The earth is being harvested, the grapes of wrath are gathered for God's winepress. In this chapter we see seven angels and seven last plagues, the vials (or bowls) of wrath.
We are now in the final stage. The view shifts increasingly toward heaven; the earth is done.
There seems to still be plagues, punishment, wrath, but maybe this is the same set of events, yet from a different parallel perspective?
Revelation 15: 1, Seven last plagues
I saw in heaven another great and marvelous sign: seven angels with the seven last plagues--last, because with them God's wrath is completed.
Why is this sign marvelous? The term "marvelous" here might be interpreted as "dramatic" or "beyond comprehension".
Revelation 15: 2-4, The sea of glass (interlude)
And I saw what looked like a sea of glass mixed with fire and, standing beside the sea, those who had been victorious over the beast and his image and over the number of his name. They held harps given them by God and sang the song of Moses the servant of God and the song of the Lamb: "Great and marvelous are your deeds, Lord God Almighty. Just and true are your ways, King of the ages. Who will not fear you, O 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."
We have a brief interlude to emphasize the worship that goes on, even amid this destruction. The heavenly image is one of peace and calm, along with praise.
Revelation 15: 5-8, The tabernacle in heaven
Revelation 15: 5-8, The tabernacle in heaven
After this I looked and in heaven the temple, that is, the tabernacle of the Testimony, was opened. 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.
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. 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.
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. 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.
The seven plagues are distributed.
What does it mean to open the temple? Why can no one enter the temple until the plagues are distributed?
What does it mean to open the temple? Why can no one enter the temple until the plagues are distributed?
On the structure it is both a bit cyclical but also telescopic--the last of 7 items introduces another 7--and with that element there is also a building of velocity and intensity. The book is moving toward a climax and we're getting close.
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