REVELATION SIMPLIFIED

 

CHAPTER 15.5

Gleanings from the Book of Revelation:

A Weekly Verse-by-Verse Bible Study Series

 

The

REVELATION TO JOHN

(The Apocalypse)

                                                                           

Chapter Fifteen

The Great Tribulation

The Seven Trumpets

Judgment Resumed

Trumpet Number 7 (Woe Number 3)

 

 

Review

Only containing eight verses, Chapter 15 is a brief preparatory module that examines pouring the final seven bowls of God’s wrath that ends Tribulation before the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. The third sign John observes in Heaven is that of seven angels, each holding one of the seven last plagues.

 

Concurrently, standing on a sea of glass protruding from the Throne of God, he envisions martyred Tribulation saints singing a new Song of Moses and the Song of the Lamb harmoniously in chorus.

 

 

3. The Scene in Heaven

(Verse 5)

 

And after that I looked, and, behold, the Temple of the Tabernacle of the testimony in Heaven was opened.

 

After that (meta tauta) is rendered, after these things, i.e., after what John saw in the first four verses of the chapter. So, after those things, John sees something else.  Unbelievably, the holiest place in God’s Throne Room is visible. Recall, under Moses, the Holy of Holies was once concealed from the eyes of the people by a veil. Now, John is seeing God’s Throne Room fully open and accessible to all redeemed people, including Tribulation saints.

 

The Temple of the Tabernacle of the testimony

The word Temple (naos), the Holy Place, in this passage has a completely different meaning than (hieron) as used in the Gospel accounts describing the central sanctuary. Naos is used thirteen times in Revelation.

 

What John beholds is the heavenly counterpart of not the Temple once built by King Solomon, but the ancient earthly Tabernacle. For almost 500 years the Tabernacle or the Tent of Meeting served as a dwelling place for God amongst His people. Not only was it moveable throughout the wilderness experience, but was also the center of Israel’s tribes during their marches (cf. Numbers 10:17).

 

Inside, the Ark of the Covenant (also known as the Ark of the Testimony) was placed (symbolic of God’s Throne and the glory of God’s perpetual presence among His people). The Tabernacle of the Testimony or Tabernacle of the Witness the one of witness (cf. Numbers 17:7; Acts 7:44) share the same Hebrew and Greek words and are used interchangeably.

 

 

(Verse 6)

 

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.

 

Coming out of the sanctuary from which formerly only the high priests were able to enter once a year, seven priestly angels (or angel priests) emerge, each carrying one of the seven plagues and prepared to inflict catastrophes. The last plagues essentially correspond to a combination of the ten plagues which befell Egypt during the time of Moses.

 

Notice, the angels are seven in number, again comparable to the completion of God’s work. Plagues and bowls refer to the same judgments. Seven angels are given the responsibility of disseminating them.

 

Clothed in (clean) pure and (bright) white linen

Clothing

Reminiscent of Old Testament priests, the angels’ raiment shows they too are pure and free in three distinct ways:

1. From immorality

2. From corruption

3. From injustice

 

For they are clothed in this fashion:

A. Pure white linen robes – Describing stone pure brilliancy

B. Golden girdles or sashes – Pointing to the  glory of God

 

Their dress is symbolic of three things:

1. It is a priestly dress

2. It is a royal dress

3. It is a heavenly dress

 

White Linen

Linen was the oldest and favorite textile fiber used by the ancients. Taken from slender stalks of the flax plant, it was pulled, separated, bunched, beaten, combed, placed in water, and laid on housetops to dry (cf. Joshua 2:6). Next, they were bleached or whitened by exposing them to the sun. The fibers were then separated by a comb-like instrument and spun on a loom. Some exclusive uses include:

1. The garb of the High Priest (cf. Leviticus 16:23)

Exodus 28:42 – And thou shalt make them linen breeches to cover their nakedness; from the loins even unto the thighs they shall reach.

 

Leviticus 16:23 – And Aaron shall come into the Tabernacle of the Congregation, and shall put off the linen garments, which he put on when he went into the Holy Place and shall leave them there.

 

2. The raiment of angels (cf. John 20:12)

Daniel 10:5 – Then I lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and behold a certain man (an angel of God) clothed in linen, whose loins were girded with fine gold of Uphaz (a region in the east, possibly Ophir, known for mining gold).

 

John 20:12 - And she (Mary Magdalene) saw two angels in white (clothes, garments) sitting, one at the head and one at the feet, where the body of Jesus had been lying.

 

3. The burial cloth of Jesus (cf. Matthew 27:59)

Matthew 27:59 - And when Joseph had taken the body (of Jesus), he wrapped it in a clean (fine, pure) linen cloth.

 

Note: [see also Revelation Study 3.3b]

 

And having their breasts girded with golden girdles

Golden Girdles

A girdle is usually a cloth or leather belt (band, sash), two to six inches wide, worn around one’s waist. Pictured are angels girded with golden girdles or belts around their breasts or paps (cf. the vision of Christ in Revelation 1:13). However, the imagery here is more synonymous with the ephods of priests.

Exodus 28:8 – And the curious (artistically, skillfully woven) girdle of the ephod, which is upon it, shall be of the same, according to the work thereof; even of gold, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen.

 

 

(Verse 7)

 

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.

 

Four beasts (zōon), living ones, creatures, or beings (the same as Revelation 4:6) pour out the contents into broad shallow bowls (similar to those once used for incense) and fill them to the brim. Figuratively, God’s cup of boiling, smoking iniquity or wrath is ready to be dispersed upon rebellious sinners who will not accept Christ’s forgiveness. But, they rather curse God and rejoice in their iniquities.

 

The priest-like duty of the seven angels is to administer justice by pouring out the wrath-filled bowls. Christ, King of the ages (cf. Revelation 15:3), victorious Who lives and reigns forever and ever explains and points to the reason for these plagues as being the last ones.

 

 

(Verse 8)

 

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.

 

Three things are unique to this passage:

1. The Temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God

2. The Temple was filled with the power of God

3. The Temple was forbidden to man until wrath was complete

 

Similarly, the earthly Temple was an antitype showing the manifestation of God’s power and glory. When God took possession of Solomon’s Temple, even the priests were obstructed from entry.

2 Chronicles 5:13c–14 - Then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the LORD; So that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud: for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of God.

 

God’s Throne is always symbolic of His majesty and presence. Unfortunately, the smoke visibly seen in this passage indicates His judgments are prepared to be poured. Therefore, the Temple filled with smoke prevented access to those who ordinarily stood before God’s sanctuary or to anyone else. Another remote possibility is that the smoke dissuaded prayer intercessors to avert God's judgments until the completion of the seven plagues.

 

Closing

Many Old Testament prophets foretold this day coming. Three selected descriptions encompass:

Isaiah 13:6-9 – Howl (wail, scream) ye; for the day of the LORD is at hand; it shall come as a destruction from the Almighty. Therefore shall all hands be faint, and every man's heart shall melt: And they shall be afraid: pangs and sorrows shall take hold of them; they shall be in pain as a woman that travaileth: they shall be amazed one at another; their faces shall be as flames. Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and He shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it.

 

Joel 1:15 - Alas for the day! for the day of the LORD is at hand, and as a destruction from the Almighty shall it come.

 

Ezekiel 30:3 - For a day is near; a day belonging to the LORD is near. It will be a day of clouds, a time of doom for the nations. (CSB)

 

For Believers, as evangelistic tools, our responsibility is to teach and preach the Book of Revelation to all who do not know Jesus Christ as personal Saviour: To repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is truly at hand. Recall, the commission of Jesus Christ:

Mark 16:15 - And He said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature.

In place of the above, another message of Jesus Christ is to be proclaimed from the housetops:

 

Matthew 10:28 - Fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear Him (God) which is able to destroy both soul and body in Hell.

 

So, the theme of Chapter 15 is directed to all who disregard the sovereignty and holiness of God and follow the beast. The final outpouring of His fury before Christ’s Second Coming is imminent. It shall surely begin in Chapter 16.

 

 

QUESTIONS:

1.   What was unique about the Tabernacle of the Testimony?

2.   What did the seven angels possess?

3.   How were the seven angels clothed?

4.   What did the four beasts give the angels?

5.   What did they contain?

6.   Why was no one able to enter the Temple?

7.   What is the reader’s commission?

 

 

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