This chapter introduces the "seven last plagues, for in them is filled up the wrath of God" (v1). It will be seen in the notes on chapter 16 that the plagues bear similarities to those that came upon Egypt, just like the seven trumpets do.

Verse 2

John sees a "sea of glass, mingled with fire". The presence of fire indicates that the nations, the sea where the beasts came from (Daniel 7 v 2, 3), are the subject of God's wrath. However, as the beast rules in the land of Israel at this stage, the plagues are poured out on the land but directed at the nations.

Verses 2/4

Those who gain the victory (gk nikao "overcome" - see notes on chapters 2 and 3) over the beast (Revelation 13 v 1), his image (13 v 14), his mark (13 v 16) and his number (13 v 17), sing the song of Moses. The song of Moses (Exodus 15) describes salvation from Egypt (Egypt is used when describing Jerusalem - Revelation 11 v 8) and the sea overcoming the Egyptians (in the context of Revelation this would correspond to idolatrous Jerusalem being swept away by the nations performing God's will).

The song contains elements of Psalm 111 v 2, 3 ("Great are ... works, Lord ... marvellous are ... works") and Psalm 145 v 17 ("Just and true are thy ways") in verse 3, and Jeremiah 10 v 7 ("Thou king of nations ... who shall not fear thee") in verses 3,  4.

The contexts of these passages include:

"God will be mindful of his covenant" - Psalm 111 v 5
"Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom" - Psalm 145 v 13
"The wicked he will destroy" - Psalm 145 v 20
"I will sling out of the inhabitants of the land at this once" -  Jeremiah 10 v 18 (see notes on chapters 8 and 9 for other references in the Book of Revelation to early sections of the Book of Jeremiah.)
 
Verses 5/8

The angels with the plagues come out of the temple. In verse 8, the temple is filled with smoke from the glory of God, and no one is able to enter it until the seven plagues are fulfilled. These statements bear similarities to both Isaiah 6 v 4 and Exodus 40 v 35. In Isaiah chapter 6 the context is one of God's message going to an unresponsive Israel. However in verse 13 of that chapter there is a promise of a time when the desolation that will come on them shall end. The events of Exodus 40 v 35 occur when the tabernacle is reared up. In Revelation 15 v 8 it is quoted in the context of a passage describing those who have overcome, and who form part of the temple of saints that God inhabits (vs 2 - 4). Verse 8 says that no man was able to enter the temple until after the plagues had been poured out, indicating that the people of the world must be ready for Christ when he gathers those to make up the temple of the saints, or else face the terrible turmoil of the seven last plagues.

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