REVELATION 15 by S. N. H.

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 12, 1901

By S. N. H.

S. N. H.

The fifteenth chapter of Revelation is an introduction to the sixteenth. In the hands of the seven angels are the seven vials containing wrath, and nothing but wrath. Mercy has taken her flight from the earth, and these angels are given their work. But before the plagues are described, the prophet sets before the people of God the reward of the hundred and forty-four thousand, who have obtained the victory over the Beast and over his Image by heeding the warning of the third angel. “Upon the crystal sea before the throne, that sea of glass, as it were mingled with fire, so resplendent is it with the glory of God, are gathered the company that have ‘gotten the victory over the Beast, and over his Image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name.’ With the Lamb upon Mount Zion [sea of glass], ‘having the harps of God,’ they stand, the hundred and forty and four thousand that were redeemed from among men; and there is heard, as the sound of many waters, and as the sound of a great thunder, ‘the voice of harpers harping with their harps.’ And they sing ‘a new song’ before the throne, a song which no man can learn save the hundred and forty and four thousand. It is the song of Moses and the Lamb,—a song of deliverance. None but the hundred and forty and four thousand can learn that song; for it is the song of their experience,—an experience such as no other company have ever had.” — “Great Controversy,” pages 648, 649.

As with Christ, their Creator and Redeemer, they visit worlds upon worlds and behold His handiwork, they exclaim: “Great and marvelous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints. 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.” In verse 5 the prophet’s mind is carried back to the ending of probation; he saw the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven open, and seven angels come out to do their work. Their clothing was a full representative of Christ’s. Compare verse 6 with chapter 1:13. They were delegated to pour out God’s wrath when there was no more mercy. Christ had laid aside His priestly attire, clothed himself with the garments of vengeance, and come forth as “King of kings, and Lord of lords.” See Rev. 19:11-19; Isa. 59:16-18.

Two things worthy of notice are mentioned in the eighth verse: “The temple was filled with smoke,” and “no man was able to enter into the temple till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled.”

As when Moses had erected the first tabernacle, “a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle, and Moses was not able to enter the tent of the congregation” (Ex. 40:34-36); and as at the dedication of Solomon’s temple the glory of the Lord “filled the house of the Lord, so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud: for the glory of the Lord had filled the house of the Lord” (1 Kings 8:10, 11),—so now when the ministration for mercy is over, the glory of God filled the temple, and no man was able to enter the temple to officiate as priest for the human family. “Then ceases His [Christ’s] intercession in the sanctuary above. He lifts His hands, and with a loud voice says, ‘It is done;’ and all the angelic host lay off their crowns as He makes the solemn announcement: ‘He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.’ Rev. 22:11. Every case has been decided for life or death. Christ has made the atonement for His people, and blotted out their sins. The number of His subjects is made up; ‘the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven,’ is about to be given to the heirs of salvation, and Jesus is to reign as King of kings and Lord of lords.” — “Great Controversy,” pages 613, 614. It will be noticed that it is Christ who says, “It is done,” when He finishes His intercession in behalf of the human family.

God the Father alone is left in the sanctuary. He remains there during the outpouring of the seven last plagues. It is under the sixth plague that “streams cease to flow. Dark, heavy clouds come up, and clash against each other. In the midst of the angry heavens is one clear place of indescribable glory, whence comes the voice of God [not Christ] like the sound of many waters, saying, ‘It is done.’” — “Great Controversy,” page 636. Let the reader carefully study the two chapters of “Great Controversy,” The Time of Trouble, and God’s People Delivered, and there will be no confusion over the ending of probation before the seven plagues are poured out.

It is one of the “four beasts” that give unto the seven angels the vials full of the wrath of God. They are with Christ as He offers the prayers of the saints on the earth, and even they also have vials full of odors. Rev. 5:8-10.

It is humanity in behalf of humanity that says there are no more prayers to be offered. The last prayers have been offered for others, the last tear has been shed. The last effort has been made for the salvation of souls because they have refused the offer of pardon, and turned their ears away from the call of mercy. It is then that Christ takes the censer, and fills it with fire of the altar, and casts it into the earth, and there are voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake. Rev. 8:5. It is then Christ says, “It is done.” That time is near to come. May the Lord help us all to get ready; for it will come as a thief in the night.