Bullet Point Bible - Revelation 15

The Seven Angels with the Final Plagues

¹ Then I saw another great and astounding sign in heaven: seven angels who have seven final plagues (they are final because in them God's anger is completed).

This verse introduces the third and final series of judgments in Revelation, following the seals (Ch. 6) and trumpets (Ch. 8-9).
The vision is described as a "great and astounding sign" (*sēmeion*), indicating its divine origin and profound significance.
The number seven, representing completeness or perfection, is associated with the angels and the plagues, signifying the full measure of this judgment cycle.
These plagues are explicitly called the "last ones," signaling the culmination of God's judgments within this prophetic period before Christ's final victory.
The phrase "the wrath of God is finished" (*etelesthe ho thumos tou theou*) indicates that these bowls represent the complete outpouring of God's intense, righteous anger against unrepentant sin.
This introductory verse sets a solemn and climactic tone for the events detailed in chapter 16.
The focus on God's wrath highlights the theme of divine justice in response to persistent human rebellion.
The appearance of angels as agents of judgment underscores that these events are divinely ordained and controlled.

The Song of the Victorious Saints

² Then I saw something like a sea of glass mixed with fire, and those who had conquered the beast and his image and the number of his name. They were standing by the sea of glass, holding harps given to them by God.³ They sang the song of Moses the servant of God and the song of the Lamb:³ "Great and astounding are your deeds,³ Lord God, the All-Powerful!³ Just and true are your ways,³ King over the nations!⁴ Who will not fear you, O Lord,⁴ and glorify your name, because you alone are holy?⁴ All nations will come and worship before you⁴ for your righteous acts have been revealed."

The "sea of glass" echoes the description before God's throne (Revelation 4:6), symbolizing His majesty, purity, and transcendence.
The mixture "with fire" likely represents the judgment and trials through which these saints have passed victoriously.
The victorious ones are identified as martyrs and believers who resisted the Antichrist system ("the beast," "his image," "the number of his name" - cf. Revelation 13).
Their "conquering" is achieved through faithfulness to Christ, even in the face of persecution and death.
Standing "beside" (or perhaps "on") the sea of glass signifies their secure position in God's presence.
The "harps provided by God" are instruments of worship, indicating their priestly role in heaven.
They sing two songs combined into one: the "song of Moses" (recalling God's deliverance in Exodus 15) and the "song of the Lamb" (celebrating redemption through Christ). This links Old Testament deliverance with New Testament salvation.
The song extols God's attributes: His omnipotence ("All-Powerful"), His perfect justice and faithfulness ("Just and true are your ways"), and His sovereignty ("King of the nations").
It declares God's unique holiness ("you alone are holy") as the basis for universal worship.
The song anticipates the future fulfillment of prophecy when "All nations will come and worship before you" (cf. Psalm 86:9, Isaiah 66:23).
God's "righteous acts" (*dikaiōmata*), referring to His judgments, are revealed, vindicating His character and His faithful people.

The Temple Opens and Angels Emerge

⁵ After these things I looked, and the temple (the tent of the testimony) was opened in heaven,⁶ and the seven angels who had the seven plagues came out of the temple, dressed in clean bright linen, wearing wide golden belts around their chests.⁷ Then one of the four living creatures gave the seven angels seven golden bowls filled with the wrath of God who lives forever and ever,⁸ and the temple was filled with smoke from God's glory and from his power. Thus no one could enter the temple until the seven plagues from the seven angels were completed.

The opening of the heavenly "temple" signifies that the source of the impending judgment is God's holy presence and authority.
The phrase "tent of testimony" (*skēnēs tou martyriou*) deliberately connects this heavenly sanctuary to the Mosaic Tabernacle, which housed the Ark containing the Ten Commandments (the testimony), emphasizing that God's judgments align with His revealed law and covenant righteousness.
The angels emerge directly "out of the temple," confirming they are divine emissaries executing God's will.
Their attire ("clean bright linen," "golden sashes") symbolizes purity, righteousness, and high status, possibly reflecting priestly or royal functions (cf. Revelation 1:13, Daniel 10:5).
One of the "four living creatures" (cherubim, see Revelation 4:6-8), attendants of God's throne, acts as an intermediary, bestowing the bowls upon the angels.
The "golden bowls" (*phialas*) likely resemble the shallow bowls used for incense or libations in temple worship, now filled with the concentrated "wrath of God."
Describing God as the one "who lives forever and ever" highlights His eternal sovereignty and the ultimate authority behind these judgments.
The temple filling with "smoke from the glory of God and from his power" is a theophany motif signifying God's awesome, unapproachable presence during judgment (cf. Exodus 40:34-35; 1 Kings 8:10-11; Isaiah 6:4).
The fact that "no one could enter the temple" suggests that the time for intercession is past; judgment must now run its course before normal access to God's presence is restored. This builds suspense for the outpouring described in Revelation 16.

The Bullet Point Bible

Revelation 15