1. Revelation 15:7 (ESV)
  2. Exposition

What were the “seven golden bowls” the living creature gave the seven angels?

Revelation 15:7 (ESV)

7 And one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God who lives forever and ever,

Bowls were implements used in the tabernacle (Exodus 27:3; Numbers 4:14) and the temple (1 Kings 7:50; 1 Chronicles 28:17) to remove the residue of the sin offerings and burnt offerings on the bronze altar after the fire had consumed what it could (i.e., ashes, fat, charred sticks and bones). In Moses’ tabernacle, these bowls were made of bronze; in Solomon’s temple they were made of gold. In the Revelation of Jesus Christ to John, these bowls are also made of gold, as is fitting for the presence of the living God. The living creature gives one bowl to each angel.