Revelation 15:1-6

1 And I saw another sign in heaven, great and wonderful; seven angels having the seven last vengeances [seven angels having seven the last plagues], for the wrath of God is ended in them.
2 And I saw as a glassen sea mingled with fire, and them that overcame the beast, and his image, and the number of his name, standing above the glassen sea, having the harps of God;
3 and singing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the lamb, and said [saying], Great and wonderful be thy works, Lord God almighty; thy ways be just and true, Lord, king of worlds.
4 Lord, who shall not dread thee, and magnify thy name? for thou alone art merciful [for thou alone art pious, or merciful]; for all folks shall come, and worship in thy sight, for thy dooms be open [for thy dooms be opened].
5 And after these things I saw, and lo! the temple of the tabernacle of witnessing was opened in heaven [and lo! the temple of the tabernacle of witnessing in heaven was opened];
6 and seven angels having [the] seven plagues, went out of the temple, and were clothed with a stole clean and white [clothed with a stone clean and white], and were before-girded with golden girdles about the breasts.

Revelation 15:1-6 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.

Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.