The Lord, the king of Israel, with his chief 144,000 rulers, has appeared on Mt. Zion. [Note: See Greek No. 2015, epiphania.] The Gathering of the Firstfruits to Israel is celebrated. In the Hebrew calendar Nisan 15-16 is the day when the sheaf of the firstfruits is offered during the Passover season; see Leviticus 23:6-21. (Thirty days later the "little passover" is celebrated for those not yet come into the Land.)
The "Gospel of the Age" is proclaimed (following with the "seven thunders" of the Voice), demanding obedience to no other God except the One GOD of the heavens and the earth. Babylon is about to be destroyed. From the glory now visibly seen above Jerusalem, the Lord proceeds to destroy "that wicked one" and all his followers who oppose God and are viscously persecuting Israel, 2 Thessalonians 2:8.
As Babylon falls, all the earth is warned to cease worshipping the beast and its image. The resurrected dead in Christ are about to be fully blessed...
In the season of the resurrection of the dead the Lord sits awaiting the full "harvest" and the reaping of his great multitude. In the same time the angels harvest the ungodly "vine" to gather its fruit for "crushing" in the LORD's "winepress."Chapter Fifteen pictorially shows the climactic end events just before the LORD's wrath falls due. The seven last plagues are about to be deployed in order to complete God's vengeance upon the ungodly. The overcomers of the beast now appear before the throne to sing the new song of Moses and of the Lamb.
The millennial temple of the dwelling place of the witness in the heaven is open to the angels, and the altar is ready for dedication. The "house" is prepared for its useful occupation, per Ezekiel 43:19-27; 44:1-4.
But, first the seven plagues must be poured out on Babylon. Thereafter, the newly built temple will be open for the use of the nations as a "house of prayer."
1 And I saw another sign in the heaven, great and wonderful: seven angels having the seven last plagues, because in them, the fury of the LORD was completed.
This verse is rather simple for the understanding. The last plagues of the LORD's fury against the ungodly are now to be completed, just as the full glory of the kingdom reformation of Israel is realized. The glory of the LORD is present. The king and high priest of Israel is about to be seated on his own throne of glory.
"Fury;" thumos, 2372. The passion of His anger; wrath. See 14:8,10,19; 16:1,19.
2 And I saw as a sea of glass mingled with fire and the overcomers out of the beast and out of its image, and out of its mark, and out of the number of its name standing upon the sea of glass, having harps of God.
"As a sea of glass mingled with fire." The crystal like "sea" was noted in 4:6. The "sea" doubtless refers to the representative "molten sea," 1 Kings 7:23; which was the huge stationary vessel from which the priests of Solomon's reign drew the water for all the washing done in the inner temple court. The laver is first noted in the Old Testament in Exodus 30:17-21; 38:8. It was made first as a portable container, carried during the 40 years of Israel's wandering in the wilderness.
The "sea" is shown with its appearance described like glass, fire mingled, meaning its iridescence, like the opal gem's sparkling fire. It looks like the sparkling blue waters of a sunlit ocean. The sea sparkles with the colors of a crystal bowl.
"Overcomers;" nikao, 3528. Those victorious, who escaped from the clutches of the beast during the last three and a half years. They have been washed ("baptized") by the Holy Spirit.
"The beast;" theerion, 2342. The first "wild beast" is prominent in Chapter Thirteen. It had authority over every tribe, language, and the seven subservient nations of the earth/land, and its ten horn appendages. The Hebrew nation made a "covenant with death," Isaiah 28:15,18, but God has overturned the deadly covenant, Ezekiel 34:25; 37:26, as He promised.
"Its image;" ikon, 1504. These victors refused to worship the icon of the first (wounded) beast, (described in 13:1-10), which was placed in the Holy Place. See Matthew 24:15; Mark 13:14; Revelation 17:4,5, concerning the "abomination of the desolation" that "stands (histeemi) in a holy place."
"Its mark... number of its name." The image, mark and number of its name is authorized by "another beast," 13:11-18, from within the land. These two beasts worked cooperatively to desolate the people and nation of Israel.
"Standing;" histeemi, 2476. Established in place. This victorious choir and orchestra are positioned upon or over -- but much more likely [Greek: epi] above "the sea" - about which Rev. 4:6 has stated - is located "in sight of the throne."
The laver was, in ancient times, placed between "the tent of the congregation and the altar," Exodus 30:7,30. Solomon placed the sea "on the right side of the house eastward" (facing east) "over against the south," 1 Kings 7:39.
In the temple, the harpers and singers assembled in formation above the sea on the steps to the porch of "the house" per the patterns shown in Ezekiel's vision. The porch is also the place from which the priests sound the trumpets. The sea indeed shall be within the sight of the LORD's throne when both sets of double doors to the temple are kept continually open during the millennium. The doors are open during the judgment, but the Holy Places (the nave) are smoke filled, 14:1-20; 15:5-8; 16:1-21, and not visible. Nevertheless, every eye shall see Him/him when the judgment commences...
Ezekiel's vision of the future temple's sanctuary shows the nave, with the chambers of the singers, 40:44, alongside the inner court of the inner north gate.
"Harps of God." Musicians and singers! David was very good in the ordering of the musicians and the singers in the service of the temple.
See 2 Chronicles 5:13; 7:6; 23:13: 34:12; First Chronicles 15:16; 16:42. He addressed many of his psalms "To the Chief Musician."
3-4 And they sing the song of Moses, servant of the LORD, and the song of the Lamb, saying:
The verses of the Lamb's song are:
"Great and wonderful are Thy works, Lord God Almighty. Righteous and true are Thy ways, O king of the [holy ones."] Who should not fear Thee, O LORD, and glorify Thy Name that only is holy? For, all the nations shall come and do worship in Thy sight; for Thy judgments are made plain."* (...But some Greek editors read "nations" for "holy ones." See Jeremiah 10:7, contrast verse 2. The text is applicable to the "signs of the heavens" that rule over the nations as well as to new Israel's holy people. God does rule in the heavens, and upon the earth just as Daniel's prophecy repeatedly insists upon as the truth).
The Song of Moses is found in Deuteronomy 32. Read it there, now. It is sung along with the new Song of the Lamb, as GOD's witness against the children of Israel for their sins. The book of Deuteronomy - the Law of Moses - was placed inside the ark of the covenant of Yahweh Elohim to "be a witness against" Israel.
"Great and wonderful." The words are attributes of the Name. These same words were declared in verse one, where they pointed to the coming activity of the angels who pour out the seven plagues of fury, the LORD's work. See Psalm 111:2-3.
Several times the reader has been reminded of the Scripture which says, "The judgment must begin at the house of God," 1 Peter 4:17. This truth is evident in our days. Like it or not, the nation of Israel was chosen of God; and He has never rejected them, but they have rejected Him. But He is faithful to His promises and His covenants, which He will fulfill.
The judgment against the nation has already begun. The world in general is not aware of the progress of the Lord's day until the sixth seal is opened - which releases the first great earthquake and the sign of the LORD's coming. Now see Leviticus 26:21. "And if ye" (Israel) "walk with Me in opposition and are not willing to hearken to Me, then I have added to you a plague, seven times according to your sins."
"Lord GOD Almighty." This is one of GOD's titles in the Old Testament.
"Righteous and true." All His ways are righteousness and truth, as spoken by the prophets of Israel. See Psalm 145:17.
"King of the Holy Ones." * The LORD has never chosen any other people than the Hebrews - except those gentiles whom He has chosen to be set apart for Him to become kings and priests.
"Who should not fear Thee, O LORD?" In prospect of the coming fury, the question is posed, and then answered.
"All nations shall come..." Actually, "all flesh," for God accounts "the nations" as a "drop in the bucket." If the nations do not come to Him, no rain will fall upon them. The drought conditions will impel them to ask for God's help. Zechariah 14 speaks of the day of the LORD's coming judgment. See Psalm 86:9.
5 And with these things I saw and, behold! The temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in the heaven was opened.
"With these things." According to the purpose first stated in Revelation 1:19, the things told to John as revealed by the Lord's messenger. The LORD's will is done. Coming from Edom's direction, which is the East, (see Psalm 83:6-8); (not from Sinai) the Lord has trodden the winepress alone, according to O.T. prophecy of Isaiah 63:3-6. With the angels preparing to pour out the seven last plagues, the music and Song of Moses and the Lamb are sung before the throne.
In the O.T. temple service, during the singing while the priest ministers within the Holy Place, attending to the Father's "business" there, the congregation prays outside in the assembly place, awaiting the blessing of redemption."Behold!" John is amazingly surprised at the sight of the opened temple.
See Bullinger's short but very interesting note on ASTEISMOS; or,
INDICATING. He says "Yea" (gam) is peculiar to God, the Father; "verily"
(ameen) is favored by Jesus, while "behold" (idou) is favored by the Holy
Spirit. Hmm...
"Tabernacle;" skeenee, 4633. The house; the dwelling place designated for the priests who serve, to show forth God's glory to Israel...
"Testimony;" marturion, 3142. The things housed within the first tabernacle were representations of the LORD's spiritual things; a testament of things foreshadowed to come. See Acts 7:44; Hebrews 8:2; Exodus 40:5-9. This last text also connects thoughts of the ark, 11:9, and of the laver (the sea) to John's prophecy.
"In the heaven." In the sky above Jerusalem, above Mt Zion.
"Opened;" anoigo, 455. For the emergence of God (the elohim; angels who do the bidding of the Father), Whose fury repays vengeance to the wicked, as verse eight shows. The LORD in the Son has ("we will come") come to dwell with men. But the smoke of God's wrath must clear first, definitely as in Isaiah 63:5-6; after the type of Leviticus 16:12-18. See Rev. 15:8. A "little while" is taken in this matter.
6 And, the seven angels came forth out of the temple having the seven plagues, clothed in pure and bright linen and girded around the breasts with golden girdles.
"The seven angels." Elohim, the angels who are spirits of the LORD. Presumably these are the same "seven spirits" whose "eyes" are sent to and fro through all the earth, (as they are shown in Chapter Five, as seven horns, i.e., rulers). Observe that the Lamb is there in the midst of the throne with the elders and with the creatures of life. Under the Father's eye he oversees the unsealing of "the Lamb's book of life," Rev. 20:12; 21:27, to administer the 'Writing' of the book.
"Seven plagues;" pleegee, 4127. Also, as stripes, and, wounds. See Leviticus 26:21-46 for the last seven plagues.
"Clothed..." The remainder of the verse ties together all aspects of the priestly garments of the holy ones. These are spoken of throughout both Old and New Testament writings. The topic of the true heavenly clothing is much too great to expand on here. Malachi's "messenger" has, as a practical matter, a major "work before him" to do to refine the dress for the Levitical order of priests of the coming new age.
7 And one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the fury of the LORD, who lives for the ages of the ages.
"One of the four living creatures;" Who as one of the chief ministers of the Holy Place now also serves the Lamb: 5:8,14; 6:1,3,5,7, even commanding the first four seals for him.
"Seven golden bowls." These seven bowls of the LORD's fury equal the seven bowls full of incenses, 5:8; and 8:3, which were offered up earlier on the day.
"Fury;" thumos, 2372. The passion of His anger; wrath.
"The LORD." The remaining sentence defines the One from whom the fury is sent: God, the Father.
8 And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of the LORD and from His power, and no one was able to enter into the temple until the seven plagues of the seven angels were completed.
"Smoke." The prayers of the saints which, at 8:1-5, through the "much incense" given with the prayers upon the golden altar before His throne, are now fully answered with the "much" smoke which fills the house.
"Glory." The glory and the power of the LORD has accomplished His will on earth. His fury abates with the outpouring of the seven last plagues.
The nave of the witness in the LORD's dwelling place on earth opens to all the peoples for access continually, day and night after the plagues subside.
"LORD." The drama of the revelation of Jesus Christ as king and high priest over Israel, 8:1 through 16:1, reveals the angel's activity from within the heavenly temple which brings about the outcome of their activity, upon the earth. All the work is done by beings having the Name of the LORD.
"Temple." The next temple, once patterned after "the tabernacle of the tent of the meeting," Exodus 40; will be altered somewhat. The middle door remains open, Ezekiel 40-48. There is no more a veil or a curtain, between the Holy and the Most Holy Place. The veil has been replaced by an open door. ("I am the door.") Like Moses before at the dedication of the first tabernacle, here "no one" is able to enter into the temple yet. The Glory of the Father, because of the smoking incense of His fury, fills the temple during the time of God's plagues of wrath.
The whole of the prophecy of the Lord's showing (his revelation; his apocalypse) to Israel depicts the sitting of the judgment upon Israel and the surrounding nations as emanating from Jerusalem and the mountain of Zion, not from Sinai. His coming - his parousia, is much like the Father's coming to Sinai. This is graphically illustrated throughout the text of the Revelation. His presence is as in Sinai, with the body of His Holy [ones]. His train fills the temple, as shown in Isaiah 6:1-4.
See Ezekiel 43:1-12, which illustrates Daniel 7:9-10, 26-27. When the plagues of wrath are ended, the LORD gives the throne to the Son, Hebrews 1:13; Psalm 110:1.-7, along with the city that Abraham looked for, the new Jerusalem who is become his "Bride." The millennial temple of the dwelling place of the witness in the heaven is open to the angels, the altar is dedicated, and the "house" is filled with the glory of the LORD, per Ezekiel 43:19-27; 44:1-4.
The glory of the LORD, again, has entered "the house" from the east.
In Romans, Paul asks the recipients of the Letter some hard questions.
Being an ex-Pharisee of the Pharisees, Paul knew how to interrogate witnesses.
Before his conversion on the road to Damascus, the replies of the witnesses
of Jesus whom he had helped to put to death for their faith gave him "pricks"
to his conscience. It was hard for him to kick against the knowledge of
the truth, as Jesus so well perceived and accused him.
So Paul was well equipped both to interrogate and to answer all the questions rightly, since he was first theoretically "learned," but afterward was truly made "stable" in the knowledge and in the understanding of the Old Testament Scriptures. For afterward, he had actually seen the wisdom of God and feels His merciful pity.
Thus he asks them: "...Has not the potter authority over the clay - from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor? And if God - willing to show the wrath, and to make known His power - bore in much long suffering vessels of wrath only fit for destruction - even so that he might make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy which He before readied for glory, us even whom He called not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles?," 9:21-22. ...Yes, He has authority over the clay footed nations also.
The LORD has His every right to be angry with the wicked.
See Revelation 11:18, "and Thy wrath is coming." This, and the following verse counts all the things which swiftly come to pass at once with the seventh trumpet blast, and the last woe. These seven angels are preparing "to bring to corruption those who corrupt the earth." The wrath of the LORD falls on all those written in the book of His remembrance for judgment.
Paul, the writer of the book of Romans, deals fully with the subject of "the wrath to come," see 1:18; 2:5,8; 3:5; 4:15; 5:9; 9:22,22; 12:19; and 13:4-5. When Peter writes, like a good scribe, saying that Paul was "as even in all his letters, speaking in them about these things," you may well believe that Paul wrote some warning about that coming fiery day of wrath and judgment in all of his letters!
It is not easy to discard a "bad" habit. But that is what the gospel of the kingdom is all about; discarding the mind of the serpentine flesh in exchange for the mind of a good and holy spirit, for it is the darkened "mind" with the uncontrollable "tongue" of the flesh which gets men into all their troubles. See No. 1271, mind.
Those who do not accept the Word of Jesus Christ; those who refuse to believe his revelation of the good news of the kingdom's restoration; those who refuse to be converted to his "mind" are destined to remain in their state of sin; and thus are self condemned to death in the judgment at the Lord's coming. We cannot deny the power of the Word, and yet obtain eternal life!
Where is the scribe who will prove that Peter was not in fact a faithful witness concerning all the letters of Paul? Many Christians do not believe that God will totally destroy the hardened and unrepentant sinner. But God cannot reform hardened "clay" nor rehabilitate lives where there is neither a strong desire nor a repentant mind to work with.
...Hopefully, the reader now knows more truth about the working of the "devil and his angels" than he did before reading Chapter Twelve. He certainly knows more about the source of "the fire" of the judgment's "day." And, probably, may be surprised that both "death" and "hell" are going to be eliminated in that "lake of fire" which becomes the place of the second death! The mind - the 'house' of the "devil's" dwelling - certainly was divided for Death and Hell until the Lord came to bring the Word of Life.
"The fire" from the heavens destroys, totally burning all those judged ungodly, eliminating their demented imaginations and unclean works of the flesh from the earth.
As in The Revelation, Matthew 13:42-50 shows how the wicked are separated from the midst of the righteous and cast into the furnace of "the fire."
At baptism into the name of Jesus Christ, the individual is given the "earnest of the Spirit," per 2 Corinthians 1:22 and 5:5. This "earnest" is the mark - a deposit of the holy spirit - put upon the baptized individual in order to identify him for the time of the calling forth of the dead whom God chooses to remember for good or for ill. It is a mark for God's book of remembrance. This "earnest" is not the natural spirit which resides in all individuals from birth, which causes the infant to breathe and to live. The "earnest" is only added when the knowledge of God comes to the individual, and the individual subsequently responds to that knowledge and "puts on" the name" of God and of Jesus Christ by submitting to baptism for the covering of sins. This is how the process of redemption is begun...
In order for the righteous to be "raptured," the individual first must be approved of God for the redemption of the body and of its soul/spirit, (i.e., the breath of life). This process the apostle Paul simply describes as the putting on of incorruption and the putting on of immortality, per 1 Corinthians 15:52-55. For as long as the body lies corrupted in the grave, and like dust, the dead person (having expired his natural breath of life) cannot have any part of himself made immortal. In the resurrection when the breath of life is changed and made everlasting, the body puts on immortality. But one cannot be made immortal until the body itself is first reconstructed without sin, and made incorruptible. This state of incorruptibility requires a resurrection of the body from the dead along with the judgment of worthiness to receive a reward of the everlasting life
In The Book of the Revelation the word "redeemed" is sometimes expressed as agorazo, 59. The word first means simply to buy or to purchase (from the market). Other times the word "redeemed" is expressed in the form exagorazo, 1805. The word means to buy out of or from. In use, it refers to the purchase 1) from the curse of the Law, (i.e., Death), a purchase of 2) those under law, (natural mortality) and a purchase 3) from the time, (of present evil's existence).
The prophecy of Isaiah 53 presents a dilemma to the Jews, for they did not look for God to come and help them, not even in a Son. They looked to their oral traditions and other such writings for their understanding. Consequently led astray, they looked for a Messiah who would deliver Israel to a state of "peace and security" from their national enemies. But that is not the whole purpose of the LORD, who first wills all men to be inwardly holy; an Israelite indeed; holy as He is holy; glorious and full of light, like the light that was shown from the face of Moses, and as the light transformed the Lord on the mount when Moses and Elijah appeared before him in the presence of James, Peter and John, his apostles.
Only seeing, hearing and doing the Word of God enlightens men from within.
The full blessing of the future glory is expressed in the words of Simeon, when he said "Mine eyes have seen the salvation which Thou hast prepared against the presence of all the peoples, a light for a revelation to the nations, and a glory of Thy people Israel," Luke 2:30-32. The salvation - the time of the redemption for the "saved;" the revealing light; and Israel's glory will all appear when the Lord, Jesus Christ, reappears with the angels of his power to perform the judgment. The heavens and the earth will be redeemed - for "new heavens and a new earth" - as the abode of all the "saved" during the reign of Christ.
So, redemption does not refer merely to the purchase of the physical body of a person (from sinful flesh). It includes all the work of the Holy Spirit which was given to Christ in order to perfect the first "very good" work of God's creation of man "in the flesh;" flesh which was soon corrupted by the serpent's adversity to the mind of God, as Adam was commanded in the garden of Eden.
The salvation, the light and the glory are fully accomplished in the act known amongst Evangelical Christians as "the rapture." That event calls forth the guests to the marriage of the Lamb, to join with his chosen "Bride," for the installation of a glorious "New Jerusalem" on earth, from which Zion's law and the Word of the LORD will go forth in the days to come, per Isaiah 2:1-5.