New Testament
Revelation 15
Overview
John sees another sign in heaven, great and marvelous: seven angels holding the seven last plagues, "for with them the wrath of God is finished" (15:1). Before the plagues fall, he sees those who had conquered the beast and its image standing beside a sea of glass mingled with fire, harps of God in their hands, singing "the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb" (15:3). Their hymn praises the just and true ways of the King of the nations, anticipating that all nations will come and worship before Him. Then the heavenly temple, "the tent of witness," is opened, and the seven angels come out, clothed in pure bright linen and golden sashes. One of the four living creatures hands them seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God, and the sanctuary fills with smoke from the glory of God, so that no one can enter until the seven plagues are finished. This short chapter is the solemn liturgical prelude that arms heaven for the final, climactic outpouring of judgment.
1I saw another great and marvelous sign in the sky: seven angels having the seven last plagues, for in them God’s wrath is finished.
2I saw something like a sea of glass mixed with fire, and those who overcame the beast, his image, and the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, having harps of God.
3They sang the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, “Great and marvelous are your works, Lord God, the Almighty! Righteous and true are your ways, you King of the nations.
4Who wouldn’t fear you, Lord, and glorify your name? For you only are holy. For all the nations will come and worship before you. For your righteous acts have been revealed.”
5After these things I looked, and the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened.
6The seven angels who had the seven plagues came out, clothed with pure, bright linen, and wearing golden sashes around their chests.
7One of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God, who lives forever and ever.
8The temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from his power. No one was able to enter into the temple until the seven plagues of the seven angels would be finished.