<< Previous | Index | Next >>"THE BOOK OF REVELATION" Seventh Seal Opened & First Four Trumpets (8:1-13) INTRODUCTION 1. In chapter six, I proposed that it revealed how unfaithful Jerusalem would not escape the wrath of the Lamb... a. The first four seals reveal the means by which He would bring judgment upon the city b. The fifth seal reveals the reason for such judgment: the avenging of the martyrs' blood! c. The sixth seal reveals in prophetic, symbolic language the despair of mankind at that time -- Which I understand relates to the events leading to the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D., as foretold by Jesus prior to His crucifixion - cf. Mt 23:34-39; 24:1-34; Lk 21:20-36; 23:27-31 2. In chapter seven, there was an interlude between opening of the sixth and seventh seals with two visions... a. The 144,000 of Israel sealed on earth - Re 7:1-8 b. A great multitude from all nations in heaven - Re 7:9-17 -- Which appears to answer the question raised at the end of chapter six: "For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?" - Re 6:17 [As chapter eight begins, the seventh and final seal is opened...] I. THE SEVENTH SEAL OPENED (1) A. AS DESCRIBED IN THE TEXT... 1. The Lamb opens the seventh seal - Re 8:1a 2. There is silence for about half an hour - Re 8:1b -- What an amazing contrast with the scenes and sounds when the first six seals were opened! B. OBSERVATION AND INTERPRETATION... 1. In contrast to all that happened before, the silence must have been striking! 2. Possibly it signifies awe in heaven a. For what has already been revealed b. Or for what is about to be revealed 3. Whenever God acts, those on earth should be in awe - cf. Hab 2:20; Zec 2:13 4. Should we not expect a similar reaction from His creatures in heaven? - cf. Zep 1:7 -- So let us read with awe for what has already been revealed, and for what will follow! [John then describes what he saw next...] II. PREPARATION FOR THE SOUNDING OF SEVEN TRUMPETS (2-6) A. AS DESCRIBED IN THE TEXT... 1. Seven angels standing before God - Re 8:2a 2. To them were given seven trumpets - Re 8:2b 3. There was another angel with a golden censer - Re 8:3 a. Who came and stood before the altar b. Who was given much incense to offer, with the prayers of all the saints c. Upon the golden altar before the throne 4. The smoke of the incense and prayers of the saints - Re 8:4 a. Ascended before God b. From the angel's hand 5. The angel then took the censer - Re 8:5 a. Filled it with fire from the altar b. Threw it to the earth c. Accompanied by noises, thunderings, lightnings, and an earthquake 6. The seven angels with the seven trumpets then prepared themselves to sound - Re 8:6 -- What an audible and visual cacophony in contrast to the half hour of silence! B. OBSERVATION AND INTERPRETATION... 1. The scene appears to suggest that the sounding of the seven trumpets and things to follow is God's response to the prayers of the saints offered by the angel with the golden censer of incense 2. It is reminiscent of what Jesus taught in His parable of the persistent widow: "And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them?" - Lk 18:7 -- Together with Re 6:9-10, isn't it reasonable to infer that the judgment to follow was in response to the cries of God's persecuted people? [And so the first four angels sound their trumpets in turn...] III. THE FIRST FOUR TRUMPETS (7-12) A. AS DESCRIBED IN THE TEXT... 1. First trumpet: vegetation struck - Re 8:7 a. Hail and fire, mingled with blood, thrown to the earth b. A third of the trees burned up, and all green grass burned up 2. Second trumpet: seas struck - Re 8:8-9 a. Something like a great burning mountain thrown into the sea b. A third of the sea became blood; a third of the creatures in the sea died; a third of the ships destroyed 3. Third trumpet: rivers and springs struck - Re 8:10-11 a. A great burning star fell on a third of the rivers and springs of water b. Named "Wormwood", a third of the waters became wormwood; many men died from bitter water 4. The fourth trumpet: heavens struck - Re 8:12 a. A third of the sun, moon, and stars struck b. A third of them were darkened, so that a third of the day and night did not shine -- Immediately noticeable is that the environment is affected, and yet only a third of it B. OBSERVATION AND INTERPRETATION... 1. The first four trumpets may signify natural calamities that God would use in His judgment against apostate Israel who oppressed His people 2. "It is much better to regard them as all belonging to one time and one event, namely the destruction of the first great persecutor of the Christian church. Christ, in speaking of the fall of Jerusalem, described it in sufficiently alarming terms; and history fills out the event of about ten years before the fall of the city with scenes of crimes, and terror, robbery, and murder, and carnage sufficient to justify such symbols as these." - David S. Clark, The Message From Patmos 3. The calamities are reminiscent of the Egyptian plagues (cf. Exo 9-10), brought now against Jerusalem that is later "the great city which is spiritually called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified" - Re 11:8 -- That only a third is affected, along with the symbolism of trumpets, suggest that the purpose of these judgments would serve to warn, giving many opportunity to repent [Before the final three trumpets are sounded by their respective angels (described in chapters nine and eleven), yet another angel is heard and seen by John making an ominous announcement...] IV. THREE-FOLD WOE ANNOUNCED (13) A. AS DESCRIBED IN THE TEXT... 1. An angel (some manuscripts have "eagle") flying through heaven - Re 8:13a 2. Saying with a loud voice: "Woe, woe, woe to the inhabitants of the earth, because of the remaining blasts of the trumpet of the three angels who are about to sound!" - Re 8:13b -- An ominous announcement indeed! B. OBSERVATION AND INTERPRETATION... 1. What the first four trumpets portended was bad enough! 2. It appears the worst was yet to come! -- Yet all of this was serving as a warning, giving people opportunity to repent! CONCLUSION 1. As with the seven seals, I believe the seven trumpets relate to the events leading to the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D., as foretold by Jesus prior to His crucifixion - cf. Mt 23:34-39; 24:1-34; Lk 21:20-36; 23:27-31 2. In chapter nine, we shall consider what happens when the fifth and six trumpets are sounded... a. It gets worse b. But remember, this book was revealing what would happen so that the people who got it would know what to do to avoid the imminent judgments to befall unfaithful Jerusalem and pagan Rome Likewise, Jesus and His apostles foretold of the final judgment in which the whole world will be judged, and how we must repent and obey the gospel of Christ to be saved. Are you ready for that great day?<< Previous | Index | Next >>
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