On the news, nearly daily, we see the pictures of lives being disrupted by tornadoes, earthquakes, floods, volcanoes among other things. They are stories of devastation, of homes wiped away, entire communities lost. You always see the faces of the people, stunned, rocked and unsure of what just happened to their life. They were going about their busines when suddenly out of nowhere everything changed. Where were they to go? How do they pick up the pieces? How do they go one? Imagine for a moment if events like these happened all around the world? Imagine every state having earthquakes, fires and devastation? Imagine the power grid down. no water, no gas, no food and no one to call. No one is coming to help or rescue you. It may well be that the world will be literally knocked back into the dark ages. We live in unprecedented times, seeing things we've never seen before. Some of what we see today, ought to have never been seen. It is evil unleashed on the world and the silencing of anyone who would speak against it.
This picture, unpleasant as it may be, might give us a little bit of an idea what the tribulation will be like. Then, in the midst of this chaos, add the thought that love has grown cold and a spiritual darkness that embraces every kind of immorality and idolatry. Evil will run rampant as it is promoted and accepted. Keep that picture in mind as we continue on.
We've seen 6 seal judgments so far. The first 5 seals could easily be the beginning of sorrows. They are consistent with the things Jesus told us we'll see as we near the end times. It isn't until the 6th seal we things that give us an indication we have entered into the final 7 years. In this seal we saw the sky rolled back and extreme signs of heaven. John then inserted the sealing of the 144,000 servants – and then gave us a glimpse of the fruit of their labors seen in this great multitude around the throne. They had come out of the great tribulation and would see no more hunger or thirst; every tear wiped from their eye.
With the opening of the 7th seal, we see seven trumpets revealed. Many times these judgments are viewed sequential; as in 'there are 7 seals, then 7 trumpets, then 7 bowls'. However, the 7 trumpets are the seventh seal, they don't follow it. The seven trumpets are nested within the 7th trumpet. You might also hear someone say the 7 trumpets lay over the top of the seals, adding detail, as though they were the same events. Again, how can this be if the trumpets are within the 7th alone.
Revelation 8:1
In the last chapter, we saw a time out in the action; but there was still a lot of activity. Now, at the breaking of the 7th seal, there silence in heaven. This is significant because it is not normal; the throne of God is surrounded by perpetual praise and worship. John didn't have a watch but believed it to be somewhere around 30 minutes of silence. The silence, that may have never happened in heaven, seemed to serve as a prelude to a serious of events which had never been seen or will be seen again. Imagine this silence, 30 minutes. The anticipation. John must have wondered what happened, how long this would continue and what was next? It's as if all of heaven and earth were holding their breath. John had experienced some amazing visions, one after another, of breathtaking events. Now, there was nothing. This may be the first and last silence ever experienced in heaven.
10 "Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion! For behold, I am coming and I will dwell in your midst," says the Lord. 11 "Many nations shall be joined to the Lord in that day, and they shall become My people. And I will dwell in your midst. Then you will know that the Lord of hosts has sent Me to you. 12 And the Lord will take possession of Judah as His inheritance in the Holy Land, and will again choose Jerusalem. 13 Be silent, all flesh, before the Lord, for He is aroused from His holy habitation!" (Zechariah 2:10-13)
It was the calm before the storm. It's a time to reflect and ponder before it gets ugly. What was about to happen had been predicted and anticipated for thousands of years. Things were bad up to this point, yet, the scroll had not even been opened.
Revelation 8:2
It is as a matter of fact that John said, "THE seven angels." Its said as if we all should already know there were 7 angels before God. In John's day, maybe everyone did know. It was a common Jewish tradition that there were 7 angels standing in God's presence. This shows up in a couple of nonbiblical writings. It seems that tradition is accurate according to John. Two of these angels were Gabriel and Michael. The bible doesn't tell us these are those seven though.
John does tell us these 7 angels that stand in God's presence are now each holding a trumpet. In the Old Testament the trumpets were used for many things. They were blown to assemble, break camp, to warn of an enemy among other things. A trumpet blast, whatever the reason, was communication. A trumpet got people's attention to take notice and receive the message.
What was the message of these seven trumpets?
Revelation 8:3-4
Another angel came on the scene; an 8th angel or some believe it is Jesus himself. The word for messenger or envoy is the same word to describe the 7 angels, but, because He is bringing the incense with prayers, as a High Priest would do in the sanctuary, many see this as Jesus. It is the picture of the Lord before the throne of God offering our prayers with incense before God.
It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. (Romans 8:34)
Note: Consider Ezekiel 10.
These prayers may be the same ones noted in Revelation 5:8. They were important prayers for an important time and pictures the value of prayer, the efficacy of prayer for all time. This was relevant to those people John originally wrote to who needed to hear this. It remains true today. The silence in heaven enhanced the message they brought. What were these prayers?
- They weren't prayers for wealth and prosperity.
- They weren't flippant pleas for relief from the consequence of sin or wickedness.
- They weren't rote recitals of words labeled as prayers.
In Revelation 5:8 each of the elders held firepans of incense which was the prayers of saints.
Prayers for salvation? Deliverance? Vengeance? For the peace of Israel? Every prayer is brought before the Father. Paul's prayers, Peter's prayers and King David's Psalms and prayers. These are the prayers for God to make all things right, prayers for vindication, prayers for a better day and a coming time. They are the prayers for that time of no more tears, no more sorrow; "Come quickly Lord Jesus"; Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done. These are the prayers for the resolution of all things; for God's will on earth as it is in heaven. All those prayers, pictured by the smoke of the incense, rise and drift up before the throne of God. God hears them all.
Many of these prayers have not yet been answered. The answer that is coming is anticipated among the silence.
Are your prayers be there before the Lord? Wouldn't it be sad if there were no prayers of the saints; if everyone was too busy to speak to God? We're often to burdened by all the blessings in our life, there's just no time to pray. Sometimes we're too embarrassed to pray because pride gets in the way. What will people think?
These prayers are received, this angel initiates judgment upon the earth by filling his fire pan with holy fire from the altar and casting it to the earth. A sin-fallen world responded with noises that usually speak of voices – an outcry of humanity. With it was thunder and lighting and earthquake, the sounds of a fallen world ripe for judgment and groaning for redemption.
The Holy fire that is thrown to the earth isn't quenched by the darkness. Instead, it begins to do its work. The effect of these prayers is seen and heard and felt as they are touched by fire and hurled to the earth. Then God moves on the earth and shakes it.
"For behold, the day is coming,
Burning like an oven,
And all the proud, yes, all who do wickedly will be stubble.
And the day which is coming shall burn them up,"
Says the Lord of hosts,
"That will leave them neither root nor branch. (Malachi 4:1)
(See also 2 Peter 3:7)
Revelation 8:6
Are these seven trumpets sequential to the seven seals and then followed by the seven bowl judgments? Some believe so, other see the trumpets adding detail to each seal and the bowls adding further detail. They are presented as though the trumpets are the seventh seal and the bowls are the seventh trumpet. That makes all of them contained within the seventh trumpets. To lay this out on a timeline is difficult. We tend to make assumptions that just aren't in the text. The bible doesn't tell us the first seal was in the tribulation period, it may not start till the seventh trumpet. It's not a stretch to see the seals unveil and the trumpets announce and bring forth the judgment.
Here's what's important, remain teachable. Pastor Chuck used to say, "Blessed are the flexible, for they shall not break." This is not to say we shouldn't stand in faith to our beliefs. It's encouragement to dig into scripture, learn and let it change us. We Christians tend to make all the end times discussion about timelines and the fitting scripture into the news. Let's let God speak through scripture. We can talk over timelines and such, but don't let it silence the overarching messages of prophecy. The important truth is that these will be very real events from a very real God coming to the earth very soon. Many need saving from the wrath to come.
The angels, with their trumpets prepared themselves. What preparation must an angel make to blow a trumpet? Preparation means there was a standard, a responsibility that must be met. The preparation for this day had been in progress for millennia. They were made servants of God and one of their duties was to blow the trumpets of God.
The First Trumpet
The silence of heaven is broken and judgment is announced. Hail and fire were thrown to the earth; this hail and fire were mingled with blood. The 7th plague in Egypt was hail. The Lord commanded Pharaoh to let His people go or he would send all His plagues "to your very heart, and on your servants and on your people." Why?
The silence of heaven is broken and judgment is announced. Hail and fire were thrown to the earth; this hail and fire were mingled with blood. The 7th plague in Egypt was hail. The Lord commanded Pharaoh to let His people go or he would send all His plagues "to your very heart, and on your servants and on your people." Why?
That you may know that there is none like Me in all the earth. (Exodus 9:14)
The Lord could have wiped out Pharaoh and all of Egypt with a word as He could also do with the earth. He told Pharaoh that it was for this purpose he was raised up:
That I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth. (Exodus 9:16)
In Genesis 19 the Lord rained brimstone and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah. The angels removed the righteous from the city saying:
For we will destroy this place, because the outcry against them has grown great before the face of the Lord, and the Lord has sent us to destroy it." (Genesis 19:13)
This is what we see here in Revelation as God will rain down hail and fire mingled with blood on the earth in judgment. God isn't delivering a great cosmic, "I told you so!" He is declaring Himself Lord and Creator to a world that has fallen away in deception. This is a world that no longer honors, trusts or worships God. The Lord declares His sovereignty and righteousness. He is perfectly just in judging the earth. All will know He is God. Every knee, even the rebellious and formerly unbelieving knee, will bow before Him.
So also the same image is used in Ps. 18:13:
"The Lord also thundered in the heaven,
And the Most High gave forth his voice,
Hailstones and coals of fire."
The word for blood is specific and it means blood, not a color as some study bibles suggest. Now, the presence of this blood mingled with fire and brimstone puzzles many. The life is in the blood and blood is always an important factor wherever it shows up. In these end times, the Jewish temple will be rebuilt and sacrifices will once again be offered there. See Isaiah 1:7-15. This is God's heart and attitude in a time of judgment when the people were offering sacrifices even while turning to idols.
Your country is desolate,
Your cities are burned with fire;
Strangers devour your land in your presence;
And it is desolate, as overthrown by strangers.
8 So the daughter of Zion is left as a booth in a vineyard,
As a hut in a garden of cucumbers,
As a besieged city.
9 Unless the Lord of hosts
Had left to us a very small remnant,
We would have become like Sodom,
We would have been made like Gomorrah.
10 Hear the word of the Lord,
You rulers of Sodom;
Give ear to the law of our God,
You people of Gomorrah:
11 "To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices to Me?"
Says the Lord.
"I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams
And the fat of fed cattle.
I do not delight in the blood of bulls,
Or of lambs or goats.
12 "When you come to appear before Me,
Who has required this from your hand,
To trample My courts?
13 Bring no more futile sacrifices;
Incense is an abomination to Me.
The New Moons, the Sabbaths, and the calling of assemblies—
I cannot endure iniquity and the sacred meeting.
14 Your New Moons and your appointed feasts
My soul hates;
They are a trouble to Me,
I am weary of bearing them.
15 When you spread out your hands,
I will hide My eyes from you;
Even though you make many prayers,
I will not hear.
Your hands are full of blood.
This blood, mingled with fire and hail, may be the Lord rejecting the blood sacrifices because His people had rejected the sacrifice offered on their behalf. Apart from Jesus there is no forgiveness of sins.
With the fire that was thrown to the earth one third of the trees were burned up. All the green grass is burned up. Suddenly the entire ecology of the earth is messed up. No trees for wood, fuel, paper. Fruit trees are decimated. Grass for animals that graze, sheep, cattle, etc. begin to starve. The food chain is immediately affected. It wouldn't take long before there would be an extreme worldwide famine.
Revelation 8:8-9
The Second Trumpet
The second trumpet sounded. John didn't know what this was, something like a mountain was thrown into the sea. It wasn't a mountain, but resembled it; and it wasn't just a mountain but a GREAT mountain that was on fire. One third of the seas became blood, not like blood but blood. One third of the fish and creatures of the sea died. A third of the ships are gone.
How does a mountain get thrown in the sea? Maybe this is earthquakes and volcanoes worldwide where entire landmasses just disappear into the sea. Maybe this is some great meteor that God hurls to the earth. We don't know and the speculations are seemingly endless. Among the vast speculations are those who would make these events completely symbolic. I don't think there is any reason or logic in dismissing this as symbolic.
Something like a mountain being thrown into the sea would probably cause global devastation. It would punch a hole in the earth's crust, vaporizing itself and much of the earth it displaces. Some of the debris would leave the atmosphere and go into orbit around the earth. The atmosphere would be filled with smoke, dust and debris blocking out the sun and upsetting weather patterns. It will cause great devastation, not the least of which is a tidal wave that will destroy every ship and coast and port in its way. There are 56,000 ships (2020) on the ocean that move goods all over the world. Imagine over 18,500 of these ships wiped out in one event. Imagine the devastation to the economy. This would interrupt the flow of oil, food and clothing. (All the Wal-Mart's would have to close; they wouldn't have anything to sell.)
Mt Vesuvius erupted unexpectedly in 79AD devastating the Roman empire. The Jews viewed this as divine punishment against Rome for what Titus did in sacking Jerusalem and destroying the temple in 70AD. When Vesuvius erupted, Pompei was destroyed along with Herculaneum, both reported in Titus' jurisdiction of power. This would be a small sampling of God bringing local judgment in a similar way.
Also, we should consider what was recorded in Matthew and Mark:
"Have faith in God. 23 For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. 24 Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them. (Mark 11:22-24)
Is there not a symbolism here of God answering prayers?
Revelation 8:10-11
The Third Trumpet
This 3rd trumpet is a star falling from the heavens. This appears to be a meteor or asteroid. The effect of this will be much like a great mountain being cast into the sea. The effects are global causing a third of the rivers and springs of water to be made bitter. This star that John saw he dubbed as Wormwood. This word "wormwood" is used only twice in the New Testament in this one verse. Its Hebrew equivalent is found several times in the Old Testament. Wormwood is a leafy plant that can make water bitter. This great star will bring bitterness to a devastated world. It's a bitterness associated with Judgment. There's a sadness or despair associated with it.
This wormwood poisons the fresh water supply over 1/3 of the earth. Imagine nothing but bitter and poisonous water coming from your faucet and every faucet and well within hundreds of miles. How long would the bottled water last, minutes? Every vending machine, ice machine, restaurant and truck that had something to drink would be looted in no time at all.
Note: Russian word for wormwood is Chernobyl. The Russian nuke plant that melted down in 1986 was in Chernobyl. This was an interesting note if you were studying prophecy in 1986.
Revelation 8:12
The Fourth Trumpet
The fourth trumpet brings the plague of darkness, corresponding with Exodus 10:21 and the ninth plague. The darkness of Exodus was a darkness that could be felt. Darkening everything by a 1/3 would have a profound effect on the globe. It's easy to picture the sky full of ash and smoke from the fire and the meteors striking the earth. An earth that is already dark and chaotic is now one third darker in the day and night. I can't help but wonder if this absence of light may be God showing the earth dwellers their spiritual condition coinciding with the Exodus darkness that could be felt.
It was John who recorded the words of Jesus when He said,
"And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. (John 3:19)
I wonder if this is God is giving them the desires of their dark heart, a dark and wicked place to abide in their sin.
Revelation 8:13
This passage is somewhat parenthetical, interrupting the trumpets. It serves as a warning, a pause to catch one's breath and respond as called. It's a call to repentance and a call for the lost to cry out to their God for salvation.
Woe is bad. Woe, woe, woe is as bad as it gets. This angel is warning the inhabitants of the earth that there are 3 more trumpet judgments. Some translations have the word 'eagle' instead of angel. Eagle and angel were similar words and the translation to eagle was probably inadvertently introduced by human hands translating the text. Either way, the message is the same, there are 3 trumpet blasts yet to come. With each blast things get worse.
This warning is to the inhabitants of earth and is a normal warning from God. This is God's pattern. He warns the people before He brings judgment. Before the flood, he sent Noah to warn the world; Noah was a preacher of righteousness. He sent prophets to warn the people about their wicked ways. When they ignored or killed the prophets God judged them for their spiritual adultery and idolatry. Throughout the bible God's warned anyone who would listen that this end time is coming. And even during this end time He will continue to call to mankind. This is our God.
As God calls, I think these trumpets work His purpose to force a decision in every person. God isn't into special effects. These judgments aren't for show. These are specific and meaningful for purpose.
The details of these trumpet blasts are frightening. And I think the picture we formed at the beginning of the lesson is similar to what the world will look like. This picture of chaos from these cataclysmic events has been called Apocalyptic. Remember the word apocalypse means unveiling. But the unveiling is the revelation of the wrath of God.
I tend to believe our very best to imagine the worst will fall short. Our effort to imagine the worst earthquakes, floods, tsunamis, famines, disease all among the worst spiritual darkness, all happening at the same time, may create a similar picture but I think we truly have no idea. Yet, its barely begun. There is more to come. We must make sure we heed God's warning. The time is near, maybe today.
©2021 Doug Ford
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