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| In-Depth Study of The Book of Revelation Chapter 15 By Rabbi Esther Boucher |
Ministry of Gates of Praise Ministries, Inc. Copyright Gates of Praise Ministries 2007/2008
We continue again in the main sequence of events. We have seen the seven seals, the seven
trumpets and now the seven bowl judgements. Just as chapters 4&5 showed us the heavenly
scene before the tribulation period began, so likewise here chapter 15 shows us the celestial
scene before the bowls are poured out in chapter 16. These bowls of G-d's wrath constitute the
last of the 3 woes. The demons from the pit in 9:1-12 constitute the first woe. The demonic
horsemen of 9:13-21 and the judgement of the resurrection of the two witnesses comprise the
second woe.
Verse 1 (Judgement) Verse 2-4 (Promises)
Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous: seven angels having the seven last
plagues, for in them the wrath of God is complete. 2 And I saw something like a sea of glass
mingled with fire, and those who have the victory over the beast, over his image and over his
mark and over the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, having harps of God. 3
They sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying:
“ Great and marvelous are Your works,
Lord God Almighty!
Just and true are Your ways,
O King of the saints!
4 Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name?
For You alone are holy.
For all nations shall come and worship before You,
For Your judgments have been manifested.”
Here we see a wonderful triumph anthem sung in heaven by those saved by faith in Christ during
the tribulation. It is rich with meaningful adoration of the wonderful and Holy G-d who is now
again about to stretch forth His hand to deliver His people and to punish the wicked. Those who
sing this would appear to be the victorious martyrs of this period. Exodus 15:1-21 shows us the
glorious song of Moses which was given to commemorate the deliverance from the Egyptian
armies. How well this fits the Tribulation Period! There the enemy was wicked, rebellious
against G-d, the situation was desperate, all seemed lost, but then G-d intervened in might and
miracle. Is not this the case in the Tribulation.
Verse 5-6 Judgement
After these things I looked, and behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven
was opened. 6 And out of the temple came the seven angels having the seven plagues, clothed in
pure bright linen, and having their chests girded with golden bands.
Notice with this appearance of the Temple in Heaven how the sequence of the book is
continuing. In 11:15 the 7th trumpet finally blew and at this the Heavenly Temple was
revealed. Now with the visions of Chapter 12-14, which showed us how evil would reign during
the last half of the Tribulation we are again returned to the contents of the 7th trumpet
namely, the Heavenly Temple with the final 7 plagues coming out of it. Angels bring the plagues
out of the Heavenly Temple; the angels are clad in white and bound by golden belts. These
circumstances show that these coming plagues will be holy and righteous judgements.
Verse 7-8 Judgements
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. 8 The temple was filled with smoke from the glory of
God and from His power, and no one was able to enter the temple till the seven plagues of the
seven angels were completed.
The fact that one of the four beasts gave these vials of wrath to the 7 angels again shows us that
the holiness of G-d demands that the great sin of the earth meet with these great punishments.
This is so because each of the 4 living creatures continually was occupied night and day in
praising G-d's holiness saying Holy, Holy, Holy, L-rd G-d Almighty Rev. 4:8. And we see the
temple was filled with smoke... the glory of G-d...no man was able to enter, all of this declares
to us that the matter was now irreversibly initiated, the seven bowls of wrath are now about to
be poured out upon the Antichrist and the world following him. The bowls or vials (called vials
in the KJV) of wrath convey to us the image of G-d's wrath against sin being stored up in bowls,
higher and higher until they overflow with judgement.
trumpets and now the seven bowl judgements. Just as chapters 4&5 showed us the heavenly
scene before the tribulation period began, so likewise here chapter 15 shows us the celestial
scene before the bowls are poured out in chapter 16. These bowls of G-d's wrath constitute the
last of the 3 woes. The demons from the pit in 9:1-12 constitute the first woe. The demonic
horsemen of 9:13-21 and the judgement of the resurrection of the two witnesses comprise the
second woe.
Verse 1 (Judgement) Verse 2-4 (Promises)
Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous: seven angels having the seven last
plagues, for in them the wrath of God is complete. 2 And I saw something like a sea of glass
mingled with fire, and those who have the victory over the beast, over his image and over his
mark and over the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, having harps of God. 3
They sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying:
“ Great and marvelous are Your works,
Lord God Almighty!
Just and true are Your ways,
O King of the saints!
4 Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name?
For You alone are holy.
For all nations shall come and worship before You,
For Your judgments have been manifested.”
Here we see a wonderful triumph anthem sung in heaven by those saved by faith in Christ during
the tribulation. It is rich with meaningful adoration of the wonderful and Holy G-d who is now
again about to stretch forth His hand to deliver His people and to punish the wicked. Those who
sing this would appear to be the victorious martyrs of this period. Exodus 15:1-21 shows us the
glorious song of Moses which was given to commemorate the deliverance from the Egyptian
armies. How well this fits the Tribulation Period! There the enemy was wicked, rebellious
against G-d, the situation was desperate, all seemed lost, but then G-d intervened in might and
miracle. Is not this the case in the Tribulation.
Verse 5-6 Judgement
After these things I looked, and behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven
was opened. 6 And out of the temple came the seven angels having the seven plagues, clothed in
pure bright linen, and having their chests girded with golden bands.
Notice with this appearance of the Temple in Heaven how the sequence of the book is
continuing. In 11:15 the 7th trumpet finally blew and at this the Heavenly Temple was
revealed. Now with the visions of Chapter 12-14, which showed us how evil would reign during
the last half of the Tribulation we are again returned to the contents of the 7th trumpet
namely, the Heavenly Temple with the final 7 plagues coming out of it. Angels bring the plagues
out of the Heavenly Temple; the angels are clad in white and bound by golden belts. These
circumstances show that these coming plagues will be holy and righteous judgements.
Verse 7-8 Judgements
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. 8 The temple was filled with smoke from the glory of
God and from His power, and no one was able to enter the temple till the seven plagues of the
seven angels were completed.
The fact that one of the four beasts gave these vials of wrath to the 7 angels again shows us that
the holiness of G-d demands that the great sin of the earth meet with these great punishments.
This is so because each of the 4 living creatures continually was occupied night and day in
praising G-d's holiness saying Holy, Holy, Holy, L-rd G-d Almighty Rev. 4:8. And we see the
temple was filled with smoke... the glory of G-d...no man was able to enter, all of this declares
to us that the matter was now irreversibly initiated, the seven bowls of wrath are now about to
be poured out upon the Antichrist and the world following him. The bowls or vials (called vials
in the KJV) of wrath convey to us the image of G-d's wrath against sin being stored up in bowls,
higher and higher until they overflow with judgement.