ACTIVE ANGELS

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Opening Prayer

Lord, today I open to You my deepest needs, my regrets, my pain. Make the crooked places in me straight.

Read REVELATION 15:1–8

^[1] 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.

Meditate

Read verses 3b and 4 first and reflect on these words.

Think Further

We know very little about angels from the Scriptures. Angels are “sent to serve those who will inherit salvation” (Heb. 1:14). They now have the task of bringing the last seven plagues on unrepentant sinners, but we focus first on the faithful ones who have not succumbed to the deceptions of the beast. They are singing the song of Moses and the Lamb. It is a reworking of Exodus imagery in the light of the finished work of Christ. That is why we have the song before the plagues—as a reverse of Exodus.

The song echoes various Old Testament praises of God, but notable is the title “King of the ages (nations)” (3), which is also used in Jeremiah 10:7. There the prophet contrasts the living and active God of Israel with impotent idols. Here there is a tremendous message just at the point when the final series of plagues is to fall on the nations, that from those nations will still come people to worship the Lamb and join his saved ones (4). If the blood of the martyrs is not shed in vain, will there not be some conversions? The extent of God’s mercy is longer than men conceive. Among those who are saved are worse sinners than his people ever expect God to save: that is the great Gospel message.

As the time of judgment arrives we see into the heavenly Temple, which is also called the tabernacle of testimony, reflecting that inside the Ark were tablets of the Law (Exod. 40:20). There is now smoke of the glory of God so that none can enter. This scene draws to mind Solomon’s dedication of the temple (cf. 2 Chron. 7:2). God’s glory is overwhelming!

Apply

How does this passage make you feel? Why? What does it make you want to do?

Closing prayer

Powerful One, You have done great and mighty deeds in my life and I praise You. May Your power be seen in the world at this time.

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