Revelation 15: Outline and Meaning
Introduction
Revelation 15 is short but fierce. It opens the door for the last series of judgments — the seven bowls. Before wrath is poured out, John is shown heaven. The saints who stood firm against the beast now stand by a sea of glass, singing. Worship comes first.
Then judgment.
This chapter makes clear: God’s wrath isn’t a tantrum. It is holiness and justice in action. The people of God sing because they know his ways are true, even when the world shakes.
Outline of Revelation 15
15:1 | Prelude: The Seven Last Plagues
15:2–4 | The Song of Moses and the Lamb
15:5–8 | The Temple Opened and the Seven Angels Sent
Summary of Each Section
15:1 | Prelude: The Seven Last Plagues
John sees seven angels with seven plagues — the final round of judgment. This is the end of the line for evil. What began with seals and trumpets will now be finished with bowls.
15:2–4 | The Song of Moses and the Lamb
By the sea of glass stand those who overcame the beast. They hold harps and sing. Their song echoes the Red Sea — Israel singing after Pharaoh’s defeat — but now it’s the church, singing to the Lamb. “Great and amazing are your deeds… just and true are your ways.” The song declares what judgment proves: God is righteous, and every nation will one day bow.
15:5–8 | The Temple Opened and the Seven Angels Sent
The heavenly temple opens. Seven angels step out, dressed in pure linen and gold. They carry seven bowls of wrath, handed to them by one of the living creatures. Smoke fills the temple — God’s glory too thick to enter — until the plagues are finished. Judgment flows from holiness, not cruelty.
Themes in Revelation 15
Worship Before Wrath — The saints sing before judgment falls.
The Justice of God — His wrath is righteous and true.
Deliverance Remembered — The song of Moses and the Lamb ties the church’s story to Israel’s.
The End in Sight — The bowls complete God’s plan against evil.
Revelation 15: Meaning for Today
Revelation 15 teaches us how to stand in uncertain times: worship first. The saints don’t wait for safety to sing. They sing because God is faithful, because his justice is sure, because his victory is coming.
For us, this chapter is a warning and an anchor. God’s wrath will be poured out. Evil will not escape. But the people of God rest secure, their song rising even as judgment looms. Worship is not escape. It is defiance.
FAQ
Q: What is the sea of glass?
It points to God’s majesty and recalls the Red Sea — deliverance and victory.
Q: Why the song of Moses and the Lamb?
It ties Israel’s salvation to the church’s salvation. One story, one God, one victory.
Q: What are the seven bowls?
The final expression of God’s wrath — the completion of his judgment.
Q: Why is the temple filled with smoke?
The smoke shows God’s holiness and glory. What comes next is his doing, and no one can interrupt it.
Sources Consulted
G. K. Beale, The Book of Revelation (New International Greek Testament Commentary, 1999).
Robert H. Mounce, The Book of Revelation (New International Commentary on the New Testament, 1997).
