the elect believers will not have an easy time of it during these days, but they will have special help from God to aid them in overcoming.

Note, with reference to the beast (who here in heaven is powerless - verse 2) and the rest of the perspective is spiritual and religious. It is not political as the Millennialists believe. We are seeing is behind-the-scenes spiritual activity and the spiritual significance of the events which shall take place in human history. These events are important, not politically, but spiritually.

We note four things about these plagues:

1. None of them strike the children of God;

2. They take place on earth before the last judgment;

3. They are clearly presented in figurative language -- (are the bowls literal?)

4. They are not easy to interpret, especially since all of them may not have taken place yet.

15:1 -- Like the calm before the storm, the seven last plagues of history are ominously introduced, and then we again view the peaceful worship of God in heaven. Verse 1 makes clear that these are the seven last plagues, and that they are a result of God's judgment. Since God's judgment is not capricious, we know that these plagues are a direct result of man's sin. The overall summary of history, based on the outcome of these plagues, is that God handed man a perfect earth, and here, at the end of time, man's sin utterly destroys it.

15:2 -- Here is the Church Triumphant in heaven, where the beast, nor Satan, have no power. The saints here have overcome them in Christ.

15:3-4 -- The Song of Moses, here sung in heaven, is recorded in Exodus 15:1-18. It was sung in Sabbath services in the evening to praise God for His deliverance of Israel from Egypt. And they sang the song of the Lamb, which is recorded for us in these verses. The song of the Lamb (Jesus Christ), follows a pattern similar to the song of Moses and is rich in Old Testament titles for God, clearly showing that Christ, the Lamb, is God. It also notes that all nations will worship Him, a truth also recognized in Old Testament times. For at the Judgment all the people who ever lived will stand before Him in resurrected bodies. At that time, even those resurrected only for judgment will have to recognize His glory and Godhead.

15:5-8 -- The "camera" now swings to the seven angels who are handed the seven bowls of God's judgment. This takes place in the heavenly Temple. One of the "four living creatures" again appear, as one or more had in the past, whenever God is preparing special action, especially judgment, for the earth. These creatures appear to be God's direct agents to the powerful angels assigned to actually carry out, on earth, the will of God. The Tabernacle of Testimony was where Moses spoke with God as Israel wandered in the wilderness. It was so named because the two tablets of the law, "God's Testimony" rested in the Tabernacle. The sashes worn by the angles (15:6) were symbols of royal and priestly functions.

Having received their plagues, the setting is ready for the seven last plagues of history.

1. Compare the song of Moses (Exodus 15:1-18) and the song of the Lamb here in Revelation 15. What are some similarities?

2. Old Testament worship as well as New Testament worship as recorded in the New Testament, as well as heavenly worship are all rooted in glorifying God for deeds He has accomplished and recognizing that His saving acts are the basis of our worship. What does this suggest, in concrete terms, that our worship today should look like, if it is to be God pleasing?

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