And I saw another sign in heaven: seven angels having seven plagues, the last ones, for in them the wrath of God was completed.
And I saw something like a sea of glass mixed with fire, and those who had overcome the beast and his image and the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass having harps of God…singing the song of Moses.
And after these things I looked, and the temple of the dwelling of the testimony was open in heaven. And the seven angels having the seven plagues came out of the temple…And one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls filled with the wrath of God….And the temple was filled with smoke of the glory of God and from His power, and no one was able to enter the temple until the seven plagues of the seven angels were completed. Revelation: 15: 1-8
In Rev. 14: 14-20, we learned about the protected wheat harvest of God’s sealed people. In the subsequent grape harvest, God’s wrath is poured out upon the unrepentant wicked. In this new scene, John gives us a look at the preparation for the execution of God’s wrath.
But just before that happens, John again sees that God’s people will be unharmed by the plagues. They have come through the tribulation and stand victoriously before God’s throne, singing the song of deliverance and praise for God working on their behalf.
After that, John sees the seven angels that will administer the seven plagues. They emerge from the temple’s Most Holy Place where God and His law (the testimony) is located. This indicates that they have been instructed directly by God to carry out His vengeance against those who have persistently defied His law, in addition to having oppressed and persecuted His people.
The golden bowls given to the angels by the living creature were temple bowls previously full of incense that represented the prayers of God’s people (Rev. 5: 8). But now, appropriately, the bowls are full of God’s wrath, which is the answer to those prayers of “How long, O Lord, holy and true, will You refrain from judging and avenging our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” Rev. 6: 10.
As soon as the angels receive the bowls of God’s wrath, smoke from God’s glory and power fills the heavenly temple so that no one can enter.
Grace and mercy will not be mixed in the pouring out of the seven plagues.