Times Which Utterly Destroy
1 I saw in heaven another great and marvellous sign: seven angels with seven last plagues – last, because with them God’s wrath is completed.
2 And I saw what looked like a sea of glass glowing with fire and, standing beside the sea, those who had been victorious over the beast and its image and over the number of its name. They held harps given them by God
3 and sang the song of God’s servant Moses and of the Lamb: “Great and marvellous are your deeds, Lord God Almighty. Just and true are your ways, King of the nations.
4 Who will not fear you, Lord, and bring glory to your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before you, for your righteous acts have been revealed.”
5 After this I looked, and saw in heaven the temple – that is, the tabernacle of the covenant law – and it was opened.
6 Out of the temple came the seven angels with the seven plagues. They were dressed in clean shining linen and wore golden sashes around their chests.
7 Then one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls filled with the wrath of God, who lives for ever and ever.
8
And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from his power,
and no one could enter the temple until the seven plagues of the seven angels
were completed.
John’s Reflection Concerning His Time and/or All Lifetimes
Seven Angels – Seven Plagues about
God’s Judgement and Wrath
15:1 God’s wrath is completed. This is the last in this sevenfold series of judgements. It is remembered that God’s wrath is present in each lifetime (Romans 1:18). As is seen now it is also future (Revelation 6:16; 19:15). 15:2“…sea of glass… those… victorious over the beast…” (cf 13:17, 18). Remember the saints’ victory over Satan (Revelation 12:11), by the blood of the Lamb.
15:3, 4 The song of Moses (Exodus 15:1-18) is remembered: King of the ages your righteous acts have been revealed” – unveiled (cf Jeremiah 10:10, cf 1 Timothy 1:17).
15:5-8 Seven angels with seven plagues (cf v1) dressed royally and priestly are given seven golden bowls filled with God’s wrath. Paul reminds the world of this, that men must repent (Romans 1:28-32). The joy is that the elect are safe (cf 4:6). They are so numerous in glory they are pictured as glass, as pictured by the multitude in white robes (Revelation 7:9-17).