Symbolic or Literal - Past or Future?
Early belief in the 7 churches, seals, trumpets and vials were taken as mostly historic and symbolic.
"holding that six of the seven plagues were already past, being symbolic of the judgments of God on the Papacy going back to the Reformation. While he thought the seventh plague was still future, it did not presage any special persecution for the saints other than what they had always had to endure throughout the centuries." Ellen G. White Letters and Manuscripts: 1845 - 1859 Vol 1, 85
Once SDA put the plagues in the future (which I believe is right) I think that would of broke the seven churches, seals, trumpes, and plgues and beinging progressive and historic taken from different points of view.
What I can't understand is how the historics were ok to drop out the seven last plagues or vials from other sevens.
Does'nt that break the harmony of the teaching on all the sevens together.
I would think it would break one of Miller's rules of interpretation.
If you can drop one of them from being progressive and historic why can't you do the others?
SDA did at least fix the vials as being future but of course I don't think they should of stopped there.
The world is soon to be left by the angel of mercy and the seven last plagues are to be poured out.... The bolts of God's wrath are soon to fall, and when He shall begin to punish the transgressors there will be no period of respite until the end. {TM, 182}
By it we are carried back to a new series of events. The whole chapter is but an introduction to the most terrible judgments of the Almighty ever to be visited upon this earth - the seven last plagues. (Uriah Smith - The Prophecies of Daniel and the Revelation)
What will it be like during the Seven Last Plagues
Rev 15:1 "And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvellous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God."
Satan will then plunge the inhabitants of the earth into one great, final trouble. As the angels of God cease to hold in check the fierce winds of human passion, all the elements of strife will be let loose. The whole world will be involved in ruin more terrible than that which came upon Jerusalem of old. {GC 614.1}
Who Pours Out The Plagues
Rev 15:5-7 And after that I looked, and, behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven
(Most Holy Place)
was opened: And the seven angels came out of the temple, having the seven plagues, clothed in pure and white linen, and having their breasts girded with golden girdles. And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever.
There is a movement called the Character Of God that will say God does not kill but as you see above that is not true.
Here also is a quote from Ellen White on the subject.
The plea may be made that a loving Father would not see His children suffering the punishment of God by fire while He had the power to relieve them. But God would, for the good of His subjects and for their safety, punish the transgressor. God does not work on the plan of man. He can do infinite justice that man has no right to do before his fellow man. Noah would have displeased God to have drowned one of the scoffers and mockers that harassed him, but God drowned the vast world. Lot would have had no right to inflict punishment on his sons-in-law, but God would do it in strict justice. {LDE 241.2}
The earnest prayers of this faithful few will not be in vain. When the Lord comes forth as an avenger, He will also come as a protector of all those who have preserved the faith in its purity, and kept themselves unspotted from the world. It is at this time that God has promised to avenge His own elect which cry day and night unto Him, though He bear long with them. {CET 187.1}
As you can see God does kill but as an act of justice and to save his people.
He created them, he has the right to remove them.
Does that mean God does all the killing through things like natural disasters?
The same destructive power exercised by holy angels when God commands, will be exercised by evil angels when He permits. There are forces now ready, and only waiting the divine permission, to spread desolation everywhere. {GC 614.2}
Like with Job God does allow destructive power to Satan.
You should not say God does not kill nor should you go the opposite way either and say it's all an act of God when disasters come.
Rev 15:8 "And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled."
The glory of the LORD shall endure for ever: the LORD shall rejoice in his works. He looketh on the earth, and it trembleth: he toucheth the hills, and they smoke. (Psalms 104:31-32)
In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke. (Is 6:1-4)
It appears that the glory of God can cause a great smoke but we also see that with the incense from the prayers of the saints.
Not sure how we can know what the smoke is from between the two.
In this case I think it does let us know it was from the glory of God.