The Book of Revelation

Chapter 15

The Seven Angels With Seven Plagues: The Bowl Judgments - Revelation 15:1-8

Rev. 15:1 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. (KJV) John sees another great and marvelous sign in Heaven. Seven angels were holding the seven last plagues, which would bring God's wrath to completion.

John saw yet another sign in Heaven. This is the third and final heavenly sign marking this part of Revelation. This sign follows two others that John had seen in Rev.12:1, the woman clothed with the sun and 12:3, a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads.

“Another sign” connects this chapter with chapter 12 (first sign, Israel). From chapter 12 to the return of Christ, all that happens will be related, although not necessarily in chronological order. Satan, having been cast down to Earth, brings his fury on Israel. He will make one final try at dominating the world through the Antichrist and the False Prophet (the two beasts). But Almighty God, holy and pure, will have all He can take, and will make a final display of His righteous and holy wrath. He will end the world’s contemptible and sordid display of sin. The 7 last plagues are called the 7 bowl (or vial) judgments. They actually begin in Rev.16. Unlike the previous plagues that were partial, these are universal and total, and will culminate in the complete elimination of all evil; in which God’s wrath will be completed, and this world as we know it will end.

We will see 3 very important ‘things’ in chapters 15 & 16:

• (1) God’s righteousness.
• (2) God’s wrath.
• (3) Man’s response.

God is absolutely righteous in dealing with mankind. This is firmly backed up in the Bible (Gen.18:25; Deut.32:4; Ps.7:9-12; 18:30; 97:2; 119:137; 145:17; Rom.2:5-6).

Rev. 15:2 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. (KJV) John sees what seems to be a crystal sea mixed with fire. On it stood all the people who had been victorious over the beast and his statue and his number. They were all holding harps that God had given them.

We saw a sea of glass in Rev.4:6, which was in front of the Throne of God. Here, it is mixed with “fire” symbolizing God’s wrath and judgment. Those who stand before it are victorious over Satan and Antichrist. John does not see them as defeated and slain, but triumphant and alive! “Harps” symbolize praise (Rev.5:8; 14:2-3). The martyrs here before this sea will praise, honor, glorify and adore God!

Rev. 15:3-4 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. [4] 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. (KJV) They all were singing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb: "Great and marvelous are your works, Lord God Almighty. Just and true are your ways, O King of saints.
Who will not reverence You, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You and You alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before you, for your righteous judgments have been revealed."

The song of Moses celebrated Israel’s deliverance from Egypt (Ex.15). It is a song of God’s Law, a song of victory. The song of the Lamb is a song of love, and celebrates the supreme and ultimate deliverance of God’s people from the power of Satan. Praises to His ways, His character and His acts are all referred to. Don’t forget about Whom this Book is written! It is Christ Jesus!

Keep your eyes on Jesus! Don’t let the four horsemenm or the trumpets, or the beasts, or any of the ghastly judgments take your eyes of Christ, for in it we see the unveiling of His awesome holiness, power and glory. The more we know of God’s wonderful works, the more we shall praise His greatness as the Lord God Almighty, the Creator of the Universe; but His title of Emmanuel (God with us), and King of saints, make Him most dear to us. Do you truly consider the power of God's Holy wrath, the value of His love and favor and grace, His faithfulness, and the glory of His holiness? Do you truly fear (reverence) and honor and praise Him? Do you sing praises to Him daily?

Rev. 15:5-6 And after that I looked, and, behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened: [6] And the seven angels came out of the temple, having the seven plagues, clothed in pure and white linen, and having their breasts girded with golden girdles. (KJV) John now sees that the Temple in Heaven, God's Tabernacle, was opened wide! The seven angels who were holding the bowls of the seven plagues came from the Temple, clothed in spotless white linen with gold belts across their chests.

The Temple is referred to 16 times in this Book. In the first 3 chapters we see the “church” but no Temple. After chapter 4 the church is no longer mentioned (it has been taken to Heaven), but now we see the Temple. There is a Temple in Heaven (Rev.7:15; 11:19; 14:15,17; 15:8; 16:1,17). and one on Earth patterned after the one in Heaven (Rev.11:1-2). The “tabernacle of testimony” (Ex. 40:34-35) is symbolic of God’s Presence among His people. The angels coming out of the Temple are clothed in clean, shining linen with golden sashes around their chests. Their garments are similar to the high priest’s clothing, symbolizing that they are free from corruption, immorality, impurity and injustice.

Rev. 15:7-8 And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever. [8] And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled. (KJV) One of the four living beings handed each of the seven angels a gold vial (bowl) filled with the terrible wrath of God, who lives forever and forever. The Temple was filled with smoke from God's glory and power. No one could enter the Temple until the seven angels had completed pouring out the seven plagues.

These 7 angels are a series of 7 new angels. In John’s vision, the Temple is a pattern of the earthly tabernacle (Ex.25:9; Num.10:11; Heb.9:23). The last time John saw the Temple opened, he saw the ark of the covenant (Rev.11:19), symbolizing God’s faithfulness. This time we are not told what John saw. Most likely, John’s focus was on the magnificent angels. The clouds of “smoke” that fills the Temple (Ex.19:18; Isa.6:4; Eze.10:4) represents God’s Presence, His glory and power, and reveals there is NO escape from this upcoming judgment. God, in all His power and glory is present in the Temple! Israel had seen God’s glory in a similar way before in early history (Ex.40:34-35; 1 Kings 8:10-11; 2 Chron.5:13-14).

Our eternal reign with Christ can’t and won’t begin until ALL evil is destroyed by His judgment. God will execute judment upon Antichrist and ALL his followers, God shall fulfill ALL the prophecies and Promises in His Word! These angels are prepared for their work; they are ministers of God’s Divine Justice! The Temple nor the Tabernacle is ever associated with the church; therefore God is dealing with Israel, NOT the church. The TRUE church is already in Heaven (1 Thes.4:13-18). What saddens me greatlly is that AFTER the Rapture, there will be many so-called ‘churches’ doing business as usual! Luke 18:8 I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth? (KJV) Jesus Himself tells us that when He does come at the Rapture, there will be “little faith” here on Earth! Look around you. Faith in Jesus is less and less with each passing day. There are more and more cults (any organization NOT teaching the TRUE Gospel of Christ), and more and more devil worship (Ps.106:37; 1 Cor.10:20; 1 Tim.4:1; 2 Tim. 4:4; Rev.9:20; 13:4), and more and more witchcraft (Lev.19:31; 20:6; Gal.5:20; Rev.21:8; 22:15). ALL of these are HATED by God! Recently there have been seeker friendly mega-churches spring up, offering many worldly allurements to the unchurched. These churches will do anything to get the unsaved into their congregation; rock concerts, malls, gyms, spas, bowling alleys, resturants, etc. The Gospel CANNOT be sold to unbelievers! Are these churches preaching the TRUE Gospel of Christ to the massive congregations? Or are they preaching the watered down Word (some Truth, but more false doctrine)? In my opinion, IF they were to preach the Truth of salvation only through Christ, and without Christ there is only the eternal agony of Hell, these people would not stay long. If people have to be ‘led’ to church in this manner, it will not last.

As we read chapters 15 & 16 of Revelation, you will get the impression that the end is very soon to come. Each judgment, starting with the 7 seals, then the 7 trumpets, got more extreme and severe. The last judgments, the bowl or vial judgments will be much worse! God will pour out judgmeny on the entire world, such as never been seen before. This series of calamities will ravage the Earth. God will be dealing with Israel, but ALL people will be affected by God’s judgment.

Book of Revelation

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