Okay...I believe that this is a
very popular misconception in theology, that the seven vials represent things happening in "stages" at different times, one taking place after the other. The same misconception that some have that the seven churches of Asia represent seven different periods that run one after the other. I don't believe that. The Bible does not teach this. God often uses the number seven to signify "
completeness," rather than to declare something is seven particular, different things. For example the Seven Spirits of God. There are not seven spirits of God, there is ONE Spirit of God, but the
number 7 signifies completeness in its ministry all over the world. And have you considered WHY do the Living Creatures in the midst of the throne have 7 eyes and 7 horns? Why are there 7 seals on the book in Revelation? Why are there 7 lamps of fire burning before the throne? Why are there 7 stars in the right hand of Christ? And so on and so forth, is because the
number 7 signifies the completeness of whatever is in view. Those 7 stars in Christ's hand signified the completeness of His messengers. Likewise, the 7 vials
signify the completeness of God's final judgment poured out on the earth, because of the prayers of the saints.
Revelation 21:9
- "And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife."
These vials were full of the
seven last plagues, or the seven [
eschatos] plagues, and that is why there were seven of them, to signify
completeness--not to show that seven different events would take place at seven different times, taking place one after the other. We have to keep in mind, this is a revealing, a revelation, or more correctly put a group of revelations in symbolic imagery showing the same things (God's magnificent salvation and judgment program) over and over again. God says something in one chapter and will say the exact same thing, with different symbolic imagery in another chapter.
Revelation is in no way chronological in its order of things revealed in imagery. For example, Christ is in the church in Revelation 2, the sealing of Israel ends in Revelation 7, and Christ is born in Revelation 12. See? It's obviously not in order.
I believe that these seven vials being poured out run
concurrently. In other words, we are receiving in Revelations,
seven portraits of the same event,
each revealing a different aspect of what will be taking place. Much like you saw seven portraits of the Revolutionary war, each showing a different aspect of that one war, by a different picture. Or as Christ is seen as the Vine in one place to highlight one thing, the Lamb of God in another place to highlight another, and the Holy Temple to highlight still something else. It's not three separate prophesies of Christ, it's simply using different imagery to illustrate Him as the true Israel (Vine), that He is the Sacrifice (Lamb), and that He is House of God (Temple) in whom we dwell. In this same way, these seven vials are numbered to seven to signify "completion" (as the 7 churches or angels or spirits, etc.), while these judgment plagues are
one judgment, the
portraits concurrent. They are all one event.
Look at the pains and sores of Revelation 16:11 poured out in the 5th vial. You can see the same sores poured out in the first vial. Or as the 3rd vial poured out made the waters and rivers turn to blood, and the 2nd vial poured out on the sea had already made it turn to blood. Did God do the seas first and then go to the rivers and fountains? Not at all! It is the SAME EVENT of bringing death, but highlighting
different aspects of this judgment. The plagues are operating simultaneously upon the earth and they are spoken of as seven to instruct us of the completeness of God's wrath upon them. This is the end time judgment wherein every stone of the Temple will be thrown down, the kingdom becomes void of the life of light, and this signified by blood and darkness, as there is now no healing for the torment of pain and sores. The reason is that the whole house of Israel has been sealed, the testimony of the two witnesses is finished and the day has come when no man can work. There is no repentance by them for their abominations and they continue to blasphemy because the Lord has cut them off.
Hope this helps.