www.biblestudyworkshop.org 1 Seven Angels with Seven Plagues Revelation 15:1-8.
www.biblestudyworkshop.org 2 Text: Revelation 15:1-8, Seven Angels with Seven Plagues 1. And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God. 2. And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God. 3. And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints. 4. Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest. 5. And after that I looked, and, behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened: 6. And the seven angels came out of the temple, having the seven plagues, clothed in pure and white linen, and having their breasts girded with golden girdles. 7. And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever. 8. And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled. Introduction: I. It appears that chapters 12-14 is one vision complete in itself and that we now have another vision (sign) that is going over the same battle
www.biblestudyworkshop.org 3 with an emphasis being placed, once again, upon what God will do when He shows forth His wrath. Commentary: The First Sign Revelation 15:1-4, And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvellous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God. And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God. And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints. Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest. I. Roper says, since chapter 12, this is the third sign. The first sign (12:1) was a sign of divine purpose; the second sign (12:3) was a sign of satanic opposition; and this third sign (15:1) is one of ultimate victory. A. Seven Angels with Seven Plagues: an introduction and summary of what is going to happen. 1. They have the seven plagues. 2. The wrath of God is finished. B. The Redeemed of the Lord: an interlude before the Lord brings judgment. 1. A sea of glass mingled with fire.
www.biblestudyworkshop.org 4 a. It might be an image of the people who lived upon the earth enduring the afflictions of life. b. Acts 14:22, Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God. c. 1 Peter 4:12, Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: 2. Those who were victorious standing beside the sea of glass. a. Those standing beside the sea of glass maybe those that have already come through the tribulation of life. b. Revelation 7:14, And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. c. Revelation 6:9-11, And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellow servants also and their brethren, that
www.biblestudyworkshop.org 5 should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled. 3. The song of Moses and the Lamb. a. The harps of God are symbolic of the praise offered up to God by those redeemed. b. It has been said that Moses was the first redeemer and the Lord Jesus is the second (though the Jews prefer the word, Messiah). The Second Vision Revelation 15:5-8, And after that I looked, and, behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened: And the seven angels came out of the temple, having the seven plagues, clothed in pure and white linen, and having their breasts girded with golden girdles. And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever. And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled. I. The Tabernacle in Heaven. The imagery goes back to the tabernacle erected in the wilderness of Sinai. A. Opened. In 11:19, the temple in heaven was opened and the Ark of the Covenant was seen. 1. Revelation 11:19, And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.
www.biblestudyworkshop.org 6 B. The seven angels. 1. With the seven plagues. 2. Clothed. a. Pure bright linen. b. Golden sashes around the chest. Jesus had something similar. II. Seven Gold Bowls of the Wrath of God. i. Revelation 1:13, And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle. A. One of the four living creatures. 1. Revelation 4:6, And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind. B. The golden bowls of the wrath of God. 1. Revelation 5:8, And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints. C. The open tabernacle was filled with the glory of God.
www.biblestudyworkshop.org 7 D. At all times, God is either putting things right, or preparing to put things right. Sometimes, when it seems God is doing nothing, He is getting ready to do something. When the right time comes, He will act and nothing will keep Him from it (Roper, p. 144).
www.biblestudyworkshop.org 8 Questions on Revelation 15:1-8 1. John saw another and : with the - last, because with them s is. (NIV) 2. I saw what looked like a a mixed with and, standing beside the, those who had been over the and his and over the of his. (NIV) 3. They held given them by and the of and the of the. (NIV) 4. and are your,. and are your, of the. (NIV) 5. Who will not you, O, and bring to your? For you alone are. All will come and before you, for your
www.biblestudyworkshop.org 9 acts have been. (NIV) 6. After this I looked and in the, that is, the of the, was. (NIV) 7. Out of the came the with the. They were in, and wore around their. (NIV) 8. Then one of the gave to the filled with the of, who and. (NIV) 9. And the was filled with from the of and from his, and no one could enter the until the of the were completed. (NIV) 10. What is/are: the sea of glass? the seven plagues? the seven angels? the first sign?
www.biblestudyworkshop.org 10 the second sign/vision? Note: Different expositors commentators vary in their identification, application, meaning of these things listed above. 11. What is the Song of Moses and the Lamb? 12. Why is there a need for a temple and/or the tabernacle in heaven? 13. Seven Golden Bowls full of the Wrath of God! Does it appear incongruent to you that God s wrath would be contained in golden bowls? How big are these bowls? 14. At all times, is either things, or to put
www.biblestudyworkshop.org 11 things. Sometimes, when it seems God is doing, He is getting to do. 15. When did/will God pour out the seven golden bowls of his wrath?