The Song of the Lamb

Revelation 15

As Moses sang in triumph after Israel’s Egyptian enemies had been swallowed by the Red Sea, followers of Christ from the tribulation will sing at the prospect of Satan, the antichrist, and the false prophet being overwhelmed with judgment.

This song will be even more glorious than that of Moses, though, because the judgment will be carried out by the Lamb of God. Jesus was active in Moses’s day, following Israel through the wilderness. But he was not yet openly identified as the incarnate Messiah and Redeemer, as he is here in Revelation 15. The worship song celebrates God’s awe-inspiring … works, which are never unfair, but just.

“Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and amazing, seven angels with seven plagues, which are the last, for with them the wrath of God is finished. 2 And I saw what appeared to be a sea of glass mingled with fire—and also those who had conquered the beast and its image and the number of its name, standing beside the sea of glass with harps of God in their hands. 3 And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying,
​​“Great and amazing are your deeds,
O Lord God the Almighty!
​​Just and true are your ways,
O King of the nations!
​4 ​Who will not fear, O Lord,
and glorify your name?
​​For you alone are holy.
All nations will come
and worship you,
​​for your righteous acts have been revealed.”
5 After this I looked, and the sanctuary of the tent of witness in heaven was opened, 6 and out of the sanctuary came the seven angels with the seven plagues, clothed in pure, bright linen, with golden sashes around their chests. 7 And one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God who lives forever and ever, 8 and the sanctuary was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from his power, and no one could enter the sanctuary until the seven plagues of the seven angels were finished.” Revelation 15:1–8 (ESV)

Dr. Harold Wilmington writes, “As seven angels prepare to pour out the seven bowls of God’s wrath, a great choir composed of victors over the Antichrist will sing the song of Moses, commemorating God’s bringing his people out of Egypt, and the song of the Lamb, celebrating his bringing them into his millennial Kingdom—the first and last songs in Scripture. Then, heaven’s Temple will be opened, and the seven angels will prepare for judgment as God’s glory fills the Temple.”

Dr. Tony Evans writes, “In all likelihood, this is a body of water that is utterly smooth. The calmness, however, does not indicate serenity, for the sea is mixed with fire, an indication that the calm is merely a dramatic pause before a display of God’s burning wrath. Standing on the sea are believers who presumably have been martyred because they are in heaven rather than on earth.”

The temple’s filling with smoke hearkens back to two Old Testament scenes. The first occurred in 1 Kings 8:10–11, in which Solomon dedicated the temple and God’s presence was manifested as a cloud that filled the building.

The second scene occurred in Isaiah 6:4. In both instances, the cloud/smoke signified God’s manifest presence. That’s the point of the smoke in Revelation as well. God wants all to recognize him as the source of the fierce judgments to ensue.

The two specific reasons for which God is worshiped are His character and His works. What is the most worshipful moment you have ever experienced? Why? Do you ever remind yourself of this moment when you meet with the Lord? Are you compelled to breakout in song?
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Despite the mass chaos and struggle in this phase of the tribulation period, know that many will continue to worship in song and praise before the final judgment when Christ returns.

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