Click Banner to go to main page
Revelation Chapter 15
Seven Angels With Seven Plagues
(Rev 15:1 KJV) And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvellous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God.
Plagues were used to punish and to pour out Gods anger upon man kind. Today we have many diseases that have come upon man kind, some no doubt of our own making but all allowed by God because of our sin. Often it is taught that these diseases are in fact the plagues mentioned in these verses. To my way of thinking we have just read about the war in heaven in chapter 14 and now Satan is free upon the earth. I think that this is just the next part, for we see the flood, then a new world and because of sin abounding, plagues let loose one by one.
PLAGUES
Disease interpreted as divine judgment, translation of several Hebrew words. The ten plagues in the Book of Exodus were the mighty works of God that gained Israel’s release and demonstrated God’s sovereignty and were called "plagues" (Ex. 9:14; 11:1), "signs" (Ex. 7:13), and "wonders" (Ex. 7:3; 11:9). They showed the God of Moses was sovereign over the gods of Egypt, including Pharaoh who was considered a god by the Egyptians.The primary reference to the plagues in the Bible is in Exodus 7:1-13:15 (compare Deut. 4:34; 7:19; 11:3; Jer. 32:20). Two psalms (78; 105) contain detailed accounts of the plagues, but neither includes all ten. Paul used the plagues to stress the sovereignty of God in the hardening of Pharaoh’s heart (Rom. 9:17-18). The plagues of the Revelation reflect Old Testament influence (Rev. 8; 16).
Natural or Supernatural Modern distinctions between the natural and the supernatural were not allowable considerations for the Israelites. For them, whatever happened, God did it. Everything was under God’s immediate control. For the inspired writer, the plagues were nothing more nor less than the Lord’s judgment upon the Egyptians and His saving actions for Israel. Most interpreters point out that the plagues depict events of nature that might occur in Egypt. Clearly, the author of Exodus saw them as the product of a purposive, divine will. Since Egypt’s magicians duplicated the first two events, the uniqueness of the plagues may rest in their timing, locale, intensity, and theological interpretation.
Purpose The plagues resulted in Israel’s freedom. However, the central purpose was the revelation of God. Pharaoh and the Egyptians, as well as Moses and the Israelites, would come to know the Lord through the events of the plagues (Ex. 7:17; 8:10, 22; 9:14, 16, 29). Paul acknowledged this purpose: "that my name might be declared throughout all the earth" (Rom. 9:17). See Exodus; Miracles.
Billy K. Smith
Verses 1-4. Seven angels appeared in heaven; prepared to finish the destruction of antichrist. As the measure of Babylon's sins was filled up, it finds the full measure of Divine wrath. While believers stand in this world, in times of trouble, as upon a sea of glass mingled with fire, they may look forward to their final deliverance, while new mercies call forth new hymns of praise. The more we know of God's wonderful works, the more we shall praise his greatness as the Lord God Almighty, the Creator and Ruler of all worlds; but his title of Emmanuel, the King of saints, will make him dear to us. Who that considers the power of God's wrath, the value of his favour, or the glory of his holiness, would refuse to fear and honour him alone? His praise is above heaven and earth.
Rev 15:1: 15:1-4 GOD, Justice--God is a just God. His righteousness is ever true. He will not let the right fail. Nor will He let evil continue. He is faithful to His own righteous nature and will set all things right in the end. We should fall down in worship and gratitude.
(Rev 15:2 KJV) 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 mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God.
Luke 16:22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;
Luke 16:23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
Luke 16:24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.
Luke 16:25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.
Luke 16:26 And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.
Luke 16:27 Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house:
Luke 16:28 For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.
Luke 16:29 Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.
Luke 16:30 And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.
Luke 16:31 And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.
Those who serve God and do not except the mark of sin in their hearts and do over come this world. In the story in Luke note that "
there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence. " I feel that in the days before the death and resurrection of Christ many men of God went to heaven, not the new heaven but the old. Mat 17:1 And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, Mat 17:2 And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. Mat 17:3 And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him. On the mount of transfiguration we see Moses and Elias talking with Jesus. I also think that those who died in sin went to hell, as the rich man. 1 Pet 3:18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: 1 Pet 3:19 By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison; 1 Pet 3:20 Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. Eph 4:9 (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? Eph 4:10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.) Acts 2:30 Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; Acts 2:31 He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.Acts 2:32 This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. After Christ was hung while in the tomb it appears he went to this place we call hell and gave them a chance to except him as lord. I don't think those in heaven could see hell but from hell they could see Gods happiness and no what they missed. 2 Pet 3:13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.Rev 15:2: 15:2 THE CHURCH, People of God--God's people, living in faith and obedience, conquer evil through the power of Christ. The ultimate victory belongs to Christ and those who follow Him.
(Rev 15:3 KJV) And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints.
(Rev 15:4 KJV) Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest.
Rom 14:11 For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.
Rom 14:12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.
Phil 2:10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
Phil 2:11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Rev 15:4: 15:4 EVANGELISM, Universality--The gospel is for all, and all nations and races will find among them those who will respond. We are, therefore, to evangelize all people regardless of who or where they are.
(Rev 15:5 KJV) And after that I looked, and, behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened:
Verses 5-8. In the judgments God executes upon antichrist and his followers, he fulfils the prophecies and promises of his word. These angels are prepared for their work, clothed with pure and white linen, their breasts girded with golden girdles, representing the holiness, and righteousness, and excellence of these dealings with men. They are ministers of Divine justice, and do every thing in a pure and holy manner. They were armed with the wrath of God against his enemies. Even the meanest creature, when armed with the anger of God, will be too hard for any man in the world. The angels received the vials from one of the four living creatures, one of the ministers of the true church, as in answer to the prayers of the ministers and people of God. Antichrist could not be destroyed without a great shock to all the world, and even the people of God would be in trouble and confusion while the great work was doing. The greatest deliverances of the church are brought about by awful and astonishing steps of Providence; and the happy state of the true church will not begin till obstinate enemies shall be destroyed, and lukewarm or formal Christians are purified. Then, whatever is against Scripture being purged away, the whole church shall be spiritual, and the whole being brought to purity, unity, and spirituality, shall be firmly established.
(Rev 15:6 KJV) 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.
(Rev 15:7 KJV) 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.
(Rev 15:8 KJV) 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.
So it was in the days the children of God fled from Egypt in the tent that was made no one but the priest could enter.