Notes of Revelation 15 -- Plagues and "No Man Was Able To Enter"

[Stewart (SDA)]

Comments on Revelation 15 – The Plagues, and, “No Man Was Able To Enter”.

Revelation 15 is a relatively short chapter, in which :

1.The seven last plagues are first introduced. (15:1.) “And I saw another sign in heaven... seven angels having the seven last plagues”. (15:1)

This “sign” – the assembled agents of delivery – is represented as appearing “in heaven”. From this we are led [I suggest,] to understand that the plagues are not to be viewed as things that have purely physical causes – the primary cause is a spiritual one. (And we would be wise to maintain this position, even when “obvious” physical causes are presented for the series of catastrophic events that are to come upon the world. For example, the 2nd plague causes large areas of the sea to become like the blood of a dead man, the 3rd plague does to same to many rivers and aquafers, the 4th causes the Sun to scorch men. None of these terrible concepts will sound strange to people that are familiar with warnings that are current in the world today.) But we are to look at the coming plagues as matters of spiritual cause and effect, rather than events with purely physical cause and effect.

 

2.Immediately after the plagues are introduced, a group of people are represented as having gained a victory – a victory over the Beast, his Image, his mark, and his number. This victory effectively renders them 'immune' to the plagues. (15:2-4.)

 

3.The “temple of the tabernacle of the testimony” has been “opened” (15:5). This opening is a precursor to the seven last plagues being poured out.

 

Now it may be profitable to consider what this “temple of the tabernacle of the testimony” is. The “testimony” is the Law of God which He Himself wrote on tables of stone.  The “tabernacle of the testimony”, in this instance, represents the Ark of the Covenant. The “temple of the tabernacle of the testimony” is the “Most Holy Place”. It was in this temple that the Law of God resided within the Ark (representing the “throne”) of God. The fact that John sees the Most Holy Place actually being “opened” shows that it had [in a sense] been closed for a time, and when this temple is opened, it is to the Law of God that our focus is brought.

 

4.Verses 6 and 7 speak about the “seven plagues” being delivered into the hands of seven angels. The seven angels “came out of the temple” (the same temple just brought to view). The primary contents of this “temple” is the “testimony”, i.e. the Law of God. I suggest that the seven angels come out the temple with their dreadful 'cargo' when the Law of God has been both fully revealed (understood and lived), and fully rejected.

 

5.The final verse in the chapter sums up the time of the seven last plagues. During this time “no man was able to enter into the temple till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled.” (15:8) This points to a complete suspension/cessation of work in the temple. Prior to the plagues, men have been able to enter the temple [by faith] and to interceed for their brethren. But while the plagues are falling, no intercession is possible. Even Jesus' work of intercession ends. Jesus' Mediatorial and Intercessory work is referred to in the following verse – (it is perhaps the most explicit we have) – “...there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus” (1Timothy 2:5).

Mark the point here – as Mediator, Jesus is spoken of as “the man Christ Jesus”. This is because Jesus' humanity is the thing that renders Him (and Him alone) capable of standing as Mediator [and Intercessor] between the Giver of the Law, and the transgressor of the Law.

 

6.Verse 1 says that in the seven last plagues the wrath of God “is filled up”. Another translation says that in the plagues the wrath of God is given “full expression” (Weymouth). When those plagues finally come there will be no restraining, moderating, power holding them back. The wrath of God is given full expression, seeing that “no man was able to enter into the temple” to moderate it.

[Samie]

It is evident in Rev 15 that AFTER the saints are seen on the sea of glass in heaven singing the song of Moses and of the Lamb (vv2-4),  the 7 vials full of the last plagues were given to the seven angels for pouring out upon the wicked on earth (vv5-7).

This tells us that the 7 last plagues are to be poured out upon the wicked after the saints have been ushered to heaven.  This is in PERFECT consonance with the statement of our Lord that when He comes again, He will reward every man according to what each has done (Matt 16:27; Rev 22:12).  Reward for the saints: eternal life and ushered to heaven for the wedding of the Lamb; for the wicked: the wrath of God which is the 7 last plagues, and finally thrown into the lake of fire (Rom 2:5-11; Rev 15:1; 20:15: 21:27).