Revelation Chapter 15
Verse 5-8 “After these things I looked, and behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened. And out of the temple came the seven angels having the seven plagues, clothed in pure bright linen, and having their chests girded with golden bands. Then one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God who lives forever and ever. The temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from His power, and no one was able to enter the temple till the seven plagues of the seven angels were completed.”
We would be remiss if we did not include the Pastors thoughts here on Verses 5-8, particularly Verse 8, which is quite different from what has been presented thus far. The Pastor did not see the Temple as representing the true Church in heaven here. However, it should be understood that this was the Pastor’s early thought on the matter and as the subject concerns prophecy yet fulfilled he may have adjusted his views over time considering some of the other things he wrote.
He states:
"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 over-comers 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.
"The messengers are now nearly all out, and already the smoke, or confusion in the church is considerable. Few care to enter even now, and recent reports of various sects show that the increase has been very slight for the past year. When we remember that the, large proportion of new members received is from the Sunday School (children), we can realize how, even now, very few MEN (persons of mature thought) enter the nominal Temple.
The nominal church will be in this confusion until the seven Plagues are poured out; during that time the Babylon, or confusion element, will be destroyed [cease to profess to be Christians] and the cleansed Temple of Truth be again opened to receive justified believers-then as heirs of the earthly promises."--Z June '83-7.
LIBERATED FROM BABYLONIAN BONDAGE
"And I heard a great Voice out of the Temple, saying to the Seven Angels, 'Go forth and pour out the Seven Bowls of the Wrath of God into the Earth.'"—Rev 16:1.
Let us keep in mind in considering the significance of this Voice, that the Temple from which it proceeds is the same as that mentioned in the previous verses, already explained and understood by Pastor Russell to represent the nominal church.
This will enable us to avoid what seems to be the error of most of the early expositors in concluding that this Voice proceeds from the Temple in the heaven of God's presence, and that it represents a command or commission given by God or Christ to the symbolic Angels to begin to perform their work. The feature of the vision represented by the giving of this commission is described in Chapter 15:7, in which it is explained that one of the four "Living ones" did this, as we have already shown. Pastor Russell's explanation of this verse is in perfect harmony with his previous interpretation of the significance of the Temple, and is as follows:
"The nominal systems are anxious to retain every member, for each one counts, and their boast is in numbers and wealth; but when they-find any who count all earthly considerations but loss and dross, and who will not be fettered and bound by man-made creeds, they thrust such out, saying, Go, then, do your worst, 'Go your ways.'
"The unfettered, the overcoming class, have nearly all gone forth, we believe, now. These do not require the Plagues, since the Truth has made them free. This Little Flock by no means constitutes the whole house' of God. No, the house of God-the household of faith is a large class (consisting not only of the priestly class, the “little flock”, but likewise of the Levites, the great company, the servant class, the foolish virgins), the majority of whom are still in the nominal church, fettered by its creeds and dwarfed by its worldly conformity. For their sake-that they may be brought into the liberty of the sons of God, even though great tribulation (Rev. 7:14) --we are told that 'judgment must begin at the house of God.' They must be liberated first, and the overcoming class shall be the instruments in striking off the shackles of error. The Plagues [calamities] are really blessings in disguise, just as an amputation is a blessing though a trying ordeal of suffering to those who require it."--Z June '83-7.
As you can see the Pastors thoughts here differ completely from those generally held by many brethren today. Whereas (for the most part) we (that is some brethren) believe the “temple of the tabernacle of the testimony” mentioned here in Verse 5 (the Ark of the Covenant) represents the true Church, that is that portion of the glorified Church presently beyond the Vail, and to the New Covenant arrangement, the Pastor IN THIS PARTICULAR PICTURE sees the Temple as denoting the nominal Church.
Likewise, whereas we see this Temple (the true Church) located in heaven beyond the Vail, the Pastor sees this Temple (a representation of the nominal Church) as residing in the ecclesiastical or religious heavens here on earth. Where we see the angels as representing the seven appointed messengers to the true Church the Pastor sees these seven messengers as an allegorical representation of the over-comers, the spirited begotten who have gotten free from the bonds of Babylon, having “come out of her” (Rev 18:4).
Thus, contrary to what many believe we (Bible Students) do not follow a man (his specific teachings alone), we follow the Lord and the truth. Thus freed, in the liberty in which Christ has made us free, we are free to differ on certain issues, especially that dealing with prophecies yet fulfilled.
When we continue with our Revelation study, we will move on to Chapter 16.
