REVELATION 15
We have here what is introductory to a series of plagues in which “the fury of God is completed”. The pouring out of the “seven golden bowls” given to the seven angels is the last visitation of divine wrath before the final dealing with all that is evil on [p. 166] earth. These judgments come specially on those who have the mark of the beast, and on his throne. See chapter 16: 2, 10. But we see a company secured for blessing before we see the judgments fall.
The “glass sea” on which they stand has reference to the molten sea in the temple. The priests had to wash their hands and their feet that no defilement might hinder the holy service of God. Water for cleansing is indispensable now; the molten sea contained two thousand baths, and it stood upon twelve oxen which looked north, west, south, and east. This indicated an administration of moral cleansing universally available wherever needed. Do we not feel the need of such a provision? Can we be comfortable with spots of the flesh or of the world upon us? Nor could we be suited or free for the service of God without moral purification. The cleansing of the laver is something more than the sense that God has pardoned. It is the removal of the moral stain that has been contracted. This is brought about by the application of the death of Christ through the word leading us to self-judgment, and the practical disowning of that which has defiled us.
But the necessity for moral cleansing no longer exists for those who stand on the glass sea. The fact that it is “mingled with fire” may be a memorial of the fiery trial through which their faith has gone, but it has stood the test, and been “found to praise and glory and honour”. And the crystal pavement beneath the feet of these victorious saints speaks of abiding purity and stainlessness. No defilement will ever be contracted there.
They have “harps of God”. Their ability to praise is varied; it has many notes, but all “formed by power divine”. “Harps” imply skill on the part of those who have them, and ability to strike the different notes with intelligence, so that perfect harmony is produced. We could not suppose that the saints spoken of in this chapter are more skilled in that way than saints of the assembly should be. Paul was skilled as a spiritual musician. He said, “I will sing with the spirit, but I will sing also with the understanding”. Many hymns are largely coloured by human sentiment; such have not the character of “harps of God”. A skilled harper would strike the right note at the right moment, and how important is this when saints are found together in assembly! We should understand how to strike the note which will harmonize with the movements in spiritual affection that are present, and which will sustain and carry forward the melody of praise. Even a sweet note on the harp may jar if it is struck out of time and tune!
The harpers on the glass sea “sing the song of Moses bondman of God, and the song of the Lamb”. They, like Israel of old, will have known a divine deliverance, and will be able to celebrate it in song. Exodus 15 and Revelation 15 give the first and last songs in Scripture, and their theme is the same. It is the deliverance of God’s people by divine power, founded on redemption by blood. His great and wonderful works, the righteousness and truth of His ways as “King of nations”, are celebrated. They can take it all up on “harps of God”. It is the day when the beast has usurped imperial power, but to them God is the “King of nations”. It is a far wider title than “King of Israel”. It brings in the universality of God’s kingdom; and the fact that He is the “Lord God Almighty” ensures His ultimate triumph over every foe. “Holy” in verse 4 is a word translated “mercies” in Acts 13: 34; it seems to speak of holiness as connected with the gracious ways and mercy of God; it is used of Christ when He is spoken of as “thy holy [or gracious] one” (Acts 2: 27; Acts 13: 35). God’s mercy is holy mercy.
Then His “righteousnesses have been made manifest”. These saints will have come through the most terrible time that has ever been known on earth. They will probably have been slain on account of their testimony; but they will be able to say that God’s righteousnesses have been made manifest. They will have proved Him to have been faithful in every particular, true to every word that He uttered. They will have proved, for example, the truth of what is written in the Psalms, which were written in great measure for saints like these in tribulation days. They will have had the exercises and testings which the Psalms depict as to deceivers and oppressors and workers of iniquity, and — saddest and deepest grief of all — the consciousness of their own sin. Yet every word which God had given to sustain faith and hope in His tried and oppressed people will have been proved true.
These are God’s “righteousnesses”. He has been, and ever will be, faithful to His word and to His people. It is our privilege to know His faithfulness now, and to prove it; all who confide in Him will assuredly do so. The word, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness”, means that in coming under His sway we shall prove that God will be as good as His word in every particular. His “righteousnesses” being in the plural would shew, I think, that they are looked at in detail — the innumerable manifestations of [p. 169] His faithfulness. Those who learn to trust Him, and prove His faithfulness, in such circumstances as the reign of the beast, will have a deeper and sweeter note of praise than those who — like those born in the millennium — have never known adverse conditions. And there will be a righteous recompense for every tribulation endured. This appears in Revelation 20: 4, where these saints are seen as living and reigning with the Christ a thousand years.
Then “the temple of the tabernacle of witness in the heaven was opened”. In chapter 11 the ark of the covenant was seen there, that saints might apprehend that God’s covenant of blessing was secured in Christ in heaven. But here it is unmingled judgment, and there is no ark seen. “The temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from his power”. The temple is opened that the seven angels may come out with their “seven plagues, the last”. Judgment is God’s last resort; He holds it back until a moment comes when longer delay would not be mercy but indifference to lawless evil. It is impossible that God should allow the wilfulness and perversity of His fallen creatures to go on permanently unchecked.