SEVEN ANGELS AND SEVEN BOWLS OF WRATH (VERSES 5-8)

“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. 7 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.”

After having seen and heard the glorious song of triumph of those who had been victorious over the beast, we see that “the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven” is being opened [verse 5]. This expression, “tabernacle of the testimony,” is a common Old Testament expression for the ancient tabernacle. It was called this because it contained the Ark of the Covenant, and inside the Ark of the Covenant, as we know, were the tablets of testimony of the Ten Commandments—that’s where they were kept.

And we see that the seven angels coming out of the temple are arrayed “in pure white linen,” [verse 6]. That’s reminiscent of the dress of the priests who attended at the tabernacle. They, too, were dressed in white linen. Also, it is the “dress” of those in heaven. And at the resurrection of Christ, that is the attire that is designated of the angel, Mark 16:5 [“And entering the tomb, they saw a young man clothed in a long white robe sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed.”], Matthew 28:3 [“His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow.”].

“One of the four living creatures”gives “to the seven angels” the “bowls,” or, “the vials” that contain “the wrath of God,” [verse 7]. These “bowls” will be poured out upon the disobedient and the hardhearted of the world—those who have rejected all of the appeals of Almighty God. Therefore, the bowls are filled the seven last plagues, and God’s wrath is, thus, completed through them [verse 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.”].

This word that is variously translated “bowl” or “vial” actually describes a shallow bowl that was used for holding incense, or for a drink offering that could be poured out.

The sanctuary [“temple”], is says, is filled with smoke, and no one is able to come into it until these plagues are poured out. The figure of God’s glory filling the sanctuary with smoke, once again, is an image that comes from the Old Testament For example, Isaiah 6:4 [Isaiah 6:1-4: “In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple. 2 Above it stood seraphim; each one had six wings: with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. 3 And one cried to another and said: ‘Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; The whole earth is full of His glory!’ 4 And the posts of the door were shaken by the voice of him who cried out, and the house was filled with smoke.”], Ezekiel 10:4 [“Then the glory of the LORD went up from the cherub, and paused over the threshold of the temple; and the house was filled with the cloud, and the court was full of the brightness of the LORD's glory.”] and 2 Chronicles 7:2-3 [“And the priests could not enter the house of the LORD, because the glory of the LORD had filled the LORD's house. 3 When all the children of Israel saw how the fire came down, and the glory of the LORD on the temple, they bowed their faces to the ground on the pavement, and worshiped and praised the LORD, saying: ‘For He is good, For His mercy endures forever.’”].

Probably, the fact that no one could enter into the temple until these plagues were fulfilled symbolizes the fact that God’s righteous purpose will be fulfilled. In other words, nothing will be able to interrupt; nothing will be able to dissuade, to take the place of, what will be God’s final Judgment and God’s final wrath being poured out.

This 15^th chapter is not so much an interlude, but it is sort of the introduction to what we’re going to begin seeing in chapter 16, and that will be these “seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God Who lives forever and ever.”

In chapter 16, we will do some comparison between the seven bowls and the seven trumpets.