We have a study by Frank Walker, a serious bible student, minister and college professor, who was gifted in understanding how different parts of the Bible fit together so people could know when God’s prophecies came to pass. We only know for sure how a prophecy will be fulfilled after it happens. Until then we can believe we understand, but many times we are wrong. After it comes to pass, people can see that the word of the Lord came to pass just as He said it would. Brother Frank passed away several years ago, but his study is still useful for us today.
In this study he explains how the Romans and the Papacy fulfilled some prophecy’s found in the Bible. If you are a member of any church mentioned in this study, DO NOT take this as a condemnation of you. I know many people full of love for God and neighbors that are members of many different churches. Only you can know what your relationship with The Heavenly Father is. We may be surprised to find out that many people from every church will not be saved. Jesus said that people will think they are saved but He will tell them, ‘I never knew you.’
We each should spend each day being sure we are saved and remember that only Heavenly Father decides who is saved. It is our responsibility to choose to love Him because that is what He is looking for. See other articles on this site.
Where Are WE Today?
Frank M. Walker; Deceased
THE SEVEN LAST PLAGUES
Timing is the number one priority, after our personal relationship with God, to properly
understand prophecy. This lesson is another case in point. The current popular view is that
Revelation 16 takes place 2000 years later than when Believers, from the Apostles forward, have taught and preached that the events would take place. 2000 years is quite a difference. Somebody has to be way, way off, this modern, popular belief is now very dominant even within the Church of God 7thDay. It has come into popularity only since the old-time ministers have died off.
The modern (?) belief is that the majority of the Book of Revelation takes place within the Last 7 Years of this world or age in which we live. I put a question mark by the Word modern because this theory (it is not a Bible doctrine, it is a theory) is Just another product of fantasy that was invented by the Catholic Church during the time of the Reformation to take the heat off of them. Why? It is because ALL REFORMERS were pointing to the Catholic Church as the Antichrist, The Papacy had to come up with something to take the heat off of themselves so they presented the fairy-tale (a product of the Jesuit, Francisco Ribera) of a future Antichrist and proceeded to sell it to the population at large. They used an ingenious manipulation and fabrication to twist Daniel 9: 27 into a lie to make their hoax palatable to the Christian world. It is interesting and noteworthy to understand that nobody bought into the lie that they put forth until our modern age. That alone should bring up a red flag and a huge question mark in each of us. The whole story is something that we will take up in a different lesson.
You may ask, So What does this have to do with me? I will just ask you a simple question in return which you will have to answer for yourself! and within yourself. Ask yourself; do you really want to follow a doctrine of belief that is put forward by the anti-Christ?
In this study we will take the position of LUTHER, CALVIN, TYNDALE, ZWINGLI, KNOX,
WYCLIFFE, etc. and say that the Papal dominion is the dominion of the ant-Christ. That puts the coming of the ant-Christ behind us and not in front of us. Incidentally, that is the way the Bible teaches it; hence it is the proper interpretation. Let us begin our study with a question.
Are the nations of earth now preparing for “The battle of that great day of God Almighty,” as foretold in Revelation 16:13, 14? Many Bible students believe that this preparation is now going on; and if this is true, this definitely establishes a time element in our study of those seven last plagues, or vials of God’s wrath (Revelation 16:12-17).
Verses 12-16 show that the three unclean spirits go forth and gather the nations for that
battle after the sixth vial is poured out upon the River Euphrates-that is between the sixth and seventh. If We are now seeing Verses 13 and 14 in the process of fulfillment, the only
conclusion is that we are now facing the seventh and last vial of God’s wrath to the World as described in Revelation 16:17-21. This time element is important as well as others We shall find in this prophecy. Read Revelation 16:1-1l and note that those first five vials of God’s Wrath were to be poured out upon those who worship the image of the beast and have the mark of the beast, and even upon the beast itself, and his Kingdom (Verses 10, 11). This refers us directly to the beasts of Revelation 13.
That beast of Revelation 13:1-9 symbolized the Roman Empire, and the “mouth” that was given him in verses 5-8 was the Papal head of the state religion. It is the same as the little horn of Daniel 7:23-26. The wounded head of verse 3 had its fulfillment in 476 A.D. and was healed in 800 A.D. when the two-horned beast of Revelation 13:11-18 took over the administration (a World priest and a world king-both claiming divine authority). They created a great “spiritual monarchy” after the old Roman model called “The Holy Roman Empire”, which continued from 800 AD. to 1806 A.D.
The Roman Church itself became a great spiritual monarchy (an image of the old Imperial Roman government), and during 1,000 years that two-horned beast gave life to that image of the beast; and the Pope, with the civil emperor backing him, as spiritual Monarch ruled as a Caesar. Those first five vials of God’s wrath were directed at that beast and the image of the beast, with those loyal to them. The fifth brings his kingdom to darkness-to an end (Revelation 16:10, 11).
The Sixth Plague
The sixth vial was poured upon the River Euphrates, “The water thereof was dried up,
(purpose?) that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared. Note that it is called “The great river Euphrates.” God is not angry at a literal river. That river would not stand in the way of a modern army. Since the beast is symbolic, why isn’t that river also symbolic? This same river is used symbolically in Revelation 9:14-16, as most Bible students agree.
sea, or “many waters” to symbolize peoples, multitudes, nations (Revelation 17:1, 2, 15). In
Isaiah 8:7, 8 God symbolizes the King of Assyria and his invading armies as a river that
overflowed its banks.
With these Bible keys, surely we can conclude that the River Euphrates of Revelation 16:12 represents a nation or kingdom that needed to be dried up, before that last great battle and the preparations for it. The Turkish Empire was dried up in World War 1. They were driven out of Palestine. This was necessary, so that Judah could rebuild her homeland as foretold in Joel 3:1, 2, 9-16. That rebuilding is another time signal for the nations to “prepare for war.” This includes the Kings of the East of Revelation 16:12. This all harmonizes with time. We are seeing other Mohammedan nations, Arabs, trying to root Israel out of Palestine, but God will yet judge them as the Bible foretells (Joel 3:19, 20; Ezekiel 35).
No doubt Communism is one of those unclean spirits working from Russia and China to line up the nations for that great all-out war that takes place under the seventh vial of God’s Wrath as described in Revelation 16:16-21. Note in Verse 19 that “Great Babylon” comes in for her part in this cup of God’s wrath. Note that one of those seven angels that had the seven vials shows John that judgment in Revelation 17:1, 2. And why not? She drank of that seventh vial. Under that vial all the wicked systems of earth are destroyed (Revelation 18:4-8). “It is done”, is the word from heaven’s throne (Revelation 16:17). This is final-the end of man’s dominion.
The First Five Plagues– What, When?!
It will be noted that probation has not closed during these plagues because the record says,
“They repented not” (Verses 9, 11). Since God is using some symbols to describe these
plagues, or vials of His wrath, and since we have found that the sixth plague has already been poured out in World War I, and we are now seeing those unclean spirits lining up the nations for that final battle, we must conclude that six plagues are behind us with only one, the seventh, ahead of us. Remember that Great Babylon will receive her plagues” of utter destruction (Revelation 18:4, 8), under that seventh vial (Revelation 16:19).
Now let us find those first five plagues in the historical records before 1914.
Plaque No. 1 – (Revelation 16: 2). “And the first went and poured
out his vial upon the earth; and there fell a noisome and grievous sore upon the
men which had the mark of the beast, and upon them which worshipped his image.”
This sore was something that caused these people much pain or trouble, which continued for some time as Verse 11 shows. The Bible speaks of false teachings–certain types of words as eating as doth a canker” (gangrene-margin, 2 Timothy 2:16. 18). Also of certain peoples becoming thorns in the flesh, causing great pain by their ways and teachings (Numbers 33:55; Joshua 23:13; Ezekiel 28:24). This grievous sore that came upon those loyal to the beast and his image was the influence and effect of the skeptical and revolutionary philosophy of such men as Voltaire (1694-1778) and Rousseau (1712-1778) and others in France. It was sown in France and spread through Europe. The “tendency and effect was to create hatred and contempt for the institutions of both state and the church ” Myers Medieval History, p 445: Myers General History, p.649). This fell heavily on those wealthy church leaders and the “divine right” kings and nobility-just as Verse 2 says. A grievous sore indeed.
Plague No. 2 – (Revelation 16:3). This second vial was poured out upon the “sea; and it
became as the blood of a dead man: and every living soul in the sea died.” What does this
mean? The sea represents peoples and nations (Revelation 17:15). The blood of a dead man is poison–no life in it. Poison, hatred spread against the established order, the church and state government among the peoples, led to the beginnings of the great French revolution that spread and shook all Europe (1789- A.D.).
Plague No. 3 – (Verses 4-7). “And the third angel poured out his vial upon the rivers and
fountains of waters; and they became blood.” “… They have shed the blood of saints and
prophets, and thou hast given them blood to drink; for they are worthy.” “True and righteous are thy judgments…” What is the meaning here? This refers to the terrible slaughter in France during the “Reign of terror” and the wars and bloodshed in Europe (Rivers and fountains) during that revolution that spread and provoked much war and bloodshed. Giving them blood “to drink” meant their own blood being shed (Isaiah 49:26; Ezekiel 35:5, 6). In Revelation 17:6 we read of that false Church being drunken with the blood of the saints that she had slain. She did not drink blood literally, but she slew them. Under this third vial of wrath, God gave them their own blood to drink-repaying for the blood of the saints that they had shed (Revelation 16:5, 6). They still had a chance to repent and turn to God, but most of them did not (verse 11).
Plague No. 4 – (Revelation 16:8, 9). The sun was given power to scorch men with great heat.
We find the key to this sun symbol in Joseph’s dream in Genesis 37:7-9. Here Jacob, the head or ruler of the family was symbolized by the sun. The woman in Revelation 12 was clothed with the sun, the moon under her feet, and a crown of 12 stars. In this vision the woman, Israel, was clothed with the promises made to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Princes of Israel were the 12 stars. As a climax to that French revolution and conquests Napoleon took over as emperor of France, and for 16 years (1799-1815) he was the sun that scorched Europe with his military genius and conquests. Myers General History speaks of Napoleon’s sun rising so brightly in the early part of his reign in France. He established himself as King and for years he scorched Europe with his conquests, including the capture of the Pope. He finished the death of that “Holy Roman Empire.” (See page 682).
Plague No. 5 – This fifth vial Was poured out upon the seat of the beast, and his kingdom was full of darkness (Verses 10, 11). What does this mean?
The beast at that time was that so-called “Holy Roman Empire ” and those plagues thus far,
were really breaking up the last vestige of that “spiritual monarchy” of the Pope and the Civil Emperor, who at that time was in Austria. This came to an official end in 1806 A.D. as the result of Napoleon’s conquests. Napoleon even took the Pope captive one time. In 1870 the Pope lost his Papal States entirely to Italy. This is also pictured in Daniel 7:25, 26 – “They shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end.”
There is to be no return of Papal rule. That darkened kingdom will not return, but it was to be consumed and destroyed unto the end. Under that seventh and last vial of God’s wrath that papal system will be utterly destroyed, along with all false systems of man’s inventions. We are facing that seventh vial in the near future, brethren. Are we ready to escape and to meet Jesus in peace at His coming’?
The Three Unclean Spirits–Who, When?
Now, let us go back and study that sixth and seventh vial of God’s Wrath more fully. What
about those three unclean spirits that gather the nations to the “Battle of that great day of God Almighty”? (Revelation 16:12-14). In verse 12, the sixth angel poured out his vial of wrath upon the River Euphrates and the Waters thereof were dried up (for What purpose?) “That the Way of the kings of the East might be prepared.” As shown already, the river here represented the Turkish Empire that was dried up in World War 1. This made the way for the Jews to return and rebuild their homeland as foretold in Joel 3:1, 2, 6-16.
This regathering is God’s time signal for the nations to prepare war-getting ready for that last great battle of this age (Joel 3). “At that time” God will gather the nations to the Valley of Jehoshaphat. The sixth plague prepared the way by drying up the Turkish dominion over Palestine. Great Britain placed her sanction of a Jewish homeland in Palestine in 1918. and the League of Nations placed their seal of approval in 1922 AD. In 1948 an independent Israeli nation was born. All of this is the time signal for the Gentiles to prepare for war as Joel 3 says. This brings us to the time and work of the three unclean spirits of Revelation 16:12-16.
After the sixth vial dried up the waters of the Euphrates River, John saw “Three unclean
spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet.” What do they represent, and what is their work? “For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world. to gather them to the battle” (what battle?) “of that great day of God Almighty” (Verses 13, 14). Here We are shown three Wicked, or evil spirits that go forth to gather the nations of the whole world to this great battle. Truly the nations are being lined up and are preparing for that all-out war now, and we should be able to identify those three unclean spirits that are doing this work.
First Two Unclean Spirits
Two of these are political. The first came out of the mouth of the dragon. The red dragon of
Revelation 12 represented Satan’s own pagan governments, and was personified as Satan
himself. This is Communism out of the Russian and Chinese mouths. They are out to bring the nations into the communist camp, and they are preparing to do it by force if they have to. This unclean spirit is working overtime today.
The second unclean spirit came out of the mouth of the beast. The beast of Revelation 13 and 17 represented the ancient Roman Empire, as most prophetic students agree. But in
chapter 17 Jesus foretold a resurrection of “The eighth ” head of that old empire for a short time, but not as a worldwide power. Ten Kings will give their power to this European coalition of the eighth head for this brief time as Revelation 17 says. Ancient Rome ruled in Europe”. There is a spirit working today to bring about a European Union of certain nations. In the end it will be the nations who had a direct part in the rulership of Rome (Revelation 17 and 18). This resurrected Roman head with those additional ten kings that give their power to it will not carry the harlot Church of Revelation 17, but they will hate and destroy her (Revelation 17:11-14, 16, 17), They execute God’s judgment upon Mystery Babylon, the harlot. This is part of their work before they are destroyed in Armageddon. They are not under Russian Communism, but will join with the others in the final war (Verse 14).
Third Unclean Spirit
The third unclean spirit that John saw came “out of the mouth of the false prophet”
(Revelation 16:13). This is a religious month and spirit. In Revelation 19:20 the false prophet is described as working with the beast, or Roman Empire. This was the Papacy. The Roman
Church was to wield her influence among the peoples of these last days, too. We see this
happening. There is dialogue with modernistic Protestants with some Protestant leaders taking a prominent part in moving toward a one-world church, etc. These also advocate a one-world government in some cases. That spirit is working among many today. The Roman Church would come out in the lead in such a world church.
Even many Charismatics are courting and working with the Roman Church. There are over 208,006 Roman Catholics who are Charismatics. Satan is crafty. How can that be the Spirit of God, when God’s Spirit says, “Come out of her my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins…” (Revelation 18:4-8). We believe in the power of the genuine Spirit of God working in God’s people, but any spirit that leads contrary to God’s Word is from Satan. This unclean spirit working among Catholic and many Protestant people will lead only to disappointment and disaster, for it is helping to gather the peoples for the wrath of God in the seventh vial. It is in that last vial that Great Babylon, and all who partake of her sins, will drink the cup of the fierceness of God’s wrath (Revelation 16:17-19; 18:4-8). We are now in the period of Revelation 18:7, but judgment follows swiftly (Verse 8).
“That Great Day of God Almighty”
“The battle of that great day of God Almighty” (Revelation 16:14). This gives us a definite
time element when this battle takes place. God uses these unclean spirits to gather the nations, just like He used the wicked King Nebuchadnezzar and others, to punish His own people, Israel, for their sins (Jeremiah 34:1-3; Isaiah 46:9-11). In Ezekiel 38:16, 17 God says that he will bring Gog and his mighty alliance against Israel in the latter days, but He also says that Gog will, “Think an evil thought” and lay plans for this attack (Verses 10-12).
In Jeremiah 25:29-34 We have another prophecy describing the last great battle of this age, when God says, “For I will call for a sword upon all the inhabitants of the earth.” “And the slain of the Lord shall be at that day from one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth…” How does God gather the nations for that great battle’? Verse 32 tells us that “evil shall go forth from nation to nation…” This is no doubt the three unclean spirits of the devils of Revelation 16. God overrules the affairs of man to bring about his own will and purpose. This is true throughout the Holy Scriptures (Daniel 4:20-32).
Now shall we find a specific time element given so that we can know when to expect this gathering of the nations to “The battle of that great day of God Almighty.” This great day of God Almighty is a definite time period spoken of in the Scriptures. Let us turn to Revelation 6:15-17. Here this day, or time, is called, “The great day of His wrath” (Verse 17). These verses certainly describe the time when God’s wrath is poured out at the close of this age, climaxing in Jesus’ coming Revelation 11:18 also speaks of that day or time. Peter speaks of “the day of the Lord” and the wrath that is poured out at that time (2 Peter 3:10-14). Paul definitely connects “the day of the Lord” with Jesus’ second coming in 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3, 8 (1 Thessalonians 5:1-10).
The Seventh Vial
The preparations for the “battle of that great day of God Almighty” are made after the sixth, or during the after-effects of the sixth plague, as we have shown. “And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon.” This brings us to the seventh vial– the last vial of God’s wrath.
“And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a voice out of the
temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, it is done” (Revelation 16:17). In other words, this
vial finishes this age or world. The battle of that great day of God Almighty takes place under this vial. Zephaniah 3:8 refers to this time and battle. “… For my determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms,” (for what purpose?) “to pour upon them mine indignation, even all my fierce anger: for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy.” Remember that these seven vials are filled up with the wrath of God (Revelation 15:1). And in the seventh is when God assembles the nations to pour upon them all His fierce anger. This is when the fire of God’s jealousy, or anger devours all the earth. The slain will be from one end of the earth to the other (Jeremiah 25:30-35).
Under that seventh plague, “Great Babylon” comes in remembrance before God, “to give unto her the cup of the fierceness of His wrath” (Revelation 16:19). The time element here is under the seventh plague. This great false Church system, described in Revelation 17 will be utterly destroyed in that seventh vial as Revelation 18:8 clearly teaches. “Her plagues’ ‘ are “death, and mourning and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her.” Her plagues are not the seven last plagues as many teach, but death and destruction under the seventh plague as these Scriptures teach.
Also, in Revelation 17 God uses the ten kings and 8th head of that Beast to “fulfill His will”
and destroy this harlot system (Revelation 17:11, 12, 13, 16, 17). After they destroy the Harlot,
they fight against “the Lamb”; and the Lamb, or Jesus, overcomes them (Verse 14). All of this takes place under the seventh plague (Revelation 18). Here God also spells out the end of our great international commercial system, which is part of the old Babylonian system, as well as the false man-made religion that corrupted the nations with false doctrines.
Your Questions
Number 1– Doesn’t Revelation 15:1-4 teach that as a result of these last plagues those who
remain of the nations will come and worship before God? How can this be if six are past?
Answer – Yes, this is what the Scriptures teach as the final results, but in the first five, we are told that those who worshiped the beast and his image, upon whom those were poured out, “blasphemed God and repented not of their deeds – (Revelation 16:1-1 1). It is in the seventh that the remnants of the nations know and acknowledge the God of heaven as Supreme (Zechariah 14:1-9, 16-19; Ezekiel 39:17-23, verses 4-8).
Number 2 – If those plagues are figurative, how are the people to know them as coming from God?
Answer – Those seven plagues are literal plagues -real plagues; but the language used to
describe them is figurative; Just as the language of Revelation 13 and 17 is figurative describing the Roman Empire and the corrupt State Church of Rome. Rome was a real Empire represented by the Beast, and the Apostate Church was just as real, represented by the harlot.
Number 3 – What about the third angel’s message of Revelation 14:9-12? Those who worship the beast and his image are to drink of the “wine of the wrath of God” (verse 10). This wrath is “filled up” in those seven vials, or plagues. Please explain. How can this be if six are past and the beast and image of Revelation 13 are also past as you teach?
Answer– This is an important question that you have asked in your mind, if not in person, about the third angel’s message of Revelation 14:9-11. The text says that this message was to be given in a loud voice to the people that “Worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand.” This clearly refers us back to Revelation 13:11-18, where the two horned beast with the image are ruling and forcing the people to worship the beast and his image, also to receive a mark, etc. History shows that all this was fulfilled in the times of the “Holy Roman Empire.”
This part is past. Study “The Beast, the Two-Horned Beast and Image of the Beast” for
further knowledge on this matter. Every detail of Revelation 13 has been fulfilled as foretold. The Reformers began this message and it became a loud voice in the 16th, 17th, and 18th Centuries. It was a message against Romanism, as was embodied in the “Holy Roman Empire” with it’s world priest and world emperor, crowned by this world priest, each claiming divine authority.
Did the wrath of God fall upon that system and its people? “The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God…” (Revelation 14:10). This wrath is filled up in those seven last plagues (Revelation 15:1). But our text says that those who worshiped the beast and his image will drink of that wrath, or those vials. It does not say that they drink all seven vials.
Revelation 16:1-11 shows that five of those vials were upon those very people, bringing that wicked dominion to an end. “They shall take away his dominion to consume and to destroy it unto the end” (Daniel 7:26). This is about the world priest part of it. In the latter part of the 18th Century they drank deeply of God’s wrath, but most of them repented not to give God glory (Revelation 14:9-11). This also shows that Revelation 15:7, 8 did not mean that no one could be saved during the time that the seven vials were poured out. Since the very purpose of these plagues is to get men to repent and honor God, we must also believe that God will accept that repentance.
God’s Warning- “Come Out Of Her My People”
We have found that five of these plagues broke up the rule of the beast and “Man of Sin.” Under the seventh, that false Gentile Roman Church will be utterly destroyed, as Revelation 17 and 18 show in detail. Revelation 17:1 shows that this is the purpose of the Angel at that time. That angel had one of those vials. God warns before such judgment.
At this time, just before the judgment of that Harlot System, God is calling honest people out of her sins (Revelation 18:4-8). The Christian world was saturated with her false doctrines taught in Jesus’ name. This message is an extension of both the second and third Angel’s messages of Revelation 14:8-11.
With an open door and open Bible, which God has given us, this part of the message is
“come out of her my people, be not partakers of her sins and that ye receive not of her plaques (Revelation 18:1-8). “Her plagues,” are death and destruction (Verse 8, Revelation 17:16, 17). “My people” indicates honest people who are misled. It is a call back to true Bible teachings and out of tradition, including whitewashed heathen customs and doctrines.
Facing the End–Prepared, or Unprepared?
As we face the end of this age with the last vial of God’s wrath just ahead of us, are we
ready to meet Jesus in peace? In Revelation 19:79 we have a timely message for all who name the Name of Christ. “The marriage of the Lamb is come, and his Wife (the Church) has made herself ready” (Verse 7). The hope of Jesus’ soon coming is the incentive to “purify” ourselves, “even as he is pure” (1 John 3:2, 3). Jesus is coming for a Church that has on pure White garments of righteousness (Rev. 19:8).
We are in this time of preparation–getting our house in order before God. The members of the true Church must be a people that are sanctified and cleansed, “By the washing of water by the Word” (Ephesians 5:25-27). Jesus is going to present to himself “A glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.”
We must be followers of God as dear children and walk in love as Jesus loved us and gave Himself for us (verses 1-ll). Love means obedience to God’s law from the heart (Romans 13:8-10; 1 John 5:3). First the heart must be purified by the power of the gospel of Christ (Romans 1:16, 17; 6:17-21). A perverted gospel will not bring salvation from sin. The grace of God that brings salvation teaches us to live holy lives after being cleansed (Titus 2:11-15).
Kenneth Walker, Editor