(3) Back to WHO POURS THE BOWLS:

There is in Chapter 17:1 a VERY IMPORTANT message. In it we see “ONE OF THE ANGELS WHO HAD THE SEVEN VIALS” who comes to TALK WITH JOHN. In Revelation John represents the church in the flesh, this side of the veil. So, it is clear that the angels who pour the bowls ARE NOT the feet members of the church in the flesh.  This angel who is talking to John stays around to talk to John for the rest of the book of Revelation. He is John’s constant instructor and companion from the harvest time onward. He is a MAN (originally) — see Rev 22:17.

He explains MANY things to the John class including the apostasy (in Chapter 17), the New Jerusalem (in Chapter 21), the Great Company (in Chapter 19), and etc. He is a FELLOW SERVANT of John whom the John class tends to worship (improperly) – see Rev 19:10 and 22:9.

This last is a fact as some of the brethren tended to regard the Pastor a little more highly than they ought to have, considering him not only a great teacher, but a prophet as well (although in a sense he was, especially if you are familiar with some of his statements made in the late 1800’s regarding what he foresaw happening in the future, viz., the great war, the advent of socialism, communism, the supposed upholders of the law, i.e., politicians law makers, becoming law breakers themselves).

When we read ALL that this angel tells John, the conclusion is inescapable: this angel (who is one of the seven who pour the bowls) is Brother Russell glorified (beyond the veil). It seems, then ONLY REASONABLE to conclude that the other six who pour the bowls are the other six messengers to the church – after their glorification.

So, the angels who pour the bowls are NOT the church in the flesh (or even in the spirit), but are, indeed seven faithful individuals whom the Lord has held in his right hand (Rev 1:20). And, as we have seen, the identity is made even more secure in that these seven who trumpeted during the age trumpeted at the same targets as those upon which the plagues are poured. So then, the seven messengers to the church are the seven trumpeters and are (in their glorified state) the pourers of the bowls.

CONCLUSIONS about WHO POURS:

The seven glorified messengers pour (Rev 15:6; 17:1)

The glorified saints participate (Rev 14:8; 15:2-4; 14:13)

The un-glorified saints (the saints this side of the veil) endure it all in their patience (Rev 14:8-12), but also FIGHT WITH the others in truth proclamation (Rev 19:14)

The Great Company will help in throwing the grapes (the tares) into the vat (Rev 14:18, 19), because AT THAT TIME the church will have been completed, ALL gone beyond the veil (Rev 14:16; 16:17)

In our next post we will consider some of the evidence in support of the view that the plagues are future.