Revelation 15:6 - Printer Friendly

ESV: and out of the sanctuary came the seven angels with the seven plagues, clothed in pure, bright linen, with golden sashes around their chests.

NIV: Out of the temple came the seven angels with the seven plagues. They were dressed in clean, shining linen and wore golden sashes around their chests.

NASB: and the seven angels who had the seven plagues came out of the temple, clothed in linen, clean and bright, and their chests wrapped with golden sashes.

CSB: Out of the temple came the seven angels with the seven plagues, dressed in pure, bright linen, with golden sashes wrapped around their chests.

NLT: The seven angels who were holding the seven plagues came out of the Temple. They were clothed in spotless white linen with gold sashes across their chests.

KJV: 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.

NKJV: And out of the temple came the seven angels having the seven plagues, clothed in pure bright linen, and having their chests girded with golden bands.

Seven angels with seven plagues emerged from the sanctuary. John described the angels as clothed in pure, bright linen. This attire is reminiscent of what Jesus was wearing when He appeared to John (Revelation 1:13). The pure, bright linen represents purity. These angels, therefore, contrast sharply with the evil angels who followed Lucifer in rebellion against God. They represent Christ in His purity and are faithful messengers of God.

Their golden sashes also remind us of what Christ wore when He appeared to John on the island of Patmos. Revelation 1:13 says He wore a golden sash around His chest. Gold symbolizes purity. Exodus 25:11 describes the ark of the covenant as overlaid with pure gold. Also, the table of the presence and its four rings were made of pure gold (Exodus 25:26). Even the plates, dishes, flagons, and bowls used in worship were made of pure gold (Exodus 25:29). In the case of the risen Savior and the seven angels, gold represents both purity and the glory of God.

Revelation 15:5–8 describes the seven angels emerging from the sanctuary in heaven in possession of seven plagues. They receive seven bowls full of the wrath of God. No one is able to enter the sanctuary until the seven plagues end. Chapter 16 of Revelation tells what happens when the seven angels pour out the bowls of wrath onto the earth. The great day of God's wrath is described in Revelation 19:11–15 and prophesied in Isaiah 13:6. Matthew 13:40–42 reports Jesus' prediction that rebels will be taken away from the earth.

This chapter reports that the apostle John saw an amazing sight in heaven. First, he saw seven angels having seven plagues, which he said are the last plagues to occur to finish God's wrath. Next, he saw what appeared to be a sea of glass mingled with fire. Those who had conquered the beast, its image, and its ''666'' number were standing in front of the sea of glass, and they were holding harps. They sang the song of Moses and the song of the Lamb. They addressed God as the Lord God Almighty and the King of the nations. Finally, John saw the sanctuary of the tent of witness in heaven open. The seven angels with the seven plagues emerged from the sanctuary. They were clothed in pure bright linen with golden sashes around their chests. He saw one of the four living creatures give each of the seven angels a bowl full of the eternal wrath of God. Then smoke from God's glory and power filled the sanctuary. No one could enter the sanctuary until the seven plagues were finished.

Revelation 15 falls between the trumpet judgments and the bowl judgments. Like the events described in chapter 14, the events given in chapter 15 do not occur in chronological order. Like the opened seals and the trumpets, the judgments introduced in this chapter number seven. They are said to be the final judgments. They involve terminal judgments on the empire of the beast from the sea and the beast from the land (Revelation 13).

The word ''revelation'' means ''an unveiling or disclosure.'' This writing unveils future events such as the rapture, three series of judgments that will fall on the earth during the tribulation, the emergence of the Antichrist, the persecution of Israel and her amazing revival, as well as Jesus' second coming with His saints to the earth, the judgment of Satan and his followers, and finally, the eternal state. This content, combined with the original Greek term apokalypsis, is why we now refer to an end-of-the-world scenario as ''an apocalypse.''