Project 119: Revelation 15
| Project 119 | Dr. Wayne Splawn
A Song of Hope
Singing is one of the most important things Christians do. God commands that we sing His praises, and the content of our songs is important because the theology we sing usually shapes our understanding of God in powerful ways. Many of us prefer different styles of music in worship, but one thing upon which we all should agree is that we must sing things that are true. Substance is far more important than style.
Here in Revelation 15, we find a group of believers who have been victorious over the beast. They are holding harps and singing:
“Great and amazing are your deeds,
O Lord God the Almighty!
Just and true are your ways,
O King of the nations!
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” (Revelation 15:3–4).
In a world marked by chaos and destruction, these believers proclaim truth in song. God’s deeds are great and amazing. God’s ways are true and just. All people will fear Him and glorify His name. All nations will one day come and worship before Him. The believers who first receive John’s revelation no doubt feel as if they are a small, persecuted minority, and they endure the scorn of people who oppose God and His people. But, the truth they sing into this situation reminds them that things will not always be this way. One day, God will be worshipped and feared by people from every tribe and nation. This truth will empower them to remain faithful to God even in the face of hardship and persecution.
As you go about your day today, keep the truths of Revelation 15:3–4 ever before you. When things seem dark and you feel despondent, preach the truth of this Scripture to yourself and ask God to give you faith to believe that one day, every creature in Heaven and on earth will give God the glory due His name!
Revelation 15 (ESV):
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.”
5 After this I looked, and the sanctuary of the tent of witness in heaven was opened, 6 and out of the sanctuary came the seven angels with the seven plagues, clothed in pure, bright linen, with golden sashes around their chests. 7 And 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, 8 and the sanctuary was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from his power, and no one could enter the sanctuary until the seven plagues of the seven angels were finished.