Revelation 15:1-4·~1 min

The Song of Moses and the Lamb

John sees another great and marvelous sign in heaven: seven angels carrying the final plagues by which God's wrath reaches completion. Yet the dominant scene is not panic but worship, as those who conquered the beast stand by a fiery sea of glass with harps from God and sing the song of Moses and the Lamb. Their song praises God's mighty works, righteous ways, holiness, and worthiness to receive the worship of all nations, because His righteous acts have been revealed. The paragraph interprets the coming judgments through the lens of redeemed praise and divine justice acknowledged in heaven.

T¹hen I saw another great and marvelous sign in heaven: seven angels with the seven final plagues, with which the wrath of God is completed. ²And I saw something like a sea of glass mixed with fire, beside which stood those who had conquered the beast and its image and the number of its name. They were holding harps from God, ³and they sang the song of God’s servant Moses and of the Lamb: ⁴Who will not fear You, O Lord,

Section summaryJohn sees the sign of the seven final plagues, but before the plagues are unleashed his attention is drawn to the victorious worshipers standing beside a sea of glass mingled with fire. These are the ones who have conquered the beast and all that marks allegiance to it, and they hold harps given by God. They sing the song of Moses and of the Lamb, praising the greatness of God's works, the righteousness of His ways, His holiness, and the certainty that all nations will come and worship before Him. The section presents heavenly worship as the proper interpretation of coming judgment.

Role in the chapterThis opening section sets the final plagues within the context of victory, worship, and the public vindication of God's righteous rule.