5. THE SEVENTH PLAGUE--THE END OF TIME Revelation 16:17-21 17 And the seventh poured out his bowl upon the air; --Other bowls were poured out upon the earth, sea, rivers, and sun. This one upon the air may be designed to show that by affecting all major parts of the material universe the complete and final overthrow of wickedness is indicated by the plagues. In Ephesians 2:2 Satan is represented as the "prince of the powers of the air." From this some expositors conclude that Satan's defeat is the thing specifically meant. That idea, of course, is included in the other view. At any rate, this plague briefly describes the final struggle, and therefore brings the end of time. This is clearly indicated by the expression, "It is done," and the announcement in Revelation 15:1 that the seven plagues will finish the wrath of God. The language of the paragraph harmonizes with this thought. and there came forth a great voice out of the temple, from the throne, saying, It is done:--This voice which John heard coming out of the temple and from the throne shows that it was God announcing the time of the end. It was so certain to occur that it was announced as if already done. This is an example of the past being used prophetically for the future. See Romans 4:17. 18 and there were lightnings, 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.--After the great voice announced "it is done," John heard voices, thunders, and the rumblings of the earthquake which, he said, would be greater than any that had ever been before. The scene was lighted up with the flashes of lightnings. Such a commotion of natural elements would fittingly indicate the end of the material world, and symbolize the destruction of that part of the religious world under the control of Satan. The end of the world could hardly be described in more forceful words. The scene will be one to strike terror to all wicked hearts. 19 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.--Babylon being mentioned in the latter part of the verse indicates that the "great city" refers to Babylon. John saw, in the vision, the city divided into three parts. Since the symbol refers to the end of the world, and consequently the destruction of spiritual Babylon also, then the three-part division of the city could hardly signify anything more than the complete destruction of the papal church, the number three indicating fullness. With this view the cities of the nations would mean all lesser religious bodies that help to make up the sum total of false doctrines. They, too, will come to an end. Ancient Babylon persecuted God's people and in turn was destroyed; so spiritual Babylon has persecuted God's church since the apostasy arose and must be destroyed. God's fierce wrath must in due time be poured out upon her. 20 And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found.--This is but a part of the picture which John saw, and graphically portrays another feature of the final change at the end of time. 21 And great hail, every stone about the weight of a talent, cometh down out of heaven upon men:--This may be said in allusion to one of the plagues in Egypt. (Exodus 9:22-26.) This indicates that the distress and torment of that day will be terrible. Hail of such size would produce great sufferings, and be terrifying in the extreme. Such undoubtedly will be the case when the awful scenes of the day of God's wrath appear. and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof is exceeding great.--The wailing and blaspheming of the wicked at the judgment will do no good ; it will be too late to reform and serve God. This chapter gives this summary statement of a succession of judgments upon wickedness in general, and the apostate papal church in particular. The false religions have been weakened by the earlier plagues, but the final overthrow, briefly depicted in the paragraph, will occur at the coming of the Lord. That which has been but barely hinted at here will be more fully described in the following chapters. LESSON 20. THE SEVEN BOWLS OF WRATH Read Rev. 15 and 16 1. What great and marvelous sign was seen in heaven? Ans. Revelation 15:1. 2. Who was seen standing by the sea of glass? Ans. Revelation 15:2. 3. What song did they sing? Ans. Revelation 15:3-4. 4. What was opened in heaven? Ans. Revelation 15:5. 5. Who came out from the temple? Ans. Revelation 15:6. 6. What did one of the four living creatures give to the seven angels? Ans. Revelation 15:7. 7. With what was the temple filled? Ans. Revelation 15:8. 8. What were the seven angels told to do? Ans. Revelation 16:1. 9. Tell what happened when the first bowl was poured out. Ans. Revelation 16:2. 10. How was the sea affected by the pouring out of the second vial? Ans. Revelation 16:3. 11. Into what was the third bowl poured? Ans. Revelation 16:4. 12. What did the "angel of the waters" say? Ans. Revelation 16:5-6. 13. What statement came from the altar? Ans. Revelation 16:7. 14. Tell of the pouring out of the fourth bowl. Ans. Revelation 16:8-9. 15. On what was the fifth bowl poured, and what effect did it have? Ans. Revelation 16:10-11. 16. On what was the sixth bowl poured? Ans. Revelation 16:12. 17. What came out of the mouths of the dragon, the beast and the false prophet? Ans. Revelation 16:13. 18. Who were these "spirits"? Ans. Revelation 16:14. 19. For what great battle were they preparing? Ans. Revelation 16:16. 20. What timely admonition is given here? Ans. Revelation 16:15. 21. Tell all that occurred at the pouring out of the seventh bowl of wrath. Ans. Revelation 16:17-21.