AS WE HAVE ALREADY LEARNED, the great parenthesis of the Book of Revelation consists of 11:15--15:4. In it are found three signs, or symbols. The first is the sign of the woman (12:1); the second, the sign of the dragon (12:3); and the third is the symbol of the seven angles (15:1), who have the seven vials or bowls of the wrath of God. These three signs are given in heaven; but, of course, they foreshadow, or signify, things upon the earth, as we have already seen.

We have also learned that the chronological order of events is set forth in Revelation, chapters 6, 8 and 9, and 16. The truth is put in these chapters under the symbolism of seven seals (chap. 6); seven trumpets (chaps. 8 and 9); and seven bowls (chap. 16). The chapters intervening between these that I have just mentioned give what might, figuratively speaking, be called the stage setting. This phase of the drama is so very, very important that the Lord devoted chapters 12 through 15 to it in order to give us the facts that must be understood if we are to comprehend the message of chapter 16.

The farther we go in the Book of Revelation the more orderly it becomes to us. There is an unfolding of the events in a most systematic, clear, and lucid manner.

"And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous, seven angels having seven plagues, which are the last, for in them is finished the wrath of God" (Rev. 15:1). Let us always bear in mind that the word "sign" here means a symbol, an emblem, something that stands for, or sets forth, some great truth or principle. God describes this sign in heaven as "great and marvelous." It is great because of the far-reaching significance of what is symbolized. It is marvelous in that it produces wonder and amazement in the hearts of those who learn the truth signified by this sign and see the far-reaching effects of it.

We are told that these seven angels have seven plagues, and that in them is finished the wrath of God. Since this is the completion of the wrath of God in the pouring out of these seven plagues, we are to assume that the wrath of God has been presented under some other symbolism. As we studied the seals and the trumpets in chapters 6, 8 and 9, we saw there evidence of the displeasure and the wrath of God as it is poured out upon the world. Thus we are of the profound conviction that the seals, the trumpets, and the bowls are all symbols of the pouring out of God's final wrath during what the Old Testament prophets called "the day of Jehovah"--the time when God arises and deals with mankind because of its sins. At that time, as we have already seen in preceding studies, God has three objectives in view in sending these judgments upon the world: First, to bring about the world-wide revival in which untold multitudes are brought to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ; second, to destroy all the wicked who will not receive the love of God, but who spurn it; and third, to break the power of the Jewish people so that they will confess their national sin of rejecting the Messiah and plead for Him to return. When God accomplishes these three purposes, He will stop the judgments of the great Tribulation. That the Book of Revelation is descriptive of the pouring out of God's wrath is quite evident to the one who observes the various characteristics of this book.

For instance, in 4:5 we read, "And out of the throne proceed lightning's and voices and thunders." This scene is introductory to that of the vision of heaven which prepares us for the breaking of the seal judgments in chapter 6. The introductory scene to the trumpet judgments is found in 8:5: "And the angel taketh the censer; and he filled it with the fire of the altar, and cast it upon the earth: and there followed thunders, and voices, and lightnings, and an earthquake." That which introduces the bowl judgments is found in 11:19 and reads as follows: "And there was opened the temple of God that is in heaven; and there was seen in his temple the ark of his covenant; and there followed lightnings, and voices, and thunders, and an earthquake, and great hail." A special introductory scene is given in Revelation 16:17,18: "And the seventh poured out his bowl upon the air; and there came forth a great voice out of the temple, from the throne, saying, It is done: 18 and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunders; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since there were men upon the earth, so great an earthquake, so mighty." Without question, these scenes of stormy conditions can prefigure nothing but wrath and destruction. In these passages we see a growth and a development in the gathering of this storm of God's wrath.

Thus in the pouring out of the plagues of the seven bowls there is completed God's sending of His judgments upon the world of wickedness.

Let us remember that we have already covered, in our study, one-half of the Tribulation, which is a period of seven years. Thus, as we shall see in chapter 16, the latter half of this period of judgment is covered. Moreover, we shall see that, at the conclusion of this latter half of the Tribulation, the Lord Jesus Christ will come in glory and power to take over the government of the world, and to reign from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth.

As we have seen, there is an innumerable host of people who are led to the Lord by the preaching of the 144,000 Jewish evangelists, to whom we are now giving the gospel. These countless multitudes wash their robes and make them white in the blood of the Lamb. They are the Tribulation saints, who are led to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, during the first half of the Tribulation. Concerning them, we have full and detailed information in Revelation, chapter 7. Many of them suffer martyrdom for their faith.

But those who appear in Revelation 15:2-4 are a different group entirely. They accept the Lord and come out of the latter half of the Tribulation, when the Antichrist is in the plenitude of his power and when he tries to force the people of the world to take the number of his name upon their forehead and upon their right hand. In view of these facts we see that the innumerable host of saved people, mentioned in Revelation, chapter 7, are the ones who come out of the first half of the Tribulation, whereas this group in chapter 15 comes out of the second part of the Tribulation.

This latter group is victorious over the beast. It is generally assumed by commentators that these are all martyrs, even though it is not stated in so many words--but they are victorious. Yet I am not absolutely certain that all of them are martyrs. They can be victorious over the beast and at the same time not be martyred. But it is quite likely that the bulk of these are made to suffer for their faith.

John sees them on a sea of glass which is before the throne of God. The mention of this sea of glass reminds one of that which is said in 4:6, concerning the sea as of glass before the throne. Here we see this sea of glass mingled with fire. What is the significance of the phenomenon expressed by "mingled with fire"? No satisfactory answer can be given, hence it is mere speculation to guess.

These who are seen in this vision sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb. Moses, of course, was the great lawgiver of Israel. Christ is the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world. Though Moses was simply a man, while Christ was the God-man, there are certain similarities that exist between them. For instance, in Deuteronomy 18:15ff., God promises Israel that He will raise up a Prophet from among Moses' brethren like unto him. This promise is an evident reference to the Lord Jesus. At the transfiguration scene Moses and Elijah both appeared, talking with Christ.

Here we are told that this great multitude will "sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb" --two different songs.

The gist of these songs will be that God's works are marvelous, that He is righteous in all of His ways, and that He is the "King of the ages." Moreover, they have a vision that all people will fear the name of God and glorify Him--that is, all the people upon the earth, for God alone is holy. As the prophets of the Old Testament foretold that the time would come when all nations would be converted and would worship and serve God, so here these victorious saints express the same sentiments. The thing that will convince the people of the world will be God's demonstration that in His dealings with the peoples of the world He is absolutely righteous in all that He does.

In Psalm 11:4 we see the temple of God in heaven. In Revelation 11:19 we likewise see this same temple. In the Book of Hebrews we are told that there is a sanctuary or a temple of God in the heavens of the heavens. Of this heavenly temple, the Tabernacle and later the Temple built by Solomon, were little replicas, or patterns.

It should be noted that Revelation 15:2-4 constitutes a little parenthesis following verse 1. Verses 5-8 develop the theme that is announced in verse 1.

John sees the temple--"the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven"--open. He sees coming forth out of the temple "the seven angels that had the seven plagues, arrayed with precious stone, pure and bright, and girt about their breasts with golden girdles."

At this juncture one of the four living creatures (one of the seraphim of Rev., chaps. 4 and 5, and Isa., chap. 6) gives to the seven angels "seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever." God is forever and ever! He, as Isaiah the prophet affirms (Isa. 57:15), is "the high and Lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy."

When these bowls of wrath are given to the angels, John sees the heavenly temple "filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and none was able to enter into the temple" (Rev. 15:8). No living creature can enter the temple of God in heaven at that time. Not even an angelic being can enter it until the seven plagues of the seven angels are finished. Then they will enter and continue the service of God as usual.

Thus we see that chapter 15 constitutes the prologue, or introduction, to the seven bowl judgments of Revelation, chapter 16, which we shall study in the next article in this series.