Devine Scripture

Revelation 15:7

What does Revelation 15:7 mean?

A plain-English look at Revelation 15:7 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Revelation 15:7 means

One of the four living creatures—beings closely associated with the throne—hands the seven angels seven golden bowls, brimming with the wrath of the eternal God. Gold signifies holiness; bowls suggest a quick, complete outpouring. The source is unmistakable: the wrath is God’s, not the angels’. It belongs to the One who lives forever, whose judgments therefore are not passing whims but expressions of unchanging righteousness. This transfer is the formal commissioning: heaven’s throne endorses the mission, and the vessels indicate both the sanctity and the certainty of what is about to be poured upon the earth.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And one of the four living creatures gave unto the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

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.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And one of the four living creatures gave unto the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And one of the four beasts gave to the seven angels seven gold vessels full of the wrath of God, who is living for ever and ever.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and one of the four living creatures did give to the seven messengers seven golden vials, full of the wrath of God, who is living to the ages of the ages;

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden vials, full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls, full of the fury ofGod, who lives to the ages of ages.

Context

After the angels appear in holy attire (verse 6), verse 7 equips them with the very means of judgment. The participation of a living creature links this act to the throne scene earlier in Revelation, underscoring divine authority. The next and final verse shows the temple filled with smoke, preventing any approach until the plagues are completed. This locks in the commissioning and heightens the sense that the narrative is poised on the brink of the actual outpouring in Revelation 16.

v.6and there came out from the temple the seven angels that had the seven plagues, arrayed withprecious stone, pure and bright, and girt about their breasts with golden girdles.

v.7This passage

v.8And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and none was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels should be finished.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Revelation 21:9

    And there came one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls, who were laden with the seven last plagues; and he spake with me, saying, Come hither, I will show thee the bride, the wife of the Lamb.

  • Jeremiah 25:15

    For thus saith Jehovah, the God of Israel, unto me: Take this cup of the wine of wrath at my hand, and cause all the nations, to whom I send thee, to drink it.

  • Psalms 75:8

    For in the hand of Jehovah there is a cup, and the wine foameth; It is full of mixture, and he poureth out of the same: Surely the dregs thereof, all the wicked of the earth shall drain them, and drink them.

  • Revelation 15:1

    And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvellous, seven angels having seven plagues, which are the last, for in them is finished the wrath of God.

  • Revelation 4:6

    and before the throne, as it were a sea of glass like unto crystal; and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, four living creatures full of eyes before and behind.

  • Revelation 10:6

    and sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created the heaven and the things that are therein, and the earth and the things that are therein, and the sea and the things that are therein, that there shall be delay no longer:

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