Revelation 15:2 King James Version with Strong's Concordance (STRONG)

2 And G2532 I saw G1492 as it were G5613 a sea G2281 of glass G5193 mingled G3396 with fire: G4442 and G2532 them that had gotten the victory G3528 over G1537 the beast, G2342 and G2532 over G1537 his G846 image, G1504 and G2532 over G1537 his G846 mark, G5480 and over G1537 the number G706 of his G846 name, G3686 stand G2476 on G1909 the sea G2281 of glass, G5193 having G2192 the harps G2788 of God. G2316

Cross Reference

Revelation 19:1-7 STRONG

And G2532 after G3326 these things G5023 I heard G191 a great G3173 voice G5456 of much G4183 people G3793 in G1722 heaven, G3772 saying, G3004 Alleluia; G239 Salvation, G4991 and G2532 glory, G1391 and G2532 honour, G5092 and G2532 power, G1411 unto the Lord G2962 our G2257 God: G2316 For G3754 true G228 and G2532 righteous G1342 are his G846 judgments: G2920 for G3754 he hath judged G2919 the great G3173 whore, G4204 which G3748 did corrupt G5351 the earth G1093 with G1722 her G846 fornication, G4202 and G2532 hath avenged G1556 the blood G129 of his G846 servants G1401 at G1537 her G846 hand. G5495 And G2532 again G1208 they said, G2046 Alleluia. G239 And G2532 her G846 smoke G2586 rose up G305 for G1519 ever G165 and ever. G165 And G2532 the four G5064 and G2532 twenty G1501 elders G4245 and G2532 the four G5064 beasts G2226 fell down G4098 and G2532 worshipped G4352 God G2316 that sat G2521 on G1909 the throne, G2362 saying, G3004 Amen; G281 Alleluia. G239 And G2532 a voice G5456 came G1831 out of G1537 the throne, G2362 saying, G3004 Praise G134 our G2257 God, G2316 all ye G3956 his G846 servants, G1401 and G2532 ye that fear G5399 him, G846 both G2532 small G3398 and G2532 great. G3173 And G2532 I heard G191 as it were G5613 the voice G5456 of a great G4183 multitude, G3793 and G2532 as G5613 the voice G5456 of many G4183 waters, G5204 and G2532 as G5613 the voice G5456 of mighty G2478 thunderings, G1027 saying, G3004 Alleluia: G239 for G3754 the Lord G2962 God G2316 omnipotent G3841 reigneth. G936 Let us be glad G5463 and G2532 rejoice, G21 and G2532 give G1325 honour G1391 to him: G846 for G3754 the marriage G1062 of the Lamb G721 is come, G2064 and G2532 his G846 wife G1135 hath made G2090 herself G1438 ready. G2090

Revelation 11:11-12 STRONG

And G2532 after G3326 three G5140 days G2250 and G2532 an half G2255 the Spirit G4151 of life G2222 from G1537 God G2316 entered G1525 into G1909 them, G846 and G2532 they stood G2476 upon G1909 their G846 feet; G4228 and G2532 great G3173 fear G5401 fell G4098 upon G1909 them which saw G2334 them. G846 And G2532 they heard G191 a great G3173 voice G5456 from G1537 heaven G3772 saying G3004 unto them, G846 Come up G305 hither. G5602 And G2532 they ascended up G305 to G1519 heaven G3772 in G1722 a cloud; G3507 and G2532 their G846 enemies G2190 beheld G2334 them. G846

Isaiah 4:4-5 STRONG

When the Lord H136 shall have washed away H7364 the filth H6675 of the daughters H1323 of Zion, H6726 and shall have purged H1740 the blood H1818 of Jerusalem H3389 from the midst H7130 thereof by the spirit H7307 of judgment, H4941 and by the spirit H7307 of burning. H1197 And the LORD H3068 will create H1254 upon every dwelling place H4349 of mount H2022 Zion, H6726 and upon her assemblies, H4744 a cloud H6051 and smoke H6227 by day, H3119 and the shining H5051 of a flaming H3852 fire H784 by night: H3915 for upon all the glory H3519 shall be a defence. H2646

Ezekiel 22:30-31 STRONG

And I sought H1245 for a man H376 among them, that should make up H1443 the hedge, H1447 and stand H5975 in the gap H6556 before H6440 me for the land, H776 that I should not destroy H7843 it: but I found H4672 none. Therefore have I poured out H8210 mine indignation H2195 upon them; I have consumed H3615 them with the fire H784 of my wrath: H5678 their own way H1870 have I recompensed H5414 upon their heads, H7218 saith H5002 the Lord H136 GOD. H3069

Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Revelation 15

Commentary on Revelation 15 Matthew Henry Commentary


Chapter 15

Hitherto, according to the judgment of very eminent expositors, God had represented to his servant, John,

  • I. The state of the church under the pagan powers, in the six seals opened; and then,
  • II. The state of the church under the papal powers, in the vision of the six trumpets that began to sound upon the opening of the seventh seal: and then is inserted.
  • III. A more general and brief account of the past, present, and future state of the church, in the little book, etc. He now proceeds,
  • IV. To show him how antichrist should be destroyed, by what steps that destruction should be accomplished, in the vision of the seven vials. This chapter contains an awful introduction or preparation for the pouring out of the vials, in which we have,
    • 1. A sight of those angels in heaven who were to have the execution of this great work, and with what acclamations of joy the heavenly hosts applauded the great design (v. 1-4).
    • 2. A sight of these angels coming out of heaven to receive those vials which they were to pour out, and the great commotions this caused in the world (v. 5-8).

Rev 15:1-4

Here we have the preparation of matters for the pouring out of the seven vials, which was committed to seven angels; and observe how these angels appeared to the apostle-in heaven; it was in a wonderful manner, and that upon account,

  • 1. Of the work they had to do, which was to finish the destruction of antichrist. God was now about to pour out his seven last plagues upon that interest; and, as the measure of Babylon's sins was filled up, they should now find the full measure of his vindictive wrath.
  • 2. The spectators and witnesses of this their commission: all that had gotten the victory over the beast, etc. These stood on a sea of glass, representing this world, as some think, a brittle thing, that shall be broken to pieces; or, as others, the gospel covenant, alluding to the brazen sea in the temple, in which the priests were to wash (the faithful servants of God stand upon the foundation of the righteousness of Christ); or, as others, the Red Sea, that stood as it were congealed while the Israelites went through; and, the pillar of fire reflecting light upon the waters, they would seem to have fire mingled with them; and this to show that the fire of God's wrath against Pharaoh and his horses should dissolve the congealed waters, and destroy them thereby, to which there seems to be an allusion by their singing the song of Moses, in which,
    • (1.) They extol the greatness of God's works, and the justice and truth of his ways, both in delivering his people and destroying their enemies. They rejoiced in hope, and the near prospect they had of this, though it was not yet accomplished.
    • (2.) They call upon all nations to render unto God the fear, glory, and worship, due to such a discovery of his truth and justice: Who shall not fear thee? v. 4.

Rev 15:5-8

Observe,

  • I. How these angels appeared-coming out of heaven to execute their commission: The temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened, v. 5. Here is an allusion to the holiest of all the tabernacle and temple, where was the mercy-seat, covering the ark of the testimony, where the high priest made intercession, and God communed with his people, and heard their prayers. Now by this, as it is here mentioned, we may understand,
    • 1. That, in the judgments God was now about to execute upon the antichristian interest, he was fulfilling the prophecies and promises of his word and covenant, which were there always before him, and of which he was ever mindful.
    • 2. That in this work he was answering the prayers of the people, which were offered to him by their great high priest.
    • 3. That he was herein avenging the quarrel of his own Son, and our Saviour Jesus Christ, whose offices and authority had been usurped, his name dishonoured, and the great designs of his death opposed, by antichrist and his adherents.
    • 4. That he was opening a wider door of liberty for his people to worship him in numerous solemn assemblies, without the fear of their enemies.
  • II. How they were equipped and prepared for their work. Observe,
    • 1. Their array: They were clothed with pure and white linen, and had their breasts girded with golden girdles, v. 6. This was the habit of the high priests when they went in to enquire of God, and came out with an answer from him. This showed that these angels were acting in all things under the divine appointment and direction, and that they were going to prepare a sacrifice to the Lord, called the supper of the great God, ch. 19:17. The angels are the ministers of divine justice, and they do every thing in a pure and holy manner.
    • 2. Their artillery, what it was, and whence they received it; their artillery, by which they were to do this great execution, was seven vials filled with the wrath of God; they were armed with the wrath of God against his enemies. The meanest creature, when it comes armed with the anger of God, will be too hard for any man in the world; but much more an angel of God. This wrath of God was not to be poured out all at once, but was divided into seven parts, which should successively fall upon the antichristian party. Now from whom did they receive these vials? From one of the four living creatures, one of the ministers of the true church, that is, in answer to the prayers of the ministers and people of God, and to avenge their cause, in which the angels are willingly employed.
  • III. The impressions these things made upon all who stood near the temple: they were all, as it were, wrapt up in clouds of smoke, which filled the temple, from the glorious and powerful presence of God; so that no man was able to enter into the temple, till the work was finished. The interests of antichrist were so interwoven with the civil interests of the nations that he could not be destroyed without giving a great shock to all the world; and the people of God would have but little rest and leisure to assemble themselves before him, while this great work was a doing. For the present, their sabbaths would be interrupted, ordinances of public worship intermitted, and all thrown into a general confusion. God himself was now preaching to the church and to all the world, by terrible things in righteousness; but, when this work was done, then the churches would have rest, the temple would be opened, and the solemn assemblies gathered, edified, and multiplied. The greatest deliverances of the church are brought about by awful and astonishing steps of Providence.