Free Bible Commentary
“Revelation 15:5-8”
Categories: Revelation“After these things I looked, and the temple of the tabernacle of testimony in heaven was opened, and the seven angels who had the seven plagues came out of the temple, clothed in linen, clean and bright, and girded around their chests with golden sashes. Then 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. And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from His power; and no one was able to enter the temple until the seven plagues of the seven angels were finished.”
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As the stage is set for the pouring out of the seven bowls filled with the fullness of the wrath of God (similar to but distinguished from His cup in Revelation 14:10), John was shown yet another awesome heavenly vision, in which the temple (inner sanctuary) of the tabernacle was opened before his eyes (verse 5). This was “the Holy of Holies” (Exodus 26:33) located within the “tent of meeting” (Exodus 39:32) constructed by Moses which housed the tablets of the “testimony” that God gave to Israel (Exodus 25:21). John had previously been shown a vision of the ark of the covenant seated within the “Most Holy Place” to remind God’s people that He would always be true to His covenant with them (Revelation 11:19). Now it is opened to release God’s righteous judgment against those who rejected Him and His holy covenant and perfect law.
Homer Hailey wrote concerning the angels of verse 6: “Seven angels…appear bearing the seven plagues to be poured out upon the earth. These plagues of judgment come from the very holiness of God, for ‘righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne’ (Ps. 97:2)… Linen, pure and bright, describes the attire of the Lamb’s bride (19:8), while that of the heavenly horseman is similarly described as linen, white and pure (19:14)… These golden girdles seem not to identify their work as priestly, but to signify that they were angels of high rank, entrusted with a solemn obligation.”
The “bowls” that “one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels” (verse 7) was a broad, shallow dish or saucer that, according to Vine’s Dictionary “is suggestive of rapidity in the emptying of the contents.” Robert Harkrider suggest that we, “Visualize bowl-like containers which could jettison these plagues with overwhelming force and disastrous effect. Indeed, it is a fearful thing ‘to fall into the hands of the living God’ (Heb. 10:29, 31).” These seven angels emerged from the sanctuary and were poised in position, awaiting the divine instruction to empty the devastating contents of the vials they held within their hands. While the seven seals revealed God’s unfolding plan, and the seven trumpets warned about the judgment that was to come, the seven bowls executed the inevitable condemnation against unrepentant ungodliness.
Homer Hailey wrote in regards to verse 8: “When the tabernacle was erected, the glory of Jehovah filled it, and Moses was not able to enter it (Exod. 40:34f.). Likewise, when Solomon had completed the temple, the glory of Jehovah filled the house, ‘so that the priests could not stand to minister’ (1 Kings 8:1-11). And so now, until the seven plagues would be finished, no one could enter the temple. The smoke from His glory was being vindicated by the smoke of His anger, demonstrated in expression of His great power. Swete has well summed up the significance of this verse as he says, ‘The Divine judgments are impenetrable until they are past; when the last plague has fulfilled its course, the smoke will vanish, and the Vision of God be seen’ (p. 200). No intercessions can change the determined counsel of God; but when it is fulfilled, we can then see clearly that which is now obscured.”
Please read Revelation 16:1-7 for tomorrow.
Have a blessed Lord’s Day!
-Louie Taylor
