As soon as the vials were delivered, "the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God." This symbol is taken from the Shekinah which filled the ancient tabernacle. We read that when the tabernacle was finished, "a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. And Moses was not able to enter into the tent of the congregation, because the cloud abode thereon, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle." Ex. 40:34, 35. The same thing occurred at the dedication of Solomon's temple. "The cloud filled the house of the Lord, so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud: for the glory of the Lord had filled the house of the Lord." 1 Kings 8:10, 11. So, also, in the symbol before us the glory of God filled the temple so that no man was able to enter. This is intended to set forth the fact that these avenging judgments were for the manifestation of the divine glory and that there was no access to the throne of God nor to his mercy-seat to alter them or to stay their execution. Such is the sublime scene presented to our view preparatory to the pouring out of the seven last great plagues. CHAPTER XVI. And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth. 2. And the first went, and poured out his vial upon the earth; and there fell a noisome and grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and upon them which worshipped his image. A great voice out of the temple, now filled with the glory of the divine presence, commanded the seven angels to enter upon their mission. It came, therefore, from God, who alone fixed the time for these judgments to begin. Before an intelligent explanation of these plagues can be given, however, the following points must be made clear: 1. _Where_ the vials were poured out. 2. _Upon whom_ they were emptied. 3. _Why_ they were thus poured out. 4. _When_ they were fulfilled, or, rather, at what time they began to be fulfilled. These points we will first briefly consider in the order named, after which we will discuss the _nature_ of the plagues and their individual application. 1. The place where these vials of wrath were poured out was "upon the earth"; that is, the Apocalyptic earth, or that portion of the earth made the special subject of Apocalyptic vision; namely, the territory of the ten kingdoms. The last two vials, however, will be found to embrace a larger territory.