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THE REVELATION
OF ST JOHN THE DIVINE
CHAPTER 15
Exalted saints praise God in celestial glory forever.
1 AND I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; [ What are the seven last plagues and who do they effect? They effect living souls. The plagues are spelled out in chapter 16. ] for in them is filled up the wrath of God. [ What is the wrath of God? D&C 88:85 or synonym "the desolation of abomination". ]
2 And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: [ Symbolic representation of the earth in it's celestial state. ] and them [ The Saints who had overcome the persecution put upon their heads by the beast. ] that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, [ Satan himself, remember that wormword made a body for Satan to have. See Rev 13:15. ] and over his mark, and over the number of his name, [ 666. ] stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God.
3 And they sing the song of Moses [ This is meant as a reference to the events of the deliverence of the children of Israel in the days of Moses, and suggests that it will be the same with the latter-day children of Israel. ] the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints.
4 Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest.
5 And after that I looked, and, behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony [ This temple is synonymous with the tabernacle of the congregation found in Num 1:50. ] in heaven was opened:
6 And the seven angels came out of the temple, [ The temple is the Lord's house as inscribed on the doors of every temple. The fact that these seven angels come from Gods house would suggest that what is about to transpire on the earth is connected with the Lord's fulfillment of his covenants with the House of Israel. ] having the seven plagues, clothed in [ So this could be better translated as "[endowed] in pure and white linen,". The word endowed appears only once in the New Testament as the word endued in Luk 24:49. However, the greek word used is "endyƍ" which is translated as; put on, or had not on (18x), clothed with (2x), clothed in (2x), have on (2x), clothe with (1x), be endued (1x), arrayed in (1x), be clothed (1x), and is used with the nuance of 'being enveloped by' which is very much like "being encircled by" in the context of robes of righteousness. If you retranslate the word "endyo" to "endowed" gain some interesting perspectives as to how we might better understand our own temple experience where we put on, are clothed with, and endowed, or encircled by the robes of righteousness. ] pure and white linen, and having their breasts girded with golden girdles.
7 And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever.
8 And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory 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.