Bible Verses [1] And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God.	One Bahá'í's Concept V.1 John saw a great and marvelous sign in heaven. Seven angels appeared, having the seven last plagues, all with the wrath of God. Bahá'u'lláh in this Day has given the world a warning. LXI. The world is in travail, and its agitation waxeth day by day. Its face is turned towards waywardness and unbelief. Such shall be its plight, that to disclose it now would not be meet and seemly. Its perversity will long continue. And when the appointed hour is come, there shall suddenly appear that which shall cause the limbs of mankind to quake. Then, and only then, will the Divine Standard be unfurled, and the Nightingale of Paradise warble its melody. (Bahá'u'lláh, Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh p.118)
[2] And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God.	V.2 This marvelous sign appeared to John as a sea of clear transparent glass mingled with fire. This is a fire of sacrifice, as many found the new message and were martyred for their beliefs. With devotion and love and steadfastness, the victory was won over the ways and image of the Bani-Umayya hierarchy. With harps they sing their praises on the clear glass, in clear wisdom and understanding without being clouded by the "mark" and "name" as explained in previous chapters. A Prayer: O God, my God! Thou hast lighted the lamp of Thy Cause with the oil of wisdom; protect it from contrary winds. The lamp is Thine, and the glass is Thine, and all things in the heavens and on earth are in the grasp of Thy power. Bestow justice upon the rulers, and fairness upon the divines. (Bahá'u'lláh, Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, p. 104)
[3] And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvelous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints.	V.3 They sing the song (religion) of Moses, and the song (religion) of Christ, this is without all the rituals and dogmas that men have added during the years. They give praise to God as they recognize Bahá'u'lláh's marvelous works bringing the religions together, calling Him just and true, the King of saints. We have revealed that which will stir the minds of men and will cause the spirits to soar. Moreover We have repeatedly enabled thee to hearken unto the warblings of the birds of heaven and to incline thine ear to the songs of the nightingales pouring forth their melodies upon the branches. Thus was the Pen of God set in motion in thy remembrance that thou mightest admonish men through the power of this utterance which is divinely ordained to be the revealer of the signs of His glory. (Bahá'u'lláh, Tablets of Bahá'u'lláh, p. 197)
[4] Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest.	V.4 They shall fear God and shall glorify His Name. In Isaiah we are told that salvation awaits those who keep justice and righteousness, and will be brought to God's Holy Mountain. The temple there will be called a house of prayer for all nations. (Is 2: 2-4) The teachings of the Bahá'í Faith can bring justice and unite all the nations of the world. ISAIAH 2:2 And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. 2:3 And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
[5] And after that I looked, and, behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened:	V.5 John saw that the 'tabernacle of the testimony' is open. This refers to the Jewish Faith, as a tabernacle was built to hold and protect the scrolls written by Moses. Many temples were built with a tabernacle built within since, but most were destroyed. Bahá'u'lláh's tabernacle is now open, and the writings are there for every one to see. Bahá'u'lláh tells everyone to seek - to look - to listen.
[6] And the seven angels came out of the temple, having the seven plagues, clothed in pure and white linen, and having their breasts girded with golden girdles.	V.6 The seven Angels, who brought the plagues, came from the temple from heaven. They are signified as righteous, and the fact that they have golden girdles tells us what they have brought is divine; is to be a calamity ordained by God. My calamity and My providence, outwardly it is fire and vengeance, but inwardly it is light and mercy. Hasten thereunto that thou mayest become an eternal light and an immortal spirit. This is My command unto thee, do thou observe it. (Bahá'u'lláh, Arabic Hidden Words no. 51)
[7] And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever.	V.7 One of the four beasts, a symbol of a ruler of the earth, gave the vials of God's wrath, to the seven angels. This shows the interaction between heaven and earth. God's Destiny and men's actions. Worldly powers with their nefarious forces of destruction executing God's wrath upon the earth. In the Epistle to the Romans Saint Paul hath written: "Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God; the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God." And further: "For he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil." He saith that the appearance of the kings, and their majesty and power are of God. (Bahá'u'lláh, Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, p. 91)
[8] And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled.	V.8 The temple was filled with smoke from the 'Glory of God', the power of Bahá'u'lláh was there, most are unaware of the Presence, but will understand after the seven plagues have been fulfilled. Bahá'u'lláh's purpose is to cause mankind to cast aside the corrupt lower nature, and accept God's Plan. This is the Day whereon the earth shall tell out her tidings. The workers of iniquity are her burdens, could ye but perceive it. The moon of idle fancy hath been cleft, and the heaven hath given out a palpable smoke. We see the people laid low, awed with the dread of thy Lord, the Almighty, the Most Powerful. The Crier hath cried out, and men have been torn away, so great hath been the fury of His wrath. The people of the left hand sigh and bemoan. The people of the right abide in noble habitations: they quaff the Wine that is life indeed, from the hands of the All-Merciful, and are, verily, the blissful. (Bahá'u'lláh, The Proclamation of Bahá'u'lláh, p. 100)