THE BOOK OF REVELATION
CHAPTER 15
1 Then I saw another portent in heaven, great and wonderful, seven angels with seven plagues, which are the last, for with them the wrath of God is ended.
A "portent" is an indication or sign of what is to happen, especially of something momentous or calamitous. These will be the plagues or calamities that will have to befall mankind before they will give up their evil ways and their opposition and hostilities to the Covenant, and to the Lamb that God has sent to establish the Revelation of Baha'u'llah.
2 And I saw what appeared to be a sea of glass mingled with fire, and those who had conquered the beast and its image and the number of its name, standing beside the sea of glass with harps of God in their hands.
The "sea of glass" symbolizes the Revelation of Baha'u'llah which is clear, like glass. With the explanations and commentaries of the Lamb, this Revelation is easy to understand. The other Revelations of previous Manifestations are like rivers that lead to the sea.
It is "mingled with fire" showing that the nuclear holocaust must take place in order for God's Revelation to be established.
Those who are "standing beside the sea of glass" are the people who become believers in Baha'u'llah or come out of the great violation of the Covenant-breakers through the Lamb's explanations and commentaries. And of course they also come out of the other Revelations, for example the Christians who are now coming into the Revelation of Baha'u'llah through the Lamb's explanations.
3 And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, "Great and wonderful are thy deeds, O Lord God the Almighty! Just and true are thy ways, O King of the Ages!"
The "song of Moses" is made up of the three portions of his Covenant: 1) the promise of what would be if the people obeyed that Covenant, 2) the warning of what would be if they did not, and 3) the promise for the regathering of God's Chosen and the re-establishment of the temple, which has the Presence of God (Deuteronomy, chapters 28-30). This includes the re-establishment of the Covenant and the high priest, the
333
return of Jesus the high priest after the order of Melchizedek (Hebrews 6:20 and Zechariah 3:1-9).
The "song of the Lamb" is the explanations he gives for the Revelation of Jesus, as found in this Book of Revelation.
4 "Who shall not fear and glorify thy name, O Lord? For thou alone art holy. All nations shall come and worship thee, for thy judgments have been revealed."
Those who survive the four winds of destruction will worship God and serve Him by establishing His Kingdom on earth as it is in heaven. The severity of mankind's chastisement will prevent him from ever turning away from God, the way he has during this present cycle of man's existence.
5 After this I looked, and the temple of the tent of witness in heaven was opened,
Each Manifestation of God has given His Revelation with a potency befitting that time in which He appeared. The Revelation of Jesus was of the potency of the "Son." The Bab was the Door and Baha'u'llah was in the potency of the "Father." These Revelations are symbolized by a "temple," for the potency of the Bab's Revelation is that of the Sanctuary and the potency of Baha'u'llah's Revelation is that of the Holy of Holies, and in the Holy of Holies appears the Ark of His Covenant. The Lamb fulfills the prophecies for the re-establishment of the high priest and as the High Priest after the order of Melchizedek, he stands in the Holy of Holies before the Ark of the Covenant and takes the Covenant of Baha'u'llah (Kitab-i-'Ahd) and the Will and Testament of 'Abdu'l-Baha out of the Ark. By his explanations he re-establishes the Covenant that the Covenant-breakers violated, which led the mainstream Baha'is astray. The only one who is allowed to go into the Holy of Holies and do this is Jesus the High Priest after the order of Melchizedek (Hebrew 6:20).
6 and out of the temple came the seven angels with the seven plagues, robed in pure bright linen, and their breasts girded with golden girdles.
The "seven angels" have been previously explained. Four of them are bound at the River Euphrates (Rev. 9:14) and are now holding back the "four winds of destruction." The fifth angel is Ali, the sixth angel is Quddus and the seventh angel is Dr. Leland Jensen, who is Jesus the Lamb.
The "seven plagues" are the various afflictions that will befall mankind as a result of the nuclear holocaust.
"Pure bright linen" symbolizes the spiritual bodies or the auras of these angels.
"Their breasts girded with golden girdles" means that these angels will be God's judges.
334
7 And one of the four living creatures gave the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God who lives for ever and ever;
8 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 ended.
"The temple was filled with smoke" means the Covenant of Baha'u'llah (Kitab-i-'Ahd) and the Will and Testament of 'Abdu'l-Baha are clouded with smoke or a veil, that is, they weren't understood by the rank and file Baha'is. Because of this the Arch Covenant-breakers Ruhiyyih Khanum and the "Hands" got control of the administration, the properties and the moneys. They got their hands in the cookie jar. The "smoke" clarifies that Baha'u'llah did not break the seven seals. That which Baha'u'llah, 'Abdu'l-Baha and Shoghi Effendi did not explain was left until the Lamb appeared, for he was the one who was prophesied to clear out the smoke.
"Glory of God" is English for the Aramaic word "Baha'u'llah."
The "seven plagues" must take place to eliminate those non-believers who do not want to understand or accept God's Revelation and to eliminate the Covenant-breakers who remain in violation of that Revelation.
335