Revelation 8. The first Four Terrible Trumpets

Transcription

1 Revelation 8 The first Four Terrible Trumpets July 2012

2 Timeline Church Raptured I Thess 4:13-17 Revelation 3:10 Start of Tribulation Antichrist s Treaty with Israel Daniel 9:27 Revelation 8 Christ Returns End of Tribulation Matt 24:27-30? 3½ years or more 3½ years 3½ years Gog attacks Israel Ezekiel year Tribulation Great Tribulation Revelation 6 Armageddon Revelation 16, 19 Abomination of Desolation Treaty Broken Daniel 9:27 1

3 The 7 th Seal Death: 2

4 Outline of Revelation 8 The Seventh Seal (1) Introduction to the 7 Trumpet Judgments (2 6) 1 st Trumpet (7) 2 nd Trumpet (8 9) 3 rd Trumpet (10 11) 4 th Trumpet (12) Warning about the Final 3 Trumpets (13) 3

5 The Seventh Seal (1) After Jesus (5:9) opened the 7 th Seal (Final Seal of Judgment) there was silence in heaven for about half an hour Contrast to the loud voices of praise in heaven from the multitudes of the angels, 4 Living Creatures and the 24 Elders 4:5, 8, 11; 5:9 13; 6:1, 9 10; 7:2 3, 9-13 An intense expectation to see what God would do next A calm before the storm The 7 th Seal is the only judgment followed by an intense silence A literal approximately 30 minutes Purpose of the silence: to prepare for God s judgments about to come upon the earth Habakkuk 2:20; Zephaniah 1:7 8, 15,

6 Tribulation Judgments Rapture Gog Covenant Made Covenant Broken Second Coming 3 ½ years 7 years Tribulation 3 ½ years Great Tribulation Trumpets Bowls Seals 5

7 Introduction to the 7 Trumpet Judgments (2 6) Presentation of the Trumpets (2) Before God the Father Someone (unnamed) gives to the 7 angels the 7 Trumpets 7 Angels The 7 Angels of great authority Are the 7 spirits who are before God s throne and who deliver the messages to the 7 churches» 1:4, 20; 2:1; 3:1; 5:6; 8:2; 15:1» Stand is in the perfect tense and indicates that they have been in the presence of God for a long time» Gabriel may be one of them as he told Zacharias (the father of John the Baptist) that he stands in the presence of God (Luke 1:19) 6

8 Introduction to the 7 Trumpet Judgments (2 6) Presentation of the Trumpets (2) Someone (unnamed) gives to the 7 angels the 7 Trumpets 7 Trumpets Trumpets play a major role in God s dealing with His people» Israel s ceremonial processions (Joshua 6:1, 13 16; I Kings 1:34, 39; I Chronicles 15:24)» Assembled the Israelites for war, journeys, and special feasts (Numbers 10:9 10)» A loud trumpet was blown at Mount Sinai at the giving of the Law to the people (Exodus 19:19)» A trumpet was sounded on the Day of Atonement during the year of Jubilee (Leviticus 25:9) 7

9 Introduction to the 7 Trumpet Judgments (2 6) Presentation of the Trumpets (2) Someone (unnamed) gives to the 7 angels the 7 Trumpets 7 Trumpets These trumpets (Trumpets of Angels) are different than the Trumpet of God (I Thessalonians 4:16, I Corinthians 15:52) that begins the rapture (and ends the church age) which is accomplished by the voice of an archangel. Trumpets will continue blowing after the Tribulation (Matthew 24:29 31, Zechariah 14:9) 8

10 Introduction to the 7 Trumpet Judgments (2 6) Presentation of a golden censer before the alter by another (of the same kind) angel (3) Angel acting as priest Hot fiery coals from the brazen altar (where sacrifices were offered) were transported into the Holy Place at the Incense Altar This ignited the incense which rose toward heaven (Picture of the prayers of the saints) Every morning and evening the priest would use a golden censer (firepan) to put incense on the alter of incense in front of the 2 nd veil of the tabernacle or temple Behind the veil was the Holy of Holies into which the high priest would go into once a year on the Day of Atonement 9

11 Introduction to the 7 Trumpet Judgments (2 6) Presentation of a golden censer before the alter by another angel (3) The smoke of the incense burning before the altar was a picture of prayer rising to God The answer to the cries of the martyrs to how long the Lord would wait to avenge their blood (6:10) is now answered as NOW The angel took much incense Symbolizing the multiplied prayers of all of God s people Added to the prayers of all the saints already rising from the altar 10

12 Introduction to the 7 Trumpet Judgments (2 6) Answer to the prayers (4 5) Prayers ascended before God and His receiving of them Prayers come to God through Christ alone I Timothy 2:5 Angel fills the censer with coals of fire (Ezekiel 10:2 7) and throws it down to the earth. This demonstrates God s direct response to the prayers of His people throughout history Judgments proceed from God (4:5) Noises, thunderings, lightenings, and another earthquake must be bringing great fear and anxiety to the earth as to what will happen next Judgment begins (6) With peals of thunder and rumblings an flashes of lightning and an earthquake 11

13 1 st Trumpet (7) Hail and fire mingled with blood thrown to the earth Similar to one of the plagues (7 th Plague) of Egypt involving hail and fire Exodus 9:22 26 Hail and fire Lightening? God rained hail, fire, and brimstone on Sodom and Gomorrah and all were killed Joel 2:30 31 God will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth: blood and fire and pillars of smoke before the coming of the great and terrible Day of the Lord Mingled with blood Many will be killed 12

14 1 st Trumpet (7) Hail and fire mingled with blood thrown to the earth Scope Judgment hits the entire earth 1/3 of the earth was burned up 1/3 of the trees were burned up All of the green grass was burned up» Will affect animal life which depends upon the green grass for food» In 9:4 (5 th Trumpet) the green grass was spared (later in time)» The green grass will grow again since time elapses between these two judgments» It may only be that the grass that is green burns up. What is now dormant and brown will be green during the 5 th Trumpet. 13

15 Something like a great mountain burning with fire was thrown into the Sea The 1 st plague of Egypt (Exodus 7:14 25) turned the water of the Nile River into blood To John, this looked like a burning mountain Possibilities: a giant meteor or asteroid surrounded by flaming gasses set ablaze by the friction of the earth s atmosphere The Sea Singular The article the is in front Could indicate the Mediterranean Sea Could be all the Seas since these are global judgments 2 nd Trumpet (8 9) 14

16 2 nd Trumpet (8 9) Results (many lives will be affected and lost) 1/3 of the Sea became blood The only chemical difference between sea water and blood is that blood contains an iron molecule that is absent in sea water 1/3 of the living creatures in the Sea died Zephaniah 1:3 15

17 Results (many lives will be affected and lost) 1/3 of the ships were destroyed, perhaps in the Mediterranean Sea? Location of the United States Sixth Fleet consists of approximately 40 ships, 175 aircraft and 21,000 people Great tsunami waves 2 nd Trumpet (8 9) 16

18 3 rd Trumpet (10 11) A great star, named Wormwood, fell from heaven, burning like a torch God gave the rebellious Israelites bitter water to drink in the wilderness (Exodus 15:23 25) Meteor or asteroid or comet? Aster (star) can refer to any celestial body other than the sun or the moon Great in size Luke 21:11, Matthew 24:29, Mark 13:25 Burning Falls apart as it nears the earth, scattering its burning blobs over the world s rivers The National Geographic Society has listed 100 major rivers in the world ranging in length from 4000 miles (the Amazon) to 150 miles (the Rio de la Plata) 17

19 3 rd Trumpet (10 11) Result 1/3 of the waters became wormwood Greek: Ἄψινθος Absinthe is a deadly liquor ingredient In the Old Testament, it is a poison derived from a root of some kind (Deuteronomy 29:18) that is very bitter (Proverbs 5:4) and that produces drunkenness (Lamentations 3:15, 19) and eventually death (Jeremiah 3:15, 9:15, 23:15, Amos 5:7) Associated with another poison: gall (Deuteronomy 29:18, Lamentations 3:19) Produces a stupefying drink Christ refused it on the cross (Psalm 69:21, Matthew 27:34) Lethal to drink Many will die as a result of drinking it 18

20 Result Fell on 1/3 of the rivers 1/3 of the springs or fountains of water Well / subterranean sources of water received through springs and wells» John 4:6, 14 1/3 of the waters became wormwood 3 rd Trumpet (10 11) The The continuing pattern of of 1/3 1/3 proportion should give people further proof that that the the calamities are are not not random but but controlled divine judgments 19

21 4 th Trumpet 1/3 of the sun, moon, and stars were struck A 1/3 reduction of light Sun and stars are 2/3 as bright as normal Some interpret this passage as meaning that the daytime lasts for 8 hours and the nighttime for 16 hours. However, the wording of this judgment implies an overall reduction of light for these heavenly bodies so that even the nighttime hours are darkened to some extent 20

22 4 th Trumpet Reduction of light Similar to the Ninth plague of darkness in Egypt where there was complete darkness in all of Egypt for 3 days (Exodus 10:21 23) Temporary judgment Sometime later the sun s burning is intensified far beyond its normal energy output 4 th Bowl (16:8 9) Result Severe drop in world temperatures Climate changes Loss of crops and life 21

23 Warning about the Final 3 Trumpets (13) Midst of heaven or mid-heaven is the 2 nd heaven (position of the sun and moon) where everyone will see the bird Its loud voice guarantees everyone will hear the message Warning: Woe, Woe, Woe to the inhabitants of the earth (not nature) because of the remaining blasts of the trumpet of the 3 angels who are about to sound There are double woes in Scripture (18:10, 16, 19; Ezekiel 16:23) but a triple woe announces an even worse calamity The last 3 Trumpet Judgments are the most severe Each woe corresponds to a Trumpet Judgment Each of the coming judgment woes falls upon the inhabitants of the earth Unbelievers who do not have the Seal of God on their foreheads, those who reject the gospel (9:4) 22

24 God makes His judgments more and more severe against the unbelievers A terrible and tragic period of human history awaits the world The damage that man has done to the earth pales in comparison to what God will do one day to it! These are not random judgments as they cause damage to 1/3 of what they touch They are judgments from God Conclusion Notice the hail and fire mixed with blood, the great mountain burning with fire, the great star falling from heaven, the apocalyptic image of sun, moon, and star, the opening of the bottomless pit. How many more chances today will will it it take? How many more signs then will will it it take? 23

25 Backup

26 When do the 7 Trumpets Start? 1 st Seal Antichrist(s) Revelation 6:1-2 Matthew 24:4-5 Mark 13:4-5 Luke 21:8 2 nd Seal War Revelation 6:3-4 Matthew 24:6-7 Mark 13:6-7 Luke 21: rd Seal Famine Revelation 6:5-6 Matthew 24:7 Mark 13:8 Luke 21:11 4 th Seal Death Revelation 6:7-8 Matthew 24:9 Mark 13:12 Luke 21:16 5 th Seal Martyrdom Revelation 6:9-11 Matthew 24:9-13 Mark 13:9-13 Luke 21: th Seal Earthly & Heavenly Phoenomena Revelation 6:12-17 Matthew 24:7 Mark 13:8 Luke 21:11-144,000 Revelation 7:4-8 Matthew 24:14 Mark 13:10 - Abom of Des Daniel 9:26-27 Matthew 24:15 Mark 13:14 Luke 21: th Seal 7 Trumpets Revelation 8-16 Matthew 24:21 Mark 13:19-20 Luke 21:22 The opening of the 7 th Seal starts the 7 Trumpet Judgments (Revelation 6:17) 25

27 Literary Structure of Revelation 6 18 First Six Seals (Chapter 6) First Six Trumpets (chapters 8-9) First Six Bowls (16:1-16) Supplementary Revelation (chapter 7) Supplementary Revelation (10:1-11:14) The Seals The Trumpets Seventh Seal (chapters 8-16) Seventh Trumpet (11:15-16:21) The Bowls Seventh Bowl (16:17-21) Supplementary Revelation (chapters 12-15) Supplementary Revelation (chapters 17-18) Dr. Constable s Notes on Revelation,

28 The Seventh Seal (1 2) The judgment of the 7 th Seal is to bring on the 7 Trumpet Judgments Occurs in the Great Tribulation after the Abomination of Desolation 27

29 Warning about the Final 3 Trumpets (13) And I looked signals a new scene in John s vision Who makes the warning flying in the midst of heaven An angel (KJV) God uses angels to announce His plans not eagles Angels have been sounding the trumpet judgments An eagle (NASB) Older and better manuscript support Also translated vulture (Luke 17:37) (NASB) God has given animals the ability to communicate with people in the past Genesis 3:1 5, Numbers 22:28 30 Eagles or vultures that approach rapidly for their prey and are a sign of disaster Matthew 24:28 Possible scribal error: scribe misread αετου (eagle) as αγγελου (angel) Both an angel and an eagle Minimal manuscript support The 4 th Living Creature (Revelation 4:7) was like a flying eagle 28