Revelation 15:1-7

Seven Angels with Seven Last Plagues

1 And I saw another great and marvelous sign in heaven: seven angels having seven plagues [that are] the last [ones], because with them the wrath of God is completed.
2 And I saw [something] like a sea of glass mixed with fire, and those who had conquered the beast and his image and the number of his name were standing by the glassy sea, holding harps from God.
3 And they were singing the song of Moses, the slave of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying: "Great and marvelous [are] your works, Lord God All-Powerful; righteous and true [are] your ways, King of the ages!
4 Who would never fear, Lord, and glorify your name? For only you [are] holy, because all the nations will come and worship before you, because your righteous deeds have been revealed."
5 And after these [things] I looked, and the temple, the tent of the testimony in heaven, was opened,
6 and the seven angels who had the seven plagues came out from the temple, dressed [in] clean, bright linen garments, and girded with golden belts 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},

Revelation 15:1-7 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.

Footnotes 4

  • [a]. Or "on"; or "at"; or "near"
  • [b]. Or "Gentiles"; the same Greek word can be translated "nations" or "Gentiles" depending on the context
  • [c]. *Literally "the"; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun
  • [d]. Literally "for the ages of the ages"
Scripture quotations marked (LEB) are from the Lexham English Bible. Copyright 2012 Logos Bible Software. Lexham is a registered trademark of Logos Bible Software.