REVELATION 15
(Continued)
Revelation 15:5-8 (5)Then I looked and saw the Temple in heaven, God's Tabernacle, was thrown wide open!
(6) The seven angels who were holding the bowls of the seven plagues came from the Temple, clothed in spotless white linen with gold belts across their chests.
(7) And one of the four living beings handed each of the seven angels a gold bowl filled with the terrible wrath of God, who lives forever and forever.
(8) The Temple was filled with smoke from God's glory and power. No one could enter the Temple until the seven angels had completed pouring out the seven plagues. [NIV]
John's attention shifts again to events that are occurring in heaven. He is writing about events that are occuring at God's Temple, the Tabernacle, with the Arc of the Covenant in heaven. The preparations for, and building of, the first earthly Tabernacle, under the leadership of Moses, is outlined in Exodus 25-31, 35-40.
The Tabernacle in heaven was wide open and John wrote the events that were occurring within the Tabernacle. The seven angels who were given the charge of pouring the last seven plagues on earth, were seen coming from the Temple. One of the four living beings (special and powerful angelic beings, cherubim), handed each of the seven angels a gold bowl, filled with God's wrath. God, who is eternal, is described here as living forever and ever.
The Temple was filled with the glory and power of God. No one could enter the Temple..........
When the Tabernacle was completed in Exodus 40:34, the LORD's glory filled it, and Moses was unable to enter the Tabernacle, because of God's awesome presence. [Exodus 40:34-35] After Solomon had made preparations for the building of the first non-portable Temple, and the Temple was completed [I Kings 5-8]; the priests were unable to continue their work, because the glory of God filled the Temple. [I Kings 8:10]
The Temple in heaven, was filled with the glory and power of God. No one could enter the Temple until the seven angels had completed pouring out the seven plagues. [Revelation 15:8] The angels had to bring to completion the full wrath of God.