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Revelation 15:8

in Revelation 15

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.

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and none was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels should be finished.

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.

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This verse in Revelation 15

Commentary

12 notes on this verse

A commentator

Andreas of Caesarea

COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 15:8 · Written before 614.

From the smoke we learn of the frightful, terrible and tormenting character of the wrath of God. We are taught that the temple is filled with this wrath, which comes at the time of judgment against those who are worthy of it, and especially against …

This site's exposition

seven golden bowls

on Revelation 15:7-8

The bowls, phialas, are broad and shallow. The temple is filled with smoke from the glory of God, as at Solomon's temple in 1 Kings 8:10-11 and in Isaiah 6:4. Until the plagues were completed, no one could enter the temple.

This site's exposition

no one could enter the temple

The same cloud once filled the tabernacle when Moses set it up, as Adam Clarke notes from Exodus 40:34 and 35. John Wesley adds that the glory also appeared at the rebellion of Korah, when the earth swallowed the rebels. The sign of God's presence carries both favor and judgment.

The record, by era

The Church Fathers2 voices

A commentator

Primasius of Hadrumetum

COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 15:8 · Written before 560.

proposed

The smoke indicates that no one can penetrate the secrets of the judgments of God. Rather, the minds of mortals grow dark and tremble at the thought of the plagues that are inflicted, which he now begins to narrate, and he says that the smoke …

A commentator

Oecumenius

Commentary on Revelation · Written before 550.

proposed

And the temple, he says, was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from his power. The smoke is an emblem of divine wrath. For it is written, "smoke went up in his anger." (Ps. 18:8) The smoke, however, is suggestive of fire, …

The Medieval Church2 voices

A commentator

Bede

Commentary on Revelation · Written before 735.

proposed

And the temple was filled with smoke, etc. The Church, about to preach to the nations, first warms itself with the fire of charity, emitting the smoke of pious confession, giving thanks to God for His indescribable gift.

A commentator

Bede

Commentary on Revelation · Written before 735.

proposed

And no one was able to enter the temple, etc. No one can be incorporated into the members of the Church unless he hears the mysteries of faith from the preachers and learns that Jesus is appointed by God as the judge of the living …

The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice

A commentator

John Wesley

1703–1791

Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament (1755)

It was a sign of protection at erecting the tabernacle and at the dedication of the temple. But in the judgment of Korah the glory of the Lord appeared, when he and his companions were swallowed up by the earth. So proper is the emblem of smoke from the glory of God, or from the cloud of glory, to express the execution of judgment, as well as to be a sign of favour.
4 more voices on this verse

The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice

And the temple was filled with smoke,....

The Nineteenth Century3 voices

A commentator

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible · Written before 1832.

The temple was filled with smoke - So was the tabernacle when consecrated by Moses, Exo 40:34, Exo 40:35, and the temple when consecrated by Solomon, 1Ki 8:10, 1Ki 8:11; 2Ch 5:14. See Isa 6:4. This account seems at least partly copied from those above.

A commentator

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

proposed

temple . . . filled-- (Isa 6:4); compare Ex 40:34; 2Ch 5:14, as to the earthly temple, of which this is the antitype. the glory of God and . . . power--then fully manifested. no man was able to enter . . . the temple--because of God's presence in His manifested glory and power during the execution of these judgments. -- JFB66C.HTM --

quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase

And the temple was filled with smoke - The usual symbol of the divine presence in the temple. See the notes on Isa 4:5; Isa 6:4. From the glory of God - From the manifestation of the divine majesty. That is, the smoke was the proper accompaniment of the Divine Being when appearing in majesty. So on Mount Sinai he is represented as appearing in this manner: “And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the Lord descended on it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly,” Exo 19:18. The purpose here seems to have been, partly to represent the smoke as the proper symbol of the divine presence, and partly to represent it as so filling the temple that no one could enter it until the seven plagues were fulfilled. And from his power - Produced by his power; and the symbol of his power. And no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled - Until those vials had been poured out, and all that was indicated by them was accomplished. The meaning here seems to be, that no one would be permitted to enter to make intercession - to turn away his wrath - to divert him from his purpose. That is, the purpose of punishment had been formed, and would certainly be executed. The agents or instrumentalities in this fearful work had been now sent forth, and they would by no means be recalled. The mercy-seat, in this respect, was inaccessible; the time of judgment on the great foe had come, and the destruction of the grand enemy of the church was certain. […]

The words behind it

30 Greek words

Every Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

Related verses

18 in all, six open

The number beside each verse is how many compiled reference works tie it to this one. The strongest six stand open.

Isaiah 6:1In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted; and the train of His robe filled the temple.23 works2 Chronicles 5:14so that the priests could not stand there to minister because of the cloud; for the glory of the LORD filled the house of God.14 worksExodus 40:34Then the cloud covered the Tent of Meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.10 worksIsaiah 6:4At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook, and the temple was filled with smoke.9 works1 Kings 8:10–11And when the priests came out of the Holy Place, the cloud filled the house of the LORD8 worksExodus 19:18Mount Sinai was completely enveloped in smoke, because the LORD had descended on it in fire. And the smoke rose like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked violently.6 works
The other 12 cross-references, with their words ▾
2 Chronicles 7:2The priests were unable to enter the house of the LORD, because the glory of the LORD had filled it.6 works2 Chronicles 5:13–14The trumpeters and singers joined together to praise and thank the LORD with one voice. They lifted up their voices, accompanied by trumpets, cymbals, and musical instruments, in praise to the LORD: “For He is good; His loving devotion endures forever.” And the temple, the house of the LORD, was filled with a cloud5 worksEzekiel 10:4Then the glory of the LORD rose from above the cherubim and stood over the threshold of the temple. The temple was filled with the cloud, and the court was filled with the brightness of the glory of the LORD.4 worksRevelation 15:1Then I saw another great and marvelous sign in heaven: seven angels with the seven final plagues, with which the wrath of God is completed.3 worksPsalms 29:9The voice of the LORD twists the oaks and strips the forests bare. And in His temple all cry, “Glory!”3 works2 Thessalonians 1:9They will suffer the penalty of eternal destruction, separated from the presence of the Lord and the glory of His might,3 worksExodus 40:35Moses was unable to enter the Tent of Meeting because the cloud had settled on it, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.3 worksLamentations 3:44You have covered Yourself with a cloud that no prayer can pass through.2 worksRomans 11:33O, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments, and untraceable His ways!2 worksJeremiah 15:1Then the LORD said to me: “Even if Moses and Samuel should stand before Me, My heart would not go out to this people. Send them from My presence, and let them go.2 worksPsalms 18:8–14Smoke rose from His nostrils, and consuming fire came from His mouth; glowing coals blazed forth.2 worksRevelation 8:4And the smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of the saints, rose up before God from the hand of the angel.2 works

The walk

8 stops

Each card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.

  • Through

    Revelation 15:1

    Then I saw another great and marvelous sign in heaven: seven angels with the seven final plagues, with which the wrath of God is completed.

    it leads to

    • Leviticus 26:21

      If you walk in hostility toward Me and refuse to obey Me, I will multiply your plagues seven times, according to your sins.

    • Revelation 15:6–7

      And out of the temple came the seven angels with the seven plagues, dressed in clean and bright linen and girded with golden sashes around their chests.

    • Revelation 21:9

      Then one of the seven angels with the seven bowls full of the seven final plagues came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.”

    • Daniel 4:2–3

      I am pleased to declare the signs and wonders that the Most High God has performed for me.

    • Revelation 19:15

      And from His mouth proceeds a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and He will rule them with an iron scepter. He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath…

  • Through

    Isaiah 6:4

    At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook, and the temple was filled with smoke.

    it leads to

    • Exodus 40:34

      Then the cloud covered the Tent of Meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.

    • 2 Chronicles 5:13

      The trumpeters and singers joined together to praise and thank the LORD with one voice. They lifted up their voices, accompanied by trumpets, cymbals, and musical instruments, in praise to the LORD: “For He…

    • 1 Kings 8:10–12

      And when the priests came out of the Holy Place, the cloud filled the house of the LORD

Where this verse is studied

About Revelation

The Adoration of the Mystic Lamb, Jan and Hubert van Eyck, about 1430 to 1432. Public domain.
The Adoration of the Mystic Lamb, Jan and Hubert van Eyck, about 1430 to 1432. Public domain.
Revelation: the study guide →Read Revelation 15 →
This page draws on 10 works. Open the list of works

This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes on the New Testament; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Andreas of Caesarea, COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 15:8; Bede, Commentary on Revelation; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Oecumenius, Commentary on Revelation and Primasius of Hadrumetum, COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 15:8.

Read on in Revelation 15 →