6.  And the seven angels came out of the temple, having the seven plagues, clothed in pure and white linen, and having their breasts girded with golden girdles.

Vs. 5, 6.—­John looked again, and saw the “temple opened,” that the seven angels might have egress to enter upon their heavenly mission.  Their clothing resembled the garments of the priests under the law, “white linen and golden girdles,” representing the holiness or moral purity of their work.  They shed the blood of the victim, so to speak, without soiling their garments; but the Lord Jesus, whose work of judgment this is, “stains all his raiment,” (Isa. lxiii. 3,) “for the day of vengeance is in his heart,” (v. 4.)

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.

V. 7.—­“One of the four beasts,”—­animals, the symbol of the gospel ministry, as we found, (ch. iv. 6.) Not all the ministry were employed in this action, but one only.  That is, some few, a fractional part, possessing more insight into the “sure word of prophecy,” and endowed with larger measure of heroic spirit by the Lord Jesus, co-operated with holy angels in this work of judgment.  “He gave the vials into the hand of the angels.”  By their preaching, their prayers and their example, faithful ministers, unseduced by the blandishments of corrupt power, and undismayed by the bloody edicts of the beast,—­“in nothing terrified by their adversaries,” denounce the judgments represented by these vials, upon the impenitent enemies of the Lord and his Anointed.  For an illustration of this symbolic action of giving the vials of divine wrath to the appointed agents, reference may be had to Jer. xxv. 15-26; li. 7.

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.

Vs. 8.—­“The temple filled with smoke,” represents the darkness of these dispensations, the horror and dismay which seizes upon the votaries of Antichrist.  But during the time of executing these judgments, the progress of the gospel will be retarded,—­“no man being able to enter into the temple.”  It is intimated, moreover, that these judgments will, as it were, clear away the “smoke,” and render the temple once more luminous.  So we may conclude by comparing the 4th and 8th verses.  In the 4th verse the witnesses declare their faith thus,—­“All nations shall come and worship before thee.”  But this is a description of the millennial state of the world. (Ps. lxxii. 11.)

CHAPTER XVI.

All preliminaries being now arranged, the seven angels receive their commission by a “great voice out of the temple.”  It is the “voice of the Lord, full of majesty.” (Ps. xxix. 4.)—­As the seals and trumpets were not coincident, but successive, so it is doubtless with the vials.  No two begin to be poured out at the same time.  One follows another in orderly succession.