The Revelation of Jesus Christ - The Herald

these living creatures, symbolizing the great principles of the Divine administration,
would be particularly interested."
The number seven, mentioned in connection with both the angels and the vials of wrath,
represents completeness, and is designed to show that the proclamation of the truths
which expose the errors and false claims of the religious systems will have seven distinct
phases or aspects. Though these plagues are administered separately and each begins at
once to take effect, yet when the process is finished and the last one is inflicted, they will
operate contemporaneously, and will finally cause the destruction of these systems and
governments. The final act, however, will be executive, that is, it will be accomplished by
Christ Himself and the glorified saints, beyond the veil. It would seem that it will be at this
latter stage of the judgments, under the seventh plague, that the Great Company,
mentioned in Rev. 7:9, will finally recognize the hand of God.
"And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from His power; and
no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were
fulfilled."--Rev. 15:8.
The earlier expositors, as we have noted, nearly all interpret these temple symbols and
their occurrences described in this vision (ver. 5-8), as representing or symbolizing scenes
in heaven, the place of God's abode. The angels are interpreted by them to be literal,
heavenly beings. They failed to see, at least in this vision, that its court and holy are
employed as symbols, and describe the earthly conditions of the probationary Church. It
was not until the early part of the harvest period, when God's great Plan of Salvation
began to be revealed in all its grandeur and beauty, that it became possible to clearly
understand these types and shadows. Mr. Elliott, as will be seen by consulting his
exposition, saw this in a measure, but failed to apprehend that when employed as symbols
in the Revelation, the defiled condition of the holy was recognized and portrayed. Mr.
Russell's interpretation of this verse is one in perfect harmony with the types of the
tabernacle and temple as representing certain features of the Plan of God; and also with
the fact that a correct understanding of the Plan revealed the defiled condition of the holy,
as pictured in the Revelation symbols. The fulfillment of this vision as forecast by him in
1882 is now a matter of history; thus his interpretation can be tested by the facts of history:
"When they [the seven angels] had all gone forth from the temple it was filled with smoke,
so that none could enter it. The temple symbolizes the nominal Church. The coming of the
messengers out of the temple, symbolizes the coming of the overcomers out of the nominal
Church. When all such have come out, the temple (Church) will be so full of smoke
(confusion), that no man would care to go into it. It was 'filled with smoke from the glory
of God and from His power,' that is, the glorious harmony and beauty of Truth as
presented by the overcoming class, shows the deformity and confusion of man-made
creeds. As the Truth, though rejected, shines out with increasing glory, the whole nominal
temple is seen to be full of smoke--confusion and darkness; and all who remain in it
become so blinded by it, that they cannot see the glory of God either as displayed in His
Word or its fulfillment in passing events."