The Seven Trumpets

Intro

Let’s recap what we have studied in Revelation so far:

It is the revelation of Jesus Christ, who is in the midst of His church

God is on His throne, and the slain Lamb has overcome

The Lamb is worthy to bring Creation to its desired fulfillment, which He is doing even now (breaking the seven seals)

As we encounter the seven trumpets, we need to ask the question: “What is God doing?”

We know where He is (the throne), we know His end goal for Creation, but what is He doing?

The answer to this question needs to be something that would have encouraged the recipients of John’s letter (7 churches)

Revelation = revealing what is true to encourage through tumultuous times

If you are looking for timelines, charts and dispensations, look elsewhere

That would not have been helpful to the early church, and it does not allow Revelation to speak for itself

The seven trumpets use the past redemptive story of the Exodus to encourage God’s people

Exodus was re-told myriad times in Scripture to encourage God’s people that what He has done before, He is doing again

This is the backdrop that helps us answer the question, “What is God doing?”

God is Answering Prayer

When Israel was enslaved in Egypt, God heard the cries of His people

Cf. Exodus 2:23-25.

They were enslaved; they were persecuted, and they cried out for help… a cry that God heard and acted upon

The trumpets are God answering the prayers of His people

Read Rev. 8:2-5.

The prayers of the saints = incense in God’s Temple (Rev. 5)

What were these prayers? Cries for justice from the martyrs (Rev. 6); the desire for God’s kingdom to come; for freedom

God hears, and then He answers, throwing fire on the earth

Symbolizes judgement (in short, this is what God is doing)

This judgement is detailed in the 7 trumpets

This is a stunning visual reminder that prayer is the most powerful force in the universe

Not, “I can only pray,” but “I can fill the presence of God on His throne with my prayers that He hears and answers with fire from heaven”

Big difference. Do we pray this way?

Of course, what we are praying for matters

God is moving to answer the cries of His people that align with His own heart (justice, mercy, His kingdom to come, etc.)

If our prayers are to be sweet incense before the Lord, we must seek to pray for things that align with His character

Doesn’t mean we don’t pray for small things *Mom as spiritual shopper* it means we pray for those things differently

There are some things that we should never pray for

*Show John Christ video clip*

God is answering the prayers of His people as it aligns with His own desires and goals for all of Creation… not just getting you what you want

God is Rescuing His People

The Israelites cried out to God for deliverance, and He rescued them through sending 10 plagues

Here we see the strong connection between the Exodus and the first 6 trumpets:

Read verse 7 = hail and fire one of the plagues in Exodus

Read verses 8 - 9 = water turned to blood

Read verses 10 - 11 = water becomes to bitter to drink

Read verse 12 = darkness was also a plague

Read Rev. 9:3 = locusts

Read 9:18 = death itself (the firstborn in Exodus)

Both in Exodus and Revelation, God’s people are protected from these plagues/judgements

Sealed by the Spirit (Rev. 7; 9:4)

Protected by the blood of the Lamb (passover/slain Lamb)

What was the purpose of these plagues? What is God doing? God is rescuing His people

It was purposeful, not vengeful

The 7 churches addressed certainly needed freeing; their life reflected one of slavery (persecution)

The purpose was to deliver His people to the Promised Land

The hope for the early church and us today is the eternal Promised Land; the new heaven and new earth (glimpsed already)

When troubles arise, do you rely on your own power for rescue? Or do you depend on the slain Lamb?

God is Calling for Repentance

These judgements are severe, but they are not total

Numbers are important! And that is the case here:

One-third (earth burned up, sea became blood, water became bitter, sun moon and stars darkened, people killed)

Horde of locusts allowed to sting for “five months” (9:10)

One-third is a symbol of mercy; a symbol of warning

This is working out even know, on the stage of history

Trumpets sounded as warnings of judgement; seven trumpets sounded to warn the world of pending total judgement (future)

Cf. Joel 2:1.

What is God doing? He is using these partial judgments and calling for repentance; God is calling for repentance

Part of the purpose of the plagues was to “soften Pharaoh’s heart”

Judgement is not punitive from an angry, spiteful God; He desires people to return to Him

Cf. Joel 2:12-13.

This is God’s heart, even in the judgement of the seven trumpets; return to me

But Revelation warns that some won’t listen

Read Rev. 9:20 - 21.

Even now, God is desperately trying to grab the world’s attention and draw people to Himself

Just as it was clear and obvious that the four horsemen (war, famine, plague) were a present reality, it is the same for the first 6 trumpets

Remember, the descriptions of these judgements is symbolic

Points to Creation going haywire; God grabbing the world’s attention

Be careful! We should not get too specific

*Talk about John Hagee saying Hurricane Katrina was God’s judgement on New Orleans*

We can’t know this! But we do know that God is working through all things to draw people to Himself

Even these judgements are merciful and designed to save

God is Keeping His Covenant

Just like the seven seals, there is an interlude between number 6 & 7, and number 7 brings us all the way to the end

We will dig deeper into the angel and the little scroll and 2 witnesses next week

Read Rev. 11:15 - 19.

Here, the kingdom of God HAS come in its fullness (v. 15)

Here, God is the God “who is and who was”

No “is coming” because He has returned

John gets a glimpse of God’s temple at the end, and sees the ark of the covenant (with lightning, rumblings, thunder, etc.)

What is God doing? God is keeping His covenant with His people

Old Covenant following the Exodus (Cf. Exodus 19:4 - 6)

Also recall the signs of God’s presence on the mountain

New Covenant found in Christ, the slain Lamb

Cf. Hebrews 9:15.

We have a promised eternal inheritance in Christ; God is keeping His promises, His covenant

What is God doing? He is encouraging His people, yesterday and today: Hang on; It is worth it.