This verse serves as a superscription for chapters 15 and 16 and even, perhaps, for the rest of the book.499
"And I saw"(Gr. kai idou) again introduces a new scene, this time in heaven (cf. 13:1, 11; 14:1, 6, 14; 15:2, 5). The "sign"John saw signified God's final judgments on earth-dwellers during the Tribulation (cf. 12:1, 3).500
"They [the signs] point beyond themselves and disclose the theological meaning of history."501
This sign, however, is both great and marvelous, especially awesome. It is awesome because it signifies the climax of the outpouring of God's wrath on nature, humankind, the dragon, and the two beasts. The sign itself is the seven angels who control seven plagues. As with the seals and trumpets, angels were God's agents in pouring out His wrath in this series of judgments. These angels were now ready to do their duty (cf. Ps. 103:20). They appear seven times as a group (vv. 6, 7, 8; 16:1; 17:1; 21:9) and nine times individually (vv. 2, 3, 4, 8, 10, 12, 17; 17:7; 21:9). John simply introduced them here. They do not begin to act until verse 6 (cf. 8:2; 12:6; 21:2).
The bowl "plagues"that follow have many similarities to the plagues that God sent on Egypt, as we shall see. All seven of these judgments repeat in varied ways the plagues of Egypt. These similarities suggest that God's purpose in both series of judgments is the same: to punish godless idolaters and to liberate the godly for future blessing and service.
