THE REVELATION: An Overview Part Two

     We left off with covering chapter seven and now we continue. In chapter eight we will find that the seventh seal opens the seven trumpets. As I said in the first part of our study the seals, trumpets and vials are not consecutive as the trumpets are the seventh seal. Chapter eight records four of these trumpets.

   First though we are told that when he (the Lamb) opened the seventh seal there was silence in Heaven for a time (v.1), probably denoting a major event, then we read that seven angels were given trumpets (v.2) and yet another angel attending an altar with incense representing the prayers of God’s people through the ages but especially those recorded in chapter six. This reminds us of the altar of incense that was part of the furnishings of the Tabernacle in the Wilderness, just outside the veil. It signified the prayers of God’s people then as well and is representative of Jesus Christ as our High Priest through Whom all prayer must pass. Then we note the trumpets sound.

The First Trumpet- this judgment destroys 1/3 part of the trees and grasses. Of course when vegetation is destroyed the entire atmosphere is affected so oxygen levels would be stressed.

The Second Trumpet- here 1/3 of sea life is destroyed, including ships that are in the sea. This is caused by a “great mountain”, a burning mountain, which was cast into the sea. The text tells us the sea became blood!

The Third Trumpet- A great star fell from Heaven and affect 1/3 of inland waters which, of course will affect drinking water as well and men will die from drinking it. One can imagine that bathing and anything done with water is affected as well.

The Fourth Trumpet- Here the first and second Heavens are affected as 1/3 of the light is reduced so that darkness is upon the land, probably representative of the spiritual darkness already on earth. Who knows exactly how this will actually happen? But the effect is that the light of day will be reduced to a third.

   The chapter ends with an angel pronouncing more woes to follow as the remainder of the trumpets have yet to sound.

Chapter Nine

The Fifth Trumpet- This covers 11 verses and begins with another angel blowing another trumpet and another star falling (fallen) from Heaven. The Third Trumpet included a star as well and that one seems to be a literal heavenly body while this star has a personality. I won’t get into the theories of who this star might be except to say that the ideas range from him being an angel of God all the way to being Satan himself. You, the reader, can search that out for yourself. The important thing is that he, the star, is given the key to the bottomless pit which tells us he did not have it before.  As he opens the pit smoke arises to the point of hindering what light is left. Verses 3-10 give us the description of some kind of beings that arise out of the pit. The description is difficult to digest and is probably highly symbolic though we would never want to go so far as to say the description is not literal in any sense. I have read lots of opinions about these beings but the most we can be sure of is that they are demonic, to say the least and that they were kept in the abyss for a long time. They are not allowed to harm the plant life, quite unlike actual locusts, and are only allowed to harm, not kill “only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads.” (v.4) This torment will last five months.

                                                            

   We also learn from verse 11 that they have a general over them whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon and in Greek is Apollyon, both meaning “destruction”. Now there remain two more judgments in the Trumpets.

NOTE

   One might ask at this point, why would Satan harm those who have rejected and rebelled against God and two things stand out to me: First, Satan is hateful towards all men; He is evil to the core and only fools follow him; Second, and more importantly remember that we are now in the Great Tribulation which is characterized by the judgments of God…not Satan.. and not the Anti-Christ.

The Sixth Trumpet- As the sixth trumpet is sounded we are told that four angels who have been bound in the Euphrates are unleashed. This allows for an army of 200 million from the east with their kings (Rev.16:12 the Sixth Vial). In Rev.16:12 we are told that the Euphrates was dried up to allow passage of the armies of the east.

   The remainder of the chapter is colorfully descriptive of this army and the warfare that will take place. I can imagine that it would have been difficult for John to describe what he saw in terms the readers of his day could relate to. No doubt he is describing modern warfare though. We also find in this passage that another 1/3 of mankind is killed which means the earth has been depopulated greatly by this time. Remember that under the Pale Horse and rider ¼ of the people were murdered by the Anti-Christ, then 1/3 by judgment and now another 1/3. There were others who died in rebellion against the Anti-Christ under the Red Horse and rider. The people of earth are reaping what they have sown yet, we are told they still will not repent! They made their choice and now they must suffer the consequences!

Chapter 10

   Chapter 10, and through 11:14 is another parentheses between the unfolding events of the Trumpets and leading into the Vials. This chapter is a little difficult to put into summary form but we see an angel descending to John. He is a very unique angel in his description. Some think this is Christ but it is more likely he is just a unique angel with a specific duty or message. He held a “little book”. This is not the same book of chapter five as it is not said to be have seals. When the angel descends he has one foot on land and one foot on the sea. He cries with a loud voice and John hears seven thunders but as John was about to write what he heard from the seven thunders a voice told him not to write them. So while much is revealed there are still some things which are secret with God.

As John ceases to write he hears the angel swear by “Him that liveth for ever and ever” (v.6) that there should be “time no longer” (no further waiting). Things progress quickly now as God keeps His word that He spoke through His prophets. Then John is told to eat the “little book” which was sweet to his mouth but bitter in his stomach. This may remind the reader of both Jeremiah and Ezekiel who were required to eat the word of God.  

Chapter 11

   This chapter, at least the first fourteen verses, is still parenthetical. In the first two verses we find that John is given a measuring rod. Most scholars tell us this is about 10’ long. And John is to measure the Temple, the Altar, and the worshippers.

We are not told why God wants these things measured but it is clear that there is some special reason for it and that it is distinct from the court of the Temple which is not to be measured and which “is given unto the Gentiles” for forty-two months which is equal to 3 ½ years.

   This is important because there is no Temple in the Holy City today so one will have to be erected, probably in the first 3 ½ years of Anti-Christ’s reign. The Temple that will be erected will most likely fall far short of the glory and beauty of Solomon’s Temple. The reference to the court is probably telling us that under the Man of Sin, the Beast, the Anti-Christ there will be an even greater ecumenical movement so that the lines of religion will be blurred even more than they are now. Of course we shall see that the Beast out of the sea will set himself up as God and he will sit in the Temple proclaiming such.

                                                                                                

 

The Two Witnesses

   Now we are introduced to the “Two Witnesses” who preach 1,260 days, again 3 ½ years. So with this we know that these two witnesses began their ministry about the same time as the 144,000 were sealed. The witnesses are protected by God so that no harm can come to them until their ministry be ended. They are given power to work miracles as authentication of their ministry. When their ministry is finished the Beast has them killed and their dead bodies will lie in the streets for 3 ½ days while the world celebrates and makes merry, even sending gifts to one another in celebration! But after the three and a half days they come back to life and are caught up to Heaven. Who are they? Well there are lots of ideas and we don’t really know. I am not venturing a guess but there are only two men in the history of the world who never died. One is Elijah and the other is Enoch (Gen.6). That does not mean that the two witnesses are they, it’s just an observation.

The Earthquake

   The Bibles says that at the same hour as the two witnesses were called up to Heaven a great earthquake hit the city of Jerusalem and seven thousand me perish in the quake. Fear overwhelms those left in the city, so much so, that they, being in awe of the power of God, “gave glory to the God of heaven”. (v.14) This should not be understood to mean that they repented of their sin but that they were forced to acknowledge the power of God!

The Seventh Trumpet- Here we once again reach the end of the Great Tribulation when God has the victory and “The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign forever and ever.” (v.15) so herein is included more information regarding wrath, judgment, resurrection, and reward.

    In Review, we saw that the Seven Seals covered the entire Seven years of Daniel’s Seventieth Week. The Seven Trumpets which came out of the Seventh Seal seem to refer to the last 31/2 years or the Great Tribulation. We will find that the Vials do likewise.

   From this point and over the next four chapters we will be filled in even further of the events on earth before we see the Seven Vials open up in Chapter 16. We will learn more about the Harlot and about the Beast and False Prophet. So with the next study, Part Three, we will get further into the personages revealed.