This short chapter prepares for the seven bowls. John sees seven angels with the seven last plagues, which finish God’s wrath. He also sees a sea of glass mixed with fire. Standing beside it are those who overcame the beast, its image, and the number of its name. They hold harps of God.

They sing the song of Moses and the song of the Lamb. Moses sang after God brought Israel safely through the sea. Now the Lamb’s people sing after God brings them safely through their trials. Their song is all about God. Great and marvelous are your works. Righteous and true are your ways. You only are holy. All the nations will come and worship before you.

Then the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven is opened. The seven angels come out, dressed in pure linen with golden sashes. A living creature gives them seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God. The temple fills with smoke from God’s glory and power, and no one can enter until the seven plagues are finished.

Chapter 15 is the shortest chapter in Revelation, but it frames everything that follows. John sees another great and marvelous sign in heaven: seven angels having the seven last plagues, for in them God’s wrath is finished. The word last signals that God’s patience with unrepentant evil is reaching its end. Before the plagues begin, though, John shows the people of God safe.

He sees something like a sea of glass mixed with fire. Those who overcame the beast, his image, and the number of his name stand on the sea of glass, holding harps of God. They sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb. The scene recalls Exodus 15, when Israel sang beside the sea after God rescued them from Pharaoh. Their song gathers phrases from the Psalms and prophets: Great and marvelous are your works, Lord God, the Almighty! Righteous and true are your ways, you King of the nations. Who wouldn’t fear you, Lord, and glorify your name? For you only are holy. For all the nations will come and worship before you. For your righteous acts have been revealed. Remarkably, they say nothing about themselves; the whole song celebrates God’s character.

After this, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven is opened. The seven angels come out wearing pure, bright linen and golden sashes. One of the four living creatures gives them seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God, who lives forever and ever. The temple fills with smoke from the glory of God and from his power, like the cloud that filled the tabernacle in Moses’ day. No one can enter the temple until the seven plagues are finished. God’s judgment flows from his holy presence.