New International Reader s Version - NIrV - 1996
Revelation 15
1
I saw in heaven another great and miraculous sign. Seven angels were about to bring the seven last plagues. The plagues would complete God's anger.
Reference
Judgment
Revelation 19:15
Revelation 14:19
Revelation 14:10
Parallel theme
Leviticus 26:21
Revelation 21:9
Daniel 6:27
2
Then I saw something that looked like a sea of glass mixed with fire. Standing beside the sea were those who had won the battle over the beast. They had also overcome his statue and the number of his name. They held harps given to them by God.
Reference
3
They sang the song of Moses, who served God, and the song of the Lamb. They sang, "Lord God who rules over all, everything you do is great and wonderful. King of the ages, your ways are true and fair.
Reference
Kingdom
Isaiah 33:22
Parallel theme
Psalm 139:14
Revelation 14:3
References Lord
Psalm 111:2
References Moses
Hebrews 3:5
Righteousness
Psalm 145:17
Hosea 14:9
Zechariah 9:9
Revelation 19:2
Truth
John 1:17
4
Lord, who will not have respect for you? Who will not bring glory to your name? You alone are holy. All nations will come and worship you. They see that the things you do are right."
Reference
Creation
Psalm 86:9
Holy
Revelation 4:8
Judgment
Revelation 14:7
Parallel theme
Jeremiah 10:7
Isaiah 25:3
Isaiah 45:23
References Lord
Malachi 1:11
Revelation 11:15
Worship
Psalm 22:27
Zechariah 14:16
5
After this I looked, and the temple was opened in heaven. The temple is the holy tent where the tablets of the covenant were kept.
Reference
6
Out of the temple came the seven angels who were bringing the seven plagues. They were dressed in clean, shining linen. They wore gold strips of cloth around their chests.
Reference
7
Then one of the four living creatures gave seven golden bowls to the seven angels. The bowls were filled with the anger of God, who lives for ever and ever.
Reference
Judgment
Revelation 15:1
Parallel theme
Revelation 5:8
Revelation 10:6
Revelation 21:9
Psalm 75:8
References God
Jeremiah 25:15
Chapter Summary
Revelation 15 introduces the seven final plagues, showing the victorious followers of the Lamb worshiping beside a sea of glass while seven angels receive golden bowls filled with God's wrath, establishing that the final judgments are approaching and that God's justice will ultimately be recognized as holy, righteous, and completely victorious over the beast and its followers.
The chapter is short, but it serves an important purpose in the structure of Revelation.
John sees a great sign in heaven.
Seven angels appear carrying the seven final plagues.
These plagues are described as the completion of God's wrath.
Before the judgments are poured out, however, John sees those who have overcome the beast.
They stand beside what appears to be a sea of glass mixed with fire.
They have refused to worship the beast, its image, or accept its mark.
Instead, they are victorious and hold harps given to them by God.
Their position demonstrates that the beast's apparent victory was only temporary.
The people then sing the song of Moses and the song of the Lamb.
The song connects two great acts of God's deliverance.
The song of Moses recalls Israel's deliverance from Egypt, while the song of the Lamb points to salvation through Jesus Christ.
The worshipers praise God because His works are great and marvelous, His ways are righteous and true, and He alone is holy.
They also declare that the nations will ultimately recognize God's authority.
The scene then returns to the heavenly temple.
The temple of the tabernacle of testimony is opened, and seven angels emerge carrying the seven plagues.
They are dressed in bright, pure clothing and wear golden belts, emphasizing their connection with holiness and divine authority.
One of the four living creatures gives them seven golden bowls filled with the wrath of God.
The bowls represent the final outpouring of judgment described in the following chapter.
The chapter ends with the heavenly temple becoming filled with smoke from God's glory and power.
No one can enter the temple until the seven plagues are completed.
This ending creates a strong sense of divine holiness, authority, and inevitability.
The judgments are not presented as random disasters.
They proceed from God's heavenly throne and sanctuary according to His purposes.
Revelation 15 prepares the reader for the final outpouring of God's judgment, contrasting the coming plagues with the victorious worship of those who refused the beast and remained faithful to the Lamb, while emphasizing that God's judgments arise from His holiness and justice and will ultimately demonstrate His complete authority over evil, the nations, and every power that opposes Him.
The chapter is short, but it serves an important purpose in the structure of Revelation.
John sees a great sign in heaven.
Seven angels appear carrying the seven final plagues.
These plagues are described as the completion of God's wrath.
Before the judgments are poured out, however, John sees those who have overcome the beast.
They stand beside what appears to be a sea of glass mixed with fire.
They have refused to worship the beast, its image, or accept its mark.
Instead, they are victorious and hold harps given to them by God.
Their position demonstrates that the beast's apparent victory was only temporary.
The people then sing the song of Moses and the song of the Lamb.
The song connects two great acts of God's deliverance.
The song of Moses recalls Israel's deliverance from Egypt, while the song of the Lamb points to salvation through Jesus Christ.
The worshipers praise God because His works are great and marvelous, His ways are righteous and true, and He alone is holy.
They also declare that the nations will ultimately recognize God's authority.
The scene then returns to the heavenly temple.
The temple of the tabernacle of testimony is opened, and seven angels emerge carrying the seven plagues.
They are dressed in bright, pure clothing and wear golden belts, emphasizing their connection with holiness and divine authority.
One of the four living creatures gives them seven golden bowls filled with the wrath of God.
The bowls represent the final outpouring of judgment described in the following chapter.
The chapter ends with the heavenly temple becoming filled with smoke from God's glory and power.
No one can enter the temple until the seven plagues are completed.
This ending creates a strong sense of divine holiness, authority, and inevitability.
The judgments are not presented as random disasters.
They proceed from God's heavenly throne and sanctuary according to His purposes.
Revelation 15 prepares the reader for the final outpouring of God's judgment, contrasting the coming plagues with the victorious worship of those who refused the beast and remained faithful to the Lamb, while emphasizing that God's judgments arise from His holiness and justice and will ultimately demonstrate His complete authority over evil, the nations, and every power that opposes Him.