Revelation

Revelation 15: God's people sing the Lamb's song

Begin in prayer

Before we read about the song of Moses and the song of the Lamb, please pray together. Ask the Lord to teach you to praise Him as the holy King of the nations.

Ascribe to Yahweh the glory due to his name. Bring an offering, and come before him. Worship Yahweh in holy array.

1 Chronicles 16:29

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word. Show us that You are the holy King of the nations, and teach us to sing Your praise. Turn us from our sin to trust the Lamb. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

Before the final plagues are poured, John sees seven angels carrying the last judgments in which God's wrath is finished. Those who overcame the beast, its image and its number stand on a sea of glass mixed with fire, holding God's harps. Their song of Moses and the Lamb praises God's great works, righteous ways and holiness, declaring that all nations will worship Him. The heavenly sanctuary opens, and seven angels emerge in bright linen with golden sashes to receive bowls full of God's wrath. Smoke from God's glory and power fills the temple, barring every entrance until the seven plagues are finished.

As you read Revelation 15, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

God is holy and righteous, and the Lamb's victorious people worship Him as King of the nations.

The victors stand before the last plagues fall, showing the outcome of refusing the beast's worship. Their song joins Moses and the Lamb, recalling God's rescue of Israel at the sea. The deliverance Moses celebrated reaches its fulfillment in the Lamb who redeems His people. Every line praises God's works and ways, giving Him the credit for their victory. Calling His ways righteous and true declares that the coming judgments are just. The opened tabernacle of testimony recalls the sanctuary that held God's covenant law, from whose holy presence judgment now proceeds. The angels' pure linen and the golden bowls show the purity and solemnity of their task. Smoke from God's glory recalls the cloud that once prevented entry into the tabernacle and Solomon's temple. No one can enter until these plagues finish, so the world's rebellion will face the judgment God has appointed.

How does Revelation 15 show us that God is holy and righteous, and that the Lamb's victorious people worship Him as King of the nations?

Those who overcome the beast worship with the song of Moses and the Lamb.

The conquerors stand on the sea of glass mixed with fire, holding God's harps (verse 2). They overcame the beast, its image and the number of its name. Their song names Moses as God's servant and joins his song with the Lamb's (verse 3). Moses celebrated God's rescue through the sea, a pattern fulfilled in the Lamb's greater redemption (Exodus 15 verses 1 and 2).

God's great works and righteous ways deserve the nations' worship.

The song of the Lamb praises the Lord God Almighty for works that are great and marvelous (verse 3). His ways are righteous and true, so His coming judgment carries no injustice. He alone is holy, and the song declares that all nations will come and worship before Him (verse 4). His revealed righteous acts give every nation reason to fear Him and glorify His name.

The holy God's final plagues proceed from His glorious presence.

Seven angels emerge from the opened sanctuary in pure, bright linen and golden sashes (verses 5 and 6). They receive seven golden bowls full of the eternal God's wrath (verse 7). Smoke from His glory and power fills the temple, and no one can enter until the plagues finish (verse 8). God's glory had also barred entry to Israel's tabernacle (Exodus 40 verses 34 and 35).

Memorise

Great and marvelous are your works, Lord God, the Almighty! Righteous and true are your ways, you King of the nations.

Revelation 15:3

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, will I come to the Lamb, who brings sinners near to the holy God?

On a sea of glass mixed with fire stood those who overcame the beast, with harps of God. They sang “the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb”. They called the Lord God the “King of the nations”, and they said that He alone is holy.

How can a sinner come near to a holy God? The Lamb is the answer. Jesus Christ gave His life on the cross for His people, and the wrath their sin deserved fell on Him. His sacrifice is enough. He rose from the grave, and He lives. That is why His people can sing.

So come to the Lamb. Turn from your sin and put your trust in Jesus. He gives forgiveness to every sinner who comes to Him, and He brings those sinners to worship the holy God. All the nations are called to worship, and that includes you.

Parent's note

Tell your children that God is holy and righteous, and that the Lamb gave His life for His people. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and pray that God would give them a new heart. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home. This chapter is a vision, so please keep to what John saw and heard.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Praise God as the holy King of the nations, and bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so let each one say a short prayer if they want to.

Who wouldn’t fear you, Lord, and glorify your name? For you only are holy. For all the nations will come and worship before you. For your righteous acts have been revealed.”

Revelation 15:4

Father, we praise You, for You are holy and righteous, and You are the King of the nations. Thank You for the Lamb. Please turn each of us from our sin to trust Jesus, and teach us to sing Your praise this week. Amen.