John explains that the smoke comes from “the glory of God and from his power.” The Lord God showed his presence in the tabernacle and in the temple through a (white) cloud (Exodus 40:34; 1 Kings 8:10). This time it is not a (white) cloud that demonstrates his presence (Revelation 14:14) but smoke. That is not surprising, given the presence of “fire” in Revelation 15:2 and the “bowls full of God’s wrath” (= ashes/residue from the altar). Instead of these angels leaving the sanctuary immediately to pour out their bowls, they remain in the sanctuary as they await instruction as to what to do with their bowls full of God’s wrath. So there is time for the smoke rising from their bowls to fill the room. See also Psalm 18:8; Psalm 74:1; Deuteronomy 29:20.
8 and the sanctuary was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from his power, and no one could enter the sanctuary until the seven plagues of the seven angels were finished.