By: Dr. Richard M. Nies - 1975 Transcribed (with permission), Edited, and Presented By: Haydn k. Piper - 1985
* * STUDY #8 - Part I * *
- - - O U T L I N E - - -
SATAN'S FINAL FLING: STUDY #8
Olson : The Crises Ahead - Ch. 9, 20.
Chaij : Preparation for the Final Chrisis -
Ch. 10, 11, 12.
White : Great Controversy, pp613-616, 624-631,
pp635-657.
Early Writings, pp279-282, 285-289.
* * * * *
Probably no other topic in the study of Eschatology is more difficult to comprehend for Christians who take seriously the Word of God; both because in the symbolic language it seems so opaque, so difficult to grasp, and because many have been very fearfull of this time.
It seems so unlike God. What could be gained after probation has closed, to inundate the world with such horrible judgments? And how we to understand this? What does it tell us about the kingdom of God? In what way does it increase our capacity to appreciate our Lord and witness for Him?
These are questions to be addressed by this study!
This study is organized under the following seven headings:
1. The SYMBOLISM of the Seven Last Plagues; Why are they couched in such difficult terms to understand? Why can't God be more specific? 2. The NATURE of the Plagues; What are they really like? How literal are they? 3. The CAUSE of the Plagues; 4. The SIGNIFICANCE of the Plagues; In terms of our thinking and understanding, what do they mean to us? What is involved in them? How do we understand this as a part of the great Drama of God? 5. The specific CONTENT of each of the Plagues; To gather more specific meaning and look in more detail at the sweep of the anticipated history of these Plagues. 6. The DURATION of the Plagues; How long do they last? 7. The LESSONS to be derived. * * * * *
* * * S Y M B O L I S M * * *
The book of Revelation is full of symbolism; in this study, specifically considered here is Revelation 16. This chapter describes the Seven Plagues which shall be poured out on the earth just prior to the second coming of our Lord; a very climatic event in the study of Eschatology (the study of last events).
It would seem that this stage should be as clear as any stage, but here we have to wrestle with some very difficult symbols. Why doesn't God come right out and say that there is going to be some tremendous battles in some particular place, and what this means? Why couched in such difficult terms? Why can't God give us specific event? Why does God have to be so difficult? God why are You so vague? If we are going to have to go through such momentous times, why don't You speak to us more directly and more plainly? Anyone who has wrestled with Revelation must wonder why things seem to be so hidden, when the book is called Revelation.
The answer resides in this fact: God does not want us to simply pinpoint events. He wants us to understand issues. Furthermore there is a certain sense in which God has left history in a flux; of not putting things down too closely, almost as if He were too specific it might lead to a conception of determinism. That there is not much that anyone can do, this is going to be the flow of events, we will just sit back and watch it take place.
But things are not quite that way when things are not pinned down so literally! Symbls always have a pointing function; they point to some larger issue, some greater truth than the symbol itself. The significance here is that I think God wants us to concentrate our attention on, and consider issues. It would be too easy to say `such and such is going to happen', and never see the issues. So if we discover the issues, then we can say something very specific about the events. An attempt is going to be made in this study to do so. But first of all we cannot with any precision point out very specific events and say, "This is the way it is going to be"! There is always a margin of error as to the specificity of an event. God wants us to see, rather, the issues that are involved; then when they take place, we can fit the events as they take place and say to ourselves that God really did know what He was talking about.
* * * N A T U R E * * *
What are they like? Are they really going to be physical events that are going to touch people, that are going to hurt, that are going to be felt? We have information in the GREAT CONTROVERSY p.627 & 628 that they are going to be similar in character to the Plagues in Egypt. And those were quite tangible!
G.C. (627, 628)
They are also in a similar category, only worse, as the commotion and distruction of Jerusalem.
G.C. (36)
G.C. (614)
Here we have one statement comparing the plagues to the similarity of the plagues of Egypt and two comparing them to the destruction of Jerusalem. In these statements we see that they are going to be similar but much much worse. That seems like a very horrible thing to do, and would make us shudder. And we are told that it is an out-pouring of the "wrath of God".
* * * C A U S E * * *
For years most Christians have accepted that the cause of these plagues are by some direct activity on the part of God. THAT IS FALSE! They are not from God; at least the first six are not! God WAS the author of the Plagues in Egypt. In that instance God was able to teach people something. He was able to make an impact on their thinking by challenging the gods that they worshiped; flies and frogs.
You can imangine the reactions of these people when they had to sweep up their gods and throw them away. And we are told that as a result of this God was able get through to the thinking of the people of that day, and even though it may seem very harsh, sometimes God has to speak with a loud voice so that He might reach people that are very dense.
But after the close of probation there could be no point of really changing anyones decision and it would seem from that stand-point that it wouldn't make any sense for God to send plagues after the close of probation. And we find that this is the case. With respect to comparing the plagues in Egypt:
G.C. (614)
God permits and allows Satan, in a sense, to "do his thing".
G.C. (28)
The end of Jerusalem was to be "but a faint shadow" of the destruction in the world at the time of the Plagues.
Listen to the language in the next few paragraphs, because we are going to compare it with these plagues. It talks of God simply stepping aside and letting Satan "do his thing". Thus this study's title; "SATAN'S FINAL FLING".
G.C. (35, 36)
There we see God, not as an active agent in this destruction, but stepping aside, letting Satan be the leader of those who have chosen him.
- - -
Now let us look at what is said pertaining to these last Plagues. Notice the parallel between the destruction of Jerusalem, which was "but a faint shadow" of the final destruction, and the time when the angels no longer hold the four winds in check.
G.C. (614)
So we want to state again that these plagues are not sent from God. When His restraining power is removed, Satan will then exercise his control over the elements like he has never done before, and the world will see a demonstration of what it would be like to live in his camp if he were allowed to run the world.
* * * S I G N I F I C A N C E * * *
It might seem, that even though, God does allow this, that it is
very strange! Why does God allow this? What is to be gained from
this?
You must consider the "thrust of history" to appreciate what is
happening during this time; and we consider the significance of these
plagues, you will recall the importance to Satan's kingdom that he
never allows God's people to form. Satan claimed in the beginning
that he could run a better world IF he were given the opportunity.
And if God were to ever give demonstration that He could have a people
that could fully reflect His character, Satan would have had it.
At the cross his doom was sealed, and he knew it. But he goes
down against the remnant, we are told in Revelation 12, with great
wrath, knowing that he has but a short time; but also knowing that if
he can keep God's people from ever forming, from ever becoming
visible, so that God could say, "Here they are, you say Satan that I
can't have them. Well here they are". So if Satan can keep them from
forming at least he can extend his time. And we would say in human
language that `his hide is at stake'.
Satan has always contended, "Where are you people"? God was never
able to be successful with the Israelites. Even when Christ, Himself
came, and started a church founded on a very small nucleus of discip-
les; the bodies of the disciples were hardly cold in their graves when
the church had already gone through considerable apostacy. Paul said
that the apostacy was working even in his day. And God never had a
New Testament church that was visible; they have always been under-
ground. In the book of Revelation it talks about the church of God in
the wilderness, of being under-ground; they were not seen, they were
in hiding. Until God's people can form and become visible so that the
whole world can see what they are like, Satan can prolong the
controversy.
But now we see, in the time of the Seven Last Plagues, that it is
a time when the whole world has been brought to a decision. As we
know, and have studied before, the focal point of history will be over
loyality to God. Will God have a people who will serve Him out of
pure love? The seventh-day Sabbath, as will be touched upon here, at
a moment of history, when the issues are clarified, becomes a symbol
of that kind of loyality; reflecting a very similar kind of loyality
as the Tree of Life and the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil; staked
upon a `thus saith the Lord', based on a trust in the God they serve.
What do they think of God? Do they care enough about Hima s
person that they would trust Him, that they believe thaty He would not
take advantage of them? The same issue is brought up again over the
Sabbath. Why worship on one day and not another? Especially when it
is not religiously and politically and economically expedient?
At a time in history when the whole world has had an opportunity
to understand these issues, when God has a representation of those who
can explain what history has been all about, what God has been trying
to accomplish in His world, and at a time when everyonr is brought to
a stand; God is going to form His people, and they will form and God
is going to say, "Here they are", and they are described symbolically
as the 144,000; those who keep the commandments of God and have the
faith of Jesus. It is possible to live a life of love under any cir-
cumstance, as long as you have fellowship with Christ. Now if that
people forms they become a very direct threat to the kingdom of Satan,
and he must exterminate them. His very well being demands, that if
that people stay alive, if that people remain visible, so they may be
inspected by the universe, then his time has run out.
So we see then in these plagues Satan's last desparate fling to
maintain his kingdom on this earth, to blot out the people of God, so
that they cannot maintain any kind of corporate entity under the
leadership of the Holy Spirit.
* * * C O N T E N T * * *
With this in ind (that Satan's time has run out when God's people
have formed), let us now look at the content of these plagues and
consider the progression as an historical drama unfolding. If we can
see these deeper issues that are involved, we will get a tremendous
appreciation for these plagues. And trusting God, we will not be so
apprehensive as we face this kind of commotion and destruction in
earth's history. Even in this time God's people will have a mission
to perform.
First of all we must remember that Satan must exterminate this
people!
G.C. (618)
As Satan influenced Esau to march against Jacob, so heț,
will stir up the wicked to destroy God's people in the time of
trouble. And as he accused Jacob, he will urge his accusat-
ions against the people of God.
He will say, `this isn't really a worthy people, they really be-
long to me, and I'll show you that they do'. And he goes about wild,
trying to harrass them and distract them. He must destroy their faith
in God. He must not let them form. He must dsetroy their signific-
ance as a holy people by any means possible. And as he accused Jacob,
he will accuse the people of God.
G.C. (618)
He numbers the world as his subjects; but this littleț,
company who are keeping the commandments of God are resisiting
his supremavy. If he could blot them from the earth, then his
triumph would be complete.
Thus we see his motivation; we see his concern in terms of attack-
ing the people of God. So often we see these plagues as something so
completely different from anything that has ever happened before and
so we put them into the realm of the weird; the inexplicable, the
strange, the far-out. But I would like to suggest that if we would
consider what is really happening, the plagues are not a completely
different kind of experience than has been going on just before the
close of peobation. That is, the only difference with what is happen-
ing after the close of probation, with what went on before is in
degree, not in kind.
Now let us read . . .
G.C. (589,590)
While appearing to the children of men as a great physic-
ian who can heal all their maladies, he will bring disease and
disaster, until populous cities are reduced to ruin and desol-
ation. Even now he is at work. In accidents and calamities
by sea and by land, in great conflagrations, in fierce torna-
does and terrific hailstorms, in tempests, floods, cyclones,
tidal waves, and earthquakes, in every place and in a thousand
forms, Satan is exercising his power. He sweeps away the rip-
ening harvest, and famine and distress follow. He imparts to
the air a deadly taint, and thousands perish by the pestil-
ence. These visitations are to become more and more frequent
and disastrous. Destruction will be upon both man and beast.
"The earth mourneth and fadeth away, the haughty people . . .
do languish. The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants
thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the
ordinances, broken the everlasting covenant."
Is. 24:4, 5.
You get the feeling that this is begining to sound like these
plagues "even now", that is before probation has closed, at the time
when she was writing. So you see that it is not a complete break and
we cannot tell at which specific time probation has closed because the
process of history is continuous.
Testimonies to the Church, (vol. 5 p.212)
Already a few drops of God's wrath have fallen upon theț,
earth.
GOD'S WRATH
(Reminder: the biblical definition of "God's Wrath".
The Greek word used throughout Revelation to refer to God's wrath
is "ORIGAY"; the root word from which we get our word "orgy". It
refers to an experience in which a person's blood rushes through their
body and the arteries stand out on their neck and face, and they just
become furious. Now, God has allowed the prophets to apply this very
human term to Him, to indicate in the strongest human language His
utter reactivity to sin. But what is really His wrath, are we going
to say that God has high blood pressure? No! We recognize the
inadequacy of human language. But what is His wrath? What could be
the strangest thing that God could do in reaction to sin? We find the
answer in Romans 1. Three times we are told that in reaction to in-
dividuals who continued to sin and suppress the truth, that finally
God had to get to the place where God had to say, "Let them alone".
That was the wrath that Christ experienced. "My God, My God. Why
have You left Me alone?" Why have You gone off and left Me?
Wrath is the hiding of God's face, it is the recognition that
there is nothing more that He can do; that is un-like God, in terms of
His operations of mercy, His love. If you understand the significance
of free-will, that if an individual gets to the place where they
refuse to have any relationship with the Holy Spirit, if they sin
against the Holy Spirit, if they say, "I will not have You", God is
grieved. But there comes a point in recognition of free choice, that
God must say; "Let them alone, he that is, let him be".
So God's wrath is not some kind of anger in a human fashion; that
God has to superimpose some kind of suffering. If God has to add
something to sin to make it worse then sin isn't so bad.
SIN IS NOT OF A QUALITY THAT GOD HAS TO ADD SOMETHING TO IT TO
MAKE IT WORSE.
There is nothing that could be added to it to make it worse; all
God has to do is let it go to seed, let it be seen for what it is.
Those individuals who describe God as superimposing something upon the
final destruction of the sinners, simply have no appreciation either
of the character of God or the horrendous nature of sin. There is
nothing God could add to make it worse. The worst thing that God
could do is to step aside, and no longer restrain the wicked in their
wickedness and let sin go to seed; "let them alone".
But that is always in reaction to individuals who have rejected
God so that there is nothing else He can do. And of-course God`s
lament is; "What more is there that I could have done, than I have
done?" That's God's strange act, that seems so unlike God. But if
you understand the nature of sin there is nothing else God can do.
So we are told that; "A few drops of God's wrath have already
fallen upon the earth". What does that mean? That means as sinners
reject Him more and more, God must withdraw from them; He must let
them alone. This is their choice.
T.C. (vol.9 p11)
The Spirit of God is gradually but surely being withdrawnț,
from the earth.
(There is God's wrath again.)
Plagues and judgments are already falling upon the despis-
ers of the grace of God. Calamities by land and by sea, the
unsettled state of society, the alarms of war are portentious.
They forcast approaching events of the greatest magnitude.
When it gets to the place where everyone has made their choice,
there is nothing further God can do. No more can be saved by the
further operation of His grace, so He finally says; "I must let them
alone". Then Satan takes over and demonstrates to a much greater
extent than he has ever been allowed to before and we see then the
full significance of the operation of his government.
* * * P L A G U E S 1 - 4 * * *
|
Go To Part II Of This Study (#8) | - |
Return To The Previous Study (#7) | - |
Go To The Next Study (#9) | - |
Return To The Eschatology Directory |
|
Return To Our HOME DIRECTORY | - |
Return To Our HOME PAGE |
GET YOUR OWN