Daniel and Revelation - Revelation Chapter 16
CHAPTER -- XVI --
The Plagues Poured Out
p 684 -- This
chapter gives a description of the seven vials of the unmingled wrath of God,
and the effects that follow as they are poured upon the earth. Concerning the
character and chronology of these plagues, there is a difference of opinion
among Bible readers.
Our first inquiry
therefore is, What is the true position on these points? Are they
symbolical, and mostly fulfilled in the past, as some contend? or are they
literal, and all future, as others no less confidently affirm? A brief
examination of the testimony will, we think, conclusively settle these
questions.
VERSE 1. And
I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your
ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth. 2.
And the first went, and poured out his vial upon the earth; and there
fell a noisome and grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast,
and upon them which worshiped his image.
The Chronology of
the Plagues. - The description of this plague clearly reveals at once their
chronology; for it is poured out upon those who have the mark of the beast, and
who worship his image, - the identical work against which the third angel warns
us. This is conclusive proof that these judgments are not poured out till after
this angel closes his work, and that the very class who hear his warning, and
reject it, are the ones to receive the first drops from the overflowing vials
of God's indignation. Now, if these plagues are in the past, the image of the
beast and his worship are in the past. If
p 685 -- these are
past, the two-horned beast, which makes this image and his work, are in the
past. If these are past, then the third angel's message, which warns us in
reference to this work, is in the past; and if this is past, - that is, ages in
the past, where this view locates the commencement of the plagues, - then the
first and second messages, which precede that, were also ages in the past. Then
the prophetic periods, on which the messages are based, especially the 2300
days, ended ages ago. And if this is so, the seventy weeks of Daniel 9 are
thrown wholly into the Jewish dispensation, and the great proof of the
Messiahship of Christ is destroyed. But it has been shown on chapters 7, 13,
and 14, that the first and second messages have been given in our own day; that
the third is now in process of accomplishment; that the two-horned beast has
come upon the stage of action, and is preparing to do the work assigned him;
and that the formation of the image and the enforcement of the worship are just
in the future. And unless all these positions can be overthrown, the seven last
plagues must also be assigned wholly to the future.
But there are other
reasons for locating them in the future and not in the past.
1. Under the
fifth plague, men blaspheme God because of their sores, the same sores, of
course, caused by the outpouring of the first plague. This shows that these
plagues all fall upon one and the same generation of men, some being, no doubt,
swept off by each one, yet some surviving through the terrible scenes of them
all; a fact utterly subversive of the position that they commenced far in the
past, and occupy centuries each in their fulfilment, for how, then, could those
who experience the first plague be alive under the fifth?
2. These
plagues are the wine of God's wrath without mixture, threatened by the third
angel. Chapter 14:10; 15:1. Such language cannot be applied to any judgments
visited upon the earth while Christ pleads between his Father and our fallen
race; hence we must locate them in the future, when probation shall have
closed.
3. Another
and more definite testimony as to the commencement and duration of these
plagues is found in chapter 15:8:
p 686 -- "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." The temple here introduced is evidently that which
is mentioned in chapter 11:19, where it says, "The temple of God was
opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his
testament." In other words, we have before us the heavenly sanctuary. The
testimony is, then, that when the seven angels with the seven golden vials
receive their commission, the temple is filled with smoke from the glory of
God, and no being can enter into the temple, or sanctuary, till they have
fulfilled their work; there will therefore be no ministration in the sanctuary
during this time. Consequently, these vials are not poured out till the close
of the ministration in the tabernacle above, but immediately follow that event;
for Christ is then no longer a mediator; mercy, which has long stayed the hand
of vengeance, pleads no more; the servants of God are all sealed. What could
then be expected but that the "storm of vengeance should fall," and
earth be swept with the besom of destruction?
*******
Truth.
By the grace of God
may we comprehend this truth.
The seven last
plague have YET to fall on us. Will we be alive when they do? And if so, are we
going to be spared by the Love of our Savior, through His righteousness?
We have to think of
these things! We have to ask ourselves these questions. To not do so is to risk
eternal death, and a very painful future before that eternal death.
Please Father…
please!
In Jesus' name
always!
Amen.
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