REVELATION 15

This is the shortest chapter in the New Testament. For reasons which will become more clear in subsequent chapters, I believe chapters 15-18 will actually take place prior to the events in chapter 14. This chapter is part of God's response to the ominous events of chapter 13, as he rewards the saints for their faithfulness and expresses his wrath toward the unrepentent.

John sees another sign in heaven, which should remind us of chapter 12, where he saw two signs, one of a woman who was to give birth to Christ, and another of a great red dragon, who was driven out of heaven and thrown down to the earth, where he expresses his anger toward mankind.

This sign is seven angels, who bring seven bowls containing the last plagues for mankind, and John notes its significance and says it is wonderful. From a human perspective, this sounds very much like a father who disciplines his son, except that the scope and severity are much greater and the discipline for those who are actually sons of the devil is eternal. But for the sons of God, both their offenses and God's discipline will soon be forgotten, replaced by a completely restored relationship.

Verse 2 says the saints have conquered the beast, its image and the number corresponding to its name. Perhaps the reason for specifying all three of these will only become apparent with time. Perhaps this is yet another indication of a counterfeit Satanic trinity.

Verses 3 and 4 tell us those who conquer the beast sing the song of Moses (Exodus 15:1-19), though only a variation of it is found here. Unlike the exodus passage, where the Hebrews have left Egypt, the Red Sea has been parted, and the plagues of Egypt have ended, the song here is a prelude to the coming bowl judgments, and the bowl judgments appear to be due to the appearance on earth that the beast has conquered the saints and made an end of them.

The seven angels come out of the sanctuary of God in heaven, which also appeared to be open in Revelation 11:19, immediately after an angel blew the seventh trumpet. I am not sure whether or not that means that the seven bowl judgments follow immediately after the seven trumpet judgments. It is possible that the sanctuary really only opens once, though John describes seeing it twice.

One of the four living creatures gives the seven bowls to the seven angels, and John sees the radiance and glory of the Lord in the sanctuary, though he says nothing about seeing the Lord himself, similar to the vision Isaiah saw in Isaiah chapter 6.

I am reminded here of the passage in Luke 12:49-51 (English Standard Version), where Jesus says:

49"I came to cast fire on the earth, and would that it were already kindled!
50I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how great is my distress until
it is accomplished!
51Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division."

The separation of the wheat from the chaff described in Matthew 13 is now nearing completion.

One question I cannot answer here is whether the purpose of the bowl judgments is purely an expression of God's wrath toward those who have received the mark of the beast and have committed themselves to Satan so completely that it is impossible for any among them to repent, or whether this is one last appeal from God to them to acknowledge his lordship and to serve and glorify him. I tend to believe the former, because no repentance follows any of the bowl judgments. The unsaved appear to have joined themselves completely to Satan, to his anger, his rebellion and his destruction.