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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadPaul Kretzmann Commentary - Revelation 15:5 - 15:8
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The seven angels with the seven vials:
v. 5. And after that I looked, and, behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened;
v. 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.
v. 7. And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who liveth forever and ever.
v. 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.
The hymn of the perfected saints served as a prologue to the revelation whose preparatory incidents are now shown. It was a marvelous sight which met the eyes of John: And after these things I saw, and there was opened the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven. This was the very innermost shrine and sanctuary, the most holy place of the heavenly temple. The temple is here called the tabernacle of witness, since it symbolizes the presence and revelation of God's justice, and its opening indicated that the most holy God was now ready to speak and to act through His representatives, or messengers. This the prophet describes: And there came out of the sanctuary the seven angels having the seven plagues, clothed in white, shining linen, and girded about their breasts with a golden girdle. The fact that these angels were clothed in gold and light gives an indication of, their origin, while the linen denotes their sacred office as priests of the Lord. These seven angels were the bearers of the seven last plagues against the enemies of the Lord.
And another fact is related in the preliminary incidents: And one of the four living beings gave to the seven angels seven golden vials filled with the wrath of God, Him that lives forever and ever, and the sanctuary was filled with the smoke of the glory of God and of His power, and no one is able to enter into the sanctuary until the seven plagues of the seven angels are completed. One of the four cherubs that stood around the throne, acting at God's command, delivered to the seven angels bowls, or vials, filled with the wrath of the everlasting God. And the seven angels were not to hold back with this wrath, but were to pour it out upon the enemies of the Lord. This revelation of God's justice was attended with praise and honor for Himself, as the smoke indicates which filled the sanctuary. See Isa_6:4. Till the plagues are over, the presence of God is unendurable and His majesty unapproachable.
The meaning of this picture seems fairly evident. From the sanctuary of God, from the midst of the Christian Church, men should arise as witnesses and soldiers of Christ to attack and overcome the kingdom of Anti-Christ and all anti-Christian teaching. Clothed in linen they were and with golden girdles, in the garments of the exalted Christ. For they were sure from the very start that their testimony and their battle would be victorious, since they were dealing with enemies that had really been overcome through the victory of Christ. Thus these angels, witnesses of God and for the Lord, were to be instruments of the wrath of God to convey to all enemies of the Church God's condemnation. With the smoke of the glory and power of God arising and following them, what enemy will be able to withstand them?
Summary
In two preliminary, or introductory, pictures, that of the perfected saints praising the Lord, and that of the seven angels receiving the vials of God's wrath, the seven last plagues upon the enemies of the Lord are ushered in.