Revelation 15:1–4 - Singing the Song of Christ
I need to make one correction to what I said before my last sermon about the last part of chapter 14. I stated that at the end of that chapter is a fourth depiction of the final judgment. It’s the end of the fourth cycle of visions, but it’s actually the third depiction of the final judgment. Chapters 15 now begins the fifth cycle, the end of which will be the fourth depiction of the judgment. So, I wanted to clarify that.
The book of Revelation contains seven cycles of vision in total. In each one, Jesus teaches us things about the Last Days – this time in which we live, between His ascension to heaven and return to earth. Revelation is filled with symbolism relating to real events, and the only proper source book for interpreting that symbolism is God’s Word itself.
Most of this fifth cycle will describe God’s judgment on earth during the last days, but first, Christ shows the apostle John a symbolic vision of God’s people in heaven. And of all things they could be doing, they’re singing.
In our curiosity, we might overlook this on our way to learning what these seven plagues might represent. We’ll look at those next Sunday, and it will be eye-opening, sobering, and severe. But we just had a sobering message of judgment at the end of chapter 14.
Remember the blood of the wicked, flowing down in the winepress of God? Remember Christ crushing His enemies, gathering them to eternal death? It was heavy. Judgment is heavy.
So here at the beginning of chapter 15, Jesus chooses to give us a short break. And what better during a break than a little music? How better to clear your mind and lift your spirit than a hopeful, triumphant song?
Now, there are times when a song is appropriate, and times when it’s not. Have you ever been driving and listening to music, having a good time, but then you aren’t sure of the directions, or maybe traffic gets heavy, or the weather gets bad, and so you turn the music down because you need to think. If you were singing along, you stop. You don’t want to hear a song. It’s not a time for singing.
In our world today – in 2024 – is it a time for singing? Immorality is celebrated in our nation; idolatry and unbelief are rampant.
You probably noticed here in Revelation 15 that this group is singing in heaven. You might think, “Oh, well of course they’re singing – they don’t have to deal with all the trouble down here on earth.” That’s a fair point. Perfect rest and relief waits on the other side.
However, there is rest and relief for God’s people now. We definitely need it. But, still, as the apostle Paul said, “the days are evil.” And yet, just after Paul says that, in the same paragraph he says, “be filled with the Spirit…singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart.” This heavenly song of Revelation 15 contains reasons we have to sing now. The saints in heaven are singing the song of Christ, and we can sing that song, too.
But with all the troubles and distractions in the world, how can we sing?
Notice the outline there in the worship guide. We can sing the song of Christ, and it rises from deep within our hearts of the redeemed. It rises in our hearts as we develop three things: awe of God's deeds, trust in God's dealings, and reverence for God's decisions. You see, the song of Christ is a thoroughly God-centered song. Jesus produces that song in us.
So look at verse 1. John sees another sign: “seven angels with seven plagues, which are the last, for with them the wrath of God is finished.” We’ll explore those next Sunday, but for now, you should understand that these plagues are the judgment and warnings of God. People should see them and turn to God.
But first, John sees “what appeared to be a sea of glass mingled with fire.” John described this in Revelation ch.4 as well. It’s a symbol of the clarity and calmness of God’s presence, and of His power over the earth. So often in Scripture, the sea is associated with chaos, danger, and uncertainty.
But the Lord Jesus Christ calmed the sea with His powerful word. He walked on the sea to demonstrate His divine power over the chaos. Jesus tamed the sea. And in heaven, there is no chaos – only calm. Tranquility, stillness, peace.
But what is the “fire?” In this chapter, there are multiple allusions to the OT book of Exodus. The plagues, the Song of Moses, but also, fire. In Exodus, fire represented God’s presence. Exodus has the burning bush and the pillar of fire that led the Israelites in the wilderness. The fire meant that God was there and He was at work.
Of course, God is in heaven, but below heaven – down on earth, where the plagues will be delivered – God is also at work, and the fire seems to be related to those events as well. That will become clearer later on. God’s people in heaven are safe above, but they’re also aware of the events below.
They are “those who had conquered the beast and its image and the number of its name.” Those are references to Revelation 13 and 14. In those chapters, Satan, along with anti-Christian government and institutions are symbolized by a dragon and a first beast and second beast. Those monsters make war against God’s people on earth, but His true people won’t worship the beast’s image or bear the mark of the beast. These believers in heaven endured those things and they remained true to Him.
So John sees them, “standing beside the sea of glass with harps of God in their hands.” Harps have OT precedence for God’s people also. Psalm 33 says, “Praise befits the upright. Give thanks to the LORD with the lyre; make melody to him with the harp of ten strings!” They’re praising God, “And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God.” Exodus 15 and Deuteronomy 32 contain songs of Moses that celebrated God’s salvation and His power and love. This song seems to draw from those songs and other OT passages.
This is the song of Moses “and the song of the Lamb.” This song is both OC and NC. It’s both OT and NT. It’s one great song for and about the one true God who was always a God of grace and who is always gathering and redeeming His one true people. But the Lamb is preeminent in this song. He’s the greater of the two leaders. And so verses 1-3a set up this song that will be sung and played even as the plagues come.
What good was it for John’s readers in the first century – who were suffering in the Roman empire – and what good does it do us today to hear this song?
Imagine being at work on a terrible day – nothing is going right, the boss is being unbearable, you have a cold and you’re tired, and then you check your phone and a friend has sent you all these pictures from their wonderful vacation that they’re on? And you think, “I don’t want to see that! I wish I was there instead of here!”
Seeing this should make us long for heaven. But it’s also an encouragement to remain faithful. It’s not meant to rub it in that we aren’t in heaven yet. Rather, it shows why they rejoice in heaven and it teaches us what we should sing about here on earth.
So let’s get into the content of the song. “They sing…saying, Great and amazing are your deeds, O Lord God the Almighty!” Often in the NT that word translated here as “deeds” will be translated as “work.” What is the work that God has done?
In John 17, shortly before the death of Christ, He prayed to the Father, “I glorified You on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do.” Same word. God as our Creator and our Governor performers His work – His deeds – in the world. Which of God’s deeds are great and amazing? Well, all of them. Psalm 145 says, “The LORD is righteous in all his ways and kind in all his works.”
These saints in heaven – in John’s glorious vision – endured great hardship in their lives. They endured persecution for following Jesus. They were mistreated, some even killed for their faithfulness to the triune God. But they sing, “Great and amazing are your deeds.”
Do you see God in this way? God had done good toward us and for us. If you find it hard right now to say from the heart that God is great and amazing in all His deeds, I can understand that. But Christ clothed in His gospel puts these things in perspective for us. God has done everything for us and given everything to us in and through Jesus Christ.
God has done all the work for our salvation. He brings good from even the bad things that happen time and time again. Among His great and amazing deeds is the redeeming of your life from the pit, and the establishment of your feet on a firm place.
Life is hard, but He’s never left you, and He’ll never leave you. He won’t forsake you. We have these promises of God in Christ. He’s set us free from sin to follow His good law. If you have believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, you know what I mean.
If you have believed in Christ, believe today. The offer of His gospel is free. The deeds of God are great and amazing, and as we develop awe of God's deeds – as our amazement grows – His song will rise in our hearts.
Now look at the next line. They sing, “Just and true are your ways, O King of the nations!” This is interesting. This word translated “ways” is sometimes translated as “roads.” The paths of God. But perhaps more helpful here is this definition from one scholar. “Ways” means, “the purposes and ordinances of God, His ways of dealing with men.” God’s dealings. This is closely tied with the previous line of the song.
God’s deeds include everything He’s ever done. And within that includes what He's done or is doing in your life. How God deals with you. “Dealings” implies a personal nature to things. It relates to how God guides and affects you.
We like when God deals with us in ways that we enjoy or that are comfortable. We don’t like it when God’s dealings are uncomfortable, and unenjoyable, and even painful? But when we go though those seasons, we’re in good company. All of God’s people have endured them. Even the Lord Jesus endured the difficult dealings of God in His work of salvation for His people.
Has God dealt with you in a difficult way? Probably so. Has He also dealt with you in a gracious and generous way? Probably so. How might God be teaching you to be gracious and thankful through His dealings with you? How might He be shaping your heart and mind, so that you don’t consider yourself better than others or so you don’t look down on others?
Do you ever find – as Dr. Sinclair Ferguson puts it – that sometimes you have been irked by God’s grace toward others? God blesses someone else, and you thought, “They don’t keep the rules like I do; why is God blessing them?” God is gracious and merciful. Psalm 103 says, “He does not deal with us according to our sins.” In other words, sinners get blessed all the time. Including you. His dealings are trustworthy. And as we develop trust in God’s dealings with us, His song will rise in our hearts.
Now look at this final verse. This last lyric of the song. Verse [4], they sing, “Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy. All nations will come and worship you, for Your righteous acts have been revealed.” You righteous acts have been revealed. Put differently, “Your judgments are made manifest.” The ordinances of God are in view here. God’s choices are praised.
Don’t we often wonder, “What is God doing in the world? Why are all these things happening on earth? What is the purpose of all this?” So much of what we’re seeing today – in this time that Scripture calls “the last days” – is the judgment of God for sin. Many will see and turn to Him; many will see and turn away.We will need to keep this in mind as we explore the seven plagues next Sunday.
Some aspects of world events are confusing. We naturally feel that God could act – He could change the situation – but He doesn’t. We don’t know why, and in this life, we may never know. But you see, the believers singing this song in Revelation 15 are no longer in this life. They’ve crossed over, and they don’t just accept the decisions and judgments of God, they revere His decisions and judgments in the world that He made and that He cares for.
One thing about songs is that they can cause you to remember. Do you know what I mean? They bring back memories of a place and time. Not always good memories. The lyrics of this song can help you remember today. Remember that time that the Lord provided for you beyond what even expected? He gave that close relationship – that friend who stood beside you, and, at times, held you up.
Remember when God gave you that strength that you needed? He gave you that comfort – seemingly from out of nowhere, He sent that help at just the right time. Remember how God spared your life, how He kept you from ruin – perhaps more than once? Remember how He led you to His people – like an oasis in the desert. The future didn’t always look promising for you, but here you are.
And what about His mercy – not holding your sins against you? You did despicable things – things you are ashamed of – but later, you were blessed! You weren’t undone altogether, like you feared you might be – like you knew you should be. All of God’s acts are righteous, and as we develop reverence for His decisions, His song will rise in our hearts.
As we go to the Lord’s table this morning, we receive a picture of God's awesome deeds in the world, and His trustworthy dealings with us, and His wise, divine decisions in history. We see all of this in the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ. Nowhere else – without exception, nowhere else – do we see these things more clearly than in Christ the Lord.
If you want the song of Christ to rise in your heart, what should you do? Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. Trust in Him, and He’ll show the way. Again, the offer of His gospel – of salvation and life in God – is free. “Do not fear, only believe.”
You may wonder, “Is there some work I must do to generate this song in my heart? Jesus said, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.” God the Father has sent His Son Jesus into the world, and those who trust in Him have a song to sing that we will be singing forevermore. Let’s bow together in prayer.
The book of Revelation contains seven cycles of vision in total. In each one, Jesus teaches us things about the Last Days – this time in which we live, between His ascension to heaven and return to earth. Revelation is filled with symbolism relating to real events, and the only proper source book for interpreting that symbolism is God’s Word itself.
Most of this fifth cycle will describe God’s judgment on earth during the last days, but first, Christ shows the apostle John a symbolic vision of God’s people in heaven. And of all things they could be doing, they’re singing.
In our curiosity, we might overlook this on our way to learning what these seven plagues might represent. We’ll look at those next Sunday, and it will be eye-opening, sobering, and severe. But we just had a sobering message of judgment at the end of chapter 14.
Remember the blood of the wicked, flowing down in the winepress of God? Remember Christ crushing His enemies, gathering them to eternal death? It was heavy. Judgment is heavy.
So here at the beginning of chapter 15, Jesus chooses to give us a short break. And what better during a break than a little music? How better to clear your mind and lift your spirit than a hopeful, triumphant song?
Now, there are times when a song is appropriate, and times when it’s not. Have you ever been driving and listening to music, having a good time, but then you aren’t sure of the directions, or maybe traffic gets heavy, or the weather gets bad, and so you turn the music down because you need to think. If you were singing along, you stop. You don’t want to hear a song. It’s not a time for singing.
In our world today – in 2024 – is it a time for singing? Immorality is celebrated in our nation; idolatry and unbelief are rampant.
You probably noticed here in Revelation 15 that this group is singing in heaven. You might think, “Oh, well of course they’re singing – they don’t have to deal with all the trouble down here on earth.” That’s a fair point. Perfect rest and relief waits on the other side.
However, there is rest and relief for God’s people now. We definitely need it. But, still, as the apostle Paul said, “the days are evil.” And yet, just after Paul says that, in the same paragraph he says, “be filled with the Spirit…singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart.” This heavenly song of Revelation 15 contains reasons we have to sing now. The saints in heaven are singing the song of Christ, and we can sing that song, too.
But with all the troubles and distractions in the world, how can we sing?
Notice the outline there in the worship guide. We can sing the song of Christ, and it rises from deep within our hearts of the redeemed. It rises in our hearts as we develop three things: awe of God's deeds, trust in God's dealings, and reverence for God's decisions. You see, the song of Christ is a thoroughly God-centered song. Jesus produces that song in us.
So look at verse 1. John sees another sign: “seven angels with seven plagues, which are the last, for with them the wrath of God is finished.” We’ll explore those next Sunday, but for now, you should understand that these plagues are the judgment and warnings of God. People should see them and turn to God.
But first, John sees “what appeared to be a sea of glass mingled with fire.” John described this in Revelation ch.4 as well. It’s a symbol of the clarity and calmness of God’s presence, and of His power over the earth. So often in Scripture, the sea is associated with chaos, danger, and uncertainty.
But the Lord Jesus Christ calmed the sea with His powerful word. He walked on the sea to demonstrate His divine power over the chaos. Jesus tamed the sea. And in heaven, there is no chaos – only calm. Tranquility, stillness, peace.
But what is the “fire?” In this chapter, there are multiple allusions to the OT book of Exodus. The plagues, the Song of Moses, but also, fire. In Exodus, fire represented God’s presence. Exodus has the burning bush and the pillar of fire that led the Israelites in the wilderness. The fire meant that God was there and He was at work.
Of course, God is in heaven, but below heaven – down on earth, where the plagues will be delivered – God is also at work, and the fire seems to be related to those events as well. That will become clearer later on. God’s people in heaven are safe above, but they’re also aware of the events below.
They are “those who had conquered the beast and its image and the number of its name.” Those are references to Revelation 13 and 14. In those chapters, Satan, along with anti-Christian government and institutions are symbolized by a dragon and a first beast and second beast. Those monsters make war against God’s people on earth, but His true people won’t worship the beast’s image or bear the mark of the beast. These believers in heaven endured those things and they remained true to Him.
So John sees them, “standing beside the sea of glass with harps of God in their hands.” Harps have OT precedence for God’s people also. Psalm 33 says, “Praise befits the upright. Give thanks to the LORD with the lyre; make melody to him with the harp of ten strings!” They’re praising God, “And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God.” Exodus 15 and Deuteronomy 32 contain songs of Moses that celebrated God’s salvation and His power and love. This song seems to draw from those songs and other OT passages.
This is the song of Moses “and the song of the Lamb.” This song is both OC and NC. It’s both OT and NT. It’s one great song for and about the one true God who was always a God of grace and who is always gathering and redeeming His one true people. But the Lamb is preeminent in this song. He’s the greater of the two leaders. And so verses 1-3a set up this song that will be sung and played even as the plagues come.
What good was it for John’s readers in the first century – who were suffering in the Roman empire – and what good does it do us today to hear this song?
Imagine being at work on a terrible day – nothing is going right, the boss is being unbearable, you have a cold and you’re tired, and then you check your phone and a friend has sent you all these pictures from their wonderful vacation that they’re on? And you think, “I don’t want to see that! I wish I was there instead of here!”
Seeing this should make us long for heaven. But it’s also an encouragement to remain faithful. It’s not meant to rub it in that we aren’t in heaven yet. Rather, it shows why they rejoice in heaven and it teaches us what we should sing about here on earth.
So let’s get into the content of the song. “They sing…saying, Great and amazing are your deeds, O Lord God the Almighty!” Often in the NT that word translated here as “deeds” will be translated as “work.” What is the work that God has done?
In John 17, shortly before the death of Christ, He prayed to the Father, “I glorified You on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do.” Same word. God as our Creator and our Governor performers His work – His deeds – in the world. Which of God’s deeds are great and amazing? Well, all of them. Psalm 145 says, “The LORD is righteous in all his ways and kind in all his works.”
These saints in heaven – in John’s glorious vision – endured great hardship in their lives. They endured persecution for following Jesus. They were mistreated, some even killed for their faithfulness to the triune God. But they sing, “Great and amazing are your deeds.”
Do you see God in this way? God had done good toward us and for us. If you find it hard right now to say from the heart that God is great and amazing in all His deeds, I can understand that. But Christ clothed in His gospel puts these things in perspective for us. God has done everything for us and given everything to us in and through Jesus Christ.
God has done all the work for our salvation. He brings good from even the bad things that happen time and time again. Among His great and amazing deeds is the redeeming of your life from the pit, and the establishment of your feet on a firm place.
Life is hard, but He’s never left you, and He’ll never leave you. He won’t forsake you. We have these promises of God in Christ. He’s set us free from sin to follow His good law. If you have believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, you know what I mean.
If you have believed in Christ, believe today. The offer of His gospel is free. The deeds of God are great and amazing, and as we develop awe of God's deeds – as our amazement grows – His song will rise in our hearts.
Now look at the next line. They sing, “Just and true are your ways, O King of the nations!” This is interesting. This word translated “ways” is sometimes translated as “roads.” The paths of God. But perhaps more helpful here is this definition from one scholar. “Ways” means, “the purposes and ordinances of God, His ways of dealing with men.” God’s dealings. This is closely tied with the previous line of the song.
God’s deeds include everything He’s ever done. And within that includes what He's done or is doing in your life. How God deals with you. “Dealings” implies a personal nature to things. It relates to how God guides and affects you.
We like when God deals with us in ways that we enjoy or that are comfortable. We don’t like it when God’s dealings are uncomfortable, and unenjoyable, and even painful? But when we go though those seasons, we’re in good company. All of God’s people have endured them. Even the Lord Jesus endured the difficult dealings of God in His work of salvation for His people.
Has God dealt with you in a difficult way? Probably so. Has He also dealt with you in a gracious and generous way? Probably so. How might God be teaching you to be gracious and thankful through His dealings with you? How might He be shaping your heart and mind, so that you don’t consider yourself better than others or so you don’t look down on others?
Do you ever find – as Dr. Sinclair Ferguson puts it – that sometimes you have been irked by God’s grace toward others? God blesses someone else, and you thought, “They don’t keep the rules like I do; why is God blessing them?” God is gracious and merciful. Psalm 103 says, “He does not deal with us according to our sins.” In other words, sinners get blessed all the time. Including you. His dealings are trustworthy. And as we develop trust in God’s dealings with us, His song will rise in our hearts.
Now look at this final verse. This last lyric of the song. Verse [4], they sing, “Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy. All nations will come and worship you, for Your righteous acts have been revealed.” You righteous acts have been revealed. Put differently, “Your judgments are made manifest.” The ordinances of God are in view here. God’s choices are praised.
Don’t we often wonder, “What is God doing in the world? Why are all these things happening on earth? What is the purpose of all this?” So much of what we’re seeing today – in this time that Scripture calls “the last days” – is the judgment of God for sin. Many will see and turn to Him; many will see and turn away.We will need to keep this in mind as we explore the seven plagues next Sunday.
Some aspects of world events are confusing. We naturally feel that God could act – He could change the situation – but He doesn’t. We don’t know why, and in this life, we may never know. But you see, the believers singing this song in Revelation 15 are no longer in this life. They’ve crossed over, and they don’t just accept the decisions and judgments of God, they revere His decisions and judgments in the world that He made and that He cares for.
One thing about songs is that they can cause you to remember. Do you know what I mean? They bring back memories of a place and time. Not always good memories. The lyrics of this song can help you remember today. Remember that time that the Lord provided for you beyond what even expected? He gave that close relationship – that friend who stood beside you, and, at times, held you up.
Remember when God gave you that strength that you needed? He gave you that comfort – seemingly from out of nowhere, He sent that help at just the right time. Remember how God spared your life, how He kept you from ruin – perhaps more than once? Remember how He led you to His people – like an oasis in the desert. The future didn’t always look promising for you, but here you are.
And what about His mercy – not holding your sins against you? You did despicable things – things you are ashamed of – but later, you were blessed! You weren’t undone altogether, like you feared you might be – like you knew you should be. All of God’s acts are righteous, and as we develop reverence for His decisions, His song will rise in our hearts.
As we go to the Lord’s table this morning, we receive a picture of God's awesome deeds in the world, and His trustworthy dealings with us, and His wise, divine decisions in history. We see all of this in the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ. Nowhere else – without exception, nowhere else – do we see these things more clearly than in Christ the Lord.
If you want the song of Christ to rise in your heart, what should you do? Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. Trust in Him, and He’ll show the way. Again, the offer of His gospel – of salvation and life in God – is free. “Do not fear, only believe.”
You may wonder, “Is there some work I must do to generate this song in my heart? Jesus said, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.” God the Father has sent His Son Jesus into the world, and those who trust in Him have a song to sing that we will be singing forevermore. Let’s bow together in prayer.
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