5/20/07 – 20LAW “The Seven Last Plagues” - Part 2
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Hello!  This is Richard Vaughn

Today’s message is “The Seven Last Plagues - Part 2”

Before we begin, let us seek God’s guidance, “Heavenly Father, as we study this most important subject regarding the seven last plagues, I pray that You bless those listening today with the guidance of the Holy Spirit as we pray for wisdom, knowledge and understanding so that we may live in the center of Your revealed will, as we ask in Jesus Name, Amen.”
Right now, I continue to keep my pledge, to cry aloud and spare not, to lift up my voice like a trumpet and to show God’s people where they are transgressing God’s law.
Today we will focus our study on Revelation’s seven last plagues as found in Revelation 16. First let us again read the most solemn warning ever given in the entire Bible, a warning for the very generation in which we are living, and that is found in Revelation 14:9, 10. “And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; …” 

This is the last plea to rebellious planet earth and the Christian church in particular in this the final generation. Jesus is coming very, very soon.

Alright let’s examine the seven last plagues and understand the significance of each one.

Revelation 16:1 “And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth.”

 “…a great voice out of the temple …” Evidence indicates that since the seven plague bearing angels had already left the temple, Rev. 15:6, the great voice would be that of the Father Himself. 

“… Go your ways, and pour out the vials …” In certain respects, the seven last plagues are similar to the ten plagues upon Egypt. (Exodus 5:1 – 12:30). Both testify to the superior authority and power of God. Both result in the decisive defeat of men who had chosen to defy God, and thus in the deliverance of His chosen people from a situation that would otherwise be without remedy.
Each of the ten plagues upon Egypt was painfully literal; and each was designed to demonstrate how false were the claims of, and how futile was reliance upon false religion.
Similarly, the seven last plagues will be literal, yet each will strike a telling blow at some aspect of apostate religion and thus have symbolic overtones.

FIRST PLAGUE - SORES
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.”

“… noisome and grievous sore …” These sores will cover the body and be both “painful and severe” as well as “troublesome and annoying.” They will be oozing type boils and ulcers that cannot be treated with medication and supposed faith healers can do nothing about.

This first installment of “the wrath of God” falls upon those who have failed to heed either the third angel’s message, which warned them against worshipping “the beast and his image” (Revelation 14:9), or God’s final call to come out of mystic Babylon (Revelation 18:1-4).

SECOND PLAGUE – SEA TURNED TO BLOOD
Revelation 16:3 “And the second angel poured out his vial upon the sea; and it became as the blood of a dead man; and every living soul died in the sea.”

The sea is useful primarily as a highway for international commerce and travel. It has been suggested that by the obstruction of international travel and trade, this plague is designed to demonstrate in a signal way of God’s displeasure with respect to Satan’s plan to bind the nations of the world together under his control. 

“… blood of a dead man …” Nothing more offensive can be imagined than the coagulated blood of a dead man.

“… and every living soul died in the sea.” Meaning all marine life. The stench will be unbearable.

THIRD PLAGUE – FRESH WATERS TURNED TO BLOOD

Revelation 16:4 “And the third angel poured out his vial upon the rivers and fountains of waters; and they became blood.”

 Whereas the second plague would cause great inconvenience, the third plague would have a more immediate and serious effect; as the fresh water supplies are used for drinking, bathing and irrigation.

Now we read the significance of this plague in the next three verses.

Revelation 16:5-7   16:5 “And I heard the angel of the waters say, Thou art righteous, O Lord, which art, and wast, and shalt be, because thou hast judged thus.  
  16:6   For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and thou hast given them blood to drink; for they are worthy.  
16:7   And I heard another out of the altar say, Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are thy judgments.”

FOURTH PLAGUE – SUN SCORCHES WITH GREAT HEAT

Revelation 16:8, 9   16:8 “And the fourth angel poured out his vial upon the sun; and power was given unto him to scorch men with fire.  
  16:9   And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which hath power over these plagues: and they repented not to give him glory.” 

Normally the sun warms our planet and controls plant growth, climate, and many other natural processes necessary to the maintenance of life upon the earth. Now it sends forth an excess of heat and energy that tends to torment men and destroy life, causing the worst drought and famine the world has ever known. The literal plague is accompanied by a famine for God’s Word. Amos 8:11, 12   “8:11 Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD:  
  8:12   And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the LORD, and shall not find it.”

The people are not searching to get closer to God, just for relief from the plagues. Satan convinces them that it is the Sabbath-keepers who have brought these plagues upon the world. Instead of acknowledging their guilt, they proceed to lay the blame for their miserable plight upon those who have remained true and loyal to God.
 
“… and blasphemed the name of God, …” The wrath of God in the seven last plagues had been visited upon the inhabitants of the earth, causing them to gnaw their tongues from pain and to curse God.

The first four plagues cause much disease, famine and drought. They appear to happen in rapid succession as under the 5th plague, they still suffer the sores of the first plague.  

“These plagues are not universal, or the inhabitants of the earth would be wholly cut off. Yet they will be the most awful scourges that have ever been known to mortals. All the judgments upon men, prior to the close of probation, have been mingled with mercy. The pleading blood of Christ has shielded the sinner from receiving the full measure of his guilt; but in the final judgment, wrath is poured out unmixed with mercy.”  {Great Controversy 628.2}
“The people of God will not be free from suffering; but while persecuted and distressed, while they endure privation and suffer for want of food they will not be left to perish. That God who cared for Elijah will not pass by one of His self-sacrificing children. He who numbers the hairs of their head will care for them, and in time of famine they shall be satisfied. While the wicked are dying from hunger and pestilence, angels will shield the righteous and supply their wants. To him that "walketh righteously" is the promise: "Bread shall be given him; his waters shall be sure." "When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst, I the Lord will hear them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them." Isaiah 33:15, 16; 41:17.”  {GC 629.2}
"The Lord is thy keeper: the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand. The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: He shall preserve thy soul." "He shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. He shall cover thee with His feathers, and under His wings shalt thou trust: His truth shall be thy shield and buckler. Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday. A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee. Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked. Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the Most High, thy habitation; there shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling." Psalms 121:5-7; 91:3-10.  {GC 629.4}

Well time is up for this week. Next week “The Seven Last Plagues” – Part 3. If you would like to worship with seventh day Sabbath-keepers, come to the Victory Seventh Day Adventist Church in South Hill at 117 W. Danville Street, in the old Citizens Bank building, just a couple doors from the library.
Until next week, Jesus said in John 5:39, “Search the Scriptures, for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me”. Come Lord Jesus.