1And 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.
2And 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.
3And 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.
4Who 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.
5And after that I looked, and, behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened:
6And 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.
7And 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.
8And 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.
📖 Chapter study
Summary
John sees in heaven those who had conquered the beast singing the song of Moses and of the Lamb, celebrating God's righteous deeds. Seven angels receive seven bowls full of God's wrath, preparing to pour out the last plagues on the earth.
Explanation
This short, solemn chapter serves as a formal introduction to the final series of judgments (the seven bowls), beginning once again with a scene of heavenly worship, a recurring pattern in the book that always places judgment within a larger context of divine justice and praise. The reference to the 'song of Moses' directly connects this scene to Israel's celebration after crossing the Red Sea (Exodus 15), suggesting that this final deliverance is comparable in magnitude to the deliverance from Egypt. The description of the heavenly temple filled with smoke from God's glory, keeping anyone from entering until the plagues are complete, echoes Old Testament scenes (such as Exodus 40 and 1 Kings 8) where God's glorious presence becomes so intense that it interrupts even the normal priestly service. Today's practical application is that God's judgments, however severe they may seem, are always tied to his justice and holiness, never to arbitrary whim or cruelty.
Fun facts
- The 'song of Moses' mentioned here (15:3) recalls the song recorded in Exodus 15, sung by Moses and the people of Israel after crossing the Red Sea, considered one of the oldest poems preserved in the entire Hebrew Bible.