Revelation 15 - ESV - Bible Reading / Study Notes

Revelation 15

The Seven Angels with Seven Plagues

15:1 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!¹
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 tent² 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.

Footnotes

[1] 15:3 Some manuscripts the ages
[2] 15:5 Or tabernacle

Commentary

v1: Seven angels with seven last plagues, the seven bowls; in this the wrath of God is complete.

v2-4: Those who follow Jesus Christ enjoy victory over the beast; their reliance is on the Lord God Almighty. Their song is centred on God and His character, not on their own achievements.

John seems to refer to Jer 10.7, "Who should not revere you, O King of hte nations!" John tries to find words to express his response to what he sees, this "great and marvellous sign." As we face any situation, we do well to let the Bible speak to us, to gives us thoughts and words to inform and mould our responses, our opinions, our words, our actions.

v5: See also 11.19, the temple, or tabernacle, in Heaven is opened. This introduces the bowls of God's wrath.

v6-8: The seven final plagues come from the temple of God; He does send His judgment upon the earth. This reflects His perfect, righteous character, and so the angels are dressed in pure bright linen. By these plagues, the out-pouring of God's wrath on the earth is completed.