Revelation Chapter 16

VERSES 17-21 “And the seventh (angel) poured out his bowl upon the air; and there came forth a great voice out of the temple, from the throne, saying, it is done: and there were lightning’s, and voices, and thunders; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since there were men upon the earth, so great an earthquake, so mighty. And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and Babylon the great was remembered in the sight of God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath. And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. And great hail, [every stone] about the weight of a talent, comes down out of heaven upon men: and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof is exceeding great.”

The Seventh angel was Charles Taze Russell

“It is interesting to note that in all of the seven messages to the various churches the direction from the Lord is “To the angel … write.” It is as if the angel himself, more than the church, needs to know (or understand) the message first. Historically the angels seem very much to have acted and preached based on the content of the various messages. It is not, of course, that these messages were not written specifically to the churches themselves, but rather that they are to the churches THROUGH the angels.

Thus, it seems evident that without first recognizing specifically WHO THE ANGEL WAS and what he was given in the way of understanding, the (True) Church could not have ever hoped to have received the message which was given.” It is not for us to question the Lord’s choices of the various messengers to whom he has chosen to use to distribute “meat in due season” to the Household of Faith, but rather it is for us as faithful followers to humbly accept his choice as being far wiser than anything that we could have conceived.

THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT POINT

It is another instance in which your faith is being tried and proven, tested to see if you are willing to accept God’s choice as being both superior to your own and to that of the majority of professing Christens, even though said acceptance may bring upon you ridicule from family, friends and fellow believers.

For further insight on this issue please see our blog post under “How to study the book of Revelation”:

Part 22, “QUALIFICATIONS for BEING ONE of the SEVEN ANGELS”

Part 25, “One of the Seven Messengers to the Church”

VERSE 17 — AND THE SEVENTH ANGEL POURED OUT HIS BOWL ON THE AIR:

The AIR, of course, is a symbol of spiritual control (Eph. 2:2). This plague will DISRUPT and FOIL the plans, which the demons instituted in the sixth plague. This plague (the Seventh) IS ARMAGEDDON — the destruction of the mountain (Zech. 4:7; Matt. 21:21) what it will fully consist of is yet to be seen.

AND A LOUD VOICE: — an important announcement of an important event.

CAME OUT OF THE TEMPLE: — out of God’s plan; out of the Most Holy condition

FROM THE THRONE:

The temple has no throne. The mixed symbolism is apparently to show us how important this announcement is. It is LOUD; it is part of God’s plan (temple); it is from the Most Holy (Rev 15:5); and it is The Throne — THE Authority, God Himself. This all gives special weight to the next three words, the announcement itself:

IT IS DONE:

There is much speculation as to what “it” is. But all saints must feel instinctively what is meant. This is so close to Jesus’ own words on the cross when His sacrifice was completed. This “IT IS DONE” is surely the glorification of the last members of the body.

What else demands the LOUD VOICE from THE THRONE?

Other things (Verses 18-21) are NOT DONE at this point. These three little words are among the most blessed in the Bible.

The things that occur from now on CAN occur BECAUSE the Church is gone. There is nothing in the way now of the peaceable kingdom save the total disintegration of the old order.

VERSE 18 — AND THERE WERE FLASHES OF LIGHTNING:

This is the first of the collection of symbols portraying the elements, which when combined, will be causing the mass confusion of Armageddon. Lightning is blinding flashes of light. Hence, maddening exposures of truths on many planes (social, economic, political and etc.) will be one of the irritants in the trouble.

AND SOUNDS (or VOICES): All kinds of excuses and explanations will be flying about in regards to these exposed truths (regardless as to whether or not they are accepted as such or not) — all to no avail.

AND PEALS OF THUNDER: Thunder represents controversy. This will be a time when controversy erupts into violence:

AND THERE WAS A GREAT EARTHQUAKE:

Not just an earthquake, BUT A GREAT ONE — the end of the one begun at first during the French Revolution (Rev 11:13) and the same as the one spoken of in Ezekiel.

“For in My jealousy and in the fire of My wrath I have spoken: ‘Surely in that day there shall be a great earthquake in the land of Israel, so that the fish (men) of the sea (the masses of mankind), the birds of the heavens (Satan and the rest of the fallen spirits), the beasts of the field (the Gentile governments), all creeping things that creep on the earth, and all men who are on the face of the earth shall shake at My presence. The mountains shall be thrown down, the steep places shall fall, and every wall (civil power) shall fall to the ground.’” (Ezekiel 38:19, 20)

Another testimony that Babylon’s fall is inseparably linked to Israel’s deliverance.

SUCH AS THERE HAD NOT BEEN SINCE MAN CAME TO BE UPON THE EARTH:

This is to let us know that the word “GREAT” is an insufficient modifier for earthquake. It worked well for the French Revolution when 1/10 tenth of the city (Great Babylon) fell, but the last 9/10 tenths of the city will be a revolution unprecedented.

SO GREAT AN EARTHQUAKE, SO MIGHTY:

Yet more is said to make the impression! Those who think that transition to the peaceable kingdom will be gradual or smooth should take note!

Continued with next post.