Part 5 The Seven Trumpets 2009 George E. Blanford Jr.
Roman treatment of Christians is analogous to Egyptian enslavement of Israel Trumpets bring the plagues of Egypt They are not punishment for sin, but the effect of human rejection of God God always wills salvation They affect of heaven and earth vs. the earth for the opening of the seals ( 7/12) Good will triumph, but the tribulation will be long John is building up to the climax of the ultimate battle of good over evil Albrecht Dürer (1471-1528)
Plagues directed against the cosmos First trumpet 7 th plague (Exod 9.13-25) Hail, fire and blood mixing hail and fire is a miracle in a miracle Second trumpet 1 st plague (Exod 7.14-25) Sea into blood Third trumpet 1 st plague (Exod 7.14-25) Bitter (polluted) water Fourth trumpet 9 th plague (Exod 10.21-23) Darkness (Amos 8.9, Joel 3.15) Triple woe presages the last three trumpets Vulture is a symbol of doom
The woes affect humanity more directly than the first four trumpets The fallen star is a fallen angel (Gen 6.1-4, 1 Enoch 6-13) John imagines the Abyss being entered by a shaft Apollyon (destruction) may be a pun on Apollo =?Domitian 8 th plague (Exod 10.12-20) embellished by Joel 1.6-25 Unreal locusts who attack people and not plants Sting like scorpions, but do not kill Crowns invincibility; long hair?parthians A demonic force of evil from human rebellion against God human faces Evil is from human sin Evil is so great that we place the blame on demons The Abyss An illustration of ancient Jewish cosmology
Not an Egyptian plague another presentation similar to the plague of locusts 4 angels release instruments of God s wrath against sin and evil Euphrates = eastern boundary of the Roman Empire Parthians were on the other side Israel s great enemies, Assyria and Babylon, had come from the east The timing was according to God s plan A 21 tall, 9 th -10 th cent. BCE horned limestone altar from Megiddo. The horns of the altar are on each corner of the altar (Exod 27.2). Their significance is not known. They did play a role in the sacrificial ritual (Lev 4.7)
Horses and riders (cf. Wis 11.17-18) Colors represent the plagues they bring fire (red), smoke (blue) and sulphur (yellow) Bite with mouths and tails like serpents like the scorpion tails of the locusts Parthians shot a volley of arrows as they approached and they turned on their horses and shot again as they were leaving Albrecht Dürer (1471-1528)
Plagues are meant to induce conversion (cf. Wis 12.20, Rom 2.4-5) As with Pharaoh, this did not happen The biblical view is that idolatry is the root of all evil 1 st temptation was to be like God 1 st sin was to try and act like God Our destiny is to be children of God which implies being with God and not in defiance of him We are called from the idolatry of doing it our way to convert to doing everything in God s way
Mighty angel Most majestic of the three (5.2, 10.1, 18.21) Traits of the son of man (Dan 7.13-14, also Dan 10.6, 12.5-7) Gigantic stands on the earth and sea and touches heaven Scroll Size is insignificant Significant that it is open, not sealed Visions are more detailed Visions are more forceful Unsealed scroll the time is near Sealing the 7 thunders doom has been cancelled Paradoxical to seal what has not been written Doom cancelled so some will survive the tribulation (cf. Mark 13.20) Albrecht Dürer (1471-1528)
Eating the scroll is a new prophetic investiture A new investiture because a new audience Investiture 1.9-20 was to the 7 churches Investiture 10.8-11 is to many peoples and nations and tongues and kings Eating the prophet has received God s message Sweet: proclaims the triumph of the Church Sour: Christians will suffer Serving as a prophet (preacher, teacher) is a challenge Fulfilling proclaiming the Truth Frustrating few listen
Analogous to the sealing of the saints (7.1-8) Here John becomes an actor not just a visionary What is measured comes under God s protection Temple = Church Worshippers (Jesus was protected by the Father) What not measured Trampled great tribulation (Jesus had to suffer and die) Promises the endurance of the Church Facing suffering, we may feel abandoned (Mark 4.38) Have confidence, I have overcome the world (John 16.33) "L'Ange, le Livre. La mesure du Temple" at El Escorial
Return of Moses and Elijah the eschatological witnesses Their witness witness of the Church Church functions as a witness to Christ (see Acts) Proclaim events of Christ s life (11.5) Accompanied by signs (11.6) Meet with hostility (11.7) Aided by the Holy Spirit (11.11) Miraculously delivered from death (11.12) Two the whole Church Bamberg Apocalypse, 11 th cent.
Freely adapts Zechariah 4.2-3, 11-14 2 lamps of the 7 will shed blood in faithfulness Cannot be silenced for the appointed time (1260 days) Their only weapon is the word The beast anticipates 20.7-8 Satan s instrument is always portrayed as coming from the Abyss
Evil first appears to triumph Witnesses are killed Lying unburied is a special indignity Sodom-Egypt-Babylon-Rome-Jerusalem fused to a single city transformed by evil Witnesses ultimately triumph by being raised and glorified 7000 killed by an earthquake is symbolic intended to bring others to repentance Death and glorification of the witnesses accomplished what the plagues could not: conversion they praise God Witnesses imitated Christ: their courageous witness led to death, resurrection and glorification
The third woe is never clearly identified We have an anticipation of what will be described in more detail later in the book One expects this trumpet to announce Satan s triumph, but it is his downfall Liturgical response of loud praise not silence Probably all, not just the elders Canticle Thanksgiving and glory (praise) of God Witness to God s almighty power
Judgment anticipates 20.11-15 Rewarded Prophets God s faithful people Those who fear God s name Destroyed destroyers of the earth The Dragon The Beasts Opening of the Holy of Holies the Kingdom of God is here Anticipates 21.3 The Holy of Holies is closed before the final plagues (15.8)