And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels; four living beings. These, as representing life on the earth (see on Revelation 4:6; Revelation 5:9), are appropriately chosen as the medium for conveying to the angels the plagues about to be inflicted on men.
This description is very like what is related of the cherubim—from which the idea of the living beings is evolved (see on Revelation 4:6)—in Ezekiel 10:7, "And one cherub stretched forth his hand from between the cherubims unto the fire that was between the cherubims, and took thereof, and put it into the hands of him that was clothed with linen: who took it, and went out."
(On the "seven angels," see on Ezekiel 10:1.) Seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who liveth forever and ever. Seven; as showing the complete nature of the wrath of God (cf. Ezekiel 10:1," In them is fulfilled," etc.
). Golden; the characteristic of the heavenly things and places (cf. Revelation 4:4; Revelation 21:18, etc.), and which is also sometimes used of other things to indicate gorgeousness and unusual splendour (cf.
Revelation 18:16). (On "vials," see on Revelation 5:8, and compare with Revelation 14:10, "the cup of his indignation.") Compare the expression, "who liveth forever and ever," with the possible reading of Ezekiel 10:3, "thou King of the ages."