Revelation Chapter 16
VERSE 3 “And the second (angel) poured out his bowl into the sea; and it became blood as of a dead man; and every living soul died, [even] the things that were in the sea.”
We believe the second angel to have been the Apostle John now in his glorified condition, as he was the honored servant to sound the second trumpet so likewise he is chosen to pour out the second bowl of wrath.
Keep in mind that these plagues have their effects BOTH on the false church as well as the world.
“This angel POURED OUT HIS BOWL INTO THE SEA: (Sinaitic = upon the sea) this second bowl seems to have been related to the events begun in the Bolshevik Revolution. (A.D. 1918) Note again the similarities to second trumpet events. There too, a great mountain falls due to a struggle between religious and non-religious elements. In Russia, however, it is in reverse; the non-religious forces triumph. Other plagues will more directly affect the Roman Catholic Church. The Russian Revolution began its effect on the Russian Orthodox Church; but as Communism spread in Eastern Europe, the Roman Catholic Church was greatly affected.
The bowl was poured into (or upon) the sea.
This is important. The Bolshevik Revolution was a sea-class revolution (The “sea” representing the non-religious masses, not under religious restraints). But most revolutions are! The point is that once the revolution began, there happens to the sea something unique -- something unprecedented in history:
AND IT BECAME BLOOD LIKE THAT OF A DEAD MAN: A dead man’s blood divides into serum (liquid) and clots (solid accumulations); this is the plague on the sea: it now contains two basic elements. It is not without direction as it used to be.
In prior times, the only thing the sea had in the sense of unity was that it was not unified -- it was an unplanned fluctuation. Now, one part of humanity remains, as it always was -- fluid and unconnected, afraid that cooperative actions will only hurt them. But for the first time in history, the other part of restless humanity starts to organize -- to form little associations (clots) for the accomplishment of their ends -- their agendas --the securing of their “rights,” (Whether real or fancied).”
The first plague proved that the church-state monolith could be broken. The second plague proved that the church could be ignored, and people could organize for their own desires.
AND EVERY LIVING SOUL IN THE SEA DIED: It was one of the points of this revolution to kill religion, “the opiate of the people.” It was (at least in the Soviet Union) remarkably successful. The Bolsheviks were a-religious; all followers were expected to be the same. Non-followers were frightened out of their religious affiliations.”
Now for another view of this plague which appears somewhat similar and equally true:
“Bear in mind (as we have said) that the sea symbolizes the irreligious masses of mankind-- those not under religious restraint.
To appreciate the trouble upon this class we must study the symbol. Blood in a living creature is full of vitality, but the blood of a dead person is the very reverse. After death, the blood rapidly begins to separate into two parts--a watery liquid called serum and a more solid substance termed clot. As soon as this separation has been accomplished the CLOT begins to PUTREFY or corrupt.
Applying this, we understand it to teach that a great and thorough disintegration will occur in this large class of humanity (the sea class), after which, one element will rapidly corrupt and putrefy. Among the irreligious masses there have been many well-known noble specimens of humanity as well as many less notable, honestly skeptical souls. The result of the commingling of such with the masses imparted a life principle and vitality. But reading this plague, we realize that a separation of these two elements is due, the result of which will be decay and death to every principle of morality and virtue in this class--when every living thing, or soul (active element of virtue and benevolence) in this sea class will perish.
In other words, remove the element, which advises prudence, morality, and right-doing, from the counsels of the restless masses, and let the lower element control itself, and the result would quickly be the destruction of life, property, laws, and peace--a grand reign of anarchy.
From other Scriptures we are taught to expect that just such an uprising shall take place (however on a much larger scale, larger than that which took place during the French Revolution), which shall eventually overthrow all the kingdoms of earth. But the beginning of this is all we must look for now, the separation of the serum from the clot--of the vital from the corrupting element.
This is now in progress. Men of noble minds, who realized the oppression of the masses by money (power) and governments as well as religion and desired to assist in their amelioration, are forced to withdraw because of the spirit of recklessness, which pervades the masses.
A prime example of this particular plague having its effects upon the sea class should be self-evident to everyone as exemplified in the recent up-risings, protest, and etc. taking place across the globe, and most notably here at home in these United States by some of the more pervasive elements of society such as BLM, Antifa, and some pro-abortion and climate groups instigating violence, even death threats in order to secure their demands.
It is important to remember that the full results of this evil or plague will not be felt for many years; it only has its beginning's now (that is as the Pastor expressed it in the year 1883, however we living today nearly 140 years in the future are now living in the “due time” for the full results of this plague, very soon now the “four winds” will be released and then shall mankind reap the full results of this particular plague.) It is likewise important to remember that one plague or evil goes on ever increasingly, one after another, each added to the previous one, until in the end the entire seven plagues or forms of evil will be operating simultaneously, resulting in the greatest time of trouble ever known upon the face of the world, Matt 24:21.” (Excerpts taken from R498)
The Pastor brings out an important fact here which some generally overlook; some imagine erroneously that the first five plagues are past and that presently we are merely reaping the benefits of the Sixth Plague alone, not so! we are still suffering the wrath of the first five plagues, plagues which are ever increasing in intensity with the full results of each about to boil over having reached its full measure at the pouring out of the Seventh Plague, thus it can be seen why it is important for us to investigate ALL the plagues so that we better understand just what is taking place all about us.
We will take one more look at the second plague in our next post.
