<p>15:1- see on Rev. 19:11.</p><p><em>And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvellous. Seven angels having seven illnesses which are the last woe, for in them is finished the anger of God</em>- Revelation 15 is a short introduction to the vials, and features a picture of a victorious, rejoicing multitude standing on a sea of glass, having gotten the victory over the beast. The vials in chapter 16 explain how this situation came about. One assumes that these seven plagues or illnesses are the seven vials. They may be part of the &quot;plagues&quot; with which the two witnesses smote their opponents &quot;as often as they wished&quot; (11:6; s.w. &quot;illnesses&quot;). In which case we note that they only smote them seven times. The same word for &quot;plagues&quot; (s.w. &quot;illnesses&quot; here) is used in the vials (16:9,21); these are the plagues brought upon Babylon &quot;in one day&quot; (18:4,8). They come, therefore, in quick succession, or even all at the same time; for the fall of Babylon is presented as surprisingly fast and quick. the seven vials / bowls cannot therefore very well refer to events over an extended period of history in the past, as insisted by the continuous historical school.</p><p>The purpose of these seven last plagues is not punishment or bloodletting for the sake of it. They are in order to complete the necessary wrath of God, and to usher in the glorious Kingdom situation of :2. This is why in 21:9 it is mentioned that it was the Angel who carried the seven last plagues who was the one who also showed John the vision of the glorified bride. Those plagues were necessary for her final development and exhibition.</p>