Revelation 15:2-8

2 And I saw 1what appeared to be a sea of glass mingled with fire--and also those 2who had conquered the beast and its image and 3the number of its name, standing beside the sea of glass 4with harps of God in their hands.
3 And they sing 5the song of Moses, 6the servant[a] of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, 7"Great and amazing are your deeds, O Lord God the Almighty! 8Just and true are your ways, O King of the nations![b]
4 9Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify your name? For you alone are 10holy. 11All nations will come and worship you, for your righteous acts have been revealed."
5 After this I looked, and 12the sanctuary of 13the tent[c] of witness in heaven was opened,
6 and out of the sanctuary came 14the seven angels with the seven plagues, clothed in pure, bright 15linen, 16with golden sashes around their chests.
7 And one of 17the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven 18golden bowls full of the wrath of God 19who lives forever and ever,
8 and 20the sanctuary was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from his power, and 21no one could enter the sanctuary until the seven plagues of the seven angels were finished.

Revelation 15:2-8 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO REVELATION 15

This chapter is a preparation to the pouring out of the seven vials, and contains a vision of the seven angels in heaven that should do this work, of a chorus of harpers on this occasion, and of the same seven angels coming out of the temple, and receiving the vials, in order to execute their commission. The vision of the seven angels, having the seven last plagues, so called because filled up with the wrath of God, is said to be a sign, great and marvellous, Re 15:1 a sea of glass, mingled with fire, is seen, with persons standing on it, described by the victory they had got over the beast, his image, mark, and number of his name; by having the harps of God in their hands, and by the song they sung, called the song of Moses, and of the Lamb; in which they ascribe to Christ deity, dominion over the saints, omnipotence, justice, truth, and holiness; give him glory, celebrate his works, commend his ways, and suggest that he ought to be the object of the fear and worship of all, Re 15:2-4. Next the temple in heaven is seen opened, out of which come the seven angels, described by the place they came from, the temple; by what they had, the seven plagues; by their habit, clothed in pure white linen; and by their golden girdles about their breasts, Re 15:5,6 to whom one of the four living creatures, made mention of in Re 4:6 delivers to them seven golden vials full of divine wrath, upon which the temple is filled with smoke from the Lord; so that it was not possible for anyone to enter into it, until these seven plagues were ended, Re 15:7,8.

Cross References 21

  • 1. Revelation 4:6; Revelation 21:18, 21
  • 2. Revelation 12:11
  • 3. Revelation 13:17
  • 4. Revelation 5:8; Revelation 14:2
  • 5. Exodus 15:1; Deuteronomy 31:30
  • 6. See Hebrews 3:5
  • 7. Deuteronomy 32:3, 4; [Job 37:5; Psalms 111:2; Psalms 139:14; Psalms 145:17]
  • 8. Revelation 16:7; Hosea 14:9
  • 9. Revelation 14:7; Malachi 2:2
  • 10. Revelation 16:5; Hebrews 7:26
  • 11. See Psalms 86:9
  • 12. Revelation 11:19
  • 13. Exodus 38:21; Numbers 1:50; Acts 7:44
  • 14. See ver. 1
  • 15. Revelation 19:8
  • 16. Revelation 1:13
  • 17. Revelation 4:6
  • 18. [Revelation 5:8]
  • 19. Revelation 1:18; Revelation 4:9; Revelation 5:13
  • 20. Exodus 40:34; Isaiah 6:4; Haggai 2:7; [1 Kings 8:10, 11; 2 Chronicles 5:13, 14]
  • 21. Exodus 40:35; 1 Kings 8:11

Footnotes 3

The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.