Seven Vials

The seven vials of chapters 15 and 16 are poured out during the last half of the week and fall between the sounding of the sixth and seventh trumpets. They are the seven last plagues; in them God’s fury is completed (Rev. 15:1). The vials, in contrast to the trumpets, are not limited to the “third part” and are poured upon the earth, the sea, the rivers, and the sun. Although religious Babylon is thrown off in the middle of the week, political Babylon as a symbol of the Gentile dominion that began with Nebuchadnezzar is not destroyed until the end of the week with the last vial (Rev. 16:17-21).