Introductory remarks:
Chapters fifteen and sixteen should be studied together. In chapter fifteen we will see the seven angels with the last seven plagues. The Antichristian powers are finally and forever cut off. We will study the last 'Bowl Judgments' and mankind disciplined.
"The purpose of the Great Tribulation is judgment. It is not for the purifying of the church! It is to give Satan his final opportunity. God is going to remove the church before this time of tribulation because of His marvelous, infinite grace. If you are willing to accept His grace, then you can escape the Great Tribulation. Believe me, the bowls of wrath are not the 'blessed hope' for which believers are looking. No, we are Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ (Titus 2:13)." (McGee).
The Angels with the last plagues
Verse 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."
LGT "And I saw another sign in the heaven, great and wonderful, seven angels having seven plagues, which are the last, because in them the wrath of God [was] finished."
"And I saw another sign in heaven,"
The word 'another' is allos, another of the same kind. "Looking back to 12:1, 3, after the series intervening. The Seven Bowls are parallel with the Seven Seals (chapter. 6) and the Seven Trumpets (chapters 8 to 11), but there is an even closer connection with chapters 12 to 14, 'The drama of the long conflict between the church and the world' (Swete)" (Robertson).
"Great and marvelous,"
The word 'marvelous' is thaumastos to wonder, that is why in my translation I used the word 'wonderful', instead of 'marvelous'; it really doesn't change the meaning, I just prefer to keep as close to the meaning as I can.
"Seven angels, having seven last plagues;"
The 'seven last plagues' is literally: the seven, which are the last. The use of the article with the plagues identifies them as specific and certain. We have been studying how Satan will bring down his terror on Israel, and how he will dominate the earth through the two beasts and his Antichrist. Now God brings His final wrath down on Satan and all who follow him. The Antichrist and the two beasts, and their image will be completely removed and judged.
"For in them is filled up the wrath of God."
The term 'filled up' is etelesthe, meaning, 'it is finished' or literally 'God brought it to an end.' This term is in the prophetic aorist meaning that it is presented as already taken place. When God makes a prediction, it's certain.
Verse 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 name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God."
LGT "And I saw as it were a glassy sea mingled with fire and the ones who came off victorious over the beast and over its image and over the number of its name, standing upon the sea of glass having harps of God."
"And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire:"
"A glassy sea mingled with fire represents the frightful persecution by the beast during the Great Tribulation Period. This is the period of time, as we have seen, where no man could buy or sell unless he had the mark of the Beast. It is going to be very difficult to get things to eat in that day. That is the reason the Lord Jesus, speaking of this period in His Olivet Discourse, said that whoever would give a cup of cold water in His name would not lose his reward. You see, anyone in that day who would give even a cup of cold water to one of the 144,000 would put his life in jeopardy because the Beast would put him to death for harboring what he would classify as a criminal" (McGee).
"And them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over the image, and over his name,"
These are the ones who came off victorious over the Beast and did not succumb nor worship him nor to honor him by wearing the mark of his name 666.
"Stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God."
These victorious ones are now seen by John standing on the glassy sea before the throne of God playing their harps and singing their new song.
Verse 3, "And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvelous are Thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are Thy ways, Thou King of saints."
LGT "And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God and the song of the Lamb saying, Great and wonderful are your works, Lord God the Almighty One; righteous and true are your ways, Thou King of the nations."
"And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb,"
The martyred saints sing the song of Moses, recorded in Exodus 15 and Deuteronomy 22, which is a song of salvation, that is, deliverance. This again speaks of the Jewish saints during the Great Tribulation, because they are singing the 'song of Moses.' All the praise is directed toward Christ who purchased our salvation with His own blood.
"Saying, Great and marvelous are Thy works,"
The works these saints are singing about are Christ's redemptive work.
"Again let me call your attention to the fact that the Book of Revelation is Christocentric, that is, Christ-centered. Don't let the four horseman carry you away, or don't be distracted by the blowing of the trumpets or by the seven performers. And don't let your interest center on these bowls of wrath. Let's keep our eyes centered on Christ. He is in charge; He is the Lord. In this Book we have the unveiling of Jesus Christ in His holiness, in His power, and in His glory. The Man Christ Jesus is wonderful! He is the One who can put His hand in the hand of God and who can put His other hand in the hand of man and bring them together. He can do this because He is God" (McGee).
"Lord God Almighty;"
John uses these Old Testament figures describing Christ because I believe he is describing Jewish saints. Barnes brings this out very well:
"This would seem to mean the same thing as the expression so common in the Old Testament, Jehovah God of Hosts. The union of these appellations [designations] give solemnity and impressiveness to the ascription [acknowledgement] of praise, for it brings into view the fact, that He whose praise is celebrated is Lord - the JEHOVAH - the uncreated and eternal One; that He is God - the creator, upholder, and sovereign of all things; and that He is Almighty - having all power in all worlds. All these names and attributes are suggested when we think of redemption; for all the perfections of a glorious God are suggested in the redemption of the soul from death. It is the Lord - the Ruler of all worlds; it is God - the Maker of the race, and the Father of the race, who performs the work of redemption; and it is a work which could be accomplished only by one who is Almighty."
"Just and true are Thy ways,"
We must always keep in mind the Justice of God in all His dealings with the human race. Redemption is brought about by the mercy and Grace of God, and Jesus Christ satisfied God's perfect justice when He died on the cross, opening up entrance into God's presence. The entire redeemed stand perfect in the sight of God because of the cross.
"Thou King of the saints."
The Greek reads, ethnos, meaning nations. Some versions read saints, others nations, and still others ages. The main emphasis is that Christ is supreme over all. Ironside points out that Christ is never referred to the Church as King. Christ will come back after the Tribulation seven-year period is completed and reign over the nation Israel for a thousand years.
Verse 4, "Who shall not fear Thee, O Lord, and glorify Thy name? For Thou art holy: for all nations shall come and worship Thee; for Thy judgments are made manifest."
LGT "Who will not fear, Lord, and glorify your name? Because [you] only [are] holy, because all the nations will come and worship before you, because your righteous acts have been made manifest."
"Who shall not fear Thee, O Lord, and glorify Thy name?"
John uses a double negative ou me meaning there will not be a single soul who will not fear God. The word 'fear' used here means reverence. At the final judgment every knee will bow and confess that Jesus is Lord.
"For Thou art holy:"
This is literally Because you only are holy. God is perfect in every way; He is complete virtue, and His justice is absolute, and He is perfect righteousness.
"For all the nations shall come and worship before Thee:"
"The day will come when nations will come and worship before the Lord Jesus Christ. This is not true of nations today. That little prayer breakfast in Washington is a pretty sorry substitute for universal worship of God. One man used that prayer breakfast as an argument that we are living in a Christian nation. What nonsense! We are not living in a Christian nation, but there will come a day when every nation will worship Him. This knowledge should cause us to take heart as we see our own nation moving in the wrong direction. The day will come when God will remove the rebellious men and leave only those who will worship Him" (McGee).
"For Thy judgments are made manifest."
The Antichrist will have been defeated and God's righteous acts will have been made manifest. I was reading in the local section of the Saturday Orange County Register where that kook Rick Warren from the Saddleback Church is organizing a peace plan that He intends on sending his flock out into the third world countries and teach them how to be self sufficient. What a lot of hooey! God is not interested in our getting involved with other nations to make peace; there will be no peace until Christ comes back and sets up His Kingdom. "There will be wars and rumors of wars until He returns." What God wants from His church is that they study the Word of God, not the 'Purpose Driven Life', and love one another until He returns. All Rick Warren is interested in is making a name for himself, and that's probably why he has gone off the deep end so many times.
Verse 5, "And after I looked, and, behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened:"
LGT "And after these things I saw, and the temple of the tabernacle of the witness in heaven was opened."
Here again we see that it is Israel that God is dealing with and not the Church; in chapters 1-3 God was dealing with the Church, but from chapter 4 on He is dealing with Israel. The Church is never identified with the temple or tabernacle. After the temple was destroyed in Jerusalem in 70 A.D. it has not been rebuilt, however it will be rebuilt before the Great Tribulation.
Verse 6, "And the seven angels came out of the temple, having the seven plagues, clothed in pure white linen, and having their breasts girded with golden girdles."
LGT "And the seven angels came out of the temple having the seven plagues arrayed in pure linen and girt with golden girdles about the breasts."
"And the seven angels came out of the temple, having the seven plagues,"
God's dwelling place among Israel as they traveled in the wilderness was in the Holy of Holies in the tabernacle; so these seven angels, first mentioned in verse one, come out from the presence of God.
"Having the seven plagues,"
The God of mercy is now revealed as the God of justice with His vengeance being brought down on the disobedient nations.
"Clothed in pure linen,"
This phrase is literally: clothed in linen (studded with precious stones) pure and white. This dress of the angels is fitted for the judgments of God, speaking of His perfect justice. Some preachers love to speak of God as a God of love and mercy, and grace; but when it comes to this side of God as a God of vengeance and awful judgment, they shut up completely.
"And having their breasts girded with golden girdles."
"The golden girdles reveal the angels in the livery [insignia] of Christ, who no longer is exercising a priestly function but is seen here judging the world" (McGee).
Verse 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."
LGT "And one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God, the One living forever and ever."
"And one of the four beasts"
These are literally four living creatures. These are according to Theime, high ranking angels commissioned by God for judgment.
"Gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God,"
The number seven in the Scriptures speaks of completeness. These bowls are filled with the wrath of God about to be poured out on the vile nations of the last half of the seven years of Tribulation. Theime points out: "Revelation 21:9 tells us that the seven angels hold seven bowls. In those bowls are seven plagues - the seven divine judgments of God on the unbelievers on earth in these final days."
"Who liveth for ever and ever."
This phrase points out the Author of these judgments: "These angels were armed with the wrath of God against His enemies. The meanest creature, when it comes armed with the anger of God, will be too hard for any man in the world; but much more an angel of God. This wrath of God was not to be poured out all at once, but was divided into seven parts, which should successively fall upon the antichristian party" (Matthew Henry).
Verse 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."
LGT "And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of the God and from His power, and no one was able to enter into the temple until the seven plagues of the seven angels was completed."
"And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from His power;"
The smoke here represents God's presence, Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle (Exodus 40:34). God is Spirit and this is the reason for the smoke, it assures those around of his presence.
"And no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled."
"Till those vials had been poured out, and all that was indicated by them was accomplished. The meaning here seems to be, that no one would be permitted to enter to make intersession - to turn away His wrath - to divert Him from His purpose. That is, the purpose of punishment had been formed, and would certainly be executed. The agents or instrumentalities in this fearful work had now been sent forth, and they would by no means be recalled. The mercy-seat, in this respect, was inaccessible; the time of judgment on the great foe had come, and the destruction of the grand enemy of the church was certain. The point, therefore, at which this vision leaves us is, that where all the preparations are made for the infliction of the threatened punishment on the grand Antichristian power which had so long stood up against the truth; where the agents had prepared to go forth; and where no intercession will ever avail to turn away the infliction of the divine wrath" (Barnes' Notes).
The Jewish time of trouble is brought out in this statement of McGee's: "The very fact that this section continues to deal with the temple ought to indicate to anyone who is knowledgeable that the church is not involved. Neither the temple nor the tabernacle had anything to do with the church. They present marvelous pictures of Christ which have spiritual applications for us today, but that does not mean that the church should build a temple or a tabernacle. Rather, this section refers to Israel, a people who had a tabernacle and a temple. A great many are reluctant to admit this fact because they dismiss Israel from the plan and purpose of God at the beginning of the New Testament. As you can see, the New Testament by no means dismisses Israel!"
The next chapter will describe the pouring out of these seven bowls of judgment, and so it is a continuation of this chapter.
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