Sing A New Song

“Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous: seven angels having the seven last plagues, for in them the wrath of God is complete.” [1]

The Lord Jesus showed John what happens in the spiritual realm when things happen on earth. For example when the Lord told Joshua to have seven priests blow seven trumpets and give a shout to bring down the walls of Jericho. What they did reflected what the angels do in the last days when the kingdoms of the world are conquered and given to the Lord and His people. God used Old Testament Joshua to lead His servants to clear out the idolators from the land to prepare it to be a place of worship to the true God. Jesus completes what Joshua began. Jesus and His servants clear the earth of idolators and give it over to the meek who believe in Him and walk in His ways. [2]

“And I saw something like a sea of glass mingled with fire, and those who have the victory over the beast, over his image and over his mark and over the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, having harps of God. They sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying: ‘Great and marvelous are Your works, Lord God Almighty! Just and true are Your ways, O King of the saints! Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your Name? For You alone are holy. For all nations shall come and worship before You, for Your judgments have been manifested.’” [3]

The great and marvelous sign in heaven is followed by the triumphant people of God singing, ‘Great and marvelous are Your works, Lord God Almighty!” These people were deemed by God to be good grapes during the time of harvest revealed in chapter 14. They feared the Lord. They did not take the mark of the beast. They glorified the Name of the Lord. People from every nation were with God worshiping Him. They leaned upon the Lord and He saved them.

The sea of glass alludes to the great baptismal-like water basin before the entrance of Solomon’s temple. It was used for the purification of the priests. It also symbolizes the embryonic water from which a natural child is born. It symbolizes the baptismal water from which a person who believes in Jesus and professes Him is born of the Holy Spirit. Jesus transforms the one who is washed by His Spirit into kings and priests unto God. The sea mingled with fire alludes to the baptism of the fire by the Holy Spirit. They got the victory over the spiritual forces of wickedness in the spiritual realm by the power of a greater Spirit – God’s Spirit. Thus, they play harps in worship unto the Lamb and unto God Almighty in similar fashion to Miriam and the women who celebrated God’s victory over Pharaoh’s army with timbrels, dance and song. [4]

The vision of the sea of glass confirms the importance of baptism. The Lord warned Aaron and his sons (the priests) to wash in the basin before entering the tabernacle lest they die. The goal of Christ is to make us priests and kings unto God so we should happily be baptized in water. [5]

“They sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb.” Joyful songs of worship and thanksgiving unto God are the proper response to all of His goodness.

“Oh, sing to the Lord a new song! Sing to the Lord, all the earth. Sing to the Lord, bless His Name; proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day. Declare His glory among the nations, His wonders among all peoples. For the Lord is great and greatly to be praised.!” [6]

“After these things I looked, and behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened. And out of the temple came the seven angels having the seven plagues, clothed in pure bright linen, and having their chests girded with golden bands. Then one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God who lives forever and ever. The temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from His power, and no one was able to enter the temple till the seven plagues of the seven angels were completed.” [7]

The tabernacle testimony is opened for the angels to take the prayers of God’s people and throw them to earth where they become plagues on those who hate God and do not want Him to reign over them. This is what happened in Revelation 11:19 as well: “The temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in His temple the ark of His testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.”

They have bowls of God’s wrath to pour out. The temple filled with smoke from God’s glory and power is a sign that He is ready to act on the prayers of those who asked for His help.

David describes God’s response to his prayer, writing, “In my distress I called upon the Lord and cried out to my God; He heard my voice from His temple, and my cry came before Him, even to His ears. Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations of the hills also quaked and were shaken, because He was angry. Smoke went up from His nostrils, and devouring fire from His mouth; coals were kindled by it.” “The Lord thundered from heaven, and the Most High uttered His voice, hailstones and coals of fire. He sent out His arrows and scattered the foe, lightnings in abundance, and He vanquished them.” “He delivered me from my strong enemy, from those who hated me, for they were too strong for me. They confronted me in the day of my calamity, but the Lord was my support. He also brought me out into a broad place; He delivered me because He delighted in me.” [8]

Knowing what we know from the Word of God, we need not wait until all these things come to pass to sing a new song to the Lord. If we have been continuously singing songs of lament and songs for deliverance, we can now include songs of victory. The Lord is surely going to bring to pass all that He promised. The crime syndicates of this world are coming to an end. The devil, his false prophets and his kings are going down. Christ is coming! Our Lord Jesus Christ shall reign forever and ever. This, life which is comparable to a vapor that appears for a moment and is gone in the next, it will soon be over, and we will live forever and ever in paradise with God.

[1] Revelation 15:1
[2] Joshua 6; Matthew 5:5; Revelation 11:15
[3] Revelation 15:2-4
[4] Exodus 30:17-21; 1 Kings 7:23; John 3:4-6; Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 1:8; 2:4; Ephesians 6:12; Exodus 15:20-21
[5] Exodus 30:17-21; Revelation 11:15
[6] Psalm 96:1-4
[7] Revelation 15:5-8
[8] Psalm 18:6-8, 13-14, 17-19