When have you had an especially strong feeling of God’s presence? Perhaps it was when you were out hiking, communing with the Creator. Or perhaps it was at your church, as you raised your voice with others in joyful song. These are the times that spring most quickly to my own mind.

In Revelation 15, the feeling of God’s presence is especially strong as the final round of judgments is about to begin (vv. 1, 8).

Those who have been martyred by the beast (and by the entire false trinity) sing a song of victory (vv. 2–4). Drawn from the Psalms and other Old Testament passages, it is described as “the song of God’s servant Moses and of the Lamb.” This suggests that the song sung in Exodus (Ex. 15:1–21) thematically foreshadowed and is completed in Christ’s redemption. In the song, God is praised for His justice and righteousness. He is the sovereign King, and all nations will come to worship Him.

Next, out of the heavenly temple come seven angels (vv. 5–8). They wear clean linen, symbolizing Christ’s righteousness, and golden sashes, symbolizing His glory. There is no doubt that they are God’s representatives! One of the four living creatures gives each of them a golden bowl. The temple is then filled with the presence and glory of God, so that no one can enter. The same had happened when Moses set up the tabernacle (Ex. 40:34–35) and when Solomon dedicated the Temple (1 Kings 8:10–11). It signified the momentousness of the occasion as well as giving the audience a bit larger glimpse of the glory of God. The stage is set. The end is near. This round of judgments will be the last.