Worship, Wrath, and Victory in Revelation 15

Devotional

Day 1: God's completed wrath calls urgent repentance and worship.

John’s vision makes clear that God’s wrath will be completed—His holiness and justice require a final reckoning, and that reality should move people to reverent worship and urgent witness. The scene of the sea of glass mixed with fire and the victorious saints reminds believers that faithfulness in the midst of trial leads to worship and ultimate vindication. This calls the church to both proclaim God’s mercy now and to worship Him for His perfect justice and power. [38:34]

Revelation 15:1-8 (NIV)
1 I saw in heaven another great and marvelous sign: seven angels who had the seven last plagues—last, because with them God’s wrath is completed.
2 And I saw what looked like a sea of glass mixed with fire—and those who had been victorious over the beast and over its image and over the number of its name. They held harps given them by God
3 and sang the song of God’s servant Moses and of the Lamb: “Great and marvelous are your deeds, Lord God Almighty. Just and true are your ways, King of the nations.
4 Who will not fear you, Lord, and bring glory to your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before you, for your righteous acts have been revealed.”
5 After this I looked, and I saw in heaven the temple—that is, the tabernacle of the covenant law—and it was opened.
6 Out of the temple came the seven angels with the seven plagues. They were dressed in clean, shining linen and wore golden sashes around their chests.
7 Then one of the four living creatures gave the seven angels seven golden bowls filled with the wrath of God, who lives for ever and ever.
8 And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from his power, and no one could enter the temple until the seven plagues of the seven angels were completed.

Reflection: Who is one person you can intentionally speak with this week about both God’s mercy and His coming judgment, and what specific words or question will you use to begin that conversation?

Day 2: The redeemed sing God's victory and deliverance.

The song of Moses and the song of the Lamb celebrate God’s mighty acts of deliverance; saved people praise God for His rescuing power and lead others to trust Him. Remembering the Red Sea deliverance helps believers see that God both saves and establishes a people to worship Him forever. Worship in hardship is an expression of trust in God’s past and future rescue. [52:59]

Exodus 15:1-2, 11, 17 (NIV)
1 Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the Lord: “I will sing to the Lord, for he is highly exalted. The horse and its rider he has hurled into the sea.
2 The Lord is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise him, my father’s God, and I will exalt him.
11 Who among the gods is like you, Lord? Who is like you—majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders?
17 You will bring them in and plant them on your own mountain—the place, Lord, you made for your abode, the sanctuary, Lord, that your hands established.

Reflection: In what specific way will you set aside time this week to rehearse and declare God’s past faithfulness so that your heart is prepared to worship confidently in present trials?

Day 3: Faithful martyrs are vindicated and enter God's presence.

The vision reminds believers that those who refuse to worship the beast and hold fast to Jesus may suffer, even unto death, yet their souls are received immediately into God’s presence and share in Christ’s reign. Martyrdom is not defeat but the passage into final victory, and the church is called to remember and pray for persecuted brothers and sisters. This truth strengthens resolve to remain faithful under pressure and to support those who face persecution. [48:03]

Revelation 20:4 (NIV)
4 I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony about Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

Reflection: Who are believers or congregations you will begin to pray for regularly this month, and what具体 ways will you offer them practical support or vocal encouragement in their witness?

Day 4: God's patience invites sinners to repent and be saved.

God delays final judgment because He desires that all would come to repentance; His patience is an act of mercy meant to open a window for salvation. This should move the church from complacency to persistent prayer and evangelistic urgency for neighbors, family, and acquaintances. Trusting God’s patience means taking tangible steps to share the gospel while there is still opportunity. [44:05]

2 Peter 3:9 (NIV)
9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

Reflection: List three specific people you will pray for daily for the next two weeks, and what one bold but loving step will you take toward each to open a gospel conversation?

Day 5: Today is the day to confess and be saved.

The invitation is clear and urgent: anyone can cry out in repentance and faith in Jesus, confessing Him as Lord and believing in his resurrection, and be rescued from eternal separation. The path to salvation is simple and immediate—admit sin, turn to Christ, and confess Him—no intermediary required, only a genuine heart response. Make no delay; the gospel call is both personal and public: decide now to call on the name of the Lord. [01:06:09]

Romans 10:9-13 (NIV)
9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.
11 As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.”
12 For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him,
13 for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Reflection: If you were to pray right now to confess Jesus as Lord, what are the exact words you would use, and who will you tell this week that you have placed your trust in Christ?

Sermon Summary

We opened Revelation 15 to behold a sobering and hope-filled scene: seven angels prepared to pour out the final bowls in which God’s wrath is completed. I reminded us that God’s wrath isn’t a lapse in His love; it is the necessary expression of His holiness and justice. We are living now in the time of God’s patience—He desires all to repent—but there will be a day when judgment is no longer delayed. In Christ, the church is rescued, yet Revelation shows that many who come to faith during the tribulation will hold fast to Jesus at great cost.

John’s vision shows those saints standing on a sea of glass mixed with fire—faith tested, yet triumphant—harps in hand, singing the song of Moses and the song of the Lamb. Their worship ties our story to the Exodus and announces that the God who split the sea is the God who saves to the uttermost. We lingered over the character of God: great and awe-inspiring are His works; just and true are His ways; holy is His name; King of the nations is His title. Worship is not an intermission; it is the posture of a people who know who sits on the throne.

We also carried our persecuted brothers and sisters in our hearts, remembering believers who today seal their testimony with their blood. Their witness calls us to courage: the worst the world can do cannot outlast the joy of being immediately with Christ. Then the vision moved to the heavenly temple—the tabernacle of testimony opened; angels received the bowls; glory filled the temple so fully that no one could enter. It was a vivid reminder: the Holy One is not manageable. And yet, in Christ, the veil has been torn and we are summoned to draw near now.

So I urged us to live awake. Pray for those who don’t yet know Jesus. Ask for an open door and a ready tongue. And if you have not turned to Him—do not wait. Confess your sin, trust the crucified and risen Lord, and receive the gift of forgiveness today. The bowls will be poured out. But today, mercy is wide open, and the King welcomes all who call on His name.

Key Takeaways

1. God’s wrath will be completed. God’s justice doesn’t sputter out; it culminates. The bowls reveal that sin won’t linger forever unanswered. This is a warning to the unrepentant and a comfort to the faithful: the Judge of all the earth will do right, fully and finally. Let His holiness shape your seriousness about sin—and your confidence in His perfect verdicts. [45:49]
2. Endurance is the path to victory. The overcomers didn’t win by avoiding fire but by fidelity within it. Refusing the beast’s mark, they chose loss now for life forever—and their worship rises from a costly obedience. Endurance reorders what we call “gain,” teaching us to measure success by faithfulness rather than ease. [48:37]
3. Worship steadies us in upheaval. The songs of Moses and the Lamb locate us in God’s larger story—Exodus and Resurrection—so the present crisis doesn’t have the last word. When we confess His justice, holiness, and kingship, our fears shrink to fit beneath His throne. Worship doesn’t deny reality; it declares the truer reality of the reigning Christ. [55:56]
4. His presence is holy and weighty. When the temple fills with glory and access is barred, we remember: God is never casual. His nearness purifies and His glory presses on every pretense. Draw near through the torn veil of Christ, but do so with reverence—the God who welcomes you is the God before whom heaven trembles. [62:16]
5. Respond to grace without delay. Patience is not indifference; it is mercy’s clock. The door is open now, but it will not always be. If you feel the Spirit’s tug, answer Him today—repent and believe the gospel while the Savior’s invitation is warm in your hands. [66:09]

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Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

- Revelation 15 (NIV) —

Observation Questions

Revelation 15:1 says John saw "seven angels with the seven last plagues, for with them God's wrath will be completed." What does the passage state about the purpose and timing of these bowls? [38:00]
Revelation 15:2 describes "a sea of glass mixed with fire" and those who "had won the victory" standing on it with harps. What details does the text give about who these people are and why fire is present with the glass? [47:38]
Revelation 15:3–4 combines "the song of Moses" with "the song of the Lamb," naming attributes of God. Which attributes are listed in the song, and how does the song link Exodus deliverance with the victory pictured in Revelation? [52:39]
Revelation 15:5–8 shows the heavenly temple filled with God's glory so that "no one could enter the temple until the seven plagues were completed." What concrete elements does the text give about the temple scene and its effect on access to God? [01:02:16]

Interpretation Questions

How should the church understand the statement that "God’s wrath will be completed" in light of the claim that God is patient so that people might repent? What tension between judgment and mercy does this create for the community? [44:05]
What theological connection does John make by pairing the song of Moses (Exodus deliverance) with the song of the Lamb (Christ’s victory)? How does that pairing shape the reader’s understanding of who God is and what salvation finally accomplishes? [52:39]
What does standing "on a sea of glass mixed with fire" imply about the nature of victory—does the image suggest avoidance of suffering or faithful endurance through suffering? What does the phrase say about the character of the overcomers? [48:37]
What is the significance of the temple being sealed by God’s glory so no one could enter, even though Christ has torn the veil and opened access? How does that tension affect the believer’s view of both God’s holiness and present access to Him through Christ? [39:56]

Application Questions

God’s patience is intended to bring people to repentance. Who are two specific people you will begin praying for this week that they might be rescued from final judgment? When will you set a concrete time (day and place) to pray for them and to ask God for an opportunity to speak to them? [41:14]
The overcomers won by refusing the beast’s mark and remaining faithful despite cost. Name one present "easy gain" or cultural pressure you face that tempts you away from costly obedience. What concrete step will you take in the next 30 days to choose faithfulness instead? (For example: a conversation to have, a boundary to set, a charity to support.) [48:37]
Worship in the vision steadies believers amid upheaval by confessing God’s justice, holiness, and reign. What new or renewed habit of worship (personal or with others) will you adopt this week to re-center on those truths? Be specific: when, where, and how long will you make it? [55:56]
The heavenly temple scene warns that God's presence is holy and weighty, and yet Christ has opened access. What practical change will you make in your devotional life to approach God with both confidence and reverence (for example: begin with confession, observe a Sabbath hour, read Scripture more slowly)? Set a measurable first step for this week. [01:02:16]
The invitation is clear: respond to grace without delay. If you sense you have not turned to Christ, what is one immediate step you will take this week (whom will you tell, where will you pray, what verse will you memorize) to begin trusting Jesus and receiving forgiveness? If you already follow Christ, who will you invite this week to consider that same step? [01:05:10]
The vision calls believers to remember and support the persecuted church. What specific act will you commit to for the persecuted—prayer, giving, advocacy, or support—and when will you take that first concrete action? (Name the action and a date.) [50:58]

Sermon Clips

Now is the book of Revelation difficult for us to understand? Yeah, it sure is. But with the power of the Holy Spirit, we can understand it. Because after all, why would God have given us any books in the Bible if He didn't want us to understand them? Now, we cannot understand them in our own power, in our own intellect, in our own abilities. We must understand them through the power of the Holy Spirit. [00:45:28] (25 seconds) #HolySpiritGuidesUnderstanding

Now, we don't like to talk about God's wrath because we're afraid we're going to get people upset. They're going to not be a part of the church because we need to talk about love and compassion and mercy and grace. And I'm so grateful that God is all of those. I'm so grateful that God has freely poured that out on His church. But we must also make sure that we let people know that unless they trust in the Lord Jesus Christ, unless they repent of their sins, they are headed for the wrath of God. Now, is that a popular message? No. But it is a message that must be taught? Yes. [00:46:09] (38 seconds) #SpeakGodsWrath

And we're reminded of that, the number 666. But as a result of their faith, they will be greatly persecuted. And so we see here the fire, the sea of glass mixed with fire. And those who had won the victory over the beast, its image and the number of its name, these are the ones who remained faithful. They didn't bow down to the Antichrist or the false prophet who came to provoke them and lead them to worship the Antichrist. No, they remained faithful to the Lord. And as a result of that, they will ultimately be victorious. [00:48:05] (38 seconds) #FaithOverBeast

So for us, though, when we die, as our brother mentioned a little while ago, about today would be the birthday of his father. Well, he died back in the summer, but as soon as he died, his soul immediately entered into the presence of the Lord. So he experienced the victory here for a little while, but now he's truly experiencing the victory that only comes through the Lord Jesus Christ. [00:49:38] (26 seconds) #ImmediateVictoryInChrist

And those who are being persecuted for their faith right now, as we have seen on the news, and as we've talked about many times over the last month or so, there in Nigeria, that many Christians are being persecuted, even dying for their faith. As soon as they take their last breath here, as long as they are followers of the Lord Jesus Christ, immediately their souls be entered into the presence of the Lord. They will experience ultimate victory. [00:50:03] (27 seconds) #PersecutedButVictorious

Then as you fast forward to the New Testament, we're reminded of the great and ultimate sacrifice, the Lord Jesus Christ himself, who then, as we sang in that song a little bit earlier, that the veil was torn from top to bottom when Jesus died. And so now, as a result of that veil being torn, now anyone can enter into the presence of the Almighty King. But they must believe in Him. They must trust in Him that now we have entrance into this great tabernacle. [01:00:17] (32 seconds) #EnterGodsPresenceThroughChrist

You're headed for that. It doesn't have to be that way. How do you avoid it? Admit you're a sinner. Confess your sin. Repent of your sin, which means turning from it and turning to the holy God, the one who tore down the veil. The one who's given us access through the death of his son, Jesus Christ. His death, his burial, and his resurrection. You can be saved right now. Or whenever you watch this online, you can be saved right now. [01:04:58] (37 seconds) #RepentAndBeSaved

You say, well, I need a preacher. No, you don't need a preacher. You just need to cry out to the Lord in forgiveness. Now, we'd be glad to help. Sure. Our deacons would be glad to help. Sunday school teachers would be glad to help. But you don't need any of us. You just need to cry out in repentance to the Lord right this moment. Today, you can be saved. [01:05:36] (24 seconds) #CryOutToTheLord

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