end of probation

The Apocalyptic Plagues

Revelation, chapters 15 and 16

“And I saw another sign in heaven, great and wonderful: seven angels having the last seven plagues; for with them the wrath of God is finished.” (Rev. 15,1:XNUMX)

This account speaks of two things: the final plagues and the wrath of God coming to an end. A legitimate question might be asked: “Why would a human being need to know this message?”

Various great events, especially those of vital importance, are foretold in the Bible; also confirmed by the sound of a trumpet. Those in which something is coming to an end are needed very urgently. What dangerous message is there in the Bible that we should warn loudly beforehand with all seriousness?

The text above speaks about the consummation of God's wrath. The gospel message, the Good News, is a package whose contents consist of several components. The basic element is the immeasurable love of God. In this love, God did everything to make possible a harmonious, peaceful life without violence and tears. This is why God instituted the moral law and commanded its observance. The consequences of not complying with this are automatically included. Violation of these regulations will result in judgment, which can be accompanied by wrath!

The loving God even sacrificed His own Son to give the repentant and obedient people a chance to continue living. However, against those who have caused so much untold suffering by violating this moral law, the wrath of God is entirely legitimate and justly appropriate.

God, in His great love, caused a proclamation of the saving message before every execution of His judgment. It is obvious that at some point a very final warning will come. The opening verse speaks about this. In Advent theology, this proclamation is referred to as the so-called “loud call”. This Loud Call is a loud repetition of the well-known “Three Angels’ Message,” supplemented with the temporally increasing light of God’s present truth.

The book of Revelation also speaks of a present truth that is either already happening or will happen in the not too distant future. It speaks of plagues of God's wrath. The entire 16th chapter is dedicated to these plagues, where they are explained in detail with the reasons. In this elaboration, attention is primarily devoted to the sixth and seventh plagues.

It should be noted that the first six plagues are still mixed with the grace of God, and that grace ends forever only with the seventh plague. This fact is made clear in verses 9 and 11 with the expression: “And the people did not repent!” If the possibility of repentance did not exist, this accusation would be unfounded. So the period of grace must still exist at this time.

It should be noted that the effects of the first five plagues cannot last long and cannot all be cast on the same area at the same time. The impact of each plague is so devastating that no human being would survive it. The Lord Jesus would then come to a dead world. Accordingly, it is reasonable to assume that the plagues will only last for around seven days.

Consequently, the sixth plague is not easy to understand and therefore the interpretation is not entirely simple. It is divided into four verses in which something is to be understood literally and something is to be understood symbolically.

Verse 12 reads: “And the sixth (angel) poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and its waters dried up, that the way of kings might be prepared from the sunrise.”

With today's technology, crossing a stream is not a major obstacle; even a stream can hardly dry up. So both are to be understood symbolically here. In biblical symbolism, water means a people or a nation. So this is a people who settle around the river Euphrates.

Verses 13 and 14 read: “And I saw coming out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits, like frogs; For they are spirits of demons, performing signs, going out to the kings of all the world to gather them together for the war of the great day of God Almighty.” (Rev. 16,13.14:XNUMX, XNUMX)

The core of this statement lies in the activity of three frogs. A frog is known in recent history as a symbol of propaganda. The posters showed frogs with the heads of famous politicians speaking combatively and provocatively in front of a microphone. Verse 16 reads: “And he gathered them together to the place called Armageddon in Hebrew.” One can hardly interpret the place “Armageddon” symbolically, for this would only lead to a lot of speculation. So this remains to be examined geographically. Because the comment says “in Hebrew,” there is actually a place in Israel called Armageddon. It is a very large plain near Mount Megiddo in northern Israel.

Since Armageddon is a world war, it is impossible that such a large army could fit in this location. With today's warfare, where there is one war center, the rest are scattered far and wide, it is completely realistic.

These three verses (13-14-16) play a very important role - a task that reflects the incomprehensible love of God. Through the fulfillment of this prophecy, an orientation is possible for the time of the imminent coming of the Lord Jesus to our earth.

The following 15th verse confirms it: “Behold, I come like a thief. Blessed is the one who watches and keeps his garments, lest he go about naked and his shame not be seen!” This verse reveals the purpose of this entire prophecy. At the last minute, it is intended to shake people up to change their minds, because with the seventh plague God's grace finally ends!

Verse 17 reads: “And the seventh (angel) poured out his vial into the air; and there came a loud voice out of the temple from the throne, saying, It is done/done!"

Verses 18-21 read: “And there came lightnings, and voices, and thunders; and a great earthquake occurred, such as has not occurred since man was on the earth, such a mighty, so great earthquake. And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell, and the great city of Babylon (Rome) was remembered before God to give her the cup of the wine of the fury of his wrath. And every island disappeared, and mountains were not found. And a great hail, as heavy as a hundredweight, falls from heaven on the people; and men blasphemed God because of the plague of hail, for the plague thereof is very great” (Revelation 16,18:21-XNUMX).

With these last seven plagues, God's wrath and mercy for the sinner ends!

“Don’t forget: I come as unexpectedly as a thief,” says the Lord. “Blessed is the one who stays awake and keeps his clothes on!” Then when I come he won't have to stand there naked and be ashamed." (Revelation 16,15:XNUMX/NGV)