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THY WRATH IS COME

 

"Shall I not show you, says the Lord, that which will take place as the seventh trumpet sounds its final blast? For the seventh trumpet is the last, and during its sounding that which I have determined for this age will reach its consumma­tion. What is it, says the Lord? You shall notice that the third woe is connected with the blowing of the seventh trum­pet (Rev. 11:14-15). This third woe does not come at the inception of the seventh trumpet but at its close. The sev­enth trumpet sounds for 3-1/2 years during which all preced­ing six trumpets are consummating their sounding. The first and second woes are fulfilled in the events which transpire as a result of the sounding of the fifth and sixth trumpets, but the third woe is reserved until the very end of the age, as the seventh trumpet issues its final blast. Now consider, says the Lord, and I will reveal to you the fulfillment of the third woe.

 

Is it not written that when the seventh angel sounds his final blast that 'the kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of the Lord, and of his anointed’? (11:15). This requires two things. First, His anointed ones, those who are to make up His glorified Body to rule with Him over the kingdoms of the earth, will have to be received of Him into the heavenly Kingdom. Secondly, all of the opposition to His rule will have to be completely eliminated from the earth, so that He will be received by people who are crying out for His rule and who will welcome His return to take up the reins of government. Consider now and I will show you how this will take place.

 

At the close of the tribulation, just before the seven vials of wrath are poured out on the earth, the sounding of the seventh trumpet shall vibrate to the pitch of those who are to be resurrected to glorified life, and the ‘dead in Christ' shall be raised (I Thess. 4:16'). Then shall the living saints also respond to the trumpet's sounding and be trans­lated to meet the Lord in the air (I Thess. 4:17). Immediate­ly following, the seven vials of wrath are poured out, constituting the fulfillment of the third woe. Now there is a difference, says the Lord, between the end-time judgments which take place in the over-all end-time period under the six trumpets, and the final wrath which is poured out in fury and indignation by the seven vials. The trumpet judgments are designed to bring warning, and incline the hearts of many to righteousness; they are remedial in nature. Cou­pled with a great outpouring of my Spirit, they shall work to move great numbers to repentance and cause them to be born into the Kingdom. But the final vials of wrath are de­signed to sweep clean the earth of all final rebellion and wickedness. When they begin to fall it will be too late for repentance. All who have not cried out to their God in the tribulation period will be destroyed from the earth in the judgments of the seven vials. Speaking of that time the inspired writer exclaims, 'and the nations were angry, and THY WRATH IS COME.' (11:18). With reference to the seven angels who have these seven last plagues, it is said, 'for in them is filled up the wrath of God.' (15:1) and they are instructed to go and 'pour out the vials of the wrath of God on the earth.' (16:1).

 

It has already been pointed out that the seven vials of wrath come only after the saints have been translated and 'caught up' to be with the Lord. This is pictured in the vis­ion which John saw of those who were standing on a 'sea of glass' and singing the 'song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb.' (15:2-3). The ‘song of Moses' was sung by the Israelites after they have been completely delivered OUT OFEgypt and from the power of Pharaoh. Egypt is a type of this world. Even so shall I deliver a great host in that day by causing them to be taken out of the world and translated from that which is earthly to that which is heavenly. They shall then be taken into the highest hea­ven and introduced to the Father in the temple of heaven. At the same time the seven angels will be pouring out their vials of wrath upon the earth. This is why the temple is seen as being opened in heaven as these things are ready to be fulfilled (11:19, 15:5). The seven angels with the seven vials are seen coming out of the temple, (15:6) and a voice out of the temple then charges them to begin pouring out their vials of wrath on the earth (16:1). The temple which is opened to emit the final wrath of God is also open to wel­come the redeemed of God. But they are allowed to enter only after the seven plagues have seen their initial fulfill­ment on the earth. (15:8). Thus there will be two suppers taking place at the same time: the marriage supper of the Lamb in the temple in heaven (19:7-9), and the great supper of human flesh on the earth. (19:17-18). The entrance of the redeemed saints into the temple in heaven will be the final fulfillment of the GREAT DAY OF ATONEMENT, as those who have been ‘hid with Christ in God’ (Col. 2:3) shall enter into their full liberty in Christ, being made ready to rule and reign with Him. At the same time the great day of atonement will be fulfilled on earth by the greatest blood bath in human history as the blood of all those who have been martyred for truth's sake is avenged by wrath poured out. (16:6).

 

Now look with me and behold the fulfillment of the seven vials. First, let me show you a mystery, says the Lord. There are seven vials of wrath, even as there are sev­en trumpets. The trumpets announce the beginning of the judgments of your God during the over-all end-time period, but the vials of wrath consummate this judgment period and bring the fullness of the wrath of God on the earth. Now hear: the seven trumpets are closely related to the seven vials. As a matter of fact, the seven vials are a consummat­ing extension of the seven trumpets and actually carry out the final force of their blowing. Thus you will notice a correspondence in symbolism between trumpet one and vial one, trumpet two and vial two, and so on throughout the seven trumpets and seven vials. Now let us look at the first vial in relation to the first trumpet. You have already been shown in a previous prophecy how the first trumpet unleash­ed the fire power of the atom, and how this fire power shall be used mightily to bring great judgment on the earth. It is the full fury of the atom's destruction that is unleashed by the first vial, and it is the various EFFECTS of this destruc­tive power on the inhabitants of the earth that is the pri­mary theme of the entire seven-vials. Think not that the vials of wrath are supernatural outpourings from heaven. They are the result of that which man set in motion, and are the consequence of his wanton disobedience returning on his own head. All the vials are implemented in and through men. It will simply be the overruling providence of your God which will cause the final judgments of wrath to be directed in the places and in the manner that He shall deem fitting.

 

 

 

[the first vial]

 

As the first angel pours his vial of wrath on the earth, it causes 'a foul and loathsome sore on the men which had the mark of the beast, and on them which wor­shipped his image.' (16:2). Is not this the effect of atomic explosion and radiation? Even as those who are seen by John in heaven had gotten the victory over the beast and his im­age (15:2), so those on earth who have upheld the beast and his system shall experience ignoble defeat. Atomic bombs shall be used by several nations in the final battle of the ages. The earth shall reel to and fro under the impact of these immense explosions (Isa. 24:20). Thus it will be ful­filled that I shall destroy those who are destroying the earth (11:18). The word translated 'destroy' would be more accur­ately translated 'corrupt' or 'through-corrupt.' It refers to the contamination of the earth's atmosphere with atomic radiation. Those who have so corrupted or polluted the air, and will do so on a much greater scale by their indiscriminate use of atomic devices and bombs in the final conflict, shall themselves feel the effects of such corruption. Terrible rad­iation sores shall effect all who are not supernaturally pro­tected by the power of God. This is the meaning of the first vial of wrath .  

 

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