I know that Dougg's chart work is the typical or traditional view of the pouring out of the vials, but I don't see it as a progression of one vial poured out after the other. My studies tell me something completely different. I see it as
the number 7 signifying the completeness of what is being done,
not an indication of
successive judgments one after the other. It is the completeness of God's judgment poured out.
Just as the 7 very literal Churches of Asia didn't really signify 7 separate churches, but aspects of God's corporate Church from different points of view. Like the four gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke & John) painting the very same picture, using different language and
speaking of different things that all took place at that same event at the same time. For example, the 7 vials signify the
completeness of judgment for the 7 churches (completeness of the Churches). And it doesn't mean that judgment comes on 7 actual or Physical spots (earth, Sea, Sun, etc.) or that 7 actual successive times something happens for the number 7 is spiritual! It means completeness of whatever is in view. In other words, John was shown 7 judgments in this symbolic vision representing one judgment just as he was shown 7 Churches representing one Church. This can also be seen as the 7 vials are poured out on the sun, the fountains, and the throne of the beast,
all representing the Church. It's all ultimately representing judgment on the Church. That is it!
Some brief examples in the context:
Revelation 16:2 KJV
[2] And the first went, and
poured out his vial upon the earth; and there f
ell a noisome and grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and upon them which worshipped his image.
These plagues are
not poured out upon all men, women, and children in the world as is often speculated, but upon the
unfaithful Church, which has
spiritually become Egypt. The plagues
mimic the plagues of Egypt because the
church has spiritually become like Egypt! Using ancient Egypt as an example for the church today! As it is written:
Jude 1:5a
- "I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not."
Revelation 11:8
- "And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and EGYPT, where also our Lord was crucified."
1.) God's judgment upon the people of His house is a given, and that they are spiritually Egypt is also a given. Thus the plagues recorded upon Egypt in the Old Testament were
types used in His judgments upon the Church, because it is become a house of bondage. Not the world since it was never faithful representative of God's kingdom on earth. The New Testament Congregation is God's Great City on Earth, the home of Two Witnesses (Faithful Christians), not the world or physical Jerusalem. Remember that!
2.) The plagues are not poured upon all the people of the world (as is widely believed), but upon all the people WITHIN a great city where she has BECOME a harlot who has spiritually become Egypt, which is the Church! This is talking about God's judgment upon PROFESSED CHRISTIANS, not faithful Christians, who have gone after false prophets and christs who have performed lying signs and wonders. They are the ones plagued of God, and they are the ones who at this time had received the mark of the beast signifying they were brought under his rule. For example, the rest of the world is ALREADY CONTROLLED by Satan, but those within of this corporate Church of God are the ones deceived now and will be handed over to Satan to be brought into His prison house, and who worship his image in the Church (2nd Thess 2). This is where the Man of sin ruled, and where the men which had RECEIVED the mark of the beast dwelled, and who worshiped him THERE as if he was God. We have to remember, the sores/plagues signify something. Something which they didn't have previously, but which God put upon them for some reason at this time. not upon the whole world, but upon those symbolized by this particular language.
The Gospel has nothing to do with Dougg's interpretation of adding 2,000 years gap, peace treaty with Israel, a physical man with supernatural power, Jews fleeing from Israel in the Middle East, a third temple bring rebuilt and taken over by antichrist, a literal plagues poruing all over the world in literal fashion, etc. with all the false doctrines of pre-millennialism craps who only are looking for literal fulfillment without realizing that the judgment is coming upon the church spiritually which explains the chaos we are witnessing in this nation and the world
BECAUSE of it. The church has fallen into desolation, and God warns that many will deny this or not realize it just like Jews of Old Testament.
This is why God warned that there are two groups of Christians within the Church - the Wise Virgins vs. the foolish virgins. The wise see the judgment of God's unfaithful congregations as a signs of Christ's return while the foolish still go to the unfaithful congregation to "buy and sell" while looking for an interpretation from the world news to develop charts just like Dougg is doing. They thought they are seeing the signs of christ return with carnal minds, but they are looking at
wrong signs. That's why they are foolish and without spiritual discernment.