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THE SEVEN BOWL PLAGUES
Revelation 15:1-8, "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. 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. 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. 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. And after that I looked, and, behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened: 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. 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. 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."
Notice that the first time the seven plague angels are seen they are carrying only the seven plagues. They have no bowls in their possession at this time. They are heading to the temple sanctuary where they will later be given bowls full of the wrath of God that will make the plagues even more devastating. With these plagues God's wrath will be completely expressed.
Now we come to the third group of Christians seen by John in his vision. They are standing next to the glassy sea mingled with fire. They are those who were martyred for refusing to worship the Beast from the Sea. This is the third host of Christians that the apostle John saw in his vision.
As is recorded in Revelation 12:11 these Christians gained the victory by the blood of the Lamb, the word of their testimony and they loved not their lives unto the death.
They are given harps of God and sing the song of Moses found in Exodus 15:1-21 as well as the song of the Lamb which is recorded here in the book of Revelation. The song of Moses is a song of victory over Pharaoh and his armies after the crossing of the Red Sea. The song of the Lamb pertains to Christ and His Church's victory over the world.
This is the second time the tabernacle of the testimony is thrown open. The first time is in Rev. 11:19 immediately after the blowing of the seventh trumpet. Now the tabernacle of the testimony is thrown open to allow the advent of the seven plague angels.
The seven angels are now seen exiting the sanctuary of the tabernacle. They are leaving God's presence in order to go into the world and perform their woeful task.
One of the four beasts gives to each angel a golden vial full of the wrath of God. The term `vials' in the King James version of the Bible are translated from the Greek phiale {fee-al'-ay} and the definition according to Strong's Exhaustive Concordance is a broad shallow bowl, deep saucer.
The angels initially have only the plagues and are then given bowls full of the wrath of God. This serves to intensify the effects of the plagues to an unthinkable extent.
At this time the temple becomes unapproachable until the seven plagues are ended. God's patience with unrepentant man is finally at an end.
The Christian Counter
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