Revelation 15:8 kjv
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.
Revelation 15:8 nkjv
The temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from His power, and no one was able to enter the temple till the seven plagues of the seven angels were completed.
Revelation 15:8 niv
And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from his power, and no one could enter the temple until the seven plagues of the seven angels were completed.
Revelation 15:8 esv
and the sanctuary was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from his power, and no one could enter the sanctuary until the seven plagues of the seven angels were finished.
Revelation 15:8 nlt
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 8 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ex 19:18 | Now Mount Sinai was completely covered with smoke... for the LORD descended upon it in fire. | God's presence as smoke and fire. |
| Ex 40:34-35 | Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle... Moses could not enter... | Glory fills sanctuary, prevents entry. |
| 1 Kgs 8:10-11 | When the priests came out of the holy place, the cloud filled the house of the LORD... could not stand to minister... | Glory fills temple, prevents ministry. |
| 2 Chr 5:13-14 | ...the house of the LORD was filled with a cloud... could not stand to minister... | Glory fills temple, prevents ministry. |
| Isa 6:4 | The posts of the door moved at the voice of him who cried out, and the house was filled with smoke. | Heavenly temple filled with smoke of glory. |
| Lev 16:2 | ...do not come at just any time into the Holy Place inside the veil, before the mercy seat... lest he die... | Holy space inaccessible due to divine holiness. |
| Num 1:51 | ...if any unauthorized person comes near, he shall be put to death. | Prohibited access to holy things/space. |
| Gen 19:28 | He looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the plain; and behold, the smoke of the land went up like the smoke of a furnace. | Smoke associated with divine judgment. |
| Isa 30:27-28 | Behold, the name of the LORD comes from afar, burning with His anger, and His burden is heavy... | God's burning anger and judgment. |
| Joel 2:30 | "And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth: Blood and fire and pillars of smoke." | Signs of judgment. |
| Rev 9:2 | And he opened the bottomless pit, and smoke arose out of the pit like the smoke of a great furnace... | Smoke linked to demonic torment and judgment. |
| Rev 14:10-11 | ...be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever... | Smoke as a permanent sign of torment/judgment. |
| Heb 8:1-2 | We have such a High Priest, who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, a Minister of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle which the Lord erected... | The reality of the heavenly temple. |
| Heb 9:11 | But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands... | Christ ministers in the heavenly temple. |
| Rev 11:19 | Then the temple of God was opened in heaven, and the ark of His covenant was seen in His temple. | Heavenly temple central to Revelation's visions. |
| Rev 15:1 | Then I saw another great and marvelous sign in heaven: seven angels having the seven last plagues, for in them the wrath of God is complete. | Direct context of the seven plagues. |
| Rev 16:1 | Then I heard a loud voice from the temple saying to the seven angels, "Go and pour out the bowls of the wrath of God on the earth." | Instructions for pouring out the plagues from the temple. |
| Rev 6:17 | For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand? | Fear of God's unstoppable wrath. |
| Rev 19:15 | Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them... And He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. | God's absolute power and wrath. |
| Dan 9:24 | Seventy weeks are determined for your people and for your holy city, to finish the transgression, to make an end of sins, to make reconciliation for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness... | Prophecies that must be "finished" or completed. |
| Rev 10:7 | But in the days of the sounding of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, the mystery of God would be finished, as He declared to His servants the prophets. | God's purposes will be completed. |
| Rev 21:6 | And He said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts." | "It is done" signifying divine completion. |
Revelation 15 verses
Revelation 15 8 Meaning
Revelation 15:8 signifies that the heavenly temple was utterly filled with the visible and overwhelming manifestation of God's holiness and irresistible might, symbolized by smoke. This profound presence rendered the temple inaccessible, indicating that a unique and solemn phase had begun: the time for divine wrath to be poured out without hindrance or further intercession. The inability to enter endured until God's seven final, comprehensive judgments against the unrepentant world were fully completed. It underscores the culmination of God's righteous indignation.
Revelation 15 8 Context
Revelation 15 sets the prelude for the seven bowl judgments, detailed in chapter 16. Prior to this verse, Revelation 15:2-4 portrays the triumphant saints singing a song of praise to God, emphasizing His justice and holiness. Revelation 15:5-7 then introduces the seven angels emerging from the heavenly temple, each holding a bowl filled with God's wrath. Verse 8, therefore, describes a decisive moment just before these ultimate judgments are unleashed. It explains why the judgments are inevitable and how they proceed from God's own unapproachable, holy presence. The historical context for the original audience, living under the pervasive claims of Roman imperial power and often forced emperor worship, would find the exclusive and terrifying majesty of the one true God a direct challenge to worldly claims of deity.
Revelation 15 8 Word analysis
- And the temple (ο ναος - ho naos): Refers to the innermost sanctuary, the heavenly temple itself (not the Jerusalem temple, which no longer stood in this form, nor the earthly church). It represents the divine presence and dwelling place, from which ultimate divine decrees emanate.
- was filled (εγεμισθη - egemisthē): A passive verb, indicating a divine act. The filling was not gradual or partial, but absolute and complete, a pervasive engulfment by God's manifest presence.
- with smoke (καπνος - kapnos): In biblical imagery, smoke frequently symbolizes the visible manifestation of God's presence (especially at Sinai - Ex 19:18) and, significantly, His consuming holiness, judgment, and wrath. It often accompanies fire, signifying consuming power.
- from the glory of God (εκ της δοξης του Θεου - ek tēs doxēs tou Theou): "Glory" (doxa) refers to the visible, awesome manifestation of God's inherent nature, character, and power. It signifies His absolute weight and worth, often seen as light, cloud, or fire. Here, the smoke is the physical manifestation of this divine glory, indicating His powerful, radiant, and holy essence.
- and from His power (και εκ της δυναμεως αυτου - kai ek tēs dynameōs autou): Emphasizes that the filling by smoke is not merely an ethereal display, but an active, mighty demonstration of God's omnipotent might and inherent ability, specifically His capacity to execute judgment.
- and no one was able to enter the temple (και ουδεις ηδυνατο εισελθειν εις τον ναον - kai oudeis ēdynato eiselthein eis ton naon): Directly echoes passages like Exodus 40:35 and 1 Kings 8:11, where God's overwhelming presence (glory/cloud) prevented even Moses or the priests from entering the tabernacle/temple. This signifies God's ultimate holiness, the closure of intercession, and the unimpeded, unchangeable nature of the forthcoming judgments. It marks a moment when access, usually through priestly mediation, is ceased.
- until (αχρι - achri): This adverb marks a definite duration. The temple remains inaccessible for a specific period—until the final wrath is dispensed.
- the seven plagues (αι επτα πληγαι - ai hepta plēgai): Refers specifically to the "seven bowls of God's wrath" that are about to be poured out (Rev 16). The term "plague" (plēgē) intentionally links these final judgments back to the plagues in Exodus against Egypt, identifying God's consistent character as deliverer of His people and judge of the unrighteous.
- of the seven angels (των επτα αγγελων - tōn hepta angelōn): These angels are the divine instruments for dispensing the plagues, emphasizing their direct origin and execution under God's sovereign command.
- were finished (τελεσθωσιν - telesthōsin): From the Greek verb teleō, meaning "to complete," "to accomplish," "to bring to an end," or "to fulfill." This signifies the absolute and decisive conclusion of God's wrath. It will not be partial or left undone but brought to a perfect completion, exhaustively pouring out divine justice.
Revelation 15 8 Bonus section
- The inaccessibility of the temple here contrasts sharply with the access provided by Christ's finished work on the cross, as described in Hebrews, allowing believers to boldly approach God's throne of grace (Heb 4:16, 10:19-20). This specific scene in Revelation, however, pertains to a time of unmixed wrath for the unrepentant, emphasizing a temporary cessation of the usual priestly access for the world at large, underscoring the finality of judgment.
- This verse signifies a crucial transition point in Revelation: from prophetic warnings and symbolic judgments to the literal, global outpourings of God's ultimate wrath. It signifies that divine patience has reached its limit for the ungodly world.
- The heavenly temple acts not just as God's dwelling but as the control center from which final judgments are commanded, underscoring God's sovereignty over world events and the ultimate triumph of His righteous purposes.
Revelation 15 8 Commentary
Revelation 15:8 paints a solemn picture of divine preparation for final judgment. The filling of the heavenly temple with smoke, radiating from God's glory and power, vividly demonstrates His unapproachable holiness and irresistible might. This echoes Old Testament scenes where God's glorious presence fills the tabernacle or temple, making it inaccessible due to His sheer majesty (e.g., Ex 40:34-35; 1 Kgs 8:10-11). Here, however, the smoke is also deeply imbued with the connotation of righteous wrath and judgment, not just overwhelming holiness. The cessation of access ("no one was able to enter") during this period of God's manifested power indicates that the time for intercession has closed; there will be no appeals or delays to the forthcoming outpouring of wrath. God's focus is now entirely on executing justice. This divine inaccessibility persists "until the seven plagues...were finished," signifying that God's judgments are not arbitrary but precisely determined and will be carried out to their full, conclusive extent. It assures believers that God's justice is perfect and that every aspect of His righteous plan will be fulfilled without compromise.