Revelation 15:1-4 - "Jesus, King of Saints"

Revelation 15:1-4

"And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvellous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God. And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God. And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints. Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest."

The book of Revelation is not a collection of disconnected visions but the Revelation of Jesus Christ in His glory, rule, and triumph through out history(Revelation 1:1). It's HIStory. Here in this portion of Scripture, the redeemed are shown standing upon a sea of glass mingled with fire, lifting their voices in one song—the song of Moses and the song of the Lamb. This song unites the testimony of redemption from Exodus with the finished work of Christ, declaring the Glory of God’s works, ways, worthiness, and worship. This depicts God’s righteous judgment on apostate Israel during the 1st century, culminating in the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70. The victorious saints (redeemed and justified by His death on the cross) celebrate Christ’s triumph, praising God’s just ways as His covenant judgments are fulfilled and His holiness publicly vindicated in victory over the enemies of the Church.

Those who sing are described as having obtained the victory over the beast, his image, his mark, and the number of his name.  The beast represents first-century Rome, embodied particularly in the Roman imperial system and its emperors (often Nero), which God used as the instruments of judgment against apostate Israel. This victory is not earthly triumph or political deliverance, but the victory obtained through the faithfulness of Christ in keeping each of His own, no matter how great the opposition and persecution of the enemy. The sea of glass speaks of stability and completion; the fire mingled with it reminds us that their victory was obtained through trial, suffering, and persecution. Yet they stand—not struggling, not sinking, but standing—because the Lamb has already overcome.

Their song reaches back to Exodus 15, when Israel stood on the far shore of the Red Sea and sang after the destruction of Egypt. Then, as now, redemption preceded the song. Deliverance was accomplished, from which then praise to God flowed. In both cases, the song is rooted in the Lamb. Israel was delivered by the blood of the Passover lamb, and the saints are redeemed by the Blood of Christ. Thus the song is rightly called both the song of Moses and the song of the Lamb. Law and Gospel meet here—not in contradiction, but in fulfillment.

The song begins with God’s works: “Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty” (v.3). These works include both salvation and judgment. Scripture makes no distinction between works of grace and works of justice when declaring God’s greatness. All His works are glorious because all His works are His. Redemption magnifies His mercy and grace; judgment magnifies His righteousness and holiness. Both testify to Who He is.

The song continues with God’s ways: “Just and true are thy ways” (v.3). God’s ways are just because He is Just, and they are true because He is Truth. Salvation required the just satisfaction of God's Law, and not the overlooking of sin. God did not pass over iniquity without cost. He laid it upon His Son (Isaiah 53:6,11). Christ’s death was necessary so that God might be Just and the Justifier of those He purposed to save. Justification was obtained when the debt was paid. Nothing remained to be added. The Blood that redeemed God's saints also justified them. The same "just and true ways" apply in judgment. God’s wrath is never arbitrary, never excessive, never unjust. Condemnation is the deserved end of sinners apart from Christ. That God saves any is His mercy and grace. That He judges is righteousness. The song does not soften God’s justice—it exalts it.

The saints then declare God’s worthiness: “Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy” (v.4). Fear here is not terror alone, but reverent acknowledgment of God’s holiness. Natural religion minimizes this fear, but true worship begins with it (Proverbs 9:10). God alone is Holy, and His Holiness demands satisfaction. That satisfaction was rendered by Christ alone in the Righteousness that He earned and established in His life, and the full payment of the debt of sin in His death on the cross.

Finally, the song looks to the worship of the nations: “All nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest” (v.4). This is not that all are redeemed, but that God’s work is made manifest throughout the world. From every tribe, tongue, people, and nation, God has redeemed a people for Himself (Revelation 5:9). They worship because redemption has been accomplished—not offered, not delayed—but obtained.

At the center of the song stands the title: “Thou King of saints” (v.3). Christ is King not merely by Power, but by purchase (Acts 20:28). He reigns over those He redeemed, justified, and obtained by His Blood. The saints have no holiness of their own; they are saints because He declared them so through His finished work. Their song contains no self-reference, no personal boasting—only praise directed to Him.

Because of Who the LORD Jesus is, and all that He has accomplished for the salvation of those chosen sinners that the Father gave Him from eternity, for whom He came, may our hearts be lifted from the turmoil of the earth to His triumphant ascension into heaven, where He is now seated victorious in Power and Glory and the redeemed stand upon the sea of glass, singing the song of Moses and of the Lamb. Here we fully see the end for which all of God’s purposes move: the full vindication of His righteous judgments and the everlasting praise of His holy Name. The plagues about to be poured are not out of any reaction to sinners on God's part, but out of His perfect Justice, flowing from Him Who is “just and true” in all His ways. For the saints, this vision is not one of fear, but of assurance—Christ has conquered, His people are secure in Him, and the glory of the LORD is acknowledged among all nations. Until that day, we rest in His sovereign grace, worshiping even now the Lamb Who has made us more than conquerors and Whose works are great and marvelous forever.

This is the end toward which all history moves: the Glory of the Lamb, the vindication of God’s Righteousness, and the worship of the Lamb by His redeemed church. The King of Saints reigns now, and everything unfolds according to His purpose. His work is finished. His victory is complete. His song will never end.