Revelation 15:7Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The seven angels received from the four living creatures seven golden bowls filled with the wrath of God, as is also said in Ezekiel (Ezek. 5:13). This means that knowledge of action, as the great Dionysius teaches, is received by the second from the first.

The girdles hint at their active character and at the fact that they are armed. For it is said of them: "Mighty in strength, doing His word" (Ps. 102:20).

These seven angels received from one of the four living creatures, to whom we devoted a long discussion above, the wrath of God in seven golden bowls.

He rightly said, "golden." For the wrath of God is precious, bringing with it good and benefit rather than mere justice, although it brings torment to those being punished.

Earlier he mentioned seven angels with the same number of bowls filled with the prayers of the saints. Now he speaks of bowls filled with the wrath of God.

The same bowls are said to be filled both with the sweetness of supplications and with the wrath of those who ask. Their source is the petitions of the saints for the coming of the Kingdom of God.

At the same time, the judgments of God are no longer hidden like an abyss, but open like bowls.

It was foretold that, while bringing salvation to the righteous, they bring destruction to the ungodly. This accords with the Apostle’s word: “For we are the fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. To the one, an aroma from death to death” (2 Cor 2:15-16).

"No one could enter" shows that before God separates the righteous from the impious, the saints can in no way dwell in the Jerusalem above or receive rest. They will do so only after sinners have been repaid according to their deserts.