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The Seven Vials Compared with the Plagues of Egypt
 
By Servant of God

From Bullinger
 
Revelation 16  The Seven Vials
 
This is by far the most important of all the visions seen by John, in relation to the earth. It consists of the great judgments introduced by the sounding of the seventh trumpet, which completes "The Mystery of God," by the pouring out of the SEVEN VIALS. The next vision is the last seen in Heaven, and it introduces the actual Revelation or Apocalupsis of the Lord Jesus, personally, to the earth; and thus brings on the conclusion of the whole prophecy.

All is now ready to begin this final assault on the kingdom of the Infernal Trinity— the Dragon, the Beast, and the False Prophet, which will mark "the great and terrible day of the Lord." Since we were told of the sounding of the seventh Trumpet (11.15)
 
The Dragon is to be attacked in his capital and on his throne. The Beasts are to be attacked in their seats of authority; and their followers and worshippers are to "have no rest day and night"upon the earth (14.11).
 
“Go forth, and pour out the SEVEN VIALS of the fury of God into the earth."

These SEVEN VIALS and their effects we take to be literal; i.e., to be exactly what is said of them. They belong to no figures of speech. The language is clear and precise. There is nothing beyond our faith, though there may be beyond our reason. True, they are supernatural, but not unnatural.

In the plagues of Egypt, which all take to be literal, we have many judgments exactly similar. Indeed, six out of the seven Vials are just the same as the plagues of Egypt, and God has again and again declared that their final judgments should be like, yea, should be worse than those (Ex. 34.10).

The First Vial is like the sixth plague, which was of Boils, etc.

The Second and Third Vials are like the first plague, when the waters became blood.

The Fifth Vial is like the ninth plague, when darkness overspread the land.

The Sixth Vial is like the second plague, of frogs.

The Seventh Vial is like the 7th plague, of hail, &c.

The Fourth is the only Vial which has no counterpart in the Egyptian plagues; and that is the great "heat." Now, if six out of these seven judgments have already been once seen and experienced, why should not like plagues be sent again, when it is expressly said that the supernatural events connected with Israel's return shall be "like as it was ... in the day that he came up out of the land of Egypt" (Is. 11. 16)?


The fourth Vial is the two witnesses,  They were not there when the Egyptian plagues took place.

Revelation 16:8 And the fourth angel poured out his vial UPON THE SUN; and power was given unto him to scorch men with fire.
Revelation 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.
 
Revelation 11:3  And I will give power unto My two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.
Revelation 11:5  And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies; and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed.
Revelation 11:6 These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophesy; and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will.

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Revelation 16:1-12

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.
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.
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.
4 And the third angel poured out his vial UPON THE RIVERS AND FOUNTAINS OF WATERS; and they became blood.
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.
6 For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and thou hast given them blood to drink; for they are worthy.
7 And I heard another out of the altar say, Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are thy judgments.
8 And the fourth angel poured out his vial UPON THE SUN; and power was given unto him to scorch men with fire.
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.
10 And the fifth angel poured out his vial UPON THE SEAT OF THE BEAST; and his kingdom was full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues for pain,
11 And blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and repented not of their deeds.
12 And the sixth angel poured out his vial UPON THE GREAT RIVER EUPHRATES; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared.

Rev 16:17

17 And the seventh angel poured out his vial INTO THE AIR; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done.


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The tools used to produce these Bible studies were:

The King James Companion Bible
Companion Bible Appendixes
Strong's Concordance 

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