Revelation 15 – November 12

God, please give us a fresh revelation of Jesus Christ as we study the book of Revelation!

We’ll be studying Revelation through the end of November. Please feel free to read and journal with us as often as you can, with the goal of getting to daily time at the feet of Jesus. For this study, we are using Beth Moore’s “Here and Now…There and Then” lecture series and study guide on Revelation as a resource, so you may see it referenced occasionally.

You can read the NIV version of today’s reading below or your favorite Bible version then spend some time meditating and journaling on the reading, letting God speak to you through it. We encourage use of the SOAP method of Bible study as you grow in your relationship with God. Check out the What’s SOAP tab above for more info. Also, below today’s reading is a SOAP journal entry from our team to help dive into God’s Word. And we encourage you to share your SOAP journal entry, prayer requests, or questions in the Comments section on our website.

The Discover One Thing main website continues to follow the Life Journal Reading Plan which covers the whole Bible in one year. Click HERE to check out today’s Discover One Thing post.

Revelation 15 – Seven Angels With Seven Plagues

I saw in heaven another great and marvelous sign: seven angels with the seven last plagues—last, because with them God’s wrath is completed. ² And I saw what looked like a sea of glass glowing with fire and, standing beside the sea, those who had been victorious over the beast and its image and over the number of its name. They held harps given them by God ³ and sang the song of God’s servant Moses and of the Lamb:

“Great and marvelous are your deeds,
    Lord God Almighty.
Just and true are your ways,
    King of the nations.
⁴ Who will not fear you, Lord,
    and bring glory to your name?
For you alone are holy.
All nations will come
    and worship before you,
for your righteous acts have been revealed.”

⁵ After this I looked, and I saw in heaven the temple—that is, the tabernacle of the covenant law—and it was opened. ⁶ Out of the temple came the seven angels with the seven plagues. They were dressed in clean, shining linen and wore golden sashes around their chests. ⁷ Then one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls filled with the wrath of God, who lives for ever and ever. ⁸ And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from his power, and no one could enter the temple until the seven plagues of the seven angels were completed.

 

Song | Becky Newman

Scripture

Revelation 15:3-4

Observation

There’s that sea of glass again in verse 2 (remember from Revelation 4:6 where John described the throne room); that means they’re in the presence of God Almighty. And who can not sing, make a joyful noise, when in the presence of God! Though below the sea of glass there is fire, it still has no effect on heaven, it’s not making waves or anything, and it’s a glass ceiling so those in the fire can see how awesome it is in heaven and what they’re missing out on, tortured forever–that’s unbreakable glass. But in heaven, the focus is not on what’s below the glass; the focus is on God. The song of the redeemed here is a mix-up of the song of Moses and the song of the Lamb. There are two songs of Moses; in Exodus 15, the Israelites sang a song of Moses right after God split the sea and delivered them from slavery in Egypt, and this song was sung on Sabbath evenings to remember what God had done, and in Deuteronomy 32, Moses sang his song in front of the whole assembly of Israel right before his death. Combining Moses’ songs with the song of the Lamb makes it both an old and new song. My Bible notes that this song proclaims and celebrates victory.

Application

You know the way to my heart is through song. Music is what breaks down the walls that my logical mind throws up, and that’s when I can more fully experience Your presence.

Prayer

Thank You for songs! You are the Grand Orchestrator! How fitting that we will be singing new songs to and for You as we stand in Your presence. It’s funny as I look back at how the music I listen to has changed as I grow in my relationship with You (from Metallica/Rammstein to Crowder/Phil Wickham). That’s real evidence of You changing me. Thank You!