The Seven Last Plagues

Let’s look at an introduction to the judgment and the seven last plagues in Revelation 15.

The Seven Last Plagues

Revelation 15:1 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.

These remind us of the plagues of Egypt directed against the unrepentant. They are blows, wounds or a flogging of punishment.

Revelation 15:2 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.

This may be the same sea of glass seen in heaven (Revelation 4:6). It may be mingled with the fire of judgment.

Revelation 15:3 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.

The Song of Moses was a victory song over Egypt (Exodus 15:1-19). The addition of the Lamb to the title of this song means it is either a new song or the Lamb is now understood as the fulfillment in a new Exodus or both. The Exodus was an earlier victory over slavery to sin and oppressive human governments.

Revelation 15:4 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.

With these words the Song of Moses becomes complete as a song of Christ’s redemption.

Revelation 15:5 And after that I looked, and, behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened:

This refers to the holy of holies which was erected as a witness to God’s presence. Here it refers to its heavenly reality.

Revelation 15:6 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.

The duties of angels are many. The 7 punishments are carried out by duly appointed angels. Pure white or bright linen symbolizes righteousness. Breasts or chests clothed in gold may be similar to the ephod worn as priestly attire by Aaron and his sons (Exodus 28:8).

Revelation 15:7 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.

This reveals heaven’s full involvement in the punishment to come, a thought that liberals and universalists have difficulty explaining.

Revelation 15:8 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.

This particular smoke is not associated with the incense and our prayers directly but with the glory of God, like at Mount Sinai (Exodus 19:18) and in the temple (Isaiah 4:5; Isaiah 6:4). These plagues are punishment upon the belligerently unrepentant.

God will not allow destructive sin to ruin the lives of all it touches for very much longer. The unrepentant must and will be punished.