Revelation Now :
Daily Devotional Bible Studies in Revelation
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The Tabernacle was Opened : Day 56 
After this I looked and in heaven the temple, that is, the tabernacle of the Testimony, was opened. Out of the temple came the seven angels with the seven plagues. They were dressed in clean, shining linen and wore golden sashes around their chests. Then one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls filled with the wrath of God, who lives for ever and ever. And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from his power, and no one could enter the temple until the seven plagues of the seven angels were completed. (Revelation 15:5-8)
The Tabernacle of the Testimony
"The tent of witness", or "the tent of testimony", is a common title in the Old Testament for "the tabernacle in the wilderness" (1). It is, therefore, clear that John is seeing this picture, not in terms of the Jerusalem temple, but in terms of the ancient tabernacle.
Seven Avenging Angels
It is from within the tabernacle that the "seven avenging angels" come forth. In the centre of the Holy Place, within the tabernacle, lay the Ark of the Covenant, the chest in which were contained the tables of the ten commandments, the essence of the Law. That is to say, these angels come out from the place where the Law of God rests and come to show that no person or nation can with impunity defy the Law of God.
Linen Robes and Golden Sashes
They are clothed in a clean shining "white linen and wore golden sashes." The robes of the angels are symbolic of three things. Their dress is priestly dress. The robe of white fine linen and the gold embroidered sashes around the chest is the dress of the High Priest. The High Priest might well be called God's representative among human beings, and these angels enter as the avenging representatives of God. Their dress is royal dress. The white linen and the high girdle are the garments of princes and of kings; and these angels come forth with the royalty of the King of kings upon them. Their dress is heavenly dress. The young man at the empty tomb of Christ was clothed in a long white garment (2) The angels, the inhabitants of heaven, come to execute God's decrees upon earth.
The Bowls of the Wrath of God
It is one of the four living creatures who hands them "the bowls of the wrath of God". When we were thinking about the four living creatures when they first emerged on the scene (3) we saw that the first was like a lion, the second like an ox, the third like a man, and the fourth like an eagle; and that, they may well symbolize all that is strongest and bravest and wisest and swiftest in nature. If that be so, it is fitting that one of them should hand the bowls of wrath to the seven angels. The bowls of wrath are to bring disasters in nature to the world; and the symbolism may well be that nature is handing itself to God to serve his purposes."(4)
Words to meditate on
In which ways do the forces of evil impersonate God?
Words to pray
When we all get to Heaven, Who shall we see?
Notes
(1) Numbers 9:15; 17:7; 18:2 (2) Mark 16:5; Matthew 28:3 (3) 4:7 (4) William Barclay "The Revelation of John"
"The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place."