Revelation 15:1-8--The Seven Angels with Seven Plagues

Revelation 15
English Standard Version

The Seven Angels with Seven Plagues
15 Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and amazing, seven angels with seven plagues, which are the last, for with them the wrath of God is finished.

2 And I saw what appeared to be a sea of glass mingled with fire—and also those who had conquered the beast and its image and the number of its name, standing beside the sea of glass with harps of God in their hands. 3 And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying,

“Great and amazing are your deeds,
    O Lord God the Almighty!
Just and true are your ways,
    O King of the nations!
4 Who will not fear, O Lord,
    and glorify your name?
For you alone are holy.
    All nations will come
    and worship you,
for your righteous acts have been revealed.”

5 After this I looked, and the sanctuary of the tent of witness in heaven was opened, 6 and out of the sanctuary came the seven angels with the seven plagues, clothed in pure, bright linen, with golden sashes around their chests. 7 And 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, 8 and the sanctuary was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from his power, and no one could enter the sanctuary until the seven plagues of the seven angels were finished.

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Now that God has given John all this context for what is about to happen, he is ready to show him the final judgment on the wicked.  John sees another sign in heaven as seven angels with seven plagues come forth.  We are told these plagues are the last for they are the wrath of God.  These are the Seven Vial or Seven Bowl Judgments (depending on your translation for how it translates the vessels that these angels are carrying and from which they pour out God's wrath on the earth).

John again sees a sea of glass mixed with fire (this is surrounding the throne of God) and he sees all the tribulation saints who conquered and overcame the Beast, and his image, and the mark/number of its name.  They were faithful, many even unto death.  Some survived to this point and were taken to heaven to join the rest of the tribulation saints around the throne.  Now the question of these saints that was asked earlier in the book, "How long, O Lord?" will be answered.  The time has come for His wrath to be poured out now that all of His people have been gathered unto Himself.

Together, they sing anew the Song of Moses and the Song of the Lamb, singing,

“Great and amazing are your deeds,
    O Lord God the Almighty!
Just and true are your ways,
    O King of the nations!
4 Who will not fear, O Lord,
    and glorify your name?
For you alone are holy.
    All nations will come
    and worship you,
for your righteous acts have been revealed.”

Then the Holy Place (the sanctuary) in heaven was opened and the seven angels carrying the final seven plagues came forth from the sanctuary.  They were clothed like priests on The Day of Atonement.  Normally, the priests would wear dark purple garments so that the blood would not be as visible, but they are dressed in their special linen garments that were only worn once a year on the Day of Atonement when the whole point was to show everyone how bloody the work of Atonement is.  The High Priest would make atonement for the people and He would be covered in blood from head to toe--this is how we will see Jesus when He returns to earth right after this.  His white robes will be as if they have been dipped in blood.  These images are meant to evoke the memory of the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur).

One of the four living creatures gave each of the seven angels a golden bowl filled up with God's wrath that was to be poured out on the earth (these were just like the golden bowls used in the earthly temple).  The sanctuary (the Holy Place and Most Holy Place) were filled with smoke from the glory of God and His power so that no one could enter the sanctuary (come into the Lord's presence) until the seven plagues were finished.

We'll talk about the final seven plagues next time.