Moses, typically associated with law and obedience across his 95 biblical appearances, here uniquely joins the Lamb in a victory song celebrating divine judgment rather than moral instruction.
Revelation 15
The Seven Angels with Seven Plagues
1I saw another great and marvelous sign in the sky: seven angels having the seven last plagues, for in them God’s wrath is finished.
2I saw something like a sea of glass mixed with fire, and those who overcame the beast, his image, and the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, having harps of God.
3They sang the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, “Great and marvelous are your works, Lord God, the Almighty! Righteous and true are your ways, you King of the nations.
4Who wouldn’t fear you, Lord, and glorify your name? For you only are holy. For all the nations will come and worship before you. For your righteous acts have been revealed.”
5After these things I looked, and the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened.
6The seven angels who had the seven plagues came out, clothed with pure, bright linen, and wearing golden sashes around their chests.
7One of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God, who lives forever and ever.
8The temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from his power. No one was able to enter into the temple until the seven plagues of the seven angels would be finished.
Font Size 17pt
Line Spacing
Theme
John witnesses a heavenly vision of seven angels prepared to pour out God's final judgments upon the earth, representing the completion of divine wrath. Before these final plagues are released, he sees the victorious saints standing on a sea of glass, singing songs of praise that echo both Moses' deliverance at the Red Sea and the Lamb's ultimate victory. The chapter serves as a solemn prelude to the bowl judgments, emphasizing both God's righteous judgment and the worship of those who have overcome through faith.
Context
This chapter transitions from the harvest judgments of chapter 14 to introduce the final bowl judgments that will be detailed in chapter 16.
Key Themes
Outline
- 1 Vision of Seven Angels with Final Plagues John sees seven angels carrying the last plagues that will complete God's wrath.
- 2-4 Song of the Victorious Saints Those who conquered the beast sing praises on a sea of glass, combining the songs of Moses and the Lamb.
- 5-7 Angels Receive Bowls of Wrath The heavenly temple opens and the seven angels are given golden bowls filled with God's wrath.
- 8 Temple Filled with Divine Glory God's glory and power fill the temple with smoke, preventing entry until the plagues are complete.
The Seven Angels with Seven Plagues
15:1–15:8 apocalyptic vision triumphant
John sees seven angels with the final plagues and the victorious saints singing the song of Moses and the Lamb, while the heavenly temple fills with God's glory and smoke.
person_contrast
Moses, typically associated with law and obedience across his 95 biblical appearances, here uniquely joins the Lamb in a victory song celebrating divine judgment rather than moral instruction.
Insights
Cross-References
Connected passages across Scripture
Revelation 15:1 5 references
Lexicals 5
Revelation 12:3 Lexical
Another sign was seen in heaven. Behold, a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads seven cr…
Revelation 21:9 Lexical
One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls which were loaded with the seven last plagues came, and he spoke with me…
Revelation 18:1 Lexical
After these things, I saw another angel coming down out of the sky, having great authority. The earth was illuminated wi…
Revelation 16:1 Lexical
I heard a loud voice out of the temple, saying to the seven angels, “Go and pour out the seven bowls of the wrath of God…
Revelation 14:8 Lexical
Another, a second angel, followed, saying, “Babylon the great has fallen, which has made all the nations to drink of the…
Revelation 15:2 5 references
Lexicals 5
Revelation 19:20 Lexical
The beast was taken, and with him the false prophet who worked the signs in his sight, with which he deceived those who…
Revelation 13:17 Lexical
and that no one would be able to buy or to sell unless he has that mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of…
Revelation 14:11 Lexical
The smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever. They have no rest day and night, those who worship the beast and hi…
Revelation 17:16 Lexical
The ten horns which you saw, they and the beast will hate the prostitute, will make her desolate, will strip her naked,…
Revelation 13:1 Lexical
Then I stood on the sand of the sea. I saw a beast coming up out of the sea, having ten horns and seven heads. On his ho…
Revelation 15:3 5 references
Lexicals 5
Revelation 19:2 Lexical
for his judgments are true and righteous. For he has judged the great prostitute who corrupted the earth with her sexual…
Revelation 16:7 Lexical
I heard the altar saying, “Yes, Lord God, the Almighty, true and righteous are your judgments.”
Revelation 16:14 Lexical
for they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the whole inhabited earth, to gather them…
Colossians 3:16 Lexical
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms, hymns, and s…
Ephesians 5:19 Lexical
speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs; singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;
Revelation 15:4 2 references
Revelation 15:5 5 references
Lexicals 5
Revelation 13:6 Lexical
He opened his mouth for blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, his dwelling, and those who dwell in heaven.
Revelation 11:19 Lexical
God’s temple that is in heaven was opened, and the ark of the Lord’s covenant was seen in his temple. Lightnings, sounds…
Revelation 19:11 Lexical
I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and he who sat on it is called Faithful and True. In righteousness he ju…
Matthew 3:16 Lexical
Jesus, when he was baptized, went up directly from the water: and behold, the heavens were opened to him. He saw the Spi…
Revelation 4:1 Lexical
After these things I looked and saw a door opened in heaven; and the first voice that I heard, like a trumpet speaking w…
Revelation 15:6 5 references
Lexicals 5
Revelation 1:13 Lexical
And among the lamp stands was one like a son of man, clothed with a robe reaching down to his feet, and with a golden sa…
Mark 1:6 Lexical
John was clothed with camel’s hair and a leather belt around his waist. He ate locusts and wild honey.
Revelation 1:20 Lexical
The mystery of the seven stars which you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden lamp stands is this: The seven stars…
Revelation 2:1 Lexical
“To the angel of the assembly in Ephesus write: “He who holds the seven stars in his right hand, he who walks among the…
Revelation 21:9 Lexical
One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls which were loaded with the seven last plagues came, and he spoke with me…
Revelation 15:7 5 references
Lexicals 5
Revelation 5:8 Lexical
Now when he had taken the book, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each one…
Revelation 16:1 Lexical
I heard a loud voice out of the temple, saying to the seven angels, “Go and pour out the seven bowls of the wrath of God…
Revelation 9:13 Lexical
The sixth angel sounded. I heard a voice from the horns of the golden altar which is before God,
Revelation 21:9 Lexical
One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls which were loaded with the seven last plagues came, and he spoke with me…
Revelation 17:1 Lexical
One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and spoke with me, saying, “Come here. I will show you the judgment…
Revelation 15:8 5 references
Lexicals 5
Revelation 21:9 Lexical
One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls which were loaded with the seven last plagues came, and he spoke with me…
Revelation 16:1 Lexical
I heard a loud voice out of the temple, saying to the seven angels, “Go and pour out the seven bowls of the wrath of God…
Mark 9:39 Lexical
But Jesus said, “Don’t forbid him, for there is no one who will do a mighty work in my name and be able quickly to speak…
Mark 6:5 Lexical
He could do no mighty work there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and healed them.
Revelation 3:8 Lexical
“I know your works (behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one can shut), that you have a little power, an…
Interlinear
Word-by-word original language
v. 1
v. 2
v. 3
v. 4
v. 5
v. 6
v. 7
v. 8
Lemma
Morphology
Semantic Range
Theological Significance
Translation Notes
Key Passages