Chapter 15 is a short chapter but it’s important in informing us about the seven bowls of God’s wrath.
The Seven Plagues
The seven plagues mentioned are the fury of God in the seven bowls. They are not separate from the bowls but they are what make them up. They are the third woe, which comes at the sounding of the seventh trumpet. The victors in verse 2 are the late overcomers who went through the Great Tribulation and did not follow the Antichrist. “Standing by the glassy sea” signifies that they’ve been resurrected and raptured to Heaven so they’re above the lake of fire with God. The song of Moses that these overcomers sing is in Exodus 15:1-18. It praises God for the victory over the forces of the Pharaoh by allowing him to part the Red Sea. In singing this song, the overcomers are praising God for their victory over the powers of the Antichrist. The song of the Lamb that is sung praises Christ’s redemption.
The Song of Moses and of the Lamb
In the song that they sing, God’s ways are His governing principles and His works are His judgments. Moses knew His ways but the children of Israel only knew His works (Psalm 103:7). The Greek word for holy in this case refers to the sum of qualities that are His divine character. Holy is His nature and righteous are His principles.
The Temple and the Seven Angels with the Seven Bowls
In verse 5 we see mentioned the temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony. The testimony is the law of God, and was put into the Ark (Exodus 25:16). The Ark was put into the tabernacle so therefore the temple in heaven is the Tabernacle of the Testimony. The seven angels that carry the seven bowls of God’s wrath are dressed like priests (Ezekiel 44:17). “Clean bright linen” indicates they are white garments. These angels are girded at the breasts with golden girdles. To be girded at the breasts is to indicate love and golden girdles indicate divine strength. No one can enter the temple until the angels release the seven bowls. This is so that no one can appease God’s fury with their prayers at this point until the seven bowls are poured out on the rebellious people influenced by the Antichrist.
Chapter 12 is about the woman and the dragon. It can be difficult to interpret what this chapter is talking about but with the right outlook on it, it becomes clear. In Genesis 37:9 Joseph saw in a dream the sun, moon, and eleven stars plus himself, signifying the totality of God’s people. Based on this principle, the sun, moon, and stars here must signify all of God’s people as well, which is represented by a woman. The sun signifies God’s people in the New Testament because the world is no longer dark after Christ entered the world; there is hope for mankind. The moon signifies God’s people in the Old Testament. The moon is the age of law, which is not to be exalted over the stars; all these people are light bearers. The child, being a man child, signifies God’s stronger people. The bible considers them a collective unit fighting the battle for God here on earth. The cry mentioned is actually a prayer. When it says “…and cried out in pain…” it signifies the suffering that God’s people face.
The Red Dragon
The red dragon in verse 3 is Satan. The redness of the dragon signifies the shedding of blood caused by Satan’s murders (John 8:44). The seven heads and ten horns are those of the Antichrist (13:1). This indicates that Satan and the Antichrist are one; the Antichrist is an embodiment of Satan. The seven diadem crowns that the dragon wears indicate the glory of the seven Ceasers’ extraordinary kingship. Since each of them were one with Satan, each assumed deity, claimed to be God, and forced people to worship himself as God. The third part of the stars that are cast to the earth are the saints that backslide because of Satan and are therefore cast down to earth and now they must partake in the Great Tribulation and rapture. That the dragon stood before the woman signifies that he is always against God’s people. Since Genesis 3:15 to this day he is always waiting to claim possession of God’s people and devour them. The man-child is the overcoming saints, the stronger followers. We know this because in Revelation 2:26-27 it says that the overcoming saints will help rule the nations during the millennial kingdom and here they are given an iron rod to rule the nations. God will protect the remaining believers during the last three and a half years before they are raptured on that last day.
The War in Heaven
The war in Heaven mentioned in verse 7 begins immediately after the strongest believers are raptured. They are always in a state of fighting for the Lord. With this war Satan and his angels are cast out of Heaven. Satan accused Job and Joshua and now he accuses the believers of God day and night. But, through fighting him, the kingdom of God can now come in full. Verse 11 refers to the overcoming believers who constitute the man-child in verse 5. They overcame the slander of Satan. The blood of the Lamb answers before God all the accusations of the devil against us and gives us victory over him. We need to verbally testify against the devil when we feel him against us. Unto death indicates martyrdom. They were martyred in Christ’s name. The devil is angry because he has been cast out of Heaven losing all of his territory. He will concentrate his hatred against God’s people during the last three and a half years with great strength, trying to turn them away from Him.
The Woman in the Wilderness
Because of this wrath of Satan, God will be the great eagle that protects her. The wings signify his strength to rescue (Exodus 19:4, Deuteronomy 32:11-12). He will protect His people from Satan just like He brought the people of Israel out from the Pharaoh’s persecution. A time and times and a half denotes three and a half years. The water that Satan will cast out in verse 15 signifies the armies that will be sent by Satan to try and destroy the children of God. God said that He would not use water again to punish His people; therefore, this refers to Satan’s attempt to destroy God’s people. The earth will open and swallow Satan (the depths of the earth often signify hell). The rest of her seed signifies the rest of God’s people who do not make up the man-child. Among them are the Jews that we saw in Chapter 7 and the believers who hold Jesus’ testimony. The sea in verse 18 is the same that we will see in 13:1- the Mediterranean Sea. The sand here represents the shore of the Holy Land, where Israel is. Satan’s persecution will be focused mainly on the land of Israel during the Great Tribulation.
Chapter 5 is the same scene as Chapter 4 except now Jesus has ascended here. In Revelation 5:1, the scroll mentioned is the new covenant and the seven seals are the contents of Revelation. The seven seals are what allow the new covenant to form. Here, Christ is referred to as a lion and “The Root of David”. As a lion, Christ is a strong fighter against the enemy, as prophesied in Genesis 49:8-9. as the Root of David he is the source of David. David, although a forefather of Christ, still called him “Lord” (Matthew 22:42-45). No one in the heavens or earth is capable of opening the seals except for Jesus. As the Redeeming Lamb he took away the sin of fallen man, allowing the fulfillment of God’s will; therefore, he’s able to open the seals.
The Lamb
The Lamb who looks as though He was slain is Jesus. As the Lamb He is our redeemer, not a fighter. That is why He appears as the Lamb. For He did not fight us, He fought FOR us. In saying that He had just been slain indicates that this scene is right after Christ’s accession. He has not yet taken His seat at the right hand of God (Hebrews 1:3, 10:12). He has seven horns because horns signify strength in fighting (Deuteronomy 33:17) and He was the fighting Redeemer; He has completed His fighting so that is why there is seven horns; God move is complete. We are also told that He has seven eyes. Eyes are for searching and observing. Christ has these eyes to execute God’s judgment upon the universe to fulfill God’s eternal purpose.
The angelic elders are ministering to God by bringing forth the saint’s prayers and the incense Christ being added to these prayers. He was the only one who could pay for the sins of mankind. His bloodshed is what allows Him to be the only one to open the seals. The angels and the creatures will forever sing praises to Lord.
Today, as we move further into the book of Revelation, we will be looking at chapters 4 and 5: The Throne in Heaven and The Scroll and the Lamb.
The Throne in Heaven
Chapter 4 is the scene in Heaven when God is ready to execute His universal administration. In the first verse the Lord says, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.” Jacob, Ezekiel, Jesus, Stephen, Peter, and now John, have seen Heaven. Soon it will be opened to all believers. God sits on a large throne in Heaven. Verse 3 refers to him being like jasper and carnelian (or sardius). Jasper is dark green and signifies life in richness. It also signifies God’s communicable glory. Carnelian represents redemption; therefore, we know God is a god of redemption. In the Old Testament High Priests wore breastplates with gems starting with carnelian and having jasper at the end. This showed that the redeemed have a beginning in redemption and an end in God’s glory. The rainbow around His throne signifies that during His judgment He will stay true to the covenant He made with mankind and won’t destroy them flooding nor destroy ALL mankind.
The 24 Elders
Next, in verse 4, the elders are introduced to us. Who are they? There is much speculation as to whom they may be. Some think they are the 12 apostles and the leaders of each of the 12 tribes of Israel. Others say they are the church saints or 24 men from the bible. However, we know that they are not the 12 apostles and the leaders from the tribes of Israel because Matthew 19:28 says this:
“Jesus said to them, ‘I tell you the truth, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man
sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on
twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”
The men and women of Israel are not raptured. The twelve apostles will serve as judges during the millennial kingdom. Also, John was an apostle; did he see himself around the throne or fail to recognize the other apostles? You may believe something different then me but I believe that these elders are angelic angels, celestial beings that help carry out God’s administration. Firstly, from the times of Solomon when the first temple was built to 70 AD, Levitical priests were rotated in groups of 24 elders and leaders. Where did they get this pattern from? From the angelic administration. In 5:10, they refer to the redeemed people as THEY which implies that they are not part of the redeemed people but of angelic descent. White garments do not just signify salvation. Angels also wear white.
“…and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot.”
-John 20:12
Also, crowns represent authority; they are not just given to overcomers and followers of Christ. Not only are they the elders of the thousands of angels but they are the elders of all creation. The seven lampstands that are mentioned next are based upon the lampstands in Exodus 25:37 and Zechariah 4:2. They represent the enlightening and searching of the Spirit of God and His judgment. The sea of glass is not water but fire (15:2). All negatives will be seen and judged.
The Four Creatures
Verse 6 tells us that there are also four living creatures around the throne. What are they and what do they represent? They represent all living creatures that God created. The beasts of the earth, cattle, man, and fowl are all represented. You may be wondering right now why there is nothing that represents the things that crawl the earth or swim the oceans. The serpent, which represents crawling things, also represents Satan. Satan will be cast into the lake of fire, therefore he has no place in Heaven. Revelation 21:1 tells us that the creatures of the water won’t exist in the new heaven and the new earth. The lion and the eagle are unclean but become clean after redemption (Acts 10:11-16). Also, the lion and eagle are fierce and the cattle and man are meek but they can live together now through redemption as well (Isaiah 11:6-9). Christ’s redemption is for all things that God created (Colossians 1:20). Since the creatures are covered with eyes all around and within we can tell that they are crystal clear in every aspect. With 6 wings, they resemble the cherubim in Ezekiel 1:5-10 and seraphim in Isaiah 6:2. The cherubim represent God’s glory and expression (Hebrews 9:5) and the seraphim represent God’s holiness (Isaiah 6:3). When the creatures say “holy, holy, holy” they are implying the triune of God.
