Then I looked and saw that the Temple in heaven, God’s Tabernacle, was thrown wide open. The seven angels who were holding the seven plagues came out of the Temple. They were clothed in spotless white linen with gold sashes across their chests. Then one of the four living beings handed each of the seven angels a gold bowl filled with the wrath of God, who lives forever and ever. The Temple was filled with smoke from God’s glory and power. No one could enter the Temple until the seven angels had completed pouring out the seven plagues. [Revelation 15.5-8]
I guess if I keep responding to God by writing about what I read long enough, maybe I will begin to understand some of it! I certainly hope that is the case with the book of Revelation.
This passage above, in its context, makes me wonder about the seven angels... Are these the same seven angels mentioned in Revelation 1.20?
If so, more than I had thought previously, the church plays a great role in all things apocalyptic!
How does the church play this role if my assumption above is correct? It is, and could only be, through prayer. So, it is not ironic to me that prayer is mentioned in the context of gold bowls earlier (Revelation 5) and then here in Revelation 15.
For reference, Jesus told His men to "keep watch and pray" in Matthew 26 when His crucifixion was pending. In other words, what was about to happen was related, in some way, to prayer.
There is, no doubt, much to be learned about this!
Father, I want to learn and understand all I can about end times. But, even more so, I want to learn, understand, and do now all that is my responsibility to do as part of the church today in preparation for end times! I want to pray!
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