Chapter 15 opens with a group of seven angels holding vials of the final seven plagues of the wrath of God to be poured out onto earth. Those who overcame the beast, his image, the mark and the beast number rejoice in heaven singing a special song of glory and worship to God and Jesus, the Lamb.
2And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God. – Revelation 15:2 KJV
The group that overcame is now complete. Those who stood for Christ and died on earth professing their testimony now stand on the sea of glass in front of the throne of God. The group is together and they are standing in the temple worshiping with harps of God!!
The temple of God in heaven is opened, and the glory of God is revealed.
5And after that I looked, and, behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened – Revelation 15:5 KJV
This aligns with the “ark of his testament” being revealed from earlier scripture (Revelation 11:19), the 7th Trumpet. This is the point the “mystery of God” is known to all!
The final vials poured out in chapter 16 complete the destruction of earth. Notice how the earlier trumpets only destroyed portions of life on earth, land and sea. The vials of God’s wrath bring complete and final destruction of what remains on earth.
Vial 1 – painful sore to those who received the mark or worshiped the image of the beast
Vial 2 – vial poured on the sea and “every living soul died in the sea” – 100% death in sea
Vial 3 – “rivers and fountains of waters; and they became blood” – 100% become blood, reparation for the blood of Christ and the blood of saints that was shed
Vial 4 – men scorched with fire, yet they continue to:
Blaspheme the name of God
Repent not
Vial 5 – “poured out his vial on seat of beast” Remember from earlier scripture, the dragon gave his seat to the beast, now that seat is destroyed. – men gnawed their tongues from pain and yet still they:
Blasphemed God of heaven
Repented not
The outpouring of vials does not trigger any repentance according to scripture. In fact, scripture regarding vials 4 and 5 reflect the continuation of evil rebellion on earth.
Vial 6 – “poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates” – river dried up making way of kings of the east to come, 3 unclean spirits like frogs come out of dragon, beast, and false prophet, spirits gather kings of earth for final battle at Armageddon.
Physical possession of humans by evil spirits is nothing new biblically. The same way Jesus cast demons out of a man and allowed the to go into pigs, the 3 unclean spirits mentioned with the outpouring of the sixth vial will leave the dragon, man of perdition and false prophet to gather the kings of earth for the final battle.
14For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. – Revelation 16:14 KJV.
Similar to demons confronted by Jesus and His disciples in the New Testament, these spirits also work fake miracles by false prophets in the last days. Now, it will again be confirmed the evil “devils” that have been the cheap knock off version of God Almighty’s true power, those devils” who have led people astray will now be fully exposed to make one final stand against Christ Almighty!!
Vial 7 – “It is done.” – God speaks these words from His throne in heaven. There is one last round of destruction poured out, including: a great earthquake unlike any previously experienced on earth, no more islands, no more mountains, and great hail from heaven. Babylon is remembered and given the cup of wine of God’s wrath to drink and still men blaspheme God.
Revelation 15-16 – Elements to Remember
- 7 angels given vials with the 7 last plagues
- Those who overcame the beast on earth are before God’s throne on the sea of glass
- The testimony in heaven is opened
- “It is done” – The vials of God’s wrath poured out complete the final destruction on earth.