The Revelation of Jesus Christ - The Herald

agency will be that peculiar army--all classes. When this great 'earthquake' of social
revolution comes, it will not be a mere handful of anarchists, but an uprising of the people
to throw off the great power that is strangling them. Selfishness is at the bottom of the
whole matter."
Seventh vial poured on the air
"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."--Rev. 16:17.
The seventh plague is to affect the "air," which is of course employed as a symbol. One has
said in regard to this:
"The other vials were poured on different parts of the symbolic world--the land, the sea,
the rivers, the sun, the throne of the wild beast, the Euphrates, and the effect of each
limited to its peculiar scene. That this is poured into the air which envelops the globe
indicates that the great changes which follow it are . . . to extend to all the kingdoms of the
earth."
Mr. Elliott regards the symbol as applying to some extraordinary convulsion, darkening
the political atmosphere. Mr. Barnes thus comments on the symbol:
"Why the vial was poured into the air is not stated. The most probable supposition as to
the idea intended to be represented is, that as storms and tempests seem to be engendered
in the air, so this destruction would come from some supernatural cause, as if the whole
atmosphere should be filled with wind and storm, and a furious and desolating whirlwind
should be aroused by some invisible power."
Careful attention to the fact as seen in the other plagues that the land, sea, fountains,
rivers, etc., refer to different phases of humanity or human affairs, will enable us to see the
significance of this symbol of the air. As we examine the Scriptures we find that the air as a
symbol is associated with Satan's control in the affairs of the world. He is called the "god
of this world," "the prince of this world," "the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that
now worketh in the children of disobedience." (2 Cor. 4:4; John 14:30; Eph. 2:2.) The
following explanation of this symbol is in perfect harmony with its use in these Scriptures,
particularly the last, as we read:
"As already shown, the 'air' here mentioned [1 Thess. 4:17] symbolizes spiritual rule or
power. Satan has long occupied the position of 'prince of the power of the air' (Eph. 2:2),
and has used for his co-workers and joint-rulers in it many of the great ones of Babylon,
who, under his blinding errors, verily think they are doing God service. But in due time
the present 'prince of the air' shall be bound, and shall deceive no more; and the present
heavens, the great Antichrist system, will 'pass away with a great noise,' while the new
Prince of the air, the true spiritual ruler, Christ Jesus, will take the dominion and establish
the 'new heavens,' uniting with Himself in this power or 'air' His Bride, the 'overcomers' of
the Gospel Age."