Rev 16:2-4, 8, 10, 12, 17 | PNT | STEP | THE FIRST VIAL. And the first went, and poured out his vial upon the earth . John sees the vial poured out, and marks its effect; very grievous ulcers fall upon men; that is, upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and [upon] them who worshipped his image . Those who suffer are those who listen to the lamb-like dragon, the anti-Christ, the false spiritual power, or, as has been found in chapter 14, the votaries of Rome.

Revelation of John 16:2-4

THE FIRST VIAL.

And the first went, and poured out his vial upon the earth. John sees the vial poured out, and marks its effect; very grievous ulcers fall upon men; that is, upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and [upon] them who worshipped his image. Those who suffer are those who listen to the lamb-like dragon, the anti-Christ, the false spiritual power, or, as has been found in chapter 14, the votaries of Rome. THE SECOND VIAL.

And the second angel poured out his vial upon the sea. The first calamity has been upon the earth; the second is upon the ocean. The second angel pours his vial upon the sea. Then the waters become red as blood and in the great mortality that follows it seems to John as if every soul in the sea was dead. THE THIRD VIAL.

And the third angel poured out his vial. John sees the third "vial poured upon the rivers and fountain of waters; and they become blood".

Revelation of John 16:8

THE FOURTH VIAL.

The fourth poured out his vial on the sun. Since these vials of the wrath of God are "poured into the earth" (Re 16:1), the sun must be used as a symbol. It is a symbol of a supreme ruler--a ruler or king. Any one who becomes a great light and occupies a pre-eminent position, may be indicated by this symbol. The Savior is described as the Sun of Righteousness (Mal 4:2). In the dream of Joseph, his father Jacob, the patriarchal ruler, is represented by the sun (Ge 37:9,10). Among the orientals it is the well-known symbol of a king or ruler.

And power was given unto him to scorch men with fire. The fourth vial is poured upon this sun, and power is given it to scorch men with fire. Fire, the instrument of bitter pain, is a symbol of suffering.

Revelation of John 16:10

THE FIFTH VIAL.

The fifth angel poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast. By "the throne of the beast" (Revised Version) must be meant the seat of his power.

Revelation of John 16:12

THE SIXTH VIAL.

And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river

Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up. The angel of the sixth trumpet is connected with the river Euphrates (Re 9:14). There a movement is symbolized which ends in the overthrow of the Eastern Roman Empire, the old Roman world power. Here a movement is probably signified which will work to the same end in the case of the Roman dominion revived in the Papal world power. The river Euphrates was the seat of the great city which once oppressed Israel and carried God's people into captivity. It was taken by Cyrus, God's chosen agent, and the means employed was the drying up of the Euphrates. Cyrus turned the river, which ran through the city, unto new channels, dried up the old bed, then marched in this bed under the walls where they crossed the river on arches, and took the city. In some way the drying up of the Euphrates shall overthrow, or tend to overthrow, spiritual Babylon. Possibly this may be accomplished by the exhaustion of the resources of that power. The nations which once supplied them have been falling away.

That the way might of the kings of the east might be prepared. In the infancy of the Christ, the wise men of the East, also called kings in the Psalms, came to offer homage to the kingly child. The prophecy implies that when this obstacle is removed, the way of the inhabitants shall be opened. The drying up of the Euphrates will, in some manner, open the way for those that are signified to come to Christ, as those of the old did to the manger.

Revelation of John 16:17

THE SEVENTH VIAL.

And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air. From Paul, we learn that the air is the region of the power of evil (Eph 2:2). The fifth vial was poured upon the seat of the beast (Re 16:12); the seventh on the seat of the dragon.

And there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne. The voice so often heard but not seen. Whether the divine voice or not, it speaks the divine will.

Saying, It is done. It is finished. The work is complete. The seventh vial brings the work to an end.