THE STORY OF THE
"SEVEN LAST PLAGUES"

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Part I   Another Sign in Heaven   Victory Over the Beast and Image   Two Songs of Moses   The "Image" Becomes History

Part II   The Temple and the Tabernacle   Seven Angels   Golden Bowls    Filled with God's Glory The Tabernacle Solomon's Temple Ezekiel's Temple

Part III 7 Last Plagues 1st Plague 2nd Plague 3rd Plague 4th Plague 5th Plague 6th Plague 7th Plague

Part IV Who Pours the Bowls Fall of Jericho The Elijah Type

PART IV

Who Pours the Bowls?

     Now the question—
    Who pours out the "vials [bowls]" containing the "seven plagues" of Revelation?

    Revelation says the "seven angels" pour out their "vials" or bowls. The "seven angels" are in all probability seven messages, which contain "plague" producing truths. A message cannot pour itself out. The language is veiled here for a good reason.
    One thing is certain—it is not the Great Company who pours out the "plagues." The "seven angels" come out of the "Temple." The Great Company is not a part of the "Temple." One reason some may feel it is the Great Company is because they feel that when the "Temple" is filled with God’s glory, then all the saints are on the other side of the veil.
    In some places Bro. Russell expressed that view. However, on Reprint 5714 he says regarding Solomon's Temple which was dedicated while still incomplete: "The fact that the typical Temple was filled with the glory of the Lord before it was entirely completed seems to imply that at this present time there will be some manifestation of God's favor toward His church in glorification while yet the work of construction is not quite finished."
    We understand this to allow for some saints to be on this side of the veil when God's glory fills His "Temple."

    In Ezekiel's "temple," God's glory fills the "Temple" when the Lord enters through the "East Gate" and then later, when the Lord enters through the "North Gate." This seems to indicate two stages of glory.
            (1) With some sealed saints still on this side of the veil.
            (2) When all the saints are glorified.

    Revelation 19 speaks of our Lord appearing on a "white horse" to judge and make war. He is said to have "armies" (plural) in heaven in "fine linen" who also follow him on "white horses." Bro. Russell observed in order for there to be "armies" (plural), there would need to be at least two parts—one on this side of the veil and one on the other.
    When the war does ensue, the papal "beast" and the "kings of the earth" make war against his "army" (singular). They apparently attack the weakest flank, the saints on this side of the veil. See Revelation 19:11-20; Reprint 5451.
    Revelation 16 leaves the impression that the "seven angels" or seven messages go forth themselves with the bowls without any active agent. Why? There is good reason for this. In Revelation 15:6 we read again:

"And the seven angels [messages] came out of the Temple, having the seven plagues, clothed in pure and white linen, and having their breasts girded with golden girdles [divine servitude]."

     The whole "Temple" class takes responsibility for pouring out these judgmental "plagues."
    The Scriptures credit only the "Temple" and its Lord for delivering these awesome "plagues." The messages come out of the "Temple." The whole church or "Temple" class takes responsibility for this, as we read in Psalms 149:5-9: 

"Let the saints be joyful in glory: let them sing aloud upon their beds [on their beds of faith].

"Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hand;

"To execute vengeance upon the heathen, and punishments upon the people;

"To bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron;

"To execute upon them the judgment written: this honor have all his saints. Praise ye the Lord"

    Bro. Russell applies these verses to the saints on this side of the veil. (Reprint 5631; 5451; Question Book, 387.)
    The whole "Temple" class, under the supervision of our Lord and Head, directs these seven last messages which contain the seven last "plagues." Only the Lord's army on this side of the veil will act as mouthpieces. But solidly behind them is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords and all the other "Temple" members in glory.
    This will be the first time the whole "Temple" class will act as one body. So it is a great moment in God's plan. Thereafter, the whole body will always act in unison.

Gideon's Band

    The evidence seems to indicate that a small body of "sealed saints" will represent the whole "Temple" class in glory "pouring out the seven last "plagues" that "fill up the wrath of God." Gideon's band of 300 will be sufficient for the job on this side of the veil.

How Does the Fall of Jericho
Fit into the Prophetic Picture?

    The fall of Jericho is surely a type. How does it fit into the picture of the seven "last plagues"? For six days the priests and the mighty men of valor circled Jericho once each day while the priests blew "seven rams' horns." (Joshua 6:3-16)
    On the seventh day the priests went around seven times blowing the "rams' horns." On the final lap, all shouted and the wall fell. Some have applied these "seven days" to the whole Gospel Age, trying to show how each of the priests [saints] circled Jericho, representing the six stages of the Gospel church.   Then on the seventh Millennial Day Jericho was circled and fell, representing Babylon's fall resulting from the "seven last plagues."
    This view has a major mathematical problem. It does not parallel the Revelation scenario. Jericho had 6 + 7 = 13 circlings. This is an odd number and does not match Revelation with its "seven trumpets" blown during the seven stages of the Church with an additional "seven vials [bowls]" being poured out in the seventh period. Revelation has a perfect sequence of 7 "trumpets" + 7 "vials [bowls]" = 14.

Fall of Jericho

 

      Several other problems exist with applying the Jericho type throughout the age.
    First, antitypical "Jericho" did not emerge until the time when the Roman Emperor Constantine made Christianity the religion of the state. The "mystery of iniquity" was at work in the Church but had not emerged as a power. You cannot "circle" something that is within. The antichrist element was still very much inside the Christian Church in the first two stages.
    The second problem of applying the circling of "Jericho" during the six periods of the Church gives the impression that the Lord spent the whole Gospel Age trying to defeat this cursed city. The facts indicate that the antichrist system bloodied the true Church during a good part of this time. The Lord's conquest would be much too long here.
     The third problem is that the "seven trumpets" of Revelation are not identified with "days." Only the "seventh trumpet" speaks of days, saying, "In the days [years] of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished." (Revelation 10:7) The "seven day" siege of Jericho, if we follow the Bible standard of a day for a year, would limit events to seven literal years. This is more likely the case. Let us consider another possible scenario which provides for 6 + 7 = 13.
    Is it possible that the siege of antitypical Jericho lasted 7 days (a day for a year would be seven years)? Were this the case, for six of those years the "sealed" saints would give forth a trumpet message of truth, perhaps akin to six of the last plagues. This would cause antitypical "Jericho" to be holding up in the city for fear. In the last year the saints would deliver all "seven vials [bowls]" which would include the "seventh vial [plague]" poured out on the "air." This would fit a 6 + 7 = 13 required here.
    If this has any merit, the Jericho type would provide an additional insight concerning the saints at the very end. It would open a window of insight concerning six years of activity before the seventh year enables them to "pour out" the "seven vials [bowls]."

Noah's Ark

 

    Noah had "seven days" notice before the flood came (Genesis 7:4). Also it was the Lord that "shut him in" the ark, closing the door (Genesis 7:16). Could this indicate a seven-year period in which the saints on this side the vail are "sealed"? This type provides "seven years" in which the antitypical "ark" is entered and the "door closed" by the Lord (Genesis 7:16).

The Elijah Type

    One last observation of the Elijah type may provide food for thought. Elijah's closing experiences seem to compliment that of the "seven last plagues" of Revelation. Elijah in the last seven experiences that ended his career seems to typify the "seven last plagues."
    In 2 Kings 1:9-16, Elijah is shown in a very strong militant posture. King Ahaziah wished to apprehend Elijah. He sent a captain with fifty soldiers to bring him in. Elijah used the first two endeavors to take him, to prove he was a "man of God" by calling fire down from heaven, which consumed both captains with their soldiers. The third captain and his fifty came, pleading for Elijah to spare them and he did. His position as a "man of God" had been established. He went with them and pronounced the king would die.
    Then Elisha accompanied Elijah to Gilgal. It was here that Elijah first suggested to Elisha, "Tarry here … for the Lord hath sent me to Bethel." (2 Kings 2:1-11) At Gilgal came the first suggestion that they should separate. Elijah was first sent to Bethel. Of course, Elisha refused to leave Elijah. When they arrived at Bethel, the "sons of the prophets" met Elisha and asked if he knew that the Lord would "take away thy master from thy head today?" He answered, "Yea, I know it." The sons of the prophets and Elisha both knew of Elijah's imminent departure.
    The Lord commanded Elijah to go to Jericho and Elijah again suggested that Elisha stay behind. He refused again. At Jericho, the sons of the prophets met Elisha again with the same question, and they got the same answer.
    Next, Elijah was sent to Jordan and again suggested to Elisha "Tarry here." Three times Elisha was encouraged to stay behind. This occurred as Elijah is sent to three places—Bethel, Jericho and Jordan. This is not repeated at Jordan. They proceed together until a "chariot of fire" parts them. The fourth place was the point of Elijah’s departure in the "whirlwind." 2 Kings. 2:11

Elijah's Chariot

 

    From the foregoing it appears that in the first three judgments (2 Kings 1:9-16), Elijah was established as a "man of God." These compare favorably with the first three plagues of Revelation. The king knew of the "spirit and power of Elijah," as did his soldiers, as did Elisha and as did the sons of the prophets. A lot of people had this knowledge.
    The next three judgments compare to "plagues" four to six. The terminal point of Elijah’s journey was east of the Jordan where the Lord "would take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind" (2 Kings. 2:1). That was what the journey was all about.
    The first three "plagues" of Revelation would be to establish the saints as "men of God." The last four "plagues" would accomplish God's purpose to "take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind." 2 Kings 2:1

Click to go to the following:

   More Information on Elijah

Topical Studies on:
The Seven Last Plagues Part I - Part II - Part III - Part IV

CHAPTER/VERSE BY VERSE STUDY ON THE SEVEN LAST PLAGUES:
Revelation 16

Topical Study Home Page - Chapter Study Home Page  
- Sinaitic Manuscript - Questions - Glossary.

E-Mail Day7000@sbcglobal.net  with comments.

Copyright 2001 John Class