Revelation 15

Then something else very significant appeared in the sky. I saw seven angels. God had given them the duty to punish rebellious people in seven different ways. This is the last time that God will punish people this way, because through these punishments he will have given people on earth all of the punishment that they deserve. \*

I also saw a great flat area of glass that was sparkling with light. I also saw the people who had overcome the beast by not worshiping it or its image and by not allowing anyone to mark them with the number that represents the beast’s name. They were standing on the large flat area of glass. They were holding harps that God had given them. \*

They were singing a song such as God’s servant Moses sang long ago. It was the same kind of song that the Lamb now sings. They sang, “Lord God, who rules over everything, all that you do is very marvelous! You always act entirely righteously. You rule as King forever! 4 O Lord, everyone will fear you and honor you because you alone are holy. Yes, people from every group will come and bow down to you in worship because you have shown that you have judged everyone in the right way.” \*

Then, after that, I saw that the doors of the temple in heaven were open. That heavenly temple was like the tent on earth that had held the sacred chest.

The seven angels whose duty it was to punish rebellious people in seven different ways came out of the temple. The angels were wearing clean, white linen garments. They were also wearing bands of golden fabric around their chests. \*

One of the four living creatures gave each of the seven angels a golden bowl. Inside each bowl was a different kind of punishment for people who had done wrong. The angels would administer these punishments on behalf of God, who lives forever and ever.

Then smoke that expressed the presence of the glorious and all-powerful God filled the temple. {The smoke remained there while the angels were administering the plagues.} Only after the seven angels finished punishing the people of the earth in seven different ways could anyone enter the temple again. \*