Bible Readings for the Home Circle Part 82

See Esther 3:8-14. But G.o.d will miraculously deliver His people at this time as He did then.

5. What will be the first plague, and upon whom will it fall?

"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 worshiped his image_." Rev. 16:2.

6. What will const.i.tute the second plague?

"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_." Verse 3.

7. What will be the third plague?

"And the third angel poured out his vial upon _the rivers and fountains of waters_; and _they became blood_." Verse 4.

NOTE.-The second plague affects the sea. The third plague comes closer to the habitations of men, and affects the land. The water supplies are contaminated.

8. Why, under these plagues, does the Lord give men blood to drink?

"_For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets_, and Thou hast given them blood to drink; for they are worthy." Verse 6.

NOTE.-In this is shown G.o.d's abhorrence of oppression and persecution. The plagues are G.o.d's rebukes against colossal forms of sin.

9. What will be the fourth plague?

"And the fourth angel poured out his vial upon _the sun_; and _power was given unto him to scorch men with fire_." Verse 8. See Joel 1:16-20.

NOTE.-Sun-worship is the most ancient and wide-spread of all forms of idolatry. In this plague G.o.d manifests His displeasure at this form of idolatry. That which men have worshiped as a G.o.d, becomes a plague and tormentor. Thus it was in the plagues of Egypt. Those things which the Egyptians had worshiped became scourges to them instead of benefactors and blessings. See "The Philosophy of the Plan of Salvation," by "An American Citizen," chapter 3.

10. Will even this terrible judgment lead men to repent?

"And men were scorched with great heat, and _blasphemed the name of G.o.d_, which hath power over these plagues: and _they repented not to give Him glory_." Verse 9.

11. What will be the fifth plague?

"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." Verse 10.

NOTE.-This plague strikes at the very seat of the great apostasy of the latter days, the Papacy. It will doubtless be similar in effect to the like plague in Egypt, which was a darkness that could "be felt." Ex. 10:21-23. By this plague that iniquitous, haughty, and apostate spiritual despotism which has set itself up as possessing all truth, and as being the light of the world, is enshrouded in midnight darkness.

12. What takes place under the sixth plague?

"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." Verse 12.

NOTE.-This, we understand, refers to the drying up of the Turkish Empire by the great world powers preparatory to the battle of Armageddon. See preceding reading.

13. What gathers the nations to the battle of Armageddon?

"And I 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. 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 of that great day of G.o.d Almighty.... And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon." Verses 13-16.

NOTE.-This scripture shows that it is the spirit of Satan which incites men to war, and explains why the great nations of the world are now making such preparations for war. The dragon represents paganism; the beast, the Papacy; and the false prophet, apostate Protestantism,-the three great religious apostasies since the flood. The plain Esdraelon, in southwestern Galilee, is the Armageddon here referred to. See note on page 99.

14. At this time what event is imminent?

"_Behold, I come as a thief._ Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame." Verse 15.

15. What takes place under the seventh plague?

"And the seventh angel poured out his vial into _the air_.... And there were _voices_, and _thunders_, and _lightnings_; and _there was a great earthquake_, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great. And the great city was divided into three parts, _and the cities of the nations fell_." Verses 17-19.

16. What accompanies the earthquake?

"And there fell upon men _a great hail out of heaven_, every stone about the weight of a talent: and men blasphemed G.o.d because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof was exceeding great." Verse 21. See Job 38:22, 23; Ps. 7:11-13.

17. What will the Lord be to His people at this time?

"The Lord also shall roar out of Zion, and utter His voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: _but the Lord will be the hope of His people, and the strength of the children of Israel_." Joel 3:16.

See Jer. 25:30, 31; Haggai 2:21; Heb.12:26; Ps. 91:5-10.

NOTE.-To prepare His people and the world for these terrible judgments, the Lord, as in the days of Noah, sends a warning message to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people. See Rev.

14:6-10.

18. Just before the pouring out of the plagues, what call does G.o.d send to His people still in Babylon?

"And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, _Come out of her, My people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues_. For her sins have reached unto heaven, and G.o.d hath remembered her iniquities." Rev. 18:4, 5. See Gen. 19:12-17; Jer. 51:6; and page 254.

NOTE.-As before the flood, many of G.o.d's people will doubtless be laid away to rest shortly before the time of trouble. See Isa.

57:1; Rev. 14:13. Referring to the time before the flood, an ancient book says: "And all men who walked in the ways of the Lord, died in those days, before the Lord brought the evil upon man which He had declared, for this was from the Lord, that they should not see the evil which the Lord spoke of concerning the sons of men."-_Book of Jasher 4:20._ See also chapter 5:21 of the same book.

19. How suddenly will the plagues come upon modern Babylon?

"Therefore shall her plagues come _in one day_, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord G.o.d who judgeth her.... For in _one hour_ is thy judgment come." Rev.

18:8-10.

20. What famine will come at this time upon those who have rejected G.o.d's messages of mercy?