THE SEVENTH ANGEL by James White

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 27, 1856

THE SEVENTH ANGEL.

By James White

Rev. xi, 15. [First clause.] “And the seventh angel sounded.” Most writers hold that the seventh angel is a literal angel; some say it is Gabriel, others, that it is Christ. To this view we offer the following objections:—

1. These same writers hold that six of the seven angels are symbols; how, then, can they make the last of the series literal? By what authority do they change the last of a series of symbols into a literal angel? The seven angels are all of the same character—symbolic.

2. The sounding of the seventh angel cannot be Gabriel, or Christ calling forth the dead, and changing the living just; (which is represented as the work of a moment. 1 Cor. xv, 51, 52;) for its sounding occupies days. “But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel,” &c. Rev. x, 7. These days are doubtless prophetic, i. e., a day for a year. The fifth angel sounded 150 days; [years;] the sixth sounded 391 years and 15 days. The sounding of the seventh angel also covers years. Under the sounding of the former, a series of events occurred; under the sounding of the seventh angel a series of events are also pointed out, several of which occur prior to the Second Advent.

Verse 15. [Last clause.] “And there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.” These voices heard in heaven symbolize the testimony of the church on earth, the same as the three angels of chap. xiv. If this view be objected to, and if the objector thinks the voices are to be heard alone in heaven, we would inquire, How many “kingdoms” there are in the third heavens? And when do they become Christ’s? It will be seen very readily that the testimony of the voices is to be given where the kingdoms (plural) are. This testimony, then, is to be given by the Church of God, prior to Christ’s second coming. In a certain sense the kingdoms of this world become Christ’s before his second coming.

Ps. ii, 7-9. “I will declare the decree: the Lord hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee. Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.” Here we see that the nations first become Christ’s, and, second, he dashes them in pieces like a potter’s vessel at his advent.

Dan. vii, 13, 14. “I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.” And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.” The coming mentioned in the text is not to earth; but to the Ancient of days. Christ then receives of the Father the dominion, and glory, and a kingdom. This all takes place prior to his descent to earth. He receives the throne of David, which is in the capital of the fifth kingdom, the New Jerusalem, before he comes to earth. This is the marriage of the Lamb. When Christ comes, he “returns from the wedding.” Luke xii, 36. Then just prior to the Second Advent, Christ receives the throne and Capital of his kingdom. He also receives the kingdoms of this world; and the church in her mortal state proclaims the kingdoms of this world our Lord’s and his Christ’s.

Verse 18. [First clause.] “And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come.” We notice, first, the angry nations. During the year 1855, seventy-two battles have been fought, and more than 350,000 men have been slain. From this we may form some idea of the condition of this world when it can be emphatically said, the nations are angry.

“And thy wrath is come.” This we regard as the unmingled wrath of God, in the seven last plagues. Rev. xiv, 10; xv, 1; xvi. The cup of God’s wrath will be poured out without mixture of mercy. Christ’s work as Priest will be for ever closed. “He which is filthy, let him be filthy still; and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still.” Those who would obtain mercy of God, and a pardon for all their sins, must attend to the work before God’s wrath shall be poured out. First, the nations will be angry; and in that time of confusion, will the loud cry of the Third Angel be closed up. Then will follow the wrath of God in the seven last plagues, but not till the voice of warning is hushed, and every lip employed in giving the last warning is stilled.

Verse 18. [Last clause.] “And the time of the dead that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.”

We regard the “dead,” mentioned in the text as one class, and the saints as another. The saints are judged before they are raised, and so are the wicked dead. But they will be judged by Christ and the saints during the thousand years of Rev. xx, and raised at the close of that period and destroyed.

Then, what is the “time of the dead that they should be judged?” Ans. The 1000 years. This is the next great event following the seven last plagues. The great day of judgment will be introduced by the coming of Christ. The next great event is expressed as follows:—

“And that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and to them that fear thy name small and great.” Although these have had immortality, and have reigned with Christ in the Holy City 1000 years, yet they have not had their full reward, and will not till the New Heavens and Earth appear at the close of the 1000 years.

Rev. v, 9, 10, shows the condition of the saints during the 1000 years, and the place to which they are looking for their full reward. “And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof; for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood, out of every kindred, and tongue and people, and nation; and hast made us unto our God kings and priests; and we shall reign on the earth.” During the 1000 years the saints reign in judgment, and at the close of that period their reign on the earth commences.

“And shouldest destroy them which destroy (corrupt, margin) the earth.” When will this take place? Ans. At the second death, at the close of God’s great week, at the time the saints are rewarded by the reception of the entire earth restored to its Eden glory.

Thus closes the events of the seventh angel, covering all the dreadful scenes of the third woe, reaching to the time when all woe will cease at the second death, and when all things will be made new. J. W.