This scene in John's vision seems to be between heaven and earth. A figure is sitting on a cloud above the earth, prepared for action. Who is this figure? The depiction of 'one like a son of man' echoes Daniel 7:13 where the person is clearly the Lord Jesus Christ. The gold crown is the victor's wreath from a wrestling match.
In this part of John's vision, the angels continue the reaping of the harvest of the earth. The text identifies the sixth and seventh angel of this scene of the vision in chapter 14. Previously, the harvest seems to have been grain (Revelation 14:14-16), and now it is grapes.
In the preceding verses we saw angels preparing to 'harvest the earth' (Revelation 14:14-20), resulting in the trampling of the grape harvest in the 'winepress of God’s wrath' (Revelation 14:20; 19:15), and unleashing judgement on the earth.
As angels get ready to pour out the final plagues from the bowls of God's wrath (Revelation 15:1; 16:1) as the last series of judgements on the earth, the already-in-heaven church are assembled to sing the song of Moses and the Lamb (Revelation 15:2-3).
This scene in heaven looked like the tabernacle, the centre of worship and the reminder of God's covenant law. The way into the Holy of Holies was open: the curtain to exclude people from the most holy place was not there (Matthew 27:50-51). Hebrews 10:19-21 assures believers that through the sacrifice of Jesus the way to God is now open. The description of the temple has important imagery.
John's vision, given to him by Jesus, now enters a new phase. You may recall that the Lamb (Jesus) opened the seven seals (Revelation 6:1-17) which describe divine judgements on a rebellious world. The seventh seal introduced the seven trumpets (Revelation 8:1-5) which announce another series of judgements, more intense than the first, but still limited in effect.
Water is essential for life. In this third series of physical plagues that God will send on the earth at the end of time, the poisoning of the seas has already been seen killing all living creatures in the water (Revelation 16:3). Now John sees that an angel is commanded to turn the water of the rivers, and their sources, into blood.
This last series of judgements on unrepentant humanity is both cosmic and personal.
'The battle to end all battles'. That is how this Armageddon has been described. Much has been written about these verses which echo Old Testament passages and point forward to a confrontation between a confederation of earthly authorities under the leadership of the beast (Antichrist), guided by the other beast (false prophet) under the control of the devil and his demons. This sixth bowl of wrath is paradoxical: instead of God crushing those against Him, He removes all restraint from these mutually energised forces so that they have extra boldness to assault God's people.
This is the seventh plague of the third series of plagues. The vision was a revelation to John of what will take place before the end of time. He sees the angel pouring out God's wrath into the air and witnesses the effect on the world and on rebellious humanity. The sign is interpreted by God's voice from the throne of heaven declaring that the plagues are complete. No more opportunity would be given for sinners to repent. And yet those who survived refused to submit to God: they cursed Him, compounding their guilt and validating their eternal punishment to come.
