Seven angels with seven plagues, which are the last, for with them the wrath of God is finished.

This may not be as exciting as some of my other posts, but I wanted to continue to migrate through Revelation. I am disregarding the admonition I got from Bible Study Fellowship, that “no one really understands the Revelation.” While that may be true, I refuse to accept that statement as truth, for I believe that the Revelation was meant to be understood, even more so today. If I approach the book with the attitude that I can understand it, then I will be ahead of the game based upon attitude alone.

I got some good news, and some bad news. Which do you want to hear first? That always cracks me up when my grandson says it. It does not matter what you say, he is going to tell you what he wanted you to hear.

seven angels with seven plagues
which are the last
for with them the wrath of God is finished

Revelation 15:1 ESV Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and amazing, seven angels with seven plagues, which are the last, for with them the wrath of God is finished.

Is this the same as what we see in Revelation 8?

Revelation 8:7 ESV The first angel blew his trumpet, and there followed hail and fire, mixed with blood, and these were thrown upon the earth. And a third of the earth was burned up, and a third of the trees were burned up, and all green grass was burned up.

There are seven angels once again, but no it is not. In Revelation 8:7 the destruction is announced with trumpets; for now we are looking at seven golden vials, and this is seen in Revelation 15:7.

Just to make the statement, “Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and amazing, seven angels with seven plagues, which are the last, for with them the wrath of God is finished”, could give one the impression that the fury of God was just getting started. It started alright – we saw that back in chapter six – but now it will end; when it will end is not that clear because God does not give us calendar dates to go by.

“Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and amazing, seven angels with seven plagues, which are the last, for with them the wrath of God is finished.”

Another sign - allos - a different sign, different from the others.

in heaven, - ouranos - the sky

great - megas - exceedingly big

and marvellous (amazing), - thaumastos - wondered at, causing amazement joined with terror. In 1 Peter 2:9, Peter used this word thaumastos when he said, "we were called out of darkness into his marvellous light". We were called into a light that we will look on in wonder.

"another sign in heaven, ..., seven angels with seven plagues,"

Seven angels, with seven plagues, filling the sky with such a display that you stand in awe trying to take it in. The oddity is, what they bring is not good, and yet is an indicator of the end of God's wrath being poured out upon Israel, and the nations.

Consider that phrase for a moment - The end of wrath (how my hearts longs for an end to the violence and we, here in America, do not even know what violence looks like) - and yet, when Jesus returns to earth (physically) he comes with a sword and an army. At that time the blood of those who withstand him, will flow in the streets. Is that not an aspect of his wrath? Perhaps, however I cannot exclude this scenario from the wrath, yet at this point it is directed at those who are specifically fighting against Yahweh.

So many want proof that I am not just making up these concepts, and others have deeply ingrained misunderstandings, refusing to accept truth, even if they are shown from the Word, but here goes any way.

Rev 19:19-21 ESV And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth with their armies gathered to make war against him who was sitting on the horse and against his army. (20) And the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who in its presence had done the signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped its image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur. (21) And the rest were slain by the sword that came from the mouth of him who was sitting on the horse, and all the birds were gorged with their flesh.

Pay attention to the words - "the beast and the kings of the earth with their armies gathered to make war against him who was sitting on the horse and against his army." So we are seeing Christ and the armies of heaven, coming against armies amassed against him. Verse 21 tells us that the armies are the slain.

We see in Zechariah 14:16 ESV - "Then everyone who survives of all the nations that have come against Jerusalem shall go up year after year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Booths."

This particular battle, Armageddon, does not eliminate everyone, and we know this because we see survivors among the nations who are made to come every year and take part in the feast of Tabernacles. They are made to bow. Refusal costs you the rain, and a second refusal ends in a plague that consumes you almost instantly.

There are so many other scriptures that I can give you to show that there are many that are deemed without the Lord, that go into the millennium.

His name is Jesus. He will either return shortly, for those who await him, or you can be caught up in the wrath poured out upon the nations and Israel. I would get to know him now, while we still have his grace being poured out upon the earth. Ask him to make himself real to you. It's like reserving your seat early.