A SEA OF GLASS MINGLED WITH FIRE:
Singing to the Lamb as We Wait on the End
Revelation: Every Eye Will See Him
Revelation 15
THE TEXT:
The text for the sermon today is Revelation 15:1-4. Our text can be found on page 1036. These are the words of God:
Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and amazing, seven angels with seven plagues, which are the last, for with them the wrath of God is finished.
2 And I saw what appeared to be a sea of glass mingled with fire—and also those who had conquered the beast and its image and the number of its name, standing beside the sea of glass with harps of God in their hands. 3 And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying,
“Great and amazing are your deeds,
O Lord God the Almighty!
Just and true are your ways,
O King of the nations!
4 Who will not fear, O Lord,
and glorify your name?
For you alone are holy.
All nations will come
and worship you,
for your righteous acts have been revealed.”
SUMMARY OF THE TEXT
Revelation is written as a series of 7 cycles, all focused on the same overarching story, but each showing a different perspective. That main theme is conflict and victory. Conflict between Jesus Christ, the Lamb, and Satan, the Dragon. Conflict between the church and the beast of political power. Conflict between the Christian and the temptation to walk away from Christ. Over and over again, through symbols and pictures we see that even though the saints are persecuted, Christ carries them through, to the end in victory. And we get another picture of just that today.
- 1 – John sees what’s coming next in Revelation. He see’s the next cycle of visions. This will be the outpouring of God’s judgment for the final time in the book. (15:5-16:21)
Verses 2-4 are a break in the action which invite us to take a breather, a rest, and to consider the prospect of tranquility in heaven.
- 2 – But for now, his attention comes back to the present vision in which he sees a sea of glass, last seen in 4:6. In the ancient world, the sea was terrifying. Monsters lived there. And in Revelation 13, the sea is the source of the Beast. But in God’s presence, the sea of life’s tumult is so calm, you can see your reflection in it like a mirror.
John also sees those who have conquered the beast, standing beside the sea with harps in their hands. They are at rest. No more struggle. Not more swords and shields. The fight is over. They are now singing songs.
- 3 – We’re told of two songs they sing. The first is the song of Moses. Remember Moses—Israel’s deliverer, author of the first 5 books of the Bible (the Law). There are two songs that Moses recorded: Exodus 15 (_____)
Then Moses and the people of Israel sang this song to the Lord, saying,
“I will sing to the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously;
the horse and his rider he has thrown into the sea.
2 The Lord is my strength and my song,
and he has become my salvation;
this is my God, and I will praise him,
my father’s God, and I will exalt him.
3 The Lord is a man of war;
the Lord is his name.
Deuteronomy 32 ( ______ )
“Give ear, O heavens, and I will speak,
and let the earth hear the words of my mouth.
2 May my teaching drop as the rain,
my speech distill as the dew,
like gentle rain upon the tender grass,
and like showers upon the herb.
3 For I will proclaim the name of the Lord;
ascribe greatness to our God!
4 “The Rock, his work is perfect,
for all his ways are justice.
A God of faithfulness and without iniquity,
just and upright is he.
We aren’t sure which of these two songs, John refers to in Revelation, but contain similar themes. The Lord is great and good in al he does. Even when we cannot see it, he is getting the victory for himself and for his people.
Back to Revelation 15. The second song they sing is the song of the Lamb.
“Great and amazing are your deeds,
O Lord God the Almighty!
It is frequent (in the Psalms) for the songs of God’s people to recount the amazing things God has done.
- Creation – “How Great Thou Art”
- Incarnation – “Come Behold the Wondrous Mystery”
- Salvation – “In Christ Alone” (JUSTIFICATION)
Just and true are your ways,
O King of the nations!
Just means that everything God does has the quality of moral uprightness. He does no evil, and he tempts no one to do anything evil. When we see God working, we can be sure that he is doing the right thing. Human beings are capable of evil, but God is not. It is contrary to his very nature.
And he’s the king of nations. He is the king of nations already today because people from all of the nations are coming to Christ. And, when Christ returns, and puts an end to evil, he will be king over every nation. I long for that day.
4 Who will not fear, O Lord,
and glorify your name?
The proper question to all of his amazing deeds then, is “So, who isn’t going to glorify him?” if he is the creator, sustainer, judge, and the one who shows mercy and pardon—then come to him. Don’t delay.
For you alone are holy.
All nations will come
and worship you,
for your righteous acts have been revealed.”
The song of the Lamb concludes with a reminder that there is no one like God. Holiness, when we refer to God primarily speaks to his being set apart from everything else. This is the creator/creation divide. He is entirely other.
And we have here the promise of the future: all nations will come. They will all be accounted for around the eternal throne, praising the Lamb.
Two simple applications from this song:
Marvel at his deeds.
Fear his name.
MARVEL AT HIS DEEDS
How often to do you sit recount what God has done? The Psalms do it constantly, and here, we’re told that the Saints in heaven spend a portion of their time remembering.
Make a list.
What has God done for his people?
What has God done for me?
Where were you when he found you?
Through what has he brought you?
Now—and this is key – apply all of those memories of God’s faithfulness to your present fears.
FEAR HIS NAME
As this list formulates, his reality, his power, his goodness grow in your view. You realize all that he is worth. You realize how small you yourself are, even PUNY.
The proper response is fear.
Flavel – Overcoming Sinful Fear
Three kinds of fear:
- Natural Fear – The trouble of mind that arises when we perceive impending danger. (Fire, sickness etc.) Natural fear is not always sinful, but it is the fruit of sin.
- Sinful Fear – Fear that arises from unbelief, a distrust of God. Fearing God less than we ought and fearing what is not God more than we ought. To trust in any creature as if it had God’s power to help us, or to fear any creature as if it had God’s power to hurt us, is exceedingly sinful.
- Holy Fear – Fearing God. Not a sniveling, groveling fear, but the combination of awe at God’s power, and love of one’s sonship.
- This fear puts the soul under the awe of God’s eye.
- This fear inclines us to do what pleases God.
- This fear engages and, to some degree, enables the soul to shun and avoid whatever displeases God.
Fear of Man –
In order to free yourself from [the] sinful fear [of man], you must consider Christ’s providential kingdom over all creatures and affairs in this world.
“Poor fearful souls! Is there not a King, a supreme Lord, who rules over all? Has not Christ the reins of government in His hands (Matt. 28:18; John 17:2; Phil. 2:9–12)? Enemies, like wild horses, may prance up and down as though they would trample everyone in their path; but the bridle of providence is in their mouths and upon their proud necks (2 Kings 19:28).”
Fear of Fear –
You have lived to this day upon Christ’s care. No truth is more evident than this: wisdom beyond your own has guided your ways (Jer. 10:23), power above your own has supported your burdens (Psalm 73:26), and a spring of relief beyond you has met your needs (Luke 22:35). He has performed everything for you.
Christ is doing all that is necessary in your life to make you more like him, and in the end, to take you home to heaven. His providence has brought you to this day, this hour, and this minute. And his grace will carry you through.
Christian struggling with fear and anxiety – listen to your pastor, and listen to the Word of God – because you belong to Jesus, he’ll not let you go. You are loved by God. You are loved by a love that is as everlasting and unending as God himself. Man may fail you, but he will not forsake you. You may fall and fail, but he will remain faithful. He will not stop his plans for you until one day you are standing beside the sea of glass, singing the song of the Lamb.
So, if you find yourself saying, “Am I going to make it? How am I going to trust him? How is he going to bring good out of the wreckage of my life?” If that is you, and you belong to Christ by faith—then 10,000 years from now, you will look back at this moment of anxiety and fear which threaten to consume you today—you’ll look back on it and with complete freedom and joy and sing:
“Great and amazing are your deeds,
O Lord God the Almighty!
Just and true are your ways,
O King of the nations!
4 Who will not fear, O Lord,
and glorify your name?
For you alone are holy.
All nations will come
and worship you,
for your righteous acts have been revealed.”