Revelation 15 - Introduction

After this partial anticipation of the final catastrophe, the Apocalypse returns to a fuller and independent description of its processes (Revelation 15:2-4 = Revelation 14:1-5; Revelation 15:1; Revelation 15:5-8. = Revelation 14:6-11; Revelation 14:14-20). The panorama of the prelude is once more sevenfold, but this time seven angels (under the control of God, Revelation 16:9) drench the earth with plagues from seven bowls which are brimming with the divine anger. The vision is a poetical expansion of Leviticus 26:21 (προσθήσω ὑμῖν πληγὰς ἑπτὰ κατὰ τὰς ἁμαρτίας ὑμῶν, cf. 18, 24, 28). The plagues, like Habbakuk's theophany, recall the Egyptian plagues (Exodus 7-10.), but their description is less impressive than the previous cycles of punishment. Like the seven trumpets (Revelation 8:2-5), they are introduced by a scene in heaven (Revelation 15:2-4); Revelation 14:1 is merely a title or frontispiece to what follows (5 f.), since the angels do not become visible till 5 (cf. Revelation 8:1-2; Revelation 8:6), and do not receive their bowls till 7. This θαυμαστόν (awe-inspiring) σημεῖον is the sequel (ἄλλο) to that of Revelation 12:1 f., and the plagues are final (1 ἐσχάτας), in contrast to the trumpet-plagues (Revelation 9:20), as they represent the wrath of God which can no longer be repressed (Revelation 14:17-19. = the working out of these plagues, cf. Revelation 16:12 f., Revelation 19:19; Revelation 17:1). Like ch. 16., to which it forms an overture, 15. is not the revision of a Jewish source (so especially Spitta, Ménégoz, and Schmidt) but Christian (Briggs, Erbes) and the work of the Apocalyptist himself (Sabatier, Schön, Bousset, etc.)