13. How is the final plague described? Revelation 16:17-21.
NOTE: ‘Thus has Inspiration described the last judgement which is to be inflicted in the present condition of things upon those who are incorrigibly rebellious against God. Some of the plagues are local in their application; but this one is poured out into the air. The air envelops the whole earth; it follows that this plague will envelop equally the habitable globe. It will be universal. The very air will be deadly. The gathering of the nations having taken place under the sixth vial, the battle remains to be fought under the seventh; and here are brought to view the instrumentalities with which God will slay the wicked. At this time, it may be said, “The Lord hath opened His armoury, and hath brought forth the weapons of His indignation.” [Jeremiah 50:25.] “There were voices.” Above all will be heard the voice of God. “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. This will cause the great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth. “And thunders and lightnings,” another allusion to the judgments of Egypt. (See Exodus 9:23.) The great city is divided into three parts; that is, the three grand divisions of the false and apostate religions of the world (the great city), Paganism, Catholicism, and relapsed Protestantism, seem to be set apart each to receive its appropriate doom. The cities of the nations fall; universal desolation spreads over the earth; every island flees away, and the mountains are not found; and great Babylon comes in remembrance before God. Read her judgements, as more fully described in chapter 18. “And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven.” This is the last instrumentality used in the infliction of punishment upon the wicked, the bitter dregs of the seventh vial.’ Uriah Smith: Daniel & the Revelation, page 698.
14. In contrast to those opposed to Christ, how will God’s people greet the coming of the Saviour? Isaiah 25:8-9.
NOTE: ‘Those who a little before would have destroyed God’s faithful children from the earth, had to witness the glory of God which rested upon them. They had seen them glorified. And amid all the terrible scenes they had heard the voices of the saints in joyful strains, saying, Lo, this is our God, we have waited for Him, and He will save us. The earth mightily shook as the voice of the Son of God called forth the sleeping saints. They responded to the call, and came forth clothed with glorious immortality, crying, Victory! victory! over death and the grave. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? Then the living saints, and the resurrected ones, raised their voices in a long, transporting shout of victory. Those sickly bodies that had gone down into the grave came up in immortal health and vigour. The living saints were changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, and caught up with the resurrected ones, and together they meet their Lord in the air. O what a glorious meeting. Friends whom death had separated, were united, never more to part.’ Spiritual Gifts, volume 1, page 207.