“Then I saw another sign in heaven, a great and wonderful one — seven angels with the seven plagues that are the final ones; because with them, God’s fury is finished” (Revelation 15:1).
Many times Elohim uses constellations and planets as ‘signs in the heavens.’ An astronomical event, ‘a star in the east,’ led the magi from Persia to see the newborn King of Isra’el. In fact, the magi were actually astronomers who charted the heavens and prophesied Biblical events through the movements of the heavenly bodies. Because of this, some suggest that the ‘sign in heaven’ of the seven messengers is where the constellation Pleiades is found among the planets and other stars (Job 9:8-10).
This ‘sign in heaven’ is a great and wonderful one. The Hebrew word gadol means ‘great in intensity and magnitude.’ The word for ‘wonder’ in Hebrew is pele and means ‘a wonder that is so extraordinary that it’s hard to explain.’ Pele is also used in reference to Adonai’s acts of redemption and judgment.
The seven messengers have seven plagues. The Hebrew word nega and means ‘a stroke,’ ‘mark,’ ‘blow’ or ‘infection.’ Each of the plagues in Egypt was a blow to a pagan gods. Each time Elohim struck Egypt, they suffered economically, physically, and spiritually. In His fury, Adonai sends plagues to judge the idolatry of self. The Hebrew word for ‘fury’ is ebrah and means ‘overflow with rage.’
“I saw what looked like a sea of glass mixed with fire. Those defeating the beast, its image and the number of its name were standing by the sea of glass, holding harps which God had given them” (Revelation 15:2).
Yochanan’s sees a ‘sea of glass mixed with fire.’ The ‘sea of glass’ is mentioned in Revelation chapter 4 though it is not mixed with fire. The ‘sea of glass’ may be a reference to the Bronze Laver in the Tabernacle. This Laver was used by the priests to wash themselves from the remains of the offerings before going into the Holy Place. The Laver was made from the mirrors given to the Hebrews by the Egyptians as they were exiting Egypt.
“I watched, and that horn made war with the holy ones and was winning, until the Ancient One came, judgment was given in favor of the holy ones of the Most High, and the time came for the holy ones to take over the kingdom” (Daniel 7:21-22).
“For the Day will not come until after the Apostasy has come and the man who separates himself from Torah has been revealed, the one destined for doom. He will oppose himself to everything that people call a god or make an object of worship; he will put himself above them all, so that he will sit in the Temple of God and proclaim that he himself is God” (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4).
Defeating the ‘beast’ will not be an easy war for the holy ones, the 144,000 from the 12 Tribes of Isra’el. They will have to endure persecution patiently as they wait for the ‘Ancient One’ to give them the Kingdom. They will have to stand against a lawless world system that rejects the Torah. They will have to stand against worshiping the image of the ‘beast.’ They will have to refuse the ‘mark of the beast’ losing the ability to buy or sell. They will have to reject the ‘man of lawlessness’ when he sits in the Temple proclaiming himself to be God.
The people standing by the ‘sea mixed with fire’ have been removed from the refining fire of judgment and persecution on the nations of the world. They have defeated the ‘beast’ and they wait for their reward while holding harps given to them by Adonai.
The Hebrew word ‘harp’ is kinnor though the actual instrument is unknown. The first time kinnor is found in Scripture is Genesis 4:21 that says, “Yuval was the ancestor of all who play lyre and flute.” David played the lyre for King Saul to comfort him whenever the evil spirit tormented him (1 Samuel 16:16). The lyre was used when King David tried to move the Ark of the Covenant to the threshing floor. These ‘harpists’ praise God with a new song (Psalm 144:9).
Hebrew Word Pictures
Harp – kinnor
Kaf – Open Hand means ‘open’ or ‘cover.’
Nun – A Fish means ‘life.’
Vav – A Nail means ‘binding.’
Resh – A Head means ‘highest authority.’
The Hebrew Word Picture for kinnor: open life, binding to the highest authority.
The original song of Moshe was written just before he died in Deuteronomy 32. He was commanded by Adonai to write down the words of the song and teach it to the Israelites as a witness for Him against the nation of Isra’el. This is a second song called the song of Moshe and also the song of the Lamb.
“They were singing the song of Moshe, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb:
“Great and wonderful are the things you have done,
Adonai, God of heaven’s armies!
Just and true are your ways,
king of the nations!
Adonai, who will not fear and glorify your name?
because you alone are holy.
All nations will come and worship before you,
for your righteous deeds have been revealed“
(Revelation 15:3-4).
In this song, the God of heaven’s armies is praised for His greatness. The word tzva’ot comes from the Hebrew word tzava and means ‘that which goes forth to fight’ or ‘an army of people created to accomplish a mission.’ Yeshua is the Commander of the greatest army in heaven and on earth. The 144,000 chosen from the 12 Tribes of Isra’el were called as special forces to take the message of the Kingdom to the nations of the earth.
Yeshua is also called the ‘King of Nations’ who is holy or set-apart from every other king from the beginning of time to the end. Because of his righteous acts, his greatness, his truth, and his justice, all nations will come and worship him. The question, ‘Who will not fear and glorify your name?’ is rhetorical. There will be no one who doesn’t fear and glorify the name of Yeshua.
“Therefore God raised him to the highest place and gave him the name above every name; that in honor of the name given Yeshua, every knee will bow — in heaven, on earth and under the earth — and every tongue will acknowledge that Yeshua the Messiah is Adonai — to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:9-11).
“After this I looked, and the sanctuary (that is, the Tent of Witness in heaven) was opened, and out of the sanctuary came the seven angels with the seven plagues. They were dressed in clean bright linen and had gold belts around their chests. One of the four living beings gave to the seven angels seven gold bowls filled with the fury of God, who lives forever and ever“(Revelation 15:5-7).
After the 144,000 harpists sing their spontaneous song of praise, the Tabernacle in heaven opens and seven angels with seven plagues come out. These harpists are dressed in clean, white linen with gold belts around their chests. The Hebrew word for clean is tahor and means ‘pure’ and ‘clean.’ This is a purity that is ritually ‘clean’ according to Adonai’s Torah. When they come out of the Tabernacle, they become the object of reverent fear as they wait to receive their military orders from their Commander. Each of the seven messengers is given a bowl filled with the fury of Adonai.
The word ‘bowl’ in Hebrew is gulah and means ‘basin.’ Elohim ‘washes his hands’ of the wickedness of the nations by pouring out His wrath.
“Then the sanctuary was filled with smoke from God’s Sh’khinah, that is, from his power; and no one could enter the sanctuary until the seven plagues of the seven angels had accomplished their purpose” (Revelation 15:8).
The Tabernacle fills with the Divine Presence of Ehyeh Asher Ehyeh as smoke. The Hebrew word for ‘smoke’ is ashan and means ‘anger.’ No one can enter the Tabernacle until the seven messengers accomplish what they are called to do for this moment in time.
Chapter 16 – The Bowls of Wrath
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