The 12th and 13th chapters of Revelation portray the anger of the nations toward God's people. The 14th chapter portrays God's final warning message to the nations, embodied in the messages of the three angels. The 15th and 16th chapters portray the execution of God's divine wrath.
The 15th chapter basically sets the background for the 16th chapter.
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."
Here John sees seven angels, each having a bowl, and in the bowls is contained the wrath of God, and it says that with these the wrath of God is complete. So the bowls represent the plagues that are about to be poured out.
Now we need to understand that the 7 last plagues are poured out only on the wicked. The righteous do not receive these plagues.
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."
These are God's people that have been redeemed from this earth. These are the people who responded and accepted the message of warning mentioned in chapter 14. They have been saved from the world of trouble and are now secure in the kingdom of God. The victory was obtained by the blood of the Lamb. (Revelation 12:11) They stood loyal to God even when the death penalty was pronounced. (Revelation 13:15) Now they stand safe on the sea of glass. The victory is complete and their struggle is over. They overcame and now in the heavenly kingdom they sing the anthem of victory.
So God promises to those who walk with Him and follow Him that no plague will come near your dwelling. It does not mean that we will not see these plagues, but it does mean that they are not going to fall on us.
This makes it clear that these plagues do not fall on the righteous; they fall only on the wicked, on those who do not follow God and that are opposed to God.
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."
This is no doubt a reference to the song of deliverance after Israel crossed the Red Sea (Exodus 15:1-21). That song celebrated the deliverance from Egyptian oppression. And the new song, deliverance from the tyranny of "Babylon the great":
Servant of God - Compare Joshua 14:7, where Moses is designated "the servant of the Lord":
Of the Lamb - The deliverance of the saints was wrought by Christ the Lamb of God and it is natural that He should be adored and exalted in the song of deliverance.
Great and marvelous are your works - There are many allusions to Old Testament phraseology in this song. The marvelous works of God are extolled in Psalms 139:14; Psalms 111:2, 4. There may be a specific reference here to the "works" of God in the seven last plagues. The "sign" delineating these plagues is described as "great and marvelous" (Revelation 15:1).
Just and true are your ways - or, "righteous and genuine." Compare Deuteronomy 32:4; Psalms 145:17; Revelation 16:7; 19:2.
King of saints - This reading fits the thought of Revelation 15:4 where the prediction is made that all nations shall come and worship before God.
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."
Who shall not fear thee - Compare Jeremiah 10:7:
The message of the first angel in chapter 14 was, "Fear God, and give glory to him." The saints had heeded this appeal, and now that their pilgrimage is over they join in this wonderful ascription of praise to the glory of God. Compare the cry of the worshipers of the beast, "Who is like unto the beast?"
Glorify thy name:
Revelation 15:5 "And after that I looked, and, behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened:"
The purpose of a testimony is to glorify God in Christ.
Here the latter meaning probably applies. The wilderness tabernacle was a type of "the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched and not man".
Testimony in heaven was opened. It's very important that we understand what is being referring to here.
Moses here has the two tablets of stone, called the testimony, and on these is written the law, the Ten Commandments, written by the finger of God.
Now when it talks about the temple being open, and the tabernacle of the testimony, it's talking about the law of God, and John could see the law of God open in heaven.
God told Moses to take the testimony, the law, and put it in the Ark of the Covenant.
So the law is placed inside the ark, and the ark is inside the tabernacle or temple, and it says this was open.
Now this is not talking about the temple on earth, it's talking about the one in heaven, and it is open. This is at the time that the 7 last plagues are poured out, the temple in heaven is open and the ark is seen there, because the ark which contains the law is the basis of God's judgment. You see there is no such thing as violating God's law without there being punishment. The people who receive the plagues have gone absolutely contrary to God's law, they have refused to walk in the light of God's law and so therefore they receive the 7 last plagues.
So the people who keep God's commandments, who follow Him and are obedient to Him, do not receive the 7 last plagues.
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."
Clothed in pure and white linen - White garments are the typical attire of celestial beings, and symbolise purity and righteousness. See Matthew 28:3; Luke 24:4; Acts 1:10; Acts 10:30.
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."
These four beasts are before the throne of God (Revelation 4:6-8).
Now let's take a look at these 7 last plagues. These plagues are poured out after probation has closed.
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."
No man was able to enter the temple - Literally "no one." This no doubt means that the time for intercession is past and no one can enter and have access to the mercy seat. The time of preparation is over and now is the time for the pouring out of the unmingled wrath of God.
This tells us that the service in the temple has come to an end. Christ has left the sanctuary. He is no longer there, interceding on behalf of mankind. He has left the temple. The words have been spoken...
And now therefore the plagues take place, probation has closed. As we saw in our last study, the wicked show no repentance or change of heart, their cup of iniquity is full, and so because it's full, God pours out His wrath.