The Seven Last Plagues and the Victors' Song
Revelation 15:1-8
Rev.15.1 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Και: CONJ
- ειδον: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
- αλλο: ADJ,neut,sg,nom
- σημειον: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- εν: PREP
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- ουρανω: NOUN,dat,sg,m
- μεγα: ADJ,acc,sg,n
- και: CONJ
- θαυμαστον: ADJ,nom,sg,n
- αγγελους: NOUN,acc,pl,m
- επτα: NUM,acc,pl,neut
- εχοντας: VERB,pres,act,ptc,acc,pl,m
- πληγας: NOUN,acc,pl,f
- επτα: NUM,acc,pl,neut
- τας: ART,acc,pl,f
- εσχατας: ADJ,acc,pl,f
- οτι: CONJ
- εν: PREP
- αυταις: PRON,dat,pl,f
- ετελεσθη: VERB,aor,pass,ind,3,sg
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- θυμος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- θεου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
Parallels
- Rev.16:1 (quotation): Direct continuation and verbal parallel: chapter 16 announces the seven angels who pour out the seven last plagues, echoing the same agents and plagues described in 15:1.
- Rev.8:2 (structural): Shared structural motif of seven angels commissioned for eschatological judgment (there, given seven trumpets; here, seven last plagues), linking the two series of seven judgments.
- Rev.6:17 (thematic): Same theme of divine retribution—'the great day of his wrath'—which parallels 15:1's declaration that the wrath of God is completed in the seven plagues.
- Exod.7:14–12:30 (thematic): The Egyptian plagues serve as a paradigmatic Old Testament model of God‑sent plagues as instruments of judgment, a background for the seven last plagues imagery in Revelation.
- Isa.63:4 (allusion): Isaiah's language about the day of vengeance and God executing wrath resonates with Revelation's portrayal of the completed wrath of God in the final plagues.
Alternative generated candidates
- Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous: seven angels holding the seven last plagues, for by them God's wrath is completed.
- I looked, and behold — another sign in heaven, great and marvelous: seven angels bearing the seven last plagues, for with them the wrath of God is finished.
Rev.15.2 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Και: CONJ
- ειδον: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
- ως: ADV
- θαλασσαν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- υαλινην: ADJ,acc,sg,f
- μεμιγμενην: VERB,perf,pas,part,f,acc,sg
- πυρι: NOUN,dat,sg,n
- και: CONJ
- τους: ART,acc,pl,m
- νικωντας: VERB,pres,act,part,acc,pl,m
- εκ: PREP
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- θηριου: NOUN,gen,sg,n
- και: CONJ
- εκ: PREP
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- εικονος: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- εκ: PREP
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- αριθμου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- ονοματος: NOUN,gen,sg,n
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- εστωτας: PART,perf,act,acc,pl,m
- επι: PREP
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- θαλασσαν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- υαλινην: ADJ,acc,sg,f
- εχοντας: VERB,pres,act,ptc,acc,pl,m
- κιθαρας: NOUN,acc,pl,f
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- θεου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
Parallels
- Revelation 4:6 (verbal): Uses the same imagery of a sea 'like crystal' or 'glass' before God's throne—parallel visual motif of a glassy/ crystalline sea.
- Revelation 5:8 (verbal): Depicts heavenly beings holding harps and offering worship—connects to 'having harps of God' and worshipful music imagery.
- Revelation 14:2-3 (thematic): Describes heavenly music/harping and a distinctive song associated with the redeemed—themewise link to victory, song, and harp-wielding worshippers.
- Exodus 15:1-2 (allusion): The song of Moses (deliverance hymn) is explicitly invoked in Revelation 15:3; Exodus 15 is the original 'song of Moses' celebrating victory over enemies, echoed in Rev 15's victory theme.
Alternative generated candidates
- And I saw something like a sea of glass mingled with fire; and those who had won the victory over the beast, over its image and over the number of its name, stood on the sea of glass, holding harps of God.
- And I saw what was like a sea of glass mingled with fire, and those who had conquered the beast and its image and the number of its name, standing beside the sea of glass, holding harps of God.
Rev.15.3 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- αδουσιν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- ωδην: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- Μωυσεως: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- δουλου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- θεου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- ωδην: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- αρνιου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- λεγοντες·Μεγαλα: VERB,pres,act,part,nom,pl,m
- και: CONJ
- θαυμαστα: ADJ,nom,pl,n
- τα: ART,acc,pl,n
- εργα: NOUN,acc,pl,n
- σου: PRON,gen,sg,2
- κυριε: NOUN,voc,sg,m
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- θεος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- παντοκρατωρ·δικαιαι: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- αληθιναι: ADJ,nom,pl,f
- αι: ART,nom,pl,f
- οδοι: NOUN,nom,pl,f
- σου: PRON,gen,sg,2
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- βασιλευς: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- αιωνων·: NOUN,gen,pl,m
Parallels
- Exodus 15:1-18 (allusion): Revelation explicitly calls this 'the song of Moses'; Exodus 15 is the original Song of Moses praising God's mighty deeds and wonders after the Red Sea deliverance, a prototypal praise-song of God's great works.
- Deuteronomy 32:3-4 (verbal): Deut. 32:4 ('his work is perfect; all his ways are just') closely parallels Revelation's language ('your ways are just and true'), echoing the Moses-song tradition that affirms God's perfect works and justice.
- Psalm 111:2 (verbal): Psalm 111:2 ('Great are the works of the LORD') mirrors the opening phrase 'Great and marvelous are your works,' sharing a concise verbal and thematic affirmation of God's wondrous deeds.
- Revelation 5:9-10 (structural): Both passages present a heavenly song that praises the Lamb for redemptive acts; Rev 15:3 joins the 'song of Moses' with 'the song of the Lamb,' while Rev 5 sings the Lamb's worth and saving work—parallel liturgical function and content.
- 1 Timothy 1:17 (verbal): 1 Timothy 1:17 addresses God as 'the King of the ages' (or 'King eternal'), paralleling Revelation's title 'King of the ages' (ὁ βασιλεὺς τῶν αἰώνων) in the ascription of timeless sovereign rule.
Alternative generated candidates
- They sang the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb: "Great and marvelous are your works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are your ways, O King of the saints."
- And they sang the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying — Great and marvelous are your deeds, Lord God the Almighty! Just and true are your ways, O King of the nations!
Rev.15.4 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- τις: PRON,nom,sg,?
- ου: PART,neg
- μη: PART
- φοβηθη: VERB,fut,pass,ind,3,sg
- κυριε: NOUN,voc,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- δοξασει: VERB,fut,act,ind,3,sg
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- ονομα: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- σου: PRON,gen,sg,2
- οτι: CONJ
- μονος: ADJ,nom,sg,m
- οσιος: ADJ,nom,sg,m
- οτι: CONJ
- παντα: ADJ,nom,pl,n
- τα: ART,acc,pl,n
- εθνη: NOUN,acc,pl,neut
- ηξουσιν: VERB,fut,act,ind,3,pl
- και: CONJ
- προσκυνησουσιν: VERB,fut,act,ind,3,pl
- ενωπιον: PREP
- σου: PRON,gen,sg,2
- οτι: CONJ
- τα: ART,acc,pl,n
- δικαιωματα: NOUN,nom,pl,n
- σου: PRON,gen,sg,2
- εφανερωθησαν: VERB,aor,pass,ind,3,pl
Parallels
- Psalm 99:9 (verbal): Echoes the confession of God's holiness and call to worship: 'Exalt the LORD our God and worship at his holy hill; for the LORD our God is holy'—paralleling 'you alone are holy' and the call to fear/glorify God.
- Psalm 86:9 (verbal): Very close verbal parallel: 'All nations whom you have made shall come and worship before you, O Lord, and shall glorify your name' matches 'all the nations will come and worship before you'.
- Psalm 98:2 (verbal): Shares the theme of divine acts made known to the nations: 'The LORD has made known his salvation; he has revealed his righteousness in the sight of the nations' parallels 'for your judgments have been revealed.'
- Isaiah 52:10 (thematic): Speaks of God's saving/revealing act being seen by all nations—'The LORD has bared his holy arm... all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God'—supporting the universal worship motif in Rev 15:4.
- Habakkuk 2:20 (thematic): Emphasizes reverent silence before God's holiness: 'But the LORD is in his holy temple; let all the earth keep silence before him,' echoing the response of fear and worship before the holy Lord in Revelation.
Alternative generated candidates
- Who will not fear you, O Lord, and glorify your name? For you alone are holy. All the nations will come and worship before you, for your righteous deeds have been revealed.
- Who will not fear you, O Lord, and glorify your name? For you alone are holy. All the nations will come and worship before you, for your righteous acts have been revealed.
Rev.15.5 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Και: CONJ
- μετα: PREP
- ταυτα: PRON,acc,pl,n
- ειδον: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
- και: CONJ
- ηνοιγη: VERB,aor,pass,ind,3,sg
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- ναος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- σκηνης: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- μαρτυριου: NOUN,gen,sg,n
- εν: PREP
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- ουρανω: NOUN,dat,sg,m
Parallels
- Revelation 11:19 (verbal): Both verses depict the heavenly temple being opened; Rev 11:19 specifically records the opening of God’s temple in heaven and the ark being seen, closely matching the imagery of the heavenly 'tabernacle of testimony' opened in Rev 15:5.
- Exodus 40:34-35 (allusion): The phrase 'tabernacle of the testimony' echoes the Israelite Tent of Meeting; Exodus describes the cloud and glory filling the tabernacle when it was established, an Old Testament background for the heavenly tabernacle imagery in Revelation.
- Hebrews 9:11-12 (thematic): Hebrews contrasts the earthly tabernacle with Christ entering the 'greater and more perfect tabernacle' in heaven—thematising a heavenly sanctuary into which access is granted, resonant with the opened heavenly tabernacle in Rev 15:5.
- Revelation 4:1 (structural): Earlier in John’s vision a door or opening in heaven allows him to see the throne and heavenly scene; Rev 15:5 continues the motif of a heavenly opening that grants visionary access to sacred space.
Alternative generated candidates
- After this I looked, and the sanctuary of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened;
- After this I looked, and the sanctuary of the tent of witness in heaven was opened,
Rev.15.6 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- εξηλθον: VERB,aor,act,ind,1,sg
- οι: ART,nom,pl,m
- επτα: NUM,acc,pl,neut
- αγγελοι: NOUN,nom,pl,m
- οι: ART,nom,pl,m
- εχοντες: VERB,pres,act,part,nom,pl,m
- τας: ART,acc,pl,f
- επτα: NUM,acc,pl,neut
- πληγας: NOUN,acc,pl,f
- εκ: PREP
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- ναου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- ενδεδυμενοι: PART,perf,mid/pass,nom,pl,m
- λινον: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- καθαρον: ADJ,acc,sg,n
- λαμπρον: ADJ,acc,sg,n
- και: CONJ
- περιεζωσμενοι: PART,perf,mid/pass,nom,pl,m
- περι: PREP
- τα: ART,acc,pl,n
- στηθη: NOUN,acc,pl,n
- ζωνας: NOUN,acc,pl,f
- χρυσας: ADJ,acc,pl,f
Parallels
- Revelation 1:13 (verbal): Both passages describe a heavenly figure ‘girt about the chest with a golden girdle’ (περιεζωσμενος περι το στηθος ζωνη χρυση), a close verbal/imagistic parallel.
- Daniel 10:5-6 (verbal): Visionary figure ‘clothed in linen’ with a belt of gold around the waist — an earlier exemplar of an otherworldly, linen-clad, gold-girded messenger.
- Exodus 28:4, 28:39-40 (thematic): Priestly garments and sashes (golden girdles) in the Torah; casts the angels’ linen and gold as priestly/sacred attire.
- Revelation 16:1 (structural): Same seven angels and the seven plagues sequence — continuation of the narrative action (command to pour out the bowls) linked to their coming out of the temple.
- Revelation 19:8 (thematic): Fine, bright, clean linen as heavenly/ritual clothing (ιματια λινά καθαρά) — reinforces linen as symbol of purity and sacred status in Revelation.
Alternative generated candidates
- and out of the sanctuary came the seven angels who had the seven plagues, clothed in pure, bright linen and girded at the breasts with golden sashes.
- and out of the sanctuary came the seven angels who held the seven plagues, clothed in pure bright linen, and girded about their breasts with golden sashes.
Rev.15.7 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- εν: PREP
- εκ: PREP
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- τεσσαρων: NUM,gen,pl,m
- ζωων: NOUN,gen,pl,n
- εδωκεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- τοις: ART,dat,pl,n
- επτα: NUM,acc,pl,neut
- αγγελοις: NOUN,dat,pl,m
- επτα: NUM,acc,pl,neut
- φιαλας: NOUN,acc,pl,f
- χρυσας: ADJ,acc,pl,f
- γεμουσας: VERB,pres,act,part,acc,pl,f
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- θυμου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- θεου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- ζωντος: VERB,pres,act,part,gen,sg,m
- εις: PREP
- τους: ART,acc,pl,m
- αιωνας: NOUN,acc,pl,m
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- αιωνων: NOUN,gen,pl,m
Parallels
- Revelation 16:1 (structural): Direct continuation of the same scene: a voice commands the seven angels to pour out the seven bowls (φιάλαι) containing God's wrath.
- Revelation 16:17 (structural): The pouring of the seventh bowl is narrated here (the consummation of the seven bowls of wrath introduced in 15:7), with the declaration 'It is done' accompanying the final bowl.
- Revelation 14:10 (verbal): Uses the cup/wine imagery for divine retribution—those who worship the beast 'will drink the wine of God's wrath'—a thematic and verbal parallel to bowls filled with God's wrath.
- Jeremiah 25:15 (allusion): Jeremiah instructs to take 'the cup of the wine of wrath' to pour out for the nations; an Old Testament prototype for the cup/bowl metaphor of divine judgment revived in Revelation.
- Isaiah 51:17 (thematic): Speaks of Jerusalem drinking 'the cup of the LORD's wrath,' reflecting the prophetic motif of God giving a cup/bowl of wrath to be drunk as punishment, echoed in Revelation's bowls.
Alternative generated candidates
- One of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God, who lives for ever and ever.
- And one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God who lives forever and ever.
Rev.15.8 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- εγεμισθη: VERB,aor,pass,ind,3,sg
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- ναος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- καπνου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- εκ: PREP
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- δοξης: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- θεου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- εκ: PREP
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- δυναμεως: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- ουδεις: PRON,nom,sg,m
- εδυνατο: VERB,impf,mid,ind,3,sg
- εισελθειν: VERB,pres,mid,inf
- εις: PREP
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- ναον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- αχρι: PREP
- τελεσθωσιν: VERB,aor,pass,subj,3,pl
- αι: ART,nom,pl,f
- επτα: NUM,acc,pl,neut
- πληγαι: NOUN,nom,pl,f
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- επτα: NUM,acc,pl,neut
- αγγελων: NOUN,gen,pl,m
Parallels
- Exodus 40:34–35 (verbal): The cloud of the LORD filled the tabernacle so that Moses could not enter—parallel image of divine glory/smoke filling the sanctuary and barring entry.
- 1 Kings 8:10–11 (verbal): When Solomon finished praying, the cloud filled the house of the LORD and the priests could not stand to minister—same motif of God's glory filling the temple and preventing normal access.
- Isaiah 6:4 (verbal): At Isaiah's vision the house is filled with smoke as the seraphim call out—an early prophetic image of a sanctuary filled with divine presence and smoke.
- Revelation 8:3–5 (thematic): An angel offers incense with the prayers of the saints and the smoke of the incense ascends before God—echoes the heavenly sanctuary imagery of smoke/ incense as sign of God's presence and liturgical action.
- Revelation 11:19 (structural): The temple of God in heaven is opened and divine signs appear—connects Revelation's temple imagery to the outbreak of God's final acts (including the subsequent plagues).
Alternative generated candidates
- The sanctuary was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from his power, and no one was able to enter the sanctuary until the seven plagues of the seven angels were completed.
- And the sanctuary 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 finished.
I looked, and I saw another sign in heaven—great and marvelous: seven angels who had the seven last plagues; for by them the wrath of God is brought to completion. And I saw something like a sea of glass mingled with fire, and those who had been victorious over the beast and over its image and over the mark on its forehead and over the number of its name, standing on the sea of glass, holding harps of God. And they sang the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb: “Great and marvelous are your deeds, Lord God Almighty; just and true are your ways, O King of the nations!”
“Who will not fear you, O Lord, and glorify your name? For you alone are holy. All the nations will come and worship before you, for your judgments have been revealed.”
After this I looked, and the temple in heaven—the tent of testimony—was opened.
Out of the temple came the seven angels who had the seven plagues, clothed in pure, bright linen and girded with golden sashes across their chests.
Then one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God, who lives forever 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.