Revelation 15:1-4 - The Calm Before the Storm

The storm of God’s final wrath is about to be poured out on the earth in the last three and a half years of the Tribulation. Two “woes” of God’s judgments were experienced in the first seven trumpet judgements during the first half of the Tribulation (Rev. 11:14). Now the third “woe” is about to happen as these seven angels pour out the bowls of God’s wrath on the earth (Rev. 16:1). The wicked world is about to "drink of the wine of the wrath of God" (Rev. 14:10); but before the angels pour out their judgments, there is an "interlude" of blessing. There is a calm before the storm! Remember, back in Revelation 14, we were told about the 144,000 standing on Mount Zion with the Lamb and they were singing a “new song”, accompanied by harps of praise. It was a song that only they could sing. Here we learn about those, “who have victory over the beast, over his image, over his mark and over the number of his name”, and they are also “standing”and “singing”, with the harps of God playing praise along with their voices. I believe this large group of people are those who have been martyred by the Antichrist because they refused to take his mark, his name and worship his image. These are the ones who were saved and redeemed, because when they heard the message of the two witnesses and the 144,000 protected Jews that begin proclaiming the Gospel at the very beginning of the Tribulation, they repented and believed! These are the multitudes we read about in Revelation 7:9-17. It is interesting to me that the 144,000 Jews are specially protected during the entire time of the Seven-year Tribulation but those who get saved are not and they suffer terrible deaths because of their faith! I believe that the greatest harvest of souls the world will ever see will be these multitudes that decide to repent and believe the message of the Gospel preached by the 144,000. I can’t help but think of a passage in the book of James that might be connected to our passage here in Revelation. James is encouraging the believers of his day who are being abused, persecuted, and used by the rich and powerful, to be patient because the day is coming when these wicked people will be judged. Here’s what he wrote to the rich wicked: “You have lived on the earth in pleasure and luxury; you have fattened your hearts as in a day of slaughter. You have condemned, you have murdered the just; he does not resist you.” (James 5:5-6). Then James wrote to the believers: “Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.”(James 5:7-8) I’ve always felt like these verses are a reference to one last great harvest of precious souls before the Lord comes to establish His Kingdom on earth! The early rain was the great harvest that took place in the first centuries of the church age when hundreds of thousands responded to the Apostle’s message! The latter rain is this great harvest that will take place in the Tribulation. I can imagine that these new believers in the Tribulation will have a copy of the Bible and read this passage in James and take courage to be patient and wait for the return of the Lord! But of course, many will be killed, and they are the ones who are still proclaiming victory as they sing the “Song of Moses” before the throne! Amazing, it says they have victory even though they are killed by the Antichrist! My friend, even today we can always have victory in Jesus no matter what our circumstance might be. Trust Him and be patient! God Bless!