1.
And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvellous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God.
2.
And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God.
3.
And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints.
THE CHURCH TRIUMPHANT
‘And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are Thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are Thy ways, thou King of saints.’
Revelation 15:3
I. The Church Triumphant.—When the song of the triumphant Church is called ‘the song of Moses the servant of God’ the reference is to the Church of the Israelites and their leaders when Pharaoh and His hosts had been buried in the waters. The song was not only of thanksgiving to the Lord, but exultation over the wicked, rejoicing in their destruction. ‘The song of the Lamb’ is a song of which even now we can strike some notes. It may be considered as that ‘new song’ the burden of which is the ‘worthiness’ of the Redeemer. The ‘thousand times ten thousand of thousands’ which are ‘round about the throne’ were heard by St. John saying with a loud voice, ‘Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.’
II. The Song.—‘Great and marvellous are Thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are Thy ways, Thou King of saints.’ It celebrates the greatness of the plan of God as displayed in the occurrences of the Judgment Day.
( a) It will be ‘ a great and marvellous work’ when the ‘tares shall have been separated from the wheat,’ all unrighteousness detected and exposed, the wicked banished and the faithful exalted.
( b) The Church affirms God’s ‘ ways’ to be ‘ just and true,’ as well as His ‘works great and marvellous’; and this is a most important assertion when considered as called forth by the transactions of the judgment. The judgment will include in its searchings and sentences the heathen world as well as the Christian—men who have had none but the scantiest portion of revelation and those who have been blessed with its fulness.
4.
Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest.
5.
And after that I looked, and, behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened:
6.
And the seven angels came out of the temple, having the seven plagues, clothed in pure and white linen, and having their breasts girded with golden girdles.
7.
And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever.
8.
And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled.