Daily Devotion of Revelation 15
Daily Nugget:
Before seven more angels release the last seven plagues on the earth (vss. 1, 6-7), another heavenly event will occur. The once quiet, still “sea of glass” that is before God’s throne (4:6) will become mingled with shimmering fire and many more martyred tribulation saints.
This crowd before God’s throne will be the victors (vs. 2) from the beast’s earthly control, blasphemic idol, and his mark of 666. Since there will be no way from getting out of the beast’s religious control alive and not receiving his brand, they got the “victory” by being killed. In man’s eye’s, their refusal of the beast’s commandments will be a death sentence and certainly not a “victory”, but in God’s eyes, it will be the right decision. Receiving the mark and worshipping the beast’s image will be a sentence of eternal torment (14:11); refusing the mark for God’s sake will indeed be a “victory”.
Many today, when they make any stand for the cause of Christ or face any kind of humiliation for not doing what the ungodly are doing are sad and apprehensive of being different. Some times they even have a “poor me” attitude, because they have even mild persecution for being a Christian. Here these martyred saints will not be sad, or resentful for their decision to not be marked as ungodly.
They may have lost their lives for their beliefs and convictions, but they still have the new, joyous song in their hearts that God put there. In verse 3, they will be singing the “song of Moses”. The “song of Moses” (Exodus 15:1-21) was the joyous refrain Israel sang after they saw how God had protected them from the ensuing Pharaoh’s army. Seeing the enemy destroyed by God brought a sense of excitement and an increase in love for God when they saw His intervention.
Those that died for their stand for God will also have similar feelings. Although their death may be cruel and agonizing, standing in front of God’s throne will show them that they are on the winning side. Perhaps seeing seven more angels take up a position to further inflict plagues on the beast and the other ungodly people on earth that brought about their deaths, will also increase their excitement and love for God, as they see the enemy will be dealt with.
What a shining example these future saints can be to us, even though any persecution we may face is mild in comparison to what the tribulation saints will face. There may be some that talk about how a Christian is peculiar as compared to the rest of the world. Many may even shake their heads at how the Christians think, act, and believe. We may even feel that, as this world gets further away from God, that we do not fit in with them, and are increasingly becoming more “different”. However, we can be as those future saints. We can still have a joyous song in our heart. If we are saved, we are on the winning side. We can be victorious — no matter what happens in this life!
Today’s Thought:
Stand up, stand up for Jesus, ye soldiers of the cross;
Lift high His royal banner, it must not suffer loss.
From victory unto victory His army shall He lead,
Till every foe is vanquished, and Christ is Lord indeed.
From George Duffield’s hymn, Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus
Today’s Reading: Revelation 15
1 And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvellous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God.
2 And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God.
3 And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints.
4 Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest.
5 ¶ And after that I looked, and, behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened:
6 And the seven angels came out of the temple, having the seven plagues, clothed in pure and white linen, and having their breasts girded with golden girdles.
7 And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever.
8 And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled. (KJV)
Before seven more angels release the last seven plagues on the earth (vss. 1, 6-7), another heavenly event will occur. The once quiet, still “sea of glass” that is before God’s throne (4:6) will become mingled with shimmering fire and many more martyred tribulation saints.This crowd before God’s throne will be the victors (vs. 2) from the beast’s earthly control, blasphemic idol, and his mark of 666. Since there will be no way from getting out of the beast’s religious control alive and not receiving his brand, they got the “victory” by being killed. In man’s eye’s, their refusal of the beast’s commandments will be a death sentence and certainly not a “victory”, but in God’s eyes, it will be the right decision. Receiving the mark and worshipping the beast’s image will be a sentence of eternal torment (14:11); refusing the mark for God’s sake will indeed be a “victory”.
They may have lost their lives for their beliefs and convictions, but they still have the new, joyous song in their hearts that God put there. In verse 3, they will be singing the “song of Moses”. The “song of Moses” (Exodus 15:1-21) was the joyous refrain Israel sang after they saw how God had protected them from the ensuing Pharaoh’s army. Seeing the enemy destroyed by God brought a sense of excitement and an increase in love for God when they saw His intervention.
Those that died for their stand for God will also have similar feelings. Although their death may be cruel and agonizing, standing in front of God’s throne will show them that they are on the winning side. Perhaps seeing seven more angels take up a position to further inflict plagues on the beast and the other ungodly people on earth that brought about their deaths, will also increase their excitement and love for God, as they see the enemy will be dealt with.
What a shining example these future saints can be to us, even though any persecution we may face is mild in comparison to what the tribulation saints will face. There may be some that talk about how a Christian is peculiar as compared to the rest of the world. Many may even shake their heads at how the Christians think, act, and believe. We may even feel that, as this world gets further away from God, that we do not fit in with them, and are increasingly becoming more “different”. However, we can be as those future saints. We can still have a joyous song in our heart. If we are saved, we are on the winning side. We can be victorious — no matter what happens in this life!
Today’s Thought:
Stand up, stand up for Jesus, ye soldiers of the cross;
Lift high His royal banner, it must not suffer loss.
From victory unto victory His army shall He lead,
Till every foe is vanquished, and Christ is Lord indeed.
From George Duffield’s hymn, Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus
Today’s Reading: Revelation 15
1 And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvellous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God.
2 And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God.
3 And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints.
4 Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest.
5 ¶ And after that I looked, and, behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened:
6 And the seven angels came out of the temple, having the seven plagues, clothed in pure and white linen, and having their breasts girded with golden girdles.
7 And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever.
8 And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled. (KJV)
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