“And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvellous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God. … And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever.” – Rev. 15:1, 7

The Book of Revelation now passes into another phase. Chapters 12-14 concerned the Antichrist and Satan’s last push for defeating God. In these chapters we see heaven purged of the Devil’s presence and the wrath of the Devil and his Antichrist being poured out on mankind but, beginning in chapter 15 God begins purging the earth of Satan and his influence. 

Before God pours out  His wrath, we are shown those saints that got the victory over Satan and we hear their song of victory rising before the Throne of God –

“And 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. And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying,

‘Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints. Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest.'” – Rev. 15:2-4

The harvest of the righteous is complete, the middle wall dividing Jew and Gentile was broken on the Cross and now the final fruit has been brought in and the ‘One New Man’ is standing before the Throne of God. These saints were standing on the sea of glass that surrounds the Throne of God, totally exposed to God and without guile of any kind. made totally clean by the blood of the Lamb. The first resurrection of the righteous has happened and the rapture of all those who won victory over Satan and his Antichrist by their testimony has come!

“And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.” – Rev. 12:11

Finally, the Tabernacle of Testimony is opened and out of the Temple come the seven angels bearing the vials of God’s wrath to be poured out on the wicked on earth.

“And after that I looked, and, behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened: And the seven angels came out of the temple, having the seven plagues, clothed in pure and white linen, and having their breasts girded with golden girdles. And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever. And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled.” – Rev. 15:5-8

How terrible this must be, God must witness the death of so many He loves and tried to save, even allowing His only begotten Son to die on the Cross for them – but, they would not. It still must be terrible suffering to One who is defined as Love. The next chapters will unveil specifics of these 7 vials of wrath to be poured out on the Devil and those follow him.

Where are we now in this time line? Very close! The message of the everlasting Gospel is winning souls in every land. Muslims in lands opposing the message are having dreams and seeing visions of Jesus. The veil that has been over Jewish eyes is being lifted and they are beginning to recognize Jesus as their true Messiah.

As final wars in the Mideast are getting close, end-time technologies becoming available (companies demanding their employees receive chips in their hands, human cloning and genetic engineering, etc.), and one world religions and governments are beginning to develop, LOOK UP! Our Redemption is drawing near! God’s plan is right on schedule. The only question worth asking is “Are we in the right place with God for the end?”