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 forever 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.
Revelation 15:5-8
This short chapter is full of so much symbolism and fact that we must not think that due to its shortness that we must not learn from it for God again speaks of His anger, His wrath, and the use of seven angels. Notice also that the four beasts were now used in the giving of the wrath of God to angels.
The seven angels come out of heaven to execute their mission. Remember: seven is a complete number and this does not mean here that there are only seven angels in number. We are reminded once again of the ancient temple of God and the tabernacle wherein was the mercy-seat, and the covering of the ark of testimony. Why is this the ark of the testimony? It is in this ark were artifacts were placed, those artifacts that represent God's dealings with Israel. Also in the temple was the most holy place where the high priest went once a year to make intercession for the sins of Israel, a place where God would commune with His people, not only by the high priest but for all the prayers prayed to Him by a person. Throughout the history of the Jews God would protect them, fight for them and would also implement His judgments, not only for their enemies but also for the Jews when they were sinning against Him. It is in those judgments that we see that God is Holy and that He keeps His promises and His judgments and keeps His covenant. God is always mindful of His people, and keeps mindful of those who oppose Him.
These seven angels were pure white linen and have their breast covered with golden girdles. These angels are committed to God and have chosen from the beginning of time for them to never forsake God as did other angels, they kept themselves pure and now God uses them to administer His judgments. The golden breastplates represent their holiness, gold being a metal that does not change and is valuable, pure gold is something that even men desire to have, it is excellent and pure. The breastplate covers their heart and reminds us that in their heart there is nothing else but love for God and a purity that we too should be seeking for in our lives.
Jesus Christ came to earth to die! That was His mission and He accomplished His mission. Man would not accept Jesus Christ as the Messiah and dishonoured Him and eventually killed Him upon the cross. Yes, this was the mission, but man always has a choice to make and in this case man made the wrong choice. Their choice was to accept Him and to follow after Him but they chose their self and their ideologies, their theologies over all that Jesus showed to them that He was all that had been prophesied about the Messiah. God now avenges His Son and by this also avenges all who have chosen to believe in Him, in His Son and have put on the breastplate of Gold, and to put on white linen.
Atheists, agnostics, all who will not believe on Jesus Christ as Savior will also be used by God to administer His judgments as show by the four beast who hand to the seven angels the vials of the wrath of God. They do not know that even they are led by God to the accomplishment of His promises and prophesies. Those, represented by the four beasts, have, although do not believe the wrath of God is for them, bring upon themselves their own destruction. God is now in a way as never before answering the prayers of the faithful, those who are also ministering for Him. The angels are communicators of a message and so are you as a faithful Authentic Christian to deliver the message of the Gospel and to do this until you are called to heaven, now, or when Jesus Christ comes again. We do not just live for our selves, for our desires, but to live for Jesus and this means to follow after all that He taught us, those commandments that apply throughout all eternity. We do not serve our own interests, but the interests of God. We choose to do this, or we choose not to do this: it is up to each person.
As the smoke rose to heaven from the tabernacle representing all the prayers of the people of Israel, a sweet odor to God, the temple will be filled with the sweet odor of the smoke of the prayers, and praise of the temple, and the temple represents you for you are what Jesus Christ stated: "My church." Mathew writes the words of Jesus: And I say also unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it" (Matthew 16:18). After Jesus points out to Peter that he is Peter even though his name means rock, it would be upon this rock, Himself that he would build His church and you as an Authentic Christian are that church John writes the words of Jesus: "Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth. While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light. These things spake Jesus, and departed, and did hide Himself from them" (John 12:35-36).
Now is the time to choose Jesus Christ as Savior while the light shines for a day is coming when the wrath of God will bring eternal darkness to all who do not believe. Do not believe out of fear, rather believe on the only True God who loves you enough to die for you. Only He is worthy of our worship and praise.
O come, let us worship and bow down:
let us kneel before the LORD our maker.
For He is our God; and we are the people
of His pasture, and the sheep of His hand.
Today if ye will hear His voice.
Psalm 95:6-7
Today: lift your hands towards Him: He is coming
Richard L. Crumb
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