and the
mountains were no more. And vast hail, weighing a talent, fell
from heaven on men; and men reviled God because of the plague of
the hail; for the plague thereof was exceedingly great." Rev.
16:17-21.

The atmosphere is not limited, like a river, or portion of the earth, to a
given locality, but encircles the globe. Consequently the effect of the
vial poured out on the air, would be universal, and not local like the
effects of the previous vials. The air is the region of storms. These
symbolize the expression of conflicting opinions, and violent outbursts of
passion; which may be the commencement of that "great battle," for the
preparation of which the unclean spirits went forth under the sixth vial,
to gather the people, and which terminates by the slaying of the remnant
with the sword of the Lord, 19:21.

An earthquake is a symbol of a political revolution. As this is to be
greater than all preceding ones, it must extend to all nations. It is
during the earthquake, that the cities fall and the mountains and islands
flee away. This commotion evidently synchronizes with the "time of
trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same
time," when God's "people shall be delivered, every one that shall be
found written in the book," Dan. 12:1.

"It is done," is a declaration indicating the completion of the work
symbolized. It marks the termination of the events of the seventh vial,
which are described in the verses following:

"The great city" is "Babylon," (14:8); which "reigneth over the kings of
the earth," (17:8); and which John had seen sitting "upon many waters,"
17:1. This was doubtless seen when he saw the waters of the symbolic
Euphrates being dried up, 16:12. Babylon, being a symbol of the Roman
hierarchy, its triple division indicates a like division of the church of
Rome, not geographical, but under different leaders, previous to its
destruction.

"The cities of the nations," must symbolize other hierarchies, analogous
to that of Rome, of which there are the Greek church, in Russia and
Greece, the Arminian and Syrian churches, and other corrupt nationalized
establishments. All such will become disconnected, like Babylon, with the
governments by which they are sustained.

"Great Babylon" then comes into remembrance to drink the cup of the wine
of the fierceness of God's wrath. Because her sins have reached unto
heaven, "God hath remembered her iniquities," 18:5.