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Atlas of Saints

Apocalypse

Chapter 15 · Douay–Rheims / Challoner

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Chapter XV · Location 15 of 22

Chapter 15 · Open to read

From Apocalypse · Douay–Rheims / Challoner (1749–1752)

How does Saint John describe the triumph of the overcomers and the commissioning of the seven angels with the golden vials of wrath in Apocalypse 15?

Atlas of Saints · Chapter summary

In Apocalypse 15, Saint John witnesses the victorious overcomers standing on the sea of glass singing the song of Moses and the Lamb, as the heavenly temple opens and seven angels receive golden vials filled with the final plagues of God's wrath.

Chapter breakdown

Saint John beholds another great and marvelous sign in the heavens: seven angels bearing the seven final plagues, in which the wrath of God is completed and brought to its fullness. He sees what appears to be an expanse like a sea of glass mingled with radiant fire. Standing upon this crystalline sea are the triumphant overcomers who conquered the beast, his idolatrous image, and the number of his name. Bearing the harps of God, these victorious saints raise the ancient song of Moses, God’s faithful minister, joined with the victory hymn of the Lamb, chanting in adoration: They call God’s works great and wonderful and his ways just and true, address him as King of ages, ask who shall not fear and magnify him, and declare that he alone is holy and all nations shall come and adore because his judgments are manifest.

Following this triumphant hymn, John watches as the celestial sanctuary—the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven—is thrown open. From within the temple emerge the seven angels entrusted with the seven plagues. They are clothed in pure, dazzling white linen and girded across the chest with golden bands. One of the four living creatures hands to the seven angels seven golden vials filled to the brim with the wrath of the living God, who abides forever and ever. Immediately, the heavenly temple is filled with billowing smoke proceeding from the majestic glory and power of God. The divine presence is so awe-inspiring that no one is able to enter into the temple until the seven plagues administered by the seven angels are completely fulfilled.

The story inside

Context: John sees a great sign of seven angels with the seven last plagues, in which God’s wrath is filled up. Stakes: No man may enter the smoke-filled temple until the plagues are fulfilled. Action: Overcomers of beast, image and number stand on a sea like glass mixed with fire, with God’s harps, singing the canticles of Moses and the Lamb. Consequence: The temple opens, angels in clean white linen and golden girdles emerge, and one creature gives them seven golden vials full of wrath. Smoke from God’s majesty and power fills the temple. Limits: The chapter supplies preparation rather than the actual successive outpouring, and gives no general doctrine about communion restoration.

Lessons worth keeping

  1. 1
    The canticle calls God’s works great and wonderful, his ways just and true and him King of ages.
  2. 2
    The singers declare all nations shall come and adore because God’s judgments are manifest.
  3. 3
    The angels are girt about their breasts with golden girdles and receive the vials from one of the four living creatures.

Test your recall

What two canticles are sung by those who conquered the beast while standing on the sea of glass in Apocalypse 15?

Source edition and notes

Douay–Rheims, revised by Richard Challoner (1749–1752). Project Gutenberg no. 1581. Locators refer to lines in the admitted pg1581.txt edition. Source notes may include Challoner commentary.

  1. Lines 139612–139618

    15:1. And I saw another sign in heaven, great and wonderful: seven angels having the seven last plagues. For in them is filled up the wrath of God. 15:2. And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had overcome the beast and his image and the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, having the harps of God:
  2. Lines 139620–139626

    15:3. And singing the canticle of Moses, the servant of God, and the canticle of the Lamb, saying: Great and wonderful are thy works, O Lord God Almighty. Just and true are thy ways, O King of ages. 15:4. Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and magnify thy name? For thou only art holy. For all nations shall come and shall adore in thy sight, because thy judgments are manifest.
  3. Lines 139635–139641

    15:7. And one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden vials, full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever. 15:8. And the temple was filled with smoke from the majesty 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.

Location: chapter 15 of 22 · 68%

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