Vials Full of Wrath

Lakeview Baptist Church

November 14, 2021

Revelation 15:1-4

Re 15:5-8 (KJV) And after that I looked, and, behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened:

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.

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.

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.

Introduction

In our last study, we were introduced to the “Song of Moses” and the “Song of the Lamb.” There are so many similarities as well as parallels throughout the Bible. These two songs are examples of that. Moses celebrated the Glory of God in God’s delivery of the Children of Israel and His judgment of Pharoah’s army. The Song of the Lamb is celebrating the Glory of God in his delivery of those that did not choose the “mark of the Beast” or worshiped the Beast. There is safety for them, however there is great judgment for those that rejected God and His Son, Jesus Christ.

Re 15:5-8 (KJV) And after that I looked, and, behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened:

“And after that I looked” - The Apostle’s attention is now drawn from those standing on the sea of glass to something new.

“…the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened” – Earlier, in Revelation John saw heavens version of the Ark of the Covenant, at the blowing of the seventh trumpet (11:19), “the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament.” John saw the Ark of the Covenant located in heaven, in the Temple.

The tabernacle is from the Old Testament where God gave Moses the blueprints for making a dwelling place for God among His people. It was called a tabernacle because if was portable. The materials made for easy setup and takedown. The tabernacle on earth had many names: (This list is not all-inclusive as there are so many references to the tabernacle)

References to the name of the Tabernacle

The tent - Exodus 26:11-14

The tabernacle - Exodus 25:9; 26:1; 27:9;

The tabernacle of the congregation - Exodus 27:21; (used 133 times in 127 verses)

The tent of meeting - Exodus 27:21; Leviticus 17:4

The tent of the testimony - Numbers 9:15

The tent of the congregation - Exodus 39:32, 40; 40:2, 6-7, 22, 24, 26, 29-30, 32, 34-35

The tabernacle of the Lord - Leviticus 17:4; Numbers 16:9; 17:13; 19:13; 31:30, 47; 1 Kings 2:28-30; 1 Chronicles 16:39; 21:29; 2 Chronicles 1:5

The tabernacle of testimony - Exodus 38:21; Numbers 1:50, 53

The house of God - Judges 18:31; 20:18, 26, 31

The house of the LORD - Exodus 23:19 (there are over 234 times this phrase is used in 213 verses)

The tabernacle of the testimony - Numbers 10:11; Revelation 15:5

The tabernacle of witness - Numbers 17:7-8; 18:2; 2 Chronicles 24:6; Acts 7:44

The sanctuary - Exodus 25:8 (found 137 times in 132 verses)

Shadow of Heavenly Things

The tabernacle on the earth was a “shadow of heavenly things” (Heb. 8:5), a representation of what was in heaven. Because there are so many different titles to the tabernacle, the question is, “Why did John use ‘the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony?’” This title refers to the tabernacle which held the Ark of the Covenant containing two tablets of stone upon which was written the Ten Commandments given by God to Moses on Mount Sinai. Upon those two stone tablets, God wrote to His people His Laws. John’s reference to the Laws of God in heaven seem to say that God’s Laws will judge those breakers of the Law.

H. A. Ironside writes:

The mention of the tabernacle of the testimony brings Israel again before us, and reminds us that these judgments are in order to the carrying out of God’s covenant with His ancient people Israel, when the nations that have oppressed them must be punished.

It is hard to separate the heavenly temple and the throne room of God. John has seen the throne room and the temple in heaven and his references to each of them seem interchangeable.

Rev 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.

“And the seven angels came out of the temple” – The same seven angels spoken of in verse number one, have been in the presence of God are now filing out of the Temple. They are the messengers by which God will exact His judgment on the earth.

“…having the seven plagues” – So far, John has not identified what these seven plagues are. Whether he has been made aware of them individually or only that the bowls contain seven plagues, we are not told. The inference is that each one of the angels carries one of the plagues.

“…clothed in pure and white linen, and having their breasts girded with golden girdles” – These avenging angels, sent by God to bring destruction on the earth are dressed in such a manner that it captures John’s gaze. Like all of the angels mentioned, the messengers are dressed in white (at Jesus ascension and resurrection). However, John’s usage of the word “linen” is only used in one other place in the New Testament. There the Greek word, “pisteh” is translated as flax. Flax is a plant that grows to about three feet and is used in making clothes. In Matthew12:20, Jesus quotes Isaiah 42:1-4. The term “smoking flax shall he not quench” refers that flax is slow burning. I believe John’s use of the word is to tell the readers that this is not a “knee-jerk” reaction on the part of God: as the flax is slow to burn, so is God’s wrath “slow to burn” on the people of the earth.

“…having their breasts girded with golden girdles” – Jesus was arrayed with a golden girdle in Revelation 1:13, so in this respect they represent and resemble the Lord Jesus.

Walvoord writes:

If gold reflects the glory of God, it would point to the conclusion that these angels pouring out righteous judgments on the earth thereby bring glory to God.

Rev 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.

“And one of the four beasts” – The identity of the creature or beast that hands out the golden vials is not identified. In Revelation 6:1, we have the same description, “one of the four beasts” saying Come and see. I can only surmise that:

The identity of the beast is not as important as the task. We would do good to remember that in our Christian life.

There is order in heaven

God uses those willing to serve Him to carry out His tasks, including carrying out God’s judgments.

These judgments will glorify God through His servants.

“…gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials” – The unidentified beast gives each of the angels a golden vial. The Greek word translated for vial means “a bowl or goblet, having more breadth than depth. A broad shallow bowl or deep saucer.” That is the reason so many of the Bible translations have used the word bowl rather than vial as used only in the KJV. (ESV, NIV, NRSV, NKJV all use bowl).

The key is that the bowl is made of gold. In Revelation 5:8, John wrote that the prayers of the saints we held in “golden vials”, the same word used here and throughout the sixteenth and seventeenth chapters. Golden bowls were used in the Temple services and John may be taking the readers to an implement that they would fully understand was in the service of the LORD.

“…full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever” – The reference is to seven angels, holding seven bowls filled with seven plagues which are the totality of the wrath of God.

Creamer writes:

God has not changed in this time of great tribulation. He has not lost his temper. He is the same God with the same holiness, righteousness, and mercy; His wrath has not evolved; He is simply fulfilling what He said would happen from the very beginning.

Rev 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.

In God’s presence, the Tabernacle and the Temple were consecrated to God

“And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power” – John uses the history of God’s presence as when the Tabernacle and the Temple were consecrated to God. God’s presence filled the Tabernacle and the Temple in such a way that no man could enter the buildings as they were so holy (Ex. 40:34-35; 1 Kings 8:10-11.

Exodus 40:34- 35 Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. And Moses was not able to enter into the tent of the congregation, because the cloud abode thereon, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.

1 Kings 8:10-11 And it came to pass, when the priests were come out of the holy place, that the cloud filled the house of the LORD, So that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud: for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of the LORD.

It is hard for mortal man to understand the sacredness and purity of God. Whenever I am struggling to understand God’s holiness, I am reminded of the story when Moses went to see the burning bush. God told him to take off his shoes, for he was standing on holy ground. The very dirt became holy with God’s presence. That blows my mind. The stuff we sweep up off the floor and throw away, can become holy with the presence of God!

In much the same way, our bodies become holy with the presence of the Holy Spirit. The Apostle Paul wrote to the believers in Corinth:

1 Corinthians 6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

“…and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled.” – I am one of those people who after hearing a statement, asks the question; “Why?” Why couldn’t anyone enter into the temple until the final judgments were poured out? What would keep them out?

When Adam and Eve were cast out of the Garden of Eden, they were not allowed to go back in. They had sinned and were not permitted to enter the garden of God because of it.

Now in heaven, the temple is closed. No entrance was allowed. Why? Perhaps we can discover the reason by understanding Temple worship. The temple mount was accessible to both Jew and Gentile. But gentiles could only present themselves in the court of the Gentiles. There were warning signs that gentiles could not enter the Court of Women (also called the Treasury). Jewish men and women were free to enter the gates into the Court of Women. In the same way that Gentiles were restricted entry into the Court of Women, women were restricted into the next court, the Court of the Israelites. The Court of the Israelites was limited to ritually pure Jewish men. Continuing walking towards the Holy of Holies was the Court of the Priests. Only priests could go into this area which was the entry to the Altar, Laver and the Temple porch and the Temple.

The Temple had two parts, the Holy Place, and the Holy of Holies. Only the chief priest and only once a year could entry be made into the Holy of Holies.

Restrictions on entry to the Temple are very familiar with the readers of the seven churches. But why this restriction and why now?

We have seen through every activity throughout the Old and New testaments that God has always pleaded with His followers to turn or return to Him. Mercy and Grace are His name. BUT…there always comes a time for those that refuse His mercy and grace to be judged. In this case, the Temple and more correctly the Throne of God is off limits to everyone.

When God showed Himself to the Children of Israel at Mount Sinai, He did so in the form of a great cloud, with fire and smoke and earthquakes. No one was to approach the mountain.

Exodus 19:23 And Moses said unto the LORD, The people cannot come up to mount Sinai: for thou chargedst us, saying, Set bounds about the mount, and sanctify it.

No one is allowed to approach God while the plagues are being poured out. No one will be allowed to beg God to turn away His wrath until His judgments are completed. The time of intercession has ended. It seems that all activity of praise and worship are suspended as well. The judgment is so severe, that God is by Himself, judging the earth

Conclusion

God’s presence consecrates the place, person, or Word

A time will come when Heave is closed, and no intercessory prayer will be heard until the plagues are poured out.