Revelation 15

A.M. 4100. A.D. 96.

Here the apostle,

(1,) Has a vision of seven angels prepared to execute the divine judgments on the antichristian kingdom, and on all that uphold it, with the triumphant song of the church on that occasion, Revelation 15:1-4 .

(2,) Their coming forth out of the temple, and receiving vials full of divine wrath, which they were to pour out for that purpose, Revelation 15:5-8 .

The prophecy proceeds, in this and the following chapters, to open further the appointed punishment of antichristian Rome for her oppression of the truth, and persecution of the saints. This chapter represents the solemn manner in which preparation is made for the execution of these judgments, as the next describes the actual execution of them. The happy state of God’s faithful servants, and the joyful thanksgivings with which they celebrate the goodness of God in the protection of their cause, are very elegantly represented, to encourage their constancy and perseverance. God’s judgments upon the kingdom of the beast, or antichristian empire, have been hitherto denounced, and described only in general terms, under the figures of harvest and vintage. A more particular account of them follows under the emblem of seven vials. These must necessarily fall under the seventh trumpet, and the four last of them, at least, under the third wo; so that as the seventh seal contained the seven trumpets, the seventh trumpet comprehends the seven vials. Not only the concinnity of the prophecy requires this order, for otherwise there would be great confusion, and the vials would interfere with the trumpets, some falling under one trumpet, and some under another; but, moreover, if these seven last plagues, and the consequent destruction of Babylon, be not the subject of the third wo, the third wo is nowhere described particularly, as are the two former woes. Before the vials are poured out, the scene opens with a preparatory vision, which is the subject of this chapter. As seven angels sounded the seven trumpets, so seven angels are appointed to pour out the seven vials, angels being always the ministers of Providence; and in order to show that these judgments are to fall upon the kingdom of the beast, the true worshippers of God and faithful servants of Jesus, who had escaped victors from the beast, are here described as praising God for their deliverance from its tyrannical power.