The Apocalypse – Chapter 15
Now we reach Chapter 15 of the Book of Revelation. It is interesting to note certain things regarding the use of the Matthew Henry Commentary which was written over 300 years ago. At that time Commentators were keen to interpret the Book that was then called The Apocalypse in line with their world current events. Every generation has had reason to interpret various events in line with what has been written. But there are shadows and types throughout the Word of God. Today we will look at The Seven Angels with Seven Plagues.
Speaking of keeping the Jewish festivals, the Word says in Col 2:17, These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ. Again in Heb 10:1, we read that the law has but a shadow of the good things to come. We can confidently say that in the Book of Revelation certain aspects of it have had many shadows throughout history. Yet to know what the final end of days will look like brings with it such hope to those who are longing for His appearing.
Fear No Evil
I am the Lord of your life,
Guardian of your inmost being
The Christ of God
The all powerful, the all seeing.
Sheltered in My hidden place
No harm can befall you.
Pray to know
That this is true.
Of your very consciousness
Let this truth become a part
For where I am no evil can penetrate
The walls of your heart.
When you abide in Me and I in you
No evil can touch you, preventing My love
From pouring out to you from My Father
In heaven above.
Spiritual truths sometimes take many years
to learn.
Sometimes they come in a flash of
sudden revelation
However I choose to work through you
I am not subject to any limitation.
By the late Andrew Feakin
[passed away 16th March 2019]
Keys – The Seven Angels with Seven Plagues
- All nations will one day come and worship God.
- God will soon finish the destruction of antichrist upon the world.
- God is full of justice and truth in all His ways, both in delivering His people and destroying their enemies.
- We are to render unto God the fear, glory, and worship: Who shall not fear thee?
- The judgments of God will be executed upon antichristian interests. This will be a fulfilling of the prophecies and promises of His Word and covenant.
- In this work He answers the prayers of His people, which were offered to Him by their great high priest, Christ.
- God will open a wider door of liberty for His people to worship Him in numerous solemn assemblies, without the fear of their enemies.
- The churches will have rest and the solemn assemblies will be gathered, edified, and multiplied.
- The church will receive her deliverance which will be brought about by astonishing steps of the Providence of God.
The Seven Angels with Seven Plagues
Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and amazing, seven angels with seven plagues, which are the last, for with them the wrath of God is finished. And I saw what appeared to be a sea of glass mingled with fire—and also those who had conquered the beast and its image and the number of its name, standing beside the sea of glass with harps of God in their hands.
And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, “Great and amazing are your deeds, O Lord God the Almighty! Just and true are your ways, O King of the nations! Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship you, for your righteous acts have been revealed.”
And the sanctuary was filled with smoke
After this I looked, and the sanctuary of the tent of witness in heaven was opened, and out of the sanctuary came the seven angels with the seven plagues, clothed in pure, bright linen, with golden sashes around their chests. And 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, and the sanctuary was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from His power, and no one could enter the sanctuary until the seven plagues of the seven angels were finished.
Henry says – According to the judgment of very eminent expositors {of that day}, in the six seals God had represented the state of the church under the pagan powers. Then in the vision of the six trumpets that began to sound it represented the state of the church under the papal powers. The seventh seal gives a more general and brief account of the past, present, and future state of the church, in the little book. He now proceeds to show him how antichrist will be destroyed in the vision of the seven vials or bowls.
Great commotions in the world
This chapter contains the preparation for the pouring out of the bowls, in which we have a sight of those angels in heaven who were to have the execution of this great work. There was an acclamations of joy the heavenly hosts applauding this great design, Rev. 15:1-4. Angels were seen coming out of heaven to receive those bowls which they were to be poured out. An act which caused great commotions in the world, Rev. 15:5-8.
These angels were commissioned to finish the destruction of antichrist. God was now about to pour out His seven last plagues. As the measure of Babylon’s sins was filled up, they were to now find the full measure of His wrath. All that had received the victory over the beast, were the spectators and witnesses of this commission. They stood on a sea of glass, possibly representing this world, as some think, a brittle thing, that shall be broken to pieces. Or, as others think, the gospel covenant, alluding to the brazen sea in the temple, in which the priests were to wash (the faithful servants of God stand upon the foundation of the righteousness of Christ).
Render to God fear, glory & worship
They were singing the song of Moses, in which they extol the greatness of God’s works, and the justice and truth of His ways, both in delivering His people and destroying their enemies. They rejoiced in hope at the near prospect they had of this, though it was not yet accomplished, calling upon all nations to render unto God the fear, glory, and worship, due to such a discovery of His truth and justice: Who shall not fear thee? Rev. 15:4.
These angels appeared coming out of heaven to execute their commission: The temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened, Rev. 15:5. Here is an allusion to the holiest of all the tabernacle and temple, where was the mercy-seat, covering the ark of the testimony. Here the high priest made intercession, and God communed with His people, and heard their prayers.
He answers the prayers of His people
From this we may understand that, the judgments of God were now about to be executed upon antichristian interests. This was to be a fulfilling of the prophecies and promises of His Word and covenant. They are always before Him, and of which He is ever mindful. In this work He was answering the prayers of the people, which were offered to Him by their great high priest.
Here He was avenging the quarrel of His own Son, and our Saviour Jesus Christ, whose offices and authority had been usurped. His name had been dishonoured, and the great designs of His death opposed, by antichrist and his adherents. Through this God was opening a wider door of liberty for His people to worship Him in numerous solemn assemblies, without the fear of their enemies.
Angels are ministers of divine justice
They were clothed with pure and white linen, and had their breasts girded with golden girdles, Rev. 15:6. This was the attire of the high priests when they went in to enquire of God, and came out with an answer from Him. This showed that these angels were acting in all things under the divine appointment and direction.
The angels are the ministers of divine justice, and they do everything in a pure and holy manner. Their artillery, by which they were to do this great execution, was seven bowls filled with the wrath of God; armed against His enemies. This wrath of God was not to be poured out all at once, but was divided into seven parts, which should successively fall upon the antichristian party.
Then came a great shock to all the world
All who stood near the temple were wrapt up in clouds of smoke, which filled the temple, from the glorious and powerful presence of God. So that no man was able to enter into the temple, till the work was finished. The interests of antichrist were so interwoven with the civil interests of the nations that he could not be destroyed without giving a great shock to all the world. The people of God would have little rest and leisure to assemble themselves before Him, while this great work was a doing.
For the present, their sabbaths would be interrupted, ordinances of public worship intermitted, and all thrown into a general confusion. God Himself was now preaching to the church and to all the world, by terrible things. But, when this work was done, then the churches would have rest. The temple would be opened, and the solemn assemblies gathered, edified, and multiplied. The greatest deliverances of the church are brought about by awful and astonishing steps of Providence.
Adapted from the Matthew Henry Commentary
Prayer for the Day
Prayer: Father, I come to You. Thank You that Your Word assures is that one day You will finish the destruction of antichrist upon the world. All nations will then come and worship You. You are full of justice and truth in all Your ways in delivering us Your people and in destroying our enemies. We render to You the fear, glory, and worship: For who shall not fear thee? Thank You that You fulfill the prophecies and promises of Your Word and covenant. You hear and answer our prayers, which are offered by our great high priest, Christ Himself. You will open a wider door of liberty for Your people to worship You without fear of our enemies. We shall receive our deliverance which will be brought about by astonishing steps of Your Providence. We glorify You. In Jesus name. Amen.
The Seven Angels with Seven Plagues
Read the whole series on the Apocalypse here