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Chosen no: R-511 a, from: 1883 Year. |
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The Seventh Plague.
"And the seventh poured out his
bowl on the AIR; and there came forth a LOUD VOICE from the TEMPLE OF GOD [Sinaitic MSS.] saying, IT IS DONE."
Seven is often used as the symbol of
completeness; so this seventh plague completes the trouble coming, and will
result in the complete unveiling of Satan's deceptions and the binding or
destruction of his power and influence. The result of this trouble brings
conviction to some. This is shown by the great voice from the Temple, saying, "It HAS been done!"
(Literal translation.) When last we saw the temple, or the nominal church, it
was filling with smoke and casting out the faithful messengers of truth,
saying, "Go your ways; pour out the plagues; do all you can" (Rev. 15:8; 16:1). Boastfully relying on internal strength; but
now, when the seventh has been poured out, we hear this nominal temple saying, "It
has been done"; we are now convinced of the truths uttered by the faithful
messengers whom, in our ignorance and pride, we cast out from us: Who told us
that we were in darkness and great distress was coming upon us, and that our systems,
which we so fondly cherished, were to crumble into dust. It has been done even
as they declared; Babylon
is utterly destroyed; as a great millstone cast into the sea, she shall rise no
more.
This temple class, which finally
recognizes God's dealings when these systems are entirely destroyed, is the
same which we have found elsewhere mentioned in Scripture, and which we have
designated the second company, who, though losing the prize promised to
overcomers of the Beast, etc. (Rev. 20:4), are "saved
so as by fire [these severe judgments] in the day of the Lord Jesus." This
blessed result upon this second company gives us an intense interest in and
longing for the destruction of the enslaving systems mentioned [R511 : page 8] in succeeding versesas the result of this
seventh trouble. "And there were lightnings and thunders and voices."
This describes the general effect on mankind; lightnings signifies diffusion of
knowledge. "His lightnings enlightened the world" (Psa.
97:4). Voices signify proclamations and general discussion of subjects by those
being enlightened. Thunderings signify tumults accompanying the increased
enlightenment.
"And there was a great
EARTHQUAKE; such as was not since a man was on the earth, such an earthquake-- so
great. And the GREAT
CITY became three parts,
and the city [Sinaitic reading] of
the nations fell down" (v. 18).
An earthquake would symbolize a revolution,
and here brings to our attention the greatest revolution which ever has or ever
will take place on earth. This is the great revolution mentioned by the
Prophet, in which every mountain and hill (the high ones) should be brought
low, and the valleys (humble ones) be exalted, bringing all humanity to a
common level as a preparation for the righteous reign of the Lord's Anointed. Each
of the previous plagues has tended toward this end, and this last results in
the utter overthrow of the triple alliance or association between the Beast
(Papacy), the False Prophet (other religious systems teaching error), and the
Dragon (civil power), shown under the sixth plague.
The Great City here evidently
represents these united three elements which attempted in union to rule over or
control the world. This union and power will continue for awhile, but, as here
shown, they will again separate--be divided into three parts. Seeing that their
alliance and mutual support has failed to control and keep subject the restless
and turbulent masses, each will attempt to adopt an individual policy in their
effort to adjust and settle society. But their efforts will be fruitless, and
will only hasten the crisis of the hour. As a consequence, we read: "The
city of the nations fell down."
But, though the kingdoms shall fall,
the religious element of the union shall not escape. Under the name Babylon
they all seem to be included (as elsewhere), saying, "Babylon the great
was remembered before God, to have given her the cup of the wine of the
indignation of the wrath" (verse 19). This signifies that the fiercest of
the trouble--the wine or extract of the wrath--will be upon the Babylon systems
more than upon the political division. "And every ISLAND fled and no
MOUNTAINS were found." (verse 20.) [Islands seem to symbolize Republican
governments--organizations of people slightly above the "sea" level.]
This would be the natural result of the overthrow of monarchies or kingdoms,
symbolically called mountains, as indicated in Psa. 97:5. "The
hills (literal, mountains) melted and flowed down like wax at the PRESENCE OF
THE LORD, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth." This is a
grandly expressive illustration of the passing away of earth's dominion. In
this day of the Lord-- the day of His presence, the day of the establishment of
his kingdom in the earth--some of the mountains [kingdoms] will melt, or
gradually come down to the level of the people, by the fire and great heat,
caused by increase of truth and knowledge, while others remaining firm will be
overwhelmed--by the "sea" --in revolutions. This last form is
described in Psalm 46, which seems to give a complete
picture of this seventh plague. It reads thus: "God is our refuge and
strength, a very present help in trouble; therefore will we not fear though the
earth [society] be removed, and though the mountains [kingdoms] be carried into
the midst of the sea [overthrown by the ungovernable masses]: Though the waters
thereof roar and be troubled [in great commotion], though the mountains shake
with the swellings thereof." Then follows a more literal statement of the
same things. (verse 6.) "The heathen [lit. Gentiles] raged, the kingdoms
were moved; he uttered his voice, the earth melted."
While kingdoms [mountains] shall
give place to republics, [islands] so the islands in due time shall also flee
away, as we find it here recorded. (Rev. 16:20.) That is,
the spirit of liberty will overleap all bounds and order, and end in anarchy. But
notice that when the republics are swept away, it will be after kingdoms have
all been overturned, as indicated by the expression--"No mountains were
found."
It is in a similar manner that the
Master speaks of the "sea and waves roaring" as the beginning of
trouble and cause of fear. And Peter refers to this time of trouble, which
shall burn as an oven, as the time when the earth and all earthly elements
shall be consumed and give place to a new earth [society] and new heavens
[government], then there shall be no more sea [people not religiously
restrained]. "And a great HAIL, as if weighing a talent, comes down from
heaven on men; and men blasphemed God on account of the plague of the hail,
because the plague of it is exceedingly great." (Verse 21.)
Hail is solidified water. If water
or rain, causing fruitfulness and refreshing to earth, be a symbol of truth,
refreshing and causing gracious fruits in humanity, then hail must signify truth
delivered in such a way as to be dangerously destructive to things with which
it comes in conflict. These will be heavy--a talent each--about the weight of a
man --sufficient to break down everything before it. This recalls the symbolic
use of this same word by Isaiah "And the hail shall sweep away the refuge
of lies and the waters (truth) shall overflow the hiding place." (Isa. 28:17). Untruth --error--falsity, is the bane of the
world, and the time of trouble would be incomplete, and the world still
unprepared for the reign of righteousness, were it not for this hail. Recalling
a similar plague which came literally upon Egypt, we find that it injured only
those Egyptians who had not respect to the words of Jehovah (See Exod. 9:19-21); and we may safely reckon the same of this
symbolic hail; it will smite down and subdue only those who are in opposition
to it, and that for their good.
We need not suppose that this hail
comes last, for in giving an account something must be mentioned last if all
occurred simultaneously. These various things described will occur, or be in
process at once--voices, thunderings, hail and lightning among the people,
causing the earthquake, fall of Babylon, and mountains, etc. This is more than
hinted at, in the fact that these same events, mentioned under the seventh seal
and seventh trumpet, are mentioned indiscriminately as one event.
The hail, be it remembered, "comes
down from heaven": heaven, as already defined, symbolizes spiritual
powers, but not any longer corrupt and vitiated spiritual powers, for these
have passed away. Babylon has been cast as a millstone into the "sea"
to rise no more. This is the new "heavens" which shall gradually take
the place of the old, which is to "pass away with a great noise" or
tumult--voices, thunderings, &c. Yes, thank God, he that in verse 15announces
his presence as a thief will have not only broken down the kingdoms of the
present, but will also have set up that kingdom for which our Lord taught us to
pray: Thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth as in heaven. "Sing unto
the Lord, O ye saints of his, and give thanks at the remembrance of his
holiness; for his anger endureth but a moment; in his favor is life: weeping
may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning." (Psa.
30:4,5).
"Blessed be his glorious name
forever; and let the whole earth be filled with his glory. Amen and Amen."
W.T. R-511 a : page 7 – 1883 r.