Revelation 8-9 – Lesson 14

 

Revelation 8 – 1^st - 4^th Trumpets

We have seen the breaking of six seals now we are going to see the seventh seal broken which focuses on the great wrath of God.

When the Lamb broke the seventh seal there was silence in heaven for half an hour.   Why silence?  The wrath of God is beginning and is so dramatic that all worshipping and praising of God stopped.  This silence is in anticipation of the most terrible judgments to ever come upon the earth.  God’s great wrath is coming!  (Rev. 8:1)  God’s answer to the prayer of His people of “How long?” is now going to be answered.  The time is now. 

John saw 7 angels standing ready to serve God.  They were each given a trumpet.  These trumpets would announce a series of divine judgments that God would bring upon the earth.  Another angel stood at the altar with incense, which held the vengeful prayers of the saints in chapter 6 when they ask God how long would it be before He sent His judgments.  The sweet smell of the incense and prayers went up to God.  Then the angel took the censer and filled it with fire and threw it to earth causing thunder, lightning, and an earthquake.  As the prayers go up to God, a fierce storm comes down in response.  This showed that God was angry for the evil deeds of the people.  They would not obey and now He will send judgment on them. (Rev. 8:2-6)

These angels are special angels who have been trained to do a job for God.  As you study your Bible and spend time with God, you are being trained to do a job.  You are being trained to help others - to tell them about Jesus.  You are His witnesses.  The way you live and handle trials will influence others.  They will see you and want what you have.  Always remember there is someone watching what you do and how you react to situations.

Trumpets are used many times in the Bible:

Joel 2:1 – a trumpet warned that the Day of the Lord is coming.

Exodus 19:14-18 – a trumpet called the community together to meet God.

Numbers 10:2 – a trumpet called the community to break up camp.

Joshua 6:2-5 – trumpets signaled when God brought judgment on Jericho.

1 Thessalonians 4:16 – a trumpet will call all believers from the grave.

Now it’s time for the trumpets to sound.  (Rev. 8:6-13)

1^st trumpet:

The first angel sounded his trumpet and there was hail and fire mixed with blood which was thrown down to earth.  One third of the earth, one third of the trees, and all the grass was burned up.  This will be worldwide destruction!  How terrible this will be!

2^nd trumpet:

The second angel sounded his trumpet.  John saw something like a great mountain burning with fire and thrown into the sea.  One third of the sea became blood, one third of everything living in the sea was burned up, and one third of the ships were destroyed.  God can use natural phenomena to judge the world.  It could be an asteroid, tsunamis, earthquakes, or whatever He wants.  But remember He will do it as He says.

3rd trumpet: 

The third angel sounded his trumpet and a great glazing star fell from the sky, and one third of the waters on earth became bitter because a great star fell to earth.  The star’s name was Wormwood, which means bitter or poison.  Many people died who drank this poison water.

4^th trumpet: 

The fourth angel sounded his trumpet and one third of the sun, moon, and stars were struck making one third turn dark.  One third of the day and night was without light.

Each time a trumpet sounds the destruction is limited to one-third and not all, because God waits and provides time for anyone willing to repent.  He could send His judgments all at once, but He doesn’t.  He wants sinners to come to Him and ask for forgiveness.  This tells us that God always extends mercy and great love for all.  Also the destruction of only one-third could be because those left living need the earth, waters, and the sea to survive.

Then John saw an eagle flying and saying, “Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabitants of the earth, because of the trumpet blasts about to be sounded by the other three angels!” – Rev. 8:13.  Woe means a sign of warnings and troubles.  These first 4 trumpets will be terrible, but the last 3 will be even worse.  They will affect only part of the earth, but the last 3 will affect all people on the earth. 

Believers can find comfort in God’s judgments because He will deal with evil in the world.  It will be the end of injustice like abuse or violence.  The wrongs in this world will not go unpunished.

Revelation 9 – The 5th & 6^th Trumpets and First Woe

5^th trumpet:

The fifth angel sounded his trumpet and a star fell to the earth.  The key to the bottomless pit was given to the star.   What is the bottomless pit?  I had a wonderful knowledgeable Bible teacher a few years ago who explained it like this:

There is a place called “Tartarus”, where there are fallen angels (Jude 6).  There is Hades where people’s spirits descend to at death.  Before the resurrection of Jesus, Hades was divided into a place of torment and fire and a place of comfort called “Paradise” or “Abraham’s Bosom”.  Paradise is now empty, because they are all now in heaven because of Jesus’ resurrection.  The Abyss is a bottomless pit leading to Hades.  It is a place of confinement of supernatural beings until the Day of Judgment.  Earth is safe as long as the pit is locked. (Rev. 20:1)  Then on the Day of Judgment, those in Tartarus and Hades, Satan and his followers, and all unbelievers will be thrown in the “Lake of Fire”. (Matt. 25:41; Rev. 20:14-15).  The diagram below was given to me by my Bible teacher.  Maybe it will help you to understand.

The angel opened the bottomless pit and smoke went up like a great furnace and the sun and air were darkened by the smoke.  Out of the smoke came locust and power like that of scorpions was given to them.  They were told they shouldn’t hurt the grass or anything green, but only the men who don’t have the seal of God on their foreheads.  These are not normal locusts, since locusts normally like vegetation.  These were demonic locusts – thousands upon thousands of them.  They weren’t permitted to kill anyone, but were to torment for 5 months.  They would sting like scorpions, which is the most intensely painful sting you can receive.  How terrifying! 

The only people protected from the locusts were the ones with the seal of God, like the 144,000 in chapter 7 and anyone who was saved during this tribulation.  God protects all who belong to Him.  The pain will be so terrible that people will want to die, but will not be able. (Rev. 9:1-11)  Why did they not wish they were sealed?  Their hearts must be so hard and they so stubborn that they would rather die.

God warns repeatedly in Scripture that there will be judgment of those who ignore Him and His Word.  God does, however, provide rescue to those who believe and trust in Him.

“The first woe is past; two other woes are yet to come.” – Rev. 9:12

6^th trumpet:

The 6^th angel sounded his trumpet and released the 4 angels who were imprisoned and bound at the Euphrates river.  They were kept ready for this very hour, day, month and year.  These angels were not good angels, but bad, dispatched under divine power and ready to kill one third on mankind.  Along with them was an army of 200 million with fiery red, dark blue, and yellow as sulfur breastplates.  One third of mankind was killed by 3 plagues of fire, smoke and sulfur that came out of their horses’ mouths.  Power came from their mouths and tails.  Their tails were like snakes to inflict injury.

The rest of mankind that weren’t killed by these plagues, still did not repent.  They kept worshiping idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone and wood.  They didn’t repent of their murders, magic, sexual immorality or thefts.  What was wrong with these people?  Why did they not repent after seeing all these horrible judgments?  It’s because sin blinds people.  They see only what they want to see.  They probably tried to reason why all these things were happening.  Maybe they tried to explain them away, maybe blaming it on global warming.  Who knows?  Their hearts were hardened and sin had blinded them.

With all these judgments of plagues and death, still people did not repent.  It’s exactly like that today.  People are still worshiping idols like their jobs, homes, family, TV, self-desires, sexually immorality, money, etc.  They turn away from God and do not believe His Word or His promises.  If you are not a believer, wake up!  The time is near.  When God’s judgments come, it will be too late.  Christians need to be intentional in witnessing and praying for the lost.  I am sure you don’t want anyone to go through such horrible times that are to come.

These judgments are similar to the plagues against Egypt in Exodus 7-10.  God poured out His wrath on the Egyptians making a distinction between His people and His enemies.  The Tribulation is a time of God’s wrath on earth against His enemies (unbelievers).  Like Pharaoh some people did not repent of their evil ways.  They still worshiped demons and idols and rejected God.

Principle:  God will judge the earth and the unrepentant.

Wow!  What a terrifying time this will be.  All the more we need to be witnesses for Jesus so others will not have to experience these judgments.  Next week we will study Revelation 10 and Revelation 11.  – I encourage you to trust in Jesus.

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Revelation 7 – Lesson 13

 

Revelation 7 – Sealing of 144,000

John saw 4 angels standing at the 4 corners of the earth.  They were holding back the 4 winds of the earth which represent God’s judgments.  He’s delaying the judgment to allow the sealing of the 144,000 servants of God.  Then he saw another angel with a seal of God telling the 4 angels to not harm the land, the sea or the trees until the 144,000 of God’s servants have His seal on their foreheads.  Theses 144,000 are 12,000 from each tribe of Israel. (Rev. 7:5-8).  The tribe of Judah is mentioned first , maybe because Jesus came from that tribe. 

They are NOT the number of people who will reign with Christ in heaven as described by the false doctrine of the Jehovah’s Witnesses.  These 144,000 are Jews sealed meaning they are under God’s protection and will be witnesses of Jesus to the Jews and to all the world.  Because of their witnessing we see in Rev. 7:9-14 a great multitude from every nation and all tribes of people, Jew and Gentile worshipping the Lord.  They were wearing white robes and worshipping God saying, “Salvation to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” – Rev. 7:10.  “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation…” – Rev. 7:14.  This will be a true revival.

This angel in verse 2 is special and is sent from God and will be entrusted to mark God’s people to protect them in the mists of the wrath that is coming.  This group will be on earth during this terrible wrath, but will be protected from it because of the seal with God’s name is on their forehead.  Since all believers have been miraculously removed from the earth - known as the rapture, they will be God’s witnesses.  God has not and will not ever leave earth without a witness of His salvation.  God needs them to tell the gospel to the world. 

There are several beliefs on when the rapture will occur.  Will it be before, during or at the 7 years of tribulation?  The 7 years is broken up into two 3 ½ periods.  The first is called the tribulation and the second is called the Great Tribulation.  I believe the church will be raptured or taken to heaven before the 7 years starts.  I believe He will rescue believers from His wrath.  “… Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.” – 1 Thess. 1:10b.  Whatever you believe about the rapture, Jesus is the only way to heaven.  (John 14:6)  God has the final say and believers have eternal security.  You may suffer in this life here on earth, but if you are a believer the pain you suffer is only temporary.

We cannot take credit for our salvation.  It is a free gift through the God’s grace.  Jesus deserves all the credit, because of His bloodshed on the cross for us.  We must praise and worship Him for what He has done.

This great multitude is not the same as the 144,000.  The 144,000 are on earth and the multitude is in heaven, who have received their white robes.  This multitude are Jews and Gentiles who have accepted Jesus after the rapture and have been martyred for their faith during the tribulation.  (Rev. 7:14)

The great multitude is praising God for their salvation.  In the presence of God there will be no hunger, thirst, sunburn, heat stroke, or tears.  The Lamb will be at the center of the throne and will be the Shepherd.  He will be the protector of all believers.  (Rev. 7:15-17).  It will be a happy time.  It will be eternal peace and joy.  It will be an eternal life with Jesus.

The book of John tells us a lot about Jesus –

John 1:29 tells us about the Lamb – He takes away the sin of the world.

John 10:1-18 tell us about the Shepherd – He is the gate for the sheep and whoever enter through Him will be saved.  He is the Good Shepherd and lays down His life for the sheep.  He knows the sheep and the sheep know Him.

John 4:4-17; 7:38  tell us about the Living Water – The water He gives will become a spring of water welling up to eternal life.  Whoever believes in Him streams of living water will flow from within him.

Principle:  In the midst of tribulation God’s people are eternally secure.

The whole purpose of this chapter is that God offers protection to all believers.  Chapter 6 had relentless punishment of the wicked, but now the focus is on the security of the faithful.  God will protect His people.  He deserves our praises.  He knows everything and has all wisdom.  We should constantly thank Him for all He has done for us.  Only He deserves honor and glory.  He sent His son, Jesus to die on the cross for us while we were still sinners.  Jesus has overcome all that is against us.

We will continue our study with Revelation 8 after the Christmas break.  We will see the seventh seal broken.  The seventh seal is the worst of all and includes 7 trumpets and 7 bowls.  With each seal broken the judgments increase with intensity.  The end of the world comes after the 7 bowls.  Merry Christmas! -- I encourage you to trust in Jesus.

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