There are horrible things about to happen – there are bowls of God’s wrath and justice about to be poured out on the earth – but what is happening in heaven? The angels are worshipping God.
This is not escapism, or about heaven being happy about the suffering of those on earth. This is about perspective.
God is righteous. His punishments and judgments, even when they mean hardship and even death for humans – are still just. This world is not the way God has called it to be, and He will bring this world to account. This song is about God’s righteousness – and it is a song we will join in – even as God judges the world fairly, and puts it to right.
It is a song we can join into even now. Who will not fear you? A lot of people don’t! But we can see the ways of God, and we do fear and follow the One who died to redeem us.
| << Revelation 15 >> New Living Translation |
The Song of Moses and of the Lamb
1Then I saw in heaven another marvelous event of great significance. Seven angels were holding the seven last plagues, which would bring God’s wrath to completion. 2I saw before me what seemed to be a glass sea mixed with fire. And on it stood all the people who had been victorious over the beast and his statue and the number representing his name. They were all holding harps that God had given them. 3And they were singing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb:
“Great and marvelous are your works,
O Lord God, the Almighty.
Just and true are your ways,
O King of the nations.a
4Who will not fear you, Lord,
and glorify your name?
For you alone are holy.
All nations will come and worship before you,
for your righteous deeds have been revealed.”
The Seven Bowls of the Seven Plagues
5Then I looked and saw that the Temple in heaven, God’s Tabernacle, was thrown wide open. 6The seven angels who were holding the seven plagues came out of the Temple. They were clothed in spotless white linenb with gold sashes across their chests. 7Then one of the four living beings handed each of the seven angels a gold bowl filled with the wrath of God, who lives forever and ever. 8The Temple was filled with smoke from God’s glory and power. No one could enter the Temple until the seven angels had completed pouring out the seven plagues.
Footnotes:
a 15:3 Some manuscripts read King of the ages.
b 15:6 Other manuscripts read white stone; still others read white [garments] made of linen.
