Chapter 15 begins with the Apostle John seeing seven angels with seven last plagues, with the plagues being filled up with the wrath of God (v. 1). Additionally, John sees as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire. The sea was mentioned in Revelation 4:6; but this time, the sea is mingled with blood, denoting the fierce persecution that the people had suffered under the beast. This group of people is depicted as being victorious over the beast, but their stance against the beast cost many their precious lives (v. 2)! As a way of exhibiting their victory, they will sing the song of Moses and the Lamb in verses 3-4, giving total praise to God for His strong deliverance (Exodus 15:1-21). In their ascription of praise to God, several descriptions of praise are brought out about God: (1) He is almighty; (2) He is just (righteous) and true (genuine); (3) He is the King of Nations; the setting of God’s kingdom will be fulfilled; moreover, it is imminent. (4) He is holy; therefore, mankind should fear Him; He will be worshiped by the nation. When His kingdom is established, nations will honor Him.
It is indeed comforting assurance that all men, past, present and future will show homage to Jesus Christ and shall confess that Jesus is Lord (Philippians 2:11). In verses 5-8, John sees from the tabernacle in heaven, seven angels that had seven plagues, commissioned to pour out God’s awesome wrath on earth. The “seven vials” in verse 7 are the bowls of wrath that will be poured out upon the earth! These last plagues commissioned to be delivered upon the earth will indeed be horrific. God will be glorified, not only in the praise of men, but also in the judgment upon sinful men! The temple in Heaven is filled with the glory of God (v. 8), as was the tabernacle at the time of Moses, and as the temple was in the time of Solomon. The bowls of God’s wrath will be poured out on a Christ-rejecting world. A world that has rejected the blood of Christ must bear the judgment for sin.
In the gospel, for the most part, we witnessed the gentle Jesus, One who voluntarily gave His life as a ransom for many (Matthew 20:28), but in the book of Revelation, we will witness an angry lion, pouring out judgments. The wrath of the lion will be indeed startle the world. In his book, Dr. J. Vernon McGee offers these remarks: “The prophets of the Old Testament used the figure of the cup of iniquity and wrath filling up and spoke of God’s patience in waiting for it to fill. Then, when it is full, God moves in judgment. These seven angels with seven golden bowls make it clear that the judgments of the bowls proceed from God and are not the results of man’s mistakes or of Satan’s enmity. These judgments are the direct action of God” (Thru the Bible, I Corinthians – Revelation, J. Vernon McGee, p. 1021).
May God Bless!
Rev. Johnny Calvin Smith
