Fourth Vial (Great Heat)

p. 143

FOURTH VIAL.

(Great Heat.)

Rev. 16:8-9.

"And the 'Fourth Angel' poured out his Vial UPON THE SUN; and power was given unto him (the Sun) to scorch men with fire. And men were scorched with GREAT HEAT, and blasphemed the name of God, which hath power over these Plagues; and they repented not to give Him glory."

Under the "Fourth Trumpet" the third part of the Sun was smitten, and the third part of the Moon and of the Stars; so as the third part of them was darkened, and the day shone not for a third part of it, and the night likewise. Rev. 8:12. But it was only the light that was diminished, nothing is said about the heat of the Sun. This "Fourth Vial" is therefore not a recurrence of the "Fourth Trumpet." Here the heat of the Sun is intensified, and so great is the heat that men are scorched by it. How this will be done it is useless to conjecture. It is the time spoken of by Malachi. "Behold, the day cometh that shall BURN AS AN OVEN; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble; and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of Hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch"; and the time is located as just before the "SUN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS" shall arise with healing in His wings. Mal. 4:1-2. The effect of this Plague will be not to make men repent, but to cause them to blaspheme the name of God. Blessed will those people be who do not live to see that day.