When God’s judgment comes, will we trust that His ways are righteous and true?
Key Verse:
“And they sang the song of Moses, the bond-servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, ‘Great and marvelous are Your works, O Lord God, the Almighty; Righteous and true are Your ways, King of the nations!'” —Revelation 15:3 NASB
Background Context:
Revelation 15 is a brief but important transition between the warnings and harvest of Revelation 14 and the seven bowls of God’s wrath that will be poured out in Revelation 16. John sees seven angels holding the final seven plagues, through which the wrath of God will be completed.
Before those judgments begin, however, John’s attention is drawn to those who have overcome the beast, his image, and the number of his name. Standing before God, they worship Him and sing what John calls “the song of Moses… and the song of the Lamb.” This remarkable description connects God’s deliverance in Exodus with the ultimate deliverance accomplished through Yeshua. Moses and the Lamb are not presented as opponents or competing messages, but as part of the same unfolding plan of God.
(Continued and expanded after scripture.)
A Scene of Heaven
1Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous, seven angels who had seven plagues, which are the last, because in them the wrath of God is finished.
2And I saw something like a sea of glass mixed with fire, and those who had been victorious over the beast and his image and the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, holding harps of God.
3And they sang the song of Moses, the bond-servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying,
“Great and marvelous are Your works,
O Lord God, the Almighty;
Righteous and true are Your ways,
King of the nations!
4“Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify Your name?
For You alone are holy;
For ALL THE NATIONS WILL COME AND WORSHIP BEFORE YOU,
FOR YOUR RIGHTEOUS ACTS HAVE BEEN REVEALED.”
5After these things I looked, and the temple of the tabernacle of testimony in heaven was opened, 6and the seven angels who had the seven plagues came out of the temple, clothed in linen, clean and bright, and girded around their chests with golden sashes. 7Then 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. 8And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from His power; and no one was able to enter the temple until the seven plagues of the seven angels were finished.
Reflection on Revelation 15:1–8:
One of the most striking images in Revelation 15 is the gathering of God’s faithful people who have overcome the beast. Revelation 13 portrayed the beast as powerful and intimidating, with authority over peoples and nations. Yet from God’s eternal perspective, those who refused to worship the beast are the ones who ultimately stand victorious.
Their victory does not necessarily mean they escaped suffering or even physical death. Their victory is found in remaining faithful to God. The world may have considered them defeated, but before the throne of God they stand as overcomers. This reminds us that God’s definition of victory can be very different from the world’s.
John then tells us that they sing “the song of Moses, the bond-servant of God, and the song of the Lamb.” This deliberately connects Revelation with the Exodus story. After God delivered Israel through the Red Sea and destroyed Pharaoh’s pursuing army, Moses and the Israelites sang praises to the Lord for His mighty deliverance (Exodus 15:1–18). Now, in Revelation, God’s people once again stand victorious while praising the One who has delivered them.
The connection is powerful. Pharaoh sought to enslave God’s people, while the beast seeks their worship and allegiance. God delivered Israel from Pharaoh, and He will ultimately deliver His people from every power that opposes Him. The Exodus established a pattern we see throughout Scripture: God redeems His people and calls them to belong faithfully to Him.
It is also significant that those who overcome sing the song of Moses and the song of the Lamb. Moses and the Lamb are not presented as opponents or competing messages. They are part of the same unfolding plan of God. This echoes a theme we have already seen in Revelation. The dragon makes war against those who “keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus” (Revelation 12:17), and the saints are later described as those who “keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus” (Revelation 14:12). Now the victorious stand before God singing of Moses and the Lamb.
We should be careful not to separate what Scripture brings together. Moses does not save us; our salvation comes through Yeshua and His sacrifice on our behalf. Neither does obedience earn our salvation. Yet faith in Yeshua should not lead us to dismiss God’s instruction as though the God who spoke through Moses and the Messiah who came to redeem us represent opposing paths. From Exodus to Revelation, we see one God unfolding one plan of redemption, calling His people to trust Him, obey Him, and remain faithful to Him.
The song of Moses celebrated God’s mighty deliverance from Egypt. The song of the Lamb celebrates an even greater deliverance through Messiah. Together they point us toward the same faithful God who redeems His people and ultimately gives them victory.
Their song also declares:
“Righteous and true are Your ways, King of the nations!”
This truth becomes especially important as Revelation moves into the severe judgments of the seven bowls. God’s judgments are not impulsive or unjust. The One who judges is the same God whose ways are righteous and true. He has repeatedly warned humanity, called people to repentance, and demonstrated tremendous patience. When His judgment finally comes, it will be completely consistent with His perfect holiness and justice.
This echoes the song of Moses in Deuteronomy:
“The Rock! His work is perfect, for all His ways are just; a God of faithfulness and without injustice, righteous and upright is He.” (Deuteronomy 32:4)
Revelation 15 invites us to trust God’s character even when we encounter passages about judgment that are difficult to comprehend. We may not always understand everything God does or exactly how His plans will unfold, but we can know who He is. His works are great and marvelous. His ways are righteous and true.
The chapter closes with the temple filled with the smoke of God’s glory and power as the seven angels prepare to pour out the bowls of wrath. The scene reminds us that history remains completely under God’s authority. The beast does not have the final word. Babylon does not have the final word. Sin, suffering, and death do not have the final word. Those who remain faithful to the Lamb may face hardship for a time, but their ultimate destination is victory and worship in the presence of God.
Application:
- Remain faithful to God even when obedience is difficult or costly.
- Remember that true victory is measured by faithfulness to God, not by worldly success.
- Recognize Moses and the Lamb as part of God’s one unfolding plan rather than competing messages.
- Hold firmly to faith in Yeshua while seeking to know and obey God’s instruction.
- Trust God’s righteous character even when you do not fully understand His judgments.
Closing Prayer:
Father, great and marvelous are Your works, and righteous and true are Your ways. Thank You for the beautiful story of redemption You have revealed throughout Scripture, from Your deliverance of Israel from Egypt to the ultimate salvation You provide through Yeshua the Messiah. Help me not to separate what You have brought together, but to trust in Yeshua for my salvation while joyfully seeking to know and obey Your ways. Give me strength to remain faithful when the world pressures me to compromise. May my life bring You glory as I look forward to the day when Your people will stand victorious before You and worship Your name. In Yeshua’s name, Amen.
May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you.
John Golda
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