We return now to our third argument against the future-plague view.

(3) A PRACTICAL CONSIDERATION

Many (not all) of the holders of the future-plague position believe that the sealed saints will accomplish the administration of the plagues while in the flesh by a proclamation of harvest truths. As we have seen, however trumpets were for proclamation; plagues are not. Another proclamation would merely be another short-term blowing of the trumpets. No one would listen now any more than they did in the past.

PEOPLE DO NOT REASON IN A CRISIS. Just try to have used logic if you had just stepped off the cattle car at Auschwitz. Certainly, the Nazi officer wouldn’t have listened! And the others standing in line to be gassed would have other things on their minds!  To think that a 12-month concentrated presentation of logical harvest truth will make a dent in a confused and scared world seems unreasonable. If we look at the first advent, the truths spoken by John the Baptist and from our Lord were not the cause of Israel’s destruction. The Roman’s destroyed Israel — and neither they nor the Israelite’s stood around to hear logical presentations of pertinent truths. If people will not listen to the truth now, they surely will not listen as all the world is collapsing around them.

It is true (in a fine sense) that “plagues” are truths; but it is not truth that is noticed, it is the bowl of anger that is noticed. I can tell a person that the water is very hot; and that person may just pass off the information lightly. If, however, I take a bowl and spill boiling water on that person, his attention will be guaranteed. And at that moment it is unlikely that he will rationally be reasoning with me on the definition of hot water. The trumpets spread the truths in the past; there is no point in blowing them again. The plagues will now spread them FORCIBLY by or through specific events – not by the church’s explaining them!

(4) SMOKE – Rev 15:8

“The temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from His power, and no one was able to enter the temple till the seven plagues of the seven angels were completed.”

We have not discussed the last verse of Revelation Chapter 15. The timing of the Most Holy filling with smoke is subject to interpretation.

The discussion of the possibilities and pertinent Scriptures would be a discourse in itself. But, in short, there are three positions among various brethren.

(a) Some believe that the event refers to 1878 when the sleeping saints entered the Most Holy.

(b) Some hold that the symbolism refers to the time in the future when all 144,000 have gone beyond the vail.

(c) Most future-plague proponents feel that it refers to the time that the church is complete, but not all beyond the vail, glorified.

The timing of course is important because in 15:8 the plagues FOLLOW the filling of the Most Holy with smoke.

We believe (and must do so to be consistent with a progressive plague view) that the symbolic filling with smoke happened in 1878.

It is interesting to compare this verse with Rev 11:19

“Then the temple of God was opened in heaven, and the ark of His covenant was seen in His temple. And there were lightnings, noises, thunderings, an earthquake, and great hail.”

(Please read verses 15-19 for proper context.)

Verse 19 seems to be a one verse summary of Chapters 15 and 16. It shows that the Most Holy was opened (to understanding) during the ministry of the seventh angel (Brother Russell). The Most Holy, of course symbolizes (among other things) the Divine Nature and the functions of the office of the Christ.

Verse 19 shows us that when Brother Russell opened our view into the antitypical Most Holy, we saw the ARK OF THE COVENANT – that is, we understood the New Covenant concept. We understood at last how it would function in the fulfillment of the Abrahamic Covenant promises.

Then Verse 19 shows that immediately following that revealing comes the plagues – here summarized as lightnings, voices, thunderings, earthquake, and hail (much like the elements in the 7th plague). This opening of the Most Holy is very similar to Rev 15:5.

“After these things I looked, and behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened.”

Rev 15:8 seems to say: ‘There can no man take advantage of the New Covenant arrangement until my wrath is past – until the plagues have taken care of removing the old order.’

Without going into the various arguments as to when the smoke occurs, we will just simply deal with the three views superficially now:

If what we have presented so far is true, the 1878 smoke is the only possible interpretations because:

(1) There is NO indication that the plagues are poured when the whole church is gone – which would be necessary if the smoke comes when all are glorified;

(2) If Rev 18:4 is true as explained (in Part 2 of this study), the plagues ARE NOT future, and since they cannot BEGIN until the smoke comes, the smoke must have already have come and will not await the sealing of the church yet in the flesh.

We conclude with the final two arguments against the future-plague view in our next post.