Revelation Chapter 15 Commentary

Okay, chapter 15 has a close connection in its design with the previous chapter. What I mean by this is it pledges and assures that all the enemies of Christ would be cut off, that Christ would be ultimately triumphant, and most particularly that that formidable Antichristian power represented by the "beast" would be destroyed.  Remember, to the actual literal seven churches these things were a real time threat that was happening to them – saints were being tortured in that little area by Nero and those who supported him in his ways.

So, the chapter, though really short (it's only eight verses long) begins with a statement that says where these promises would be accomplished, and this statement is pursued through the subsequent chapters and gives us (in detail) what is promised here in general terms.  Remember too, that we began with Seven Seals, which were subsequently opened, that  then the last of those seals (the Seventh) introduced to us the Seven Trumpets (and between the sixth and seventh trumpets we read that seven thunders were inserted, as described in chapter 10) and then the seventh trumpets introduced us to the seven vials or bowls – which are the final set of outpourings of dread before the end of that age.

And here (in chapter 15) we are introduced to the a new sign or wonder in heaven.  What is it?  Seven new angels appear, having the seven (final) plagues that will fill up or complete the wrath of God.  These last bowls of judgment represent the wrath of God that was to come upon the beast for the complete overthrow of this formidable Antichristian power.   As a bit of necessary reiteration or repetition:

The seven seals came first and are described in Revelation 6:1–17; 8:1–5.

The seven trumpets came next and are found in Revelation 8:6–9:21; 11:15–19.

And seven bowls/vials are described in  Revelation 16:1–21 (which is our next chapter).

Again, these are three series of end-times judgments from God and the judgments get increasingly worse and more devastating as the end-times (of that age) progress.  As we have pointed out before, the seven seals, trumpets, and bowls are all connected to and overlapping with one another meaning the seventh seal introduces the seven trumpets and the seventh trumpet introduces the seven bowls (which is happening here, in part, in chapter 15.)

And just as a refresher, the seven seals include the appearance of the Antichrist, tremendous warfare, famine, plague, the martyrdom of believers in Christ, a horrible earthquake causing terrible devastation, and astronomical upheaval.  Those who survive the six seals cry out, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?” When we covered them we saw that most of the contents described therein were supported by historical reports from non-Christian writers pertaining to that day and age. The seventh seal (of the Seven Seals) introduces the seven trumpet judgments and the trumpets include hail and fire that destroys much of the plant life in the area, the death of much of the area’s aquatic life, the darkening of the sun and moon, a plague of “demonic locusts,” that torture the unsaved, and the march of a demonic army that kills a third of humanity in Israel.

It is here in chapter 15 that the seventh trumpet (of seven) calls forth seven angels who carry the seven bowls of God’s wrath (which we touched on in chapter 11:15–19 and are now revisiting here in chapter 15:1–8).  The bowl judgments include painful sores afflicting humanity (which we will read about in Revelation 16:2), the death of every living thing in the sea (which we will read about in 16:3 and should be interesting in terms of explaining from a full preterist position), the turning of rivers to blood, an intensifying of the sun’s heat, great darkness and an intensification of the sores given when the first bowl was poured out.  There will also be the advance the Antichrist’s armies at Armageddon, and a devastating earthquake which will be followed by giant hailstones.

Together, the seals, trumpets, and bowls of the end times comprise “the great day of [God’s] wrath” (as Revelation 6:17 says) and serves to judge the Antichrist’s kingdom of wickedness.   We will read, in the face of these final bowl judgements, the following words (located in Revelation 16:5–7) which say, speaking of God,

“You are just in these judgments, you who are and who were, the Holy One, because you have so judged; for they have shed the blood of your saints and prophets, and you have given them blood to drink as they deserve. . . . Yes, Lord God Almighty, true and just are your judgments.”

When we think about it, these words seem to speak to them in that age far more than they could ever speak to us in ours.  We will also read here about those who (in former times) had "gotten the victory over the beast," and will now appear standing on a sea of glass, rejoicing and rendering thanks for the assurance that this great enemy of the bride was now to be destroyed, and that now all nations were to come and worship before God. Then we will read about how John sees into the interior of the temple that is opened in heaven, and the seven angels, having the seven plagues, issuing forth to execute their commission.   They come (or came) clothed in pure and white linen, and girded with golden girdles.   At this point we will read how one of the four beasts (that was before the throne) who gives them the seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, to empty them upon the earth or better put, to bring upon the beast his predicted destruction.  The temple is immediately filled with smoke, so that no one might enter (which seems to mean that no longer could anyone anymore make intercession), and the destruction of this great enemy's power is now certain, as described by verses 5-8.  This chapter, therefore, is merely introductory to what will follow in chapter 16.